This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RuudVisser (talk | contribs) at 14:53, 30 November 2005 (Created new subsection, removed Listmania, put everything into ABC order). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:53, 30 November 2005 by RuudVisser (talk | contribs) (Created new subsection, removed Listmania, put everything into ABC order)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Symphonic metal is a term used to describe metal music that has "symphonic" elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. These elements are sometimes played by an actual orchestra, but more often by keyboards/synthesizers that sound like an orchestra.
"Symphonic" can also (less frequently) describe metal with elements resembling non-symphonic classical music. An example is Virgin Steele, who only occasionally use orchestral keyboards, but frequently use classical-sounding piano parts.
Symphonic metal is not a subgenre of metal; symphonic metal bands can belong to any metal subgenre, though most are found in power metal and black metal (the latter including borderline black metal and "faggoth"). Symphonic death metal and thrash metal is almost unheard of. A notable exception is representative symphonic metal band Therion, which began as a death metal band.
Examples of symphonic metal artists
Power metal
- Angra
- Blind Guardian (later albums only)
- Bride Adorned
- Control Denied
- Freedom Call
- Isengard
- Luca Turilli
- Rhapsody
- Sonata Arctica
Black metal, extreme metal
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bal-Sagoth
- Borknagar
- Cradle of Filth
- Dimmu Borgir
- Emperor
- Gorgoroth
- Limbonic Art
- Mayhem
- Satyricon
- Summoning
- Susperia
Other
- Aesma Daeva
- Apocalyptica
- Arcturus
- Epica
- Nightwish
- Rain Fell Within
- Rotting Christ
- Sirenia
- Skyfire
- Symphony X
- Therion
- Tristania
- Virgin Steele
- Within Temptation
Symphonic metal artists on occasion
These artists and bands do not typically play symphonic metal, but have done so on specific occasions.
- Metallica (S&M album only)
- Rage (band) ("classic trilogy" only)
- Xandria (India album only)