Metal with choirs

[Vimana]

So are there any Metal bands that use choirs. And I'm looking for something along the lines of the first two minutes of "Walls Of Babylon" by Symphony X.

 

[waif]

Haven't heard that song, so I'm just gonna name stuff that uses mad choirs.
Rhapsody
Nightwish
Avantasia
Dimmu Borgir
etc

 

[mutantllama]

Blind Guardian. Even though it is mostly Hansi layering.

 

[Einherjar86]

If you want bands with mad use of choirs:

Turisas (The Varangian Way)
Moonsorrow (Kivenkantaja is my favorite record, but all are good)
Hollenthon (With Vilest of Worms to Dwell)
Therion (Secret of the Runes; completely choir vocals)

 

[S.U.A.D.]

Epica is pretty cool. At least, the only band I like with that kind of style.

 

[naboo]

This may not be exactly what you're looking for, but The Sign of the Cross by Iron Maiden has some badass, dark chanting.

 

[General Zaroff]

Behemoth - The Apostasy

The trumpets and choirs are real. No fancy synths here.

 

[Alteredmindeath]

Summoning-Stronghold

 

[Hypnos]

Ashes II Ashes - Cardinal VII

 

[Black Friday]

A better example using the choir theme would probably be stuff from Divine Wings Of Tragedy OP.

 

[The Butt]

Rammstein used choirs a lot on their last two albums.

They're not exactly what *some* (cough, cough), would consider metal though.

 

[S<issors]

Summoning-Stronghold

aye

 

[Vimana]

A better example using the choir theme would probably be stuff from Divine Wings Of Tragedy OP.

Thanks, just checked it out, I'll buy it once I get some money.

 

[Black Friday]

Thanks, just checked it out, I'll buy it once I get some money.

Yeah, Paradise Lost is great, but is the tip of the iceberg compared to their older stuff.

 

[naboo]

Summoning-Stronghold

I dunno man, Oathbound has more choirs I think. Check out Land of the Dead. Best. Song. Ever. Not exactly like Walls of Babylon though...

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Therion is the best operatic metal band. Everything they did from 1998 to 2004 should fit your specs.

 

[Einherjar86]

^Absolutely, Vihris is right. The vocals on Secret of the Runes are completely choir vocals, as are the vocals on Deggial and Vovin, I believe.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

I think all Therion albums have a mix of solo and choir vocals, actually. But they're all still overwhelmingly operatic in style.

 

[Einherjar86]

That's true, I didn't distinguish between solo and choir; but Secret of the Runes, Deggial, and Vovin all have purely operatic/choir vocals. Some of their other albums, like Lemuria/Sirius B or Gothic Kabbalah, have some rock leads. That's all I meant to distinguish.