Anybody into Symphonic Metal?

[Advent_Winter]

Well, from her perspective, that is a correct interpretation of "Epic" in her case. Anyway, I'll shoot. What exactly is symphonic metal? I always view metal as pointless, ear-deafining screaming and banging on drums, while symphonic, although boring sometimes, is quite beautiful to me. Putting them together though? That seems a bit risky to me.

[Mirus]

Thanks Winter!


When I think about a symphony I think about violins and such instruments when <i think about Metals it´s fast and screaming

Which is why I think symphonic metal is apocaliptica

[TheSorrow]

Anyway, I'll shoot. What exactly is symphonic metal? I always view metal as pointless, ear-deafining screaming and banging on drums, while symphonic, although boring sometimes, is quite beautiful to me. Putting them together though? That seems a bit risky to me.

That "pointless, ear-deafining screaming and banging on drums" you're referring too is my favorite music genre of them all D<

And Metal isn't exactly like that...sure, there are examples of Metal songs that are freaking loud and ear-deafening as you describe, but Metal itself is based mainly on loud, well-played guitar solos, and shouting lyrics as if you were heartbroken and wanted to express your feelings as loud as possible (it's not screaming...leave that to speed metal and screamo x-O). And unlike other genres, the music playing and the solos in Metal are more harmonic than you'd think, not just them going crazy and random with their instruments and voices...might be loud and "crazy", but the musical pattern they follow is impressive...they're just loud musicians, not crazy guys who make music just by breaking their instruments and see what comes out of it.

And symphonic music is the use of several instruments, different than the usual guitar/bass/drums (violins, cellos, flutes, trumpets, etc), to make a harmonic synchronization of them all, usually trying to describe something, like a place, an incident, a feeling, etc, with no lyrics or anything...just pure sounds that come and go in complete synchronization.

And the mix of them both, is this:
Nightwish - Ghost Love Score

Or, more obviously, this:
Metallica & The Symphony of San Francisco - Master of Puppets

[Twilisapien]

Well, from her perspective, that is a correct interpretation of "Epic" in her case. Anyway, I'll shoot. What exactly is symphonic metal? I always view metal as pointless, ear-deafining screaming and banging on drums, while symphonic, although boring sometimes, is quite beautiful to me. Putting them together though? That seems a bit risky to me.

oh it's been done alot and it's awesome
a few samples you should try:


ghost opera - kamelot
ghost love score - nightwish

[Rathalos]

I got into this and Power Metal about two and a half years back when a friend turned me on to a band called Rhapsody of Fire. Who, by the way, if you haven't heard of you should totally check out.

But anyway, I love this subgenre. I'm not abstained to brandishing it in public[that includes school >~>]. I like to think of it as giving out free samples, and hopefully more people will attain a taste for it.

Skimming through I've read Nightwish, Kamelot, Epica,Two Steps From Hell, all of whom I adore, but what's everyones stance on Symphonic Black Metal?

Also, Sorrow is awesome for mentioning Within Temptation.

[TheSorrow]

Skimming through I've read Nightwish, Kamelot, Epica,Two Steps From Hell, all of whom I adore, but what's everyones stance on Symphonic Black Metal?

Any examples on it? I've probably heard of it before and loved it, i just didn't know that was the name of the genre, and probably considered it as just Gothic Metal or something like that.

Also, Sorrow is awesome for mentioning Within Temptation.

Yes i'm awesome, and so is Within Temptation 8D lol

[Rathalos]

Any examples on it? I've probably heard of it before and loved it, i just didn't know that was the name of the genre, and probably considered it as just Gothic Metal or something like that.

Cradle of Filth is probably the most popular example, though genre-pedants have been sissy fighting over what to classify them as for years.

Much less abberant and easier to allocate would be our good fellows, Dimmu Borgir, Abigail Williams, Stormlord, and Evil With Meat.

[LegendaryDarkKnight]

Any examples on it? I've probably heard of it before and loved it, i just didn't know that was the name of the genre, and probably considered it as just Gothic Metal or something like that.

Cradle of Filth is probably the most popular example, though genre-pedants have been sissy fighting over what to classify them as for years.

Much less abberant and easier to allocate would be our good fellows, Dimmu Borgir, Abigail Williams, Stormlord, and Evil With Meat.

Melodic Death Metal> Symphonic Metal.

[Rathalos]

Any examples on it? I've probably heard of it before and loved it, i just didn't know that was the name of the genre, and probably considered it as just Gothic Metal or something like that.

Cradle of Filth is probably the most popular example, though genre-pedants have been sissy fighting over what to classify them as for years.

Much less abberant and easier to allocate would be our good fellows, Dimmu Borgir, Abigail Williams, Stormlord, and Evil With Meat.

Melodic Death Metal> Symphonic Metal.

On that note, I just started getting into that genre about a week ago. Though the only bands I know are Dark Tranquility, Amon Amarth[Viking themed band? **** yes.], Dethklok[don't give me that look, they're awesome. >~>], and The Black Dahlia Murder.

But yes, you're right. MDM > SM. I can tell because of The Law of Quantitative Alphabetical Dissonance, which cleary states that the amount of letters in the name of a genre is inversely proportional to it's horribleness. Meaning, the lesser the letters, the more shiity.
See "Rap" for confirmation.

[TheSorrow]

I can tell because of The Law of Quantitative Alphabetical Dissonance, which cleary states that the high amount of letters in the name of a genre is inversely proportional to it's greatness.
See "Rap" for confirmation.

...High amount of letters in the name of a genre is inversely proportional to it's greatness?
Meaning, the higher amount of letters, the less (inversely proportional) great a genre will be?
Meaning, that something like Rap, with almost no letters, is a truly great genre, while something like Melodic Death Metal, with far more letters than Rap, is far less greater than it?

O_O' lol

[Rathalos]

...shoot, someone saw my fail before I edited it out. >~<

If you'll excuse me now, I have to go hang myself, for I have made myself look foolish on the internet.

@LDK: He's still failing 24/7, as you can plainly see, but this time with grammar and diction instead of unaroused, nonsensical, out of place insults/blank threats and a pompous sense of superiority.
...you son of a ****. I'll show you, I'll show all of you. Don't you dare ever bring me down again, or I'll have to play my hand. And I challenge you to defend yourself, coward.

...
Still very, very stupid and an attention whore, though.
*cough*
Sorry, that was my pleasefightwithmebecausenegativeattentionisstillattention going off again. There's a treatment for it, don't worry.[banhammer]

Anywho...
Does anyone here know where exactly the line between Power Metal and Symphonic Metal is drawn?

[LegendaryDarkKnight]

...shoot, someone saw my fail before I edited it out. >~<

If you'll excuse me now, I have to go hang myself, for I have made myself look foolish on the internet.

@LDK: He's still failing 24/7, as you can plainly see, but this time with grammar and diction instead of unaroused, nonsensical, out of place insults/blank threats and a pompous sense of superiority.
...you son of a ****. I'll show you, I'll show all of you. Don't you dare ever bring me down again, or I'll have to play my hand. And I challenge you to defend yourself, coward.

...
Still very, very stupid and an attention whore, though.
*cough*
Sorry, that was my pleasefightwithmebecausenegativeattentionisstillattention going off again. There's a treatment for it, don't worry.[banhammer]

Anywho...
Does anyone here know where exactly the line between Power Metal and Symphonic Metal is drawn?

Yeah the line is if it's heavy. Like power metal sounds like a epic adventure + 80's metal. For real, only heavy vocals with symphonic and orchestrated instruments is symphonic vocals.
A good power metal band would be Dragonforce while a good symphonic band would be Skyfire.

[Smitts]

I liked Nightwish when they had Tarja as the lead vocalist.

I wouldn't consider them symphonic metal though.

[TheSorrow]

I liked Nightwish when they had Tarja as the lead vocalist.

I wouldn't consider them symphonic metal though.

Then what would you consider them? Just "Gothic Metal"?

And i have to admit, Nightwish was alot better with Tarja, and that was "Nightwish" indeed....right now it doesn't feel as "Nightwish" anymore, but it's not as bad either...it's just like listening to other band, and more closely to "Within Temptation" than to "Nightwish".

[Smitts]

I liked Nightwish when they had Tarja as the lead vocalist.

I wouldn't consider them symphonic metal though.

Then what would you consider them? Just "Gothic Metal"?

And i have to admit, Nightwish was alot better with Tarja, and that was "Nightwish" indeed....right now it doesn't feel as "Nightwish" anymore, but it's not as bad either...it's just like listening to other band, and more closely to "Within Temptation" than to "Nightwish".

Eh, I really don't know. Symphonic metal doesn't sound right. Gothic metal sounds closer.
When I think of symphonic metal I think of sounds like Nightwish but with screaming. Something like Vesperian Sorrow.
If you haven't heard of them check out there song on youtube. spiral symphony.
People consider that symphonic black metal. I just consider it symphonic metal.
When I think of Gothic metal I think of opera vocals like Nightwish or other bands.

That is just me though.