New to metal, trying to narrow what I like...

[phantoms_of_sublimity]

Hello. Firstly I should say that after browsing around a bit, I’ve enjoyed this forum thus far.

I’m very new to metal, and so far I have only discovered several bands/genres that I thoroughly enjoy, and I was wondering if individuals here could help me broaden my collection. Of course limited funds is another issue, unfortunately, but I’ll list artists I’ve read/heard about and whose music I’m planning to purchase as well as the ones I already own.

I have always loved complex, dramatic music in the minor key, I just never really had the opportunity for metal.

I am a bit of a late-bloomer regarding knowledgability of artists/composers in specific genres partly do to moral/religious upbringing. Metal is included here, of course. I still retain some of the same moral views, however, and will separate from certain things.

In Flames’ Jester Race/Black Ash Inheritance and Colony served as my introduction to (more modern) metal very recently. I was in someone's car and the 'introduction' was sort of accidental. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed what I heard, becoming a fan instantly. I now have most of their albums (the only reason I do not own all of them is financial, of course).

Other bands that were recommended or that I have found, not in any order of preference (I realize they differ in subgenre):

- Blind Guardian (I have Somewhere Far Beyond and The Night at the Opera)

- Shadows Fall (I have The Art of Balance and Threads of Life)

- Dark Tranquility (I own Character)

- Opeth (I have Orchid and Ghost Reveries)

- Mastodon (I have Leviathan and Blood Mountain)

- The Sword (I have Age of Winters)

I don’t know if they’re considered metal but of course Dream Theater was recommended as well as the related project Liquid Tension Experiment/Liquid Trio Experiment. have a growing list of other bands, but still it is difficult to narrow it. I have no way of knowing which direction to go. I have come to find that I love Scandinavian metal in general; I always find that particular sound magnificent. Though for subgenres, melodic death metal (though I suppose it’s related), progressive metal (and progressive rock), and “stoner” metal (forgive me if I’ve mislabeled anything). There are others that I’ve heard that I enjoy, but those are my favorite so far.

Though I plan to get more melodic death metal, or related music (At The Gates, early Soilwork, Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth.) I know they’re more folk metal, but I also really like Ensiferum, and (possibly moreso,) Wintersun.

I know it might be irritating to others here, (I’m sure you have your selection of entertaining names for people like me) but partially due to my moral/religious background and partly to personal taste, I can’t get into black metal or pure death metal (mostly). I am sensitive to things that are particularly morbid, and such lyrics often include those things (obviously). I am also sort of picky when it comes to vocals (hence part of the reason I don’t listen to more extreme subgenres). Aside from an obvious inclination toward singing, of course, for edgier vocals I prefer the type used on In Flames’ Colony for example. If the vocals will be guttural, I like what Opeth has done, by weaving more melodic passages and other genres (especially the progressive, anything with a progressive nature always captures my interest).

I have a penchant for melody, and complexity as well as creativity and the refusal to sacrifice art for other more superficial means.

Anyway, I apologize that this was so long, thank you, if you’ve read this far. If anyone is willing to help me, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PowerSpirit]

Sonata Arctica is a really good band to check out if you like Blind Guardian. Has some of the best lyrics in metal.

Also check out Disillusion - Back to the Times of Splendor. Really amazing progressive death metal album for fans of Opeth.

 

[Orion Crystal Ice]

Welcome...don't be too scared off.. you know some people are going to be jerks, outwardly or hinting at it. Generally it's a cool board and not as gay as other some boards I've been at.

Now to attempt some help..

I do this a lot, but I would recommend Rage to you. Simply because, they have a wide range of stuff that has been both aggressive and prog *flavored* and has also retained the lethal eye for melody you mention. The lyrics are clean and often intelligent as well, although there is of course the slight English barrier that German bands tend to have. Two good examples of different sounds and stages throughout the career:








Second band...Zero Hour...progressive and adventerous, heavy, dark..but not too "out there" for someone who would be adverse to say 'shredding' or things that draw heavily outside of metal influence. Lyrics clean, very intelligent. Sometimes there is an honest and genuine spiritual slant lyrically which can also be enriching. Two songs again:






Third band...Darkseed...this is an utterly excellent band commonly listed under the gothic metal umbrella.. but they have a lot of classic metal influences and a very sort of..intimate, singer-songwriter feel to the songs as well at times. Clean, intelligent, and very emotionally expressive lyrics. Two songs showing where they span sonically:





I'll try and contribute more tomorrow. Have fun.

 

[Savern]

I'll second the rec on Sonata Arctica definately worth checking out. Can also see you enjoying Kamelot as well.

Gojira are a heavy,prog death metal band from France who's lyrics tend to be about the environment. This is a way for you to enjoy some heavy heavy shit without having to put up with boring gore/anti christian lyrics. I really like them, From Mars to Sirius is probably the best Album to start with.

If you like Ensiferum then I would also suggest Turisas (really fun Folk metal and epic orchestration) Both their albums, Battle Metal and The Varangian Way are both excellent.

Kalmah are another good Melo-death band worth checking out - I've only got the Black Waltz (Their latest) though.

 

[Ultimate_Symphony]

Melodic Death:

Soilwork
Darkane
Kalmah
Disarmonia Mundi
Skyfire
Unanimated
Dawn Of Dreams
Intestine Baalism

Prog and Symphonic Metal:

Symphony X
Adagio
Zero Hour
Spiral Architect
Andromeda
