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Symphonic metal

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Symphonic metal is a term used to describe metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony.

Symphonic metal is both a genre of metal and a name given to several subgenres of other metal genres, and as such, both forms of usage have slightly varying definitions.

The genre refers to bands that combine aspects of varying metal genres, with signature female-led vocals and operatic/classical themes to give the music a feeling of being a symphony.

When referring to bands from other genres, it refers to bands who use minor classical and operatic themes in the bands music similar as to what is found in the symphonic metal genre, to show they are more "symphonic" than normal bands of their genre.

"Symphonic" can also describe metal with elements resembling non-symphonic classical music, although this usage is not frequently used.

Orchestral Metal

Musical characteristics

Orchestral metal as a genre (sometimes called opera metal or plainly symphonic metal) is generally the same in the way it sounds between bands, because the genre is pretty typical of itself and the features it uses and easily depicts between itself and other genres. It takes a lot of its musical basis from early Gothic metal, power metal, and classical music.

The guitar and bassline work in the genre often follows the pattern of its originator, Gothic metal, by synthesizing other metal styles of guitar. Genres commonly synthesized in this way include black metal, death metal and power metal, sometimes with the addition of elements from rock music. The genre typically combines elements of these genres with those of classical music, creating songs with a strong "symphonic" feel. Bands that use elements of rock music typically take a simpler approach to the genre, using simplified and catchy melodies, leading to a more easily accessible and widely accepted version of the genre. Another key ingredient to the mixture is the lighter feel of the music, typically created by higher, more melodic guitar lines; this characteristic is usually attributed to power metal as well.

Keyboards in orchestral metal play the most important role in the music, and are the focal point of the genre that the rest of the music centers around. While most of the instruments play relatively simple parts, the keyboards tend to have the most complex and technically difficult parts. The keyboards alone are used to play the "classical" parts of the music which the genre is renowned for, and covers all forms of classical music. Bands sometimes use orchestras when playing live to play the parts that the keyboardist would play, and at times feature real instruments in recording instead of using digital samples with a keyboard.

Atmosphere is commonly tailored to fit the song, although even songs with morbid themes tend to keep an upbeat sense. The atmosphere is particularly denoted by the keyboards and the instruments that it mimics, with the other instruments supporting the landscape evoked by the keyboards.

The lyrics of orchestral metal are highly expansive and cover a broad range of topics. Lyrics often borrow heavily from power metal, encompassing various forms of fantasy themes, or use themes typical of opera. Lyrics in orchestral metal, like those of Gothic metal, often are arranged into concept albums, styled after epics.

Bands in the orchestral metal genre are mainly female led in both their images and vocals. The vocalists of orchestral metal bands have consistently been female, and tend to sing mezzo-soprano melodies in the operatic style. Sometimes orchestral metal artists use a male vocalist for backing vocals, similar to Gothic metal's dual vocalists. Other forms of vocals are also sometimes found in songs, but are normally only used as an effect within the song.

Origins and evolution

The first origins of orchestral metal as a genre begins with early bands in the Gothic metal genre, which heavily made use of orchestral elements in their music. Of such bands, Therion was the first to feature a fully live orchestra and write their music with the symphonic elements of classical music as an essential inclusion into their musical style. Over time Therion grew further away from the Gothic metal genre utilising more orchestral elements and becoming more based around the symphony aspects they were fast growing known for.

In 1997, Nightwish and Within Temptation released their first albums. Both bands followed heavily in the trend of Therion's orchestrally symphonic nature. Within Temptation, using influence from Gothic metal's synthesizing of other genres, used simpler aspects of the genres in their synthesis. Centering their music around the abilities of their female singer, Sharon den Adel, and the symphonic nature of their use of keyboards, the band reduced the use of male vocals to sparse backing vocals. Nightwish followed a similar trend, following a style similar to power metal and using a female vocalist with heavy use of classically influenced keyboarding. Considered by many to be a power metal band, they contributed heavily to the genre, introducing variety into the genre with their keyboards and female vocals.

In the early 2000s a surge of orchestral metal occurred, with many bands seemingly releasing albums from nowhere. Rain Fell Within, After Forever, Epica, and Edenbridge all released albums around this time, displaying prominently the characteristic keyboards and female vocals. These bands also emphazised the upbeat nature of the music. This boom of orchestral metal bands also began to take more influence from power metal, borrowing from the lyrical theme of fantasy and the stylized, epic-like keyboards of that genre.

Orchestral metal currently doesn't have a centralized scene in any particular part of the world, as its fan base is wide-spread and numerous. However, orchestral metal is more prolific where power metal and gothic metal are profound due to the similarities between itself and these genres.

List of orchestral metal bands

Symphonic subgenres

Overview

Symphonic metal, in regard to other genres of metal, encompasses any band that makes use of orchestral, classical, or keyboarding akin to orchestral metal or gothic metal. The use of symphonic aspects in varying forms of metal has been around for many years, however, orchestral metal is centered around extensive usage of symphonic elements, whereas bands in other genres that use them as backing themes are usually listed under other genres.

Symphonic black metal

Symphonic black metal has the same components as melodic black metal, but makes extensive usage of keyboarding or instruments normally found in orchestral or classical music. It can also include black metal bands that make heavy usage of atmospheric keyboarding in the music, akin to doom metal or gothic metal. The symphonic aspects of this genre are normally integral parts of a band, and as such are commonly used throughout the whole duration of a song.

Many black metal purists discount this genre as having nothing to do with 'black metal,' due to the heavy similarities it holds with gothic metal. Claims that keyboards, female vocals and other gothic metal characteristics are inconsistent with the essence of "true" black metal has often resulted in confusion between symphonic black metal and gothic metal bands. Cradle of Filth and Summoning have both been subjects of this claim.

Bands of this subgenre include:

Symphonic power metal

Symphonic power metal refers to power metal bands that make extensive usage of keyboards, or instruments normally found in classical music similar to orchestral metal. These additional elements are often used as key elements of the music when compared to normal power metal, contributing not only an extra layer to the music, but a greater variety of sound.

Sometimes symphonic power metal is considered to be both orchestral metal and power metal, due to some debate about the usage of the term "symphonic power metal" by fans. For example, Nightwish features more orchestral metal elements, while Sonata Arctica features more power metal elements.

Bands of this subgenre include:

Other symphonic subgenres

Symphonic death metal, is a small but rising form, most commonly with bands located in the Gothenburg region. Symphonic thrash metal is almost unheard of, consisting only of bands who have done single performances with orchestras. Most bands within the doom metal scene can be considered symphonic.

Some bands that play symphonic variations of their genres include:

Indirect symphonic variations

These artists and bands do not typically play symphonic variations of their genre, but have indirectly done so on specific occasions.

See also

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