need some fresh ideas for bands similar to S-X that I may enjoy...hopefully someone will have a few great suggestions.
Dude, I'm so glad you asked this question. I too am a relatively new SX fan, and have been looking for another power/prog band as good as them. There are certain elements of SX music that are difficult to find elsewhere. The soaring yet powerful vocals, the symphonic element, the excellent songwriting and melodies, the virtuoso musicianship being some of them.
I have found only one band so far that fits all of these elements, and that is Kamelot. The band is mostly from Tampa, Florida, but the singer is from Norway.
Roy Khan is a very talented vocalist. He was an opera singer before he became a metal singer. He has a great low and high range. Just a tremendous voice. He sings in English, but can also sing in Spanish (and of course his native language).
Great musicianship. The guitars are maybe not as flashy. The keyboardist is classically trained. They use guest female vocalists with great effect. They do not have as many long songs, which is somewhat disappointing to me. Sometimes it seems like the song is just getting going when it ends. However, two aspects of Kamelot that I like better than SX are their lyrics and their song subject material.
In addition to the symphonic power/prog, they have some really powerful, emotional ballads. Here's a great song written by guitarist Thomas Youngblood about his dead father and performed live in Madrid. Kahn sings the song through once in English, then again in Spanish. Very cool. I can relate to this song, because my own father passed away 5 years ago. The first time I listened to the CD version of this song, I was in the gym wearing headphones, and as I was listening, I had to cover my face with my towel, because I was crying.
"Abandoned" is another tragic, terrific Kamelot ballad. In this version, Youngblood's wife Mari sings backup. I love tragic!!!
Something heavier for the earthdog in us all:
Enjoy!
