Symphony/Classical inspired metal.

[Llama Gibbz]

Looking for recommendations on metal that focus on a classical sound.

Already very familiar with Dimmu Borgir and Morbid Angel.

[jimbob]

hmmm, symphony X maybe? randy rhoads' work is very classically inspired.

[peoplessi]

Symphony X definately.

[Daedolon]

Sirius (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wci8HtS-9r0), Thee Maldoror Kollective (first two albums, called Maldoror back then), Limbonic Art and Obsidian Gate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zLncXwGrqY) are my obvious choices.

[ReadOnly]

Classical sound? Like using symphonic orchestra or what?

Haggard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggard_(band))
Lacrimosa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrimosa_(band))

[Llama Gibbz]

Classical sound? Like using symphonic orchestra or what?



Yes and even wind instruments.

[ReadOnly]

Therion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therion_(band))

[Daedolon]

Yes and even wind instruments.

How about folk metal bands like Turisas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0jwoFeA-Wo)?

[PsychoGoatee]

Eluveitie is a very cool melodic death metal / folk metal band with bagpipes and flutes and such, good stuff.

And of course, Rhapsody.

[Usurper]

Nightwish and Kamelot. Blind Guardian are working on a symphonic project for their next album.

[Hyperactive Slob]

Nightwish and Blind Guardian gets my votes.

[X-Vector]

Epica - Adyta + Sensorium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV_Y-TYKqg0&fmt=18)

I used to listen to this a couple of years back (saw them live twice); not really my kind of music generally, but their first album The Phantom Agony (of which these are the first two tracks) has some nice songs.
Their second record Consign to Oblivion didn't do much for me, though.

Oh yeah, their singer Simone Simons is kinda (http://passzio.hu/kepek/epica/Simone_Simons_2007_2.jpg) easy (http://blog.mangaworld.se/wp-content/random-image/simone.png) on (http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/bestianegra/Epica_simone_simons.jpg) the (http://www.celebs101.com/gallery/Simone_Simons/108416/simone_simons_photo_1.jpg) eye (http://a359.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/42/l_a716a2c0ee6b4d7aaa8e64b435682d0e.jpg).

[Usurper]

Yeah, Phantom Agony is extremely orchestral/operatic. They veered a bit more toward the metal side on Consign and Divine Conspiracy. Consign's my favorite so far. If I could get a version of Conspiracy without the cookie monster grunt vocals, I'd buy it all over again.

[X-Vector]

Dunno, I bought CtO when it came out, spun it a couple of times and it just bored me.
TPA was perhaps a bit less slick, being their first record, bit I guess that's what I liked about it given that this style of music doesn't sound very spontaneous to begin with.
Haven't listened to anything after that.

[Simon Charles]

Symphony X

http://www.symphonyx.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_x


Rhapsody (their website is unclear whether they've disbanded or not)

http://rhapsodyoffire.com/rhapsody/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhapsody_of_Fire

[Piano Man]

MAKSIM MRVICA! The guy is bloody good. He doesn't take classical music and make it cheesy like bloody Richard Claydermann did...

Apparently his concerts usually involve strobe lights and lasers.... ******* awesome.

[PsychoGoatee]

I'll also add Within Temptation, great band in the Nightwish or Epica vein.

[X-Vector]

great band

What?

[Amakou]

What?

I'll also add Within Temptation, great band in the Nightwish or Epica vein.

:p

~Amakou~

[jimbob]

im not much of a fan of within temptation, nightwish or epica. something about thier music makes me yawn. too much princeses and fairytales i gues.

[X-Vector]

Epica's lyrics are not about princesses and fairytales.

[Rider]

You could check out After forever. Especially their last album is heavy on symphonic/orchestral instruments. It's pretty good :)

[Plagman]

Rhapsody of Fire, definitely; the last two albums were actually recorded with a symphonic orchestra. The music is great, and the lyrics are the cheesiest. :D
And, Simon: they haven't disbanded. They're having legal problems with their current label and are waiting to sign with another to record all the stuff they've written in the past two years (which could fill a double album according to Luca Turilli).