Hey, just wonder who else listens to Power/Symphonic metal. I got into it rather recently and have only listened to a few bands. What else out there is good?

So far my favorites are (in no particular order)

Iron Maiden
Nightwish
Dragon Force
Blind Guardian (Their song "And Then There Was Silence" is what got me to start listening to this genera)

I really like Iced Earth - check out "The Dark Saga" or "Something Wicked This Way Comes" - both are good operatic metal offerings.

I might also suggest listening to Dream Theater - if you know nothing by this band, I recommend starting with "Images and Words" - it was thier breakthrough record.

Also, if you've never heard Pantera - check out "Cowboys from Hell" or "Vulgar Display of Power" - both power metal classics.

Just a few more thoughts...

Not sure how familiar you are with the genre, but if you want to hear some good 'ol school stuff, be sure to check out Judas Priest "Sad wings of destiny" and/or any of the Sabbath stuff with Ronnie James Dio singing.

Early Queensryche is great too.

Newer stuff - like Opeth and Symphony X are both very good.

Cool, I will check those out. My friend is really into music so I should be able to barrow cds from all those bands from him.

I'm listening to Sabbath "Children of the sea" right now - as soon as you can, get your hands on "Heaven and Hell" by Black Sabbath - it's a must own for any metal fan.

Then...go out and get all of the Rainbow stuff with Dio on it.

Happy listening!!

Just a few more thoughts...

Not sure how familiar you are with the genre, but if you want to hear some good 'ol school stuff, be sure to check out Judas Priest "Sad wings of destiny" and/or any of the Sabbath stuff with Ronnie James Dio singing.

Early Queensryche is great too.

Newer stuff - like Opeth and Symphony X are both very good.

Outstanding examples! I would add the Rainbow albums with Ronnie James Dio such as "Rising", "On Stage", and the self-titled debut release. Dio's voice and lyrics added to Blackmore's playing equals some fantastic music!
The Blue Oyster Cult albums from that time such as ""Tyranny and Mutation", "Secret Treaties", and "On your feet, or on your knees" are also must-haves.

I'm listening to Sabbath "Children of the sea" right now - as soon as you can, get your hands on "Heaven and Hell" by Black Sabbath - it's a must own for any metal fan.

Then...go out and get all of the Rainbow stuff with Dio on it.

Happy listening!!

You beat me to it! Great minds....

Ha, you guys are listing everything my friend likes to listen too. I guess I will just have to have him bring his collection over someday and we will throw it in my stereo. Someday I am going to put a stereo together for him. Right now he listens to all his music on an old set of cheep computer speakers. :no:

Well depending on how close you want to get to the symphonic part of your title you could try Apocalyptica. They're four scandinavian guys on cello doing Mettalica covers and original tunes. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but it actually works. It's truly amazing how heavy metal the cello can sound.

Well depending on how close you want to get to the symphonic part of your title you could try Apocalyptica. They're four scandinavian guys on cello doing Mettalica covers and original tunes. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but it actually works. It's truly amazing how heavy metal the cello can sound.

That I am going to have to check out. I also like classical so it should be good.

Also, as I am listening to Pandora I am beginning to realize that I should just buy a copy of Blind Guardian's A Night At the Opera. I have liked every song from that CD that I have heard so far.

Yeah - Apocolyptica is cool the first three or four spins - but it gets old...quickly. Good for a unique listen tho.

Rainbow "Long Live Rock 'n Roll" is one of my all time favs! L.A. Connection is possibly one of the best rock songs ever crafted. :)

You beat me to it! Great minds....

No doubt! :thmbsp:

I LOVE DragonForce. :rockon:

Another favorite is Dream Theater........and of course Black Sabbath..

Well my avatar indicates who I think is the greatest metal singer! Be sure to listen to "Unleashed in the East" and the rest of the Judas Priest albums between 73 and 83. Then check out the newest one, "Angel of Retribution" (2005) and the Halford solo albums "Resurrection" and "Crucible". The Scorpions had several records during the early to mid 70s that are very good too. "In Trance", "Virgin Killers", "Lovedrive", and "Lonesome Crow" are worth owning.

