Definition:

“A subgenre of metal which combines the rough sound of the genre with orchestral and choral sounds”

 

History of the Symphonic Metal:

            Symphonic Metal developed in the mid-1990s starting with bands such as Avantasia, Nightwish, Tristania, and After Forever. The early roots of Symphonic Metal stemmed from the Swiss Extreme Metal band Celtic Frost in the late-1980s. The subgenre of Symphonic Metal eventually branched away from multiple other subgenres, Death, Power, and Gothic Metal mostly. Symphonic Metal began in Northern Europe and began to spread throughout Europe, many countries in the continent have Symphonic Metal bands in them. This subgenre hasn’t quite spread to the US yet, though it is certainly well on its way to doing so.

 

Distinguishing Features:

            Symphonic Metal is unique because it takes the traditional metal sound and adds orchestral and operatic elements to it. Often a band will work/perform with a full orchestra on set, these musicians will play alongside the electric guitars and harsh drum to create a completely unique sound. Symphonic metal bands often have a female, soprano, lead vocalist. In many of these bands there is also a male vocalist who’s objective is to balance out the female’s voice with growls and harsh vocals to give the band a “Beauty and the Beast” quality. Instruments that are common in this subgenre are: violins, cellos, organs, drums, guitars, and flutes.

 

Other Symphonic Metal Bands:

• Rhapsody of Fire

• Therion

• Symphony X

• Angra

• Sirenia

• Edenbridge

• Ayreon

• Visons of Atlantis