Help a metal newbie :)

[Dreamfall]

I've been a huge fan of Nightwish for as long as they've been around. Amazing band. Then I read a small note on some website that said if you like Nightwish, check out Arwen. So I checked out Arwen and I was blown away. Weeks later all I still have on my playlist is Arwen, Arwen, and more Arwen.

Can anyone recommend another "metal" band along these lines? It seems I'm very particular about specific genres within metal. That is to say, I don't like metal where it's just some dude screaming into a microphone and it's impossible to understand what he's saying. That's just like wtf m8^^ to me. Bands like Cradle of Filth and Metallica and such do absolutely nothing for me. But very...hmm...what's the word, "symphonic" maybe? metal bands are like orgasmicly amazing to me. Arwen and Nightwish, for instance, use piano and occasionally choir and strings and synths, mixed with some heavy and amazing guitar. The site that recommended Arwen called them "Symphonic power metal," though as a newbie to metal I have no idea what this means, nor do I know how to go about finding other bands in this same "sub-genre."

Spread the metal love please

Thanks
Mike

 

[Alex78]

Rhapsody

 

[MasterOLightning]

Symphony X

 

[Procella]

Check out some Therion albums, but rather these later. You may like also Tristania.

Very good band - if you don't mind lyrics in German - is Lacrimosa. Listen to their new album 'Lichtgestalt' or the most famous one - 'Elodia'.

Less 'symphonic' but really good is Amorphis - start with 'Tuonela'.

I also suggest you listening to 'Mandylion' by The Gathering.

You should also listen to Evergrey - 'Recreation Day' is their best album, 'In Search Of Truth" is very good too.

As for suggestions already made:
Symphony X is a good suggestion. This is interesting, though not really original band. My favourite song from them is 'Sea Of Lies'.
I don't like Rhapsody, but listen to it and decide yourself.

 

[Thraxz]

Blind Guardian - any of there last three albums.

 

[Dreamfall]

Thanks guys!

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

Try some Lost Horizon.

 

[Nag]

if youlike nightwish Try out Without Face [HUN] and After Forever[dont care where they are from heh]

 

[theyellowdart]

Edenbridge. They aren't very heavy but they have a good singer.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

LOST HORIZON

 

[Life Sucks]

Thy Majestie

 

[Impure616]

Symphony X
Dis Pater
Maybe Winter Sun
And for shure check out Arcturus, they kick ass my favourite cd is
The Sham Mirrors

 

[MetalAges]

Ebony Ark, Mechanical Poet

 

[Evil Dead]

King Diamond

 

[Procella]

If you like Nightwish, you should listen to 'Fallen' by For My Pain..., with Tuomas on keyboard.

 

[Ganymede]

I reccomend Pecattum, though there is some some screaming, and it only sometimes sounds like metal. Peccatum is just bizarre, fascinating, entrancing music.

 

[D-KOM]

Within Temptation
Lacuna Coil
Lullacry

 

[The Grimace]

Listen to Borknagar. Learn to enjoy extreme vocals.

EDIT: And teh Opeth too.

 

[CF87]

Theatre of Tragedy-velvet darkness they fear
Leaves' Eyes-Lovelorn

Liv Kristine owns Tarja.

 

[Freanan]

Blind Guardian.
They are not as "gothic" as the bands you mentioned and there are no female vocals, but they are being epic in a good way (imo).
They were my first Metal band and i still like their last three albums, although i listen mostly to underground black metal these days - so they are definitely a recommendation for newbies.
Start with "Nightfall in Middle Earth".