I LOVE DragonForce. :rockon:

Another favorite is Dream Theater........and of course Black Sabbath..

Dragon Force is one of my favorites. Only problem with it is sometimes they play so fast that on lower end systems everything just kind of melt into a mish-mash of noises.

Yeah - early Priest is a must - as is early Maiden.

Man...I'm watching the "Heaven and Hell" DVD right now - Merry Christmas to me ;)

This thing is awesome - RJD's voice is huge and the set list...stellar.

Another great metal album to check out would be Bruce Dickinson's "Accident of Birth" - really, really good.

Another great metal album to check out would be Bruce Dickinson's "Accident of Birth" - really, really good.

Agreed, as is "The Chemical Wedding". Although I like Maiden, the Bruce solo stuff that he did with Adrian Smith is MUCH better IMHO. The reason? No Steve Harris. He's too heavy-handed in the later Maiden records and they become plodding. His bass is WAY too up-front and the songs have become lllloooooonnnngggg and predictable. If Roy Z. did the producing they would be much better.

I still love everything Maiden up to "Somewhere in time" - Harris' bass stylings just fit well. Beyond this, yes, predictable and plodding...which is too bad.

Roy Z did some amazing stuff on both AOB and CW - for certain - guy knows his stuff.

Don't know if you've heard, but Maiden will be touring in '08 - using the Powerslave stage setup and set list - from what I understand.

I saw that tour "back in the day" and will be seeing it again in a town near me!!

I still love everything Maiden up to "Somewhere in time" - Harris' bass stylings just fit well. Beyond this, yes, predictable and plodding...which is too bad.

Roy Z did some amazing stuff on both AOB and CW - for certain - guy knows his stuff.

Don't know if you've heard, but Maiden will be touring in '08 - using the Powerslave stage setup and set list - from what I understand.

I saw that tour "back in the day" and will be seeing it again in a town near me!!

Thanks for the heads-up. I've seen Maiden 12 times starting with the Killers tour, maybe I'll go if the come my way. I guess hoping for a Paul DiAnno show is asking the impossible. (Actually I don't think he can enter the U.S. anymore; criminal/legal problems)

Nice! I've seen Maiden six times since '83 - just saw them on the last tour as well - decent show, aside from Gers' ridiculous dancing. I wish he would just go away...however, I digress...they haven't lost a step in the touring department.

Seeing them do the Powerslave era material would be great.

Also, I really like the DiAnno stuff too - have you ever heard Gogmagog? That was a DiAnno one-off project ('85-ish) with:

Pete Willis: Guitar
Janick Gers: Guitar
Neil Murray: Bass
Clive Burr: Drums

Good stuff...if you can find it.

Have not heard of that, I'll look for it. Thanks. I couldn't agree more about Janick Gers. Enough already! It's like Harris didn't have the heart (or balls) to say "You're out!" when Bruce and Adrian came back. Does any band need three guitarists? The lack of acrobatics are one reason why Priest and Rob Halford are my all-time favorite artists. I can't wait until next spring when the new album and tour begins.

Yep - I'll catch Priest on the next tour as well...and as long as we're sharing...

I'm the guy on the right...circa 1986...

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2285/diovy9.th.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=diovy9.jpg)

I'm on the left, 1983. Mullets and bad mustache to boot. (I was 14...)

ha! right from the movie "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" - nice!!

I was 19 in my photo - when I met The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Mr. RJD.

My friend and I got to ride to the show on the tour bus (Sacred Heart Tour) and hangout with the band - it was awesome.

That IS awesome! I know a guy here in Chicago who does an Elvis impersonation act and he's also a huge metal head. He met Dio at the House of Blues and sang "Holy Diver" backstage for him as Elvis would do it. RJD loved it! It's great when our fav artists are so friendly to the fans.

No doubt - what was even cooler, was at the show we attended (Irvine Meadows, CA) - Dio performed the Hear 'n Aid song "Stars" live (i.e. The Metal version of Live Aid) with everyone from Dickinson, to Yngwie, to Stephen Pearcy, etc. were there.

We hung out backstage at the after party and got to meet everyone - an 80's metalers dream. ;)

I have that on iTunes, the video was great. We could go on and on (MSG....?) but I need to get back to work. Nice talking to you!

No prob - Happy Holidays!
Scott

One more....Ima probably the only 15 year old int the world that knows/likes McAuley-Schenecker Group.....anyone else heard of them?

Sacrilege!!

MSG = MICHAEL Schenker Group

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41N389M1PRL._AA240_.jpg

Sacrilege!!

MSG = MICHAEL Schenker Group

To some maybe. Robin McAuley joined up with Michael Schenker in 1987 and formed the McAuley Schenker Group. Their 1989 album, Save Yourself, received some popularity with the song Anytime. I have that album and that's why I chimed in. Anyway, check out All Music Guide and they will give the lowdown. Remember, All Music Guide is your friend.

Cheers

Yeah - I'm aware that McAuley was in the mix...but I'm a purist at heart. ;)

NO NO NO NO!!!! It's MICHAEL SCHENKER!!! Assault Attack is the one to own!
The title track and "Desert Song" are two of the best metal songs ever!

Yeah - I'm aware that McAuley was in the mix...but I'm a purist at heart. ;)

Yeah, but you were disrespectful to vinyldavid nonetheless so I kindly reminded you who MSG was and a little background. Next time, give vinyldavid that same respect.

Cheers

uhh...it was a joke - lighten up Francis. :headscrat

Cheers.

No one is disin' the kid, I for one am glad to see young metal heads.

Definitely - props for even knowing MSG - in whatever form.

Hey, no fighting in my thread guys. :nono:

So I have been listening to a pandora station that I made seeded with And Then There Was Silence. Found a band called Rhapsody of Fire that is really good. Now only if I had internet in my room so I would listen to it on my good system. Right now I have it running through a surround sound system with a subwoofer that only goes "fwoop fwoop fwoop".

Definitely - props for even knowing MSG - in whatever form.

I also like blind Illusion! Ever heard of them?

Anyway...I love's me some Symphonic Metal..

Therion
Lacrimosa
Symphony X
Dream Theater

Good stuff. I you want to explore more Gothic Beauty and the Beast type stuff (growly voices coupled with heavenly voices) then check out..

After Forever
Nightwish
Without Temptation

Opeth is a very cool band. Very musical but with death metal vocals at times.

Cheers

Anyway...I love's me some Symphonic Metal..

Therion
Lacrimosa
Symphony X
Dream Theater

Good stuff. I you want to explore more Gothic Beauty and the Beast type stuff (growly voices coupled with heavenly voices) then check out..

After Forever
Nightwish
Without Temptation

Opeth is a very cool band. Very musical but with death metal vocals at times.

Cheers

I actually listened to some Therion on Pandora. really like it. I've heard Symphony X before and I like them. And the other song, besides "And Then there Was Silence" by Blind Guardian, that got me into this was Planet Hell by Nightwish.

I also like blind Illusion! Ever heard of them?


I've not heard Blind Illusion - but I'm always on the lookout for good new stuff!!

I've not heard Blind Illusion - but I'm always on the lookout for good new stuff!!

It's not new.....I have a LP of theirs, and also an LP of Insane Asylum, and Exciter's album Unveiling the Wicked. All Combat label, all GOOD!

I think that someone's avatar used to be Insane Asylum.....madpioneer, IIRC.

It's not new.....I have a LP of theirs, and also an LP of Insane Asylum, and Exciter's album Unveiling the Wicked. All Combat label, all GOOD!

It's new to me, as I've not yet heard it - but never-the-less, I've got tons of Combat stuff, including Exodus "Bonded by Blood" - classic. :thmbsp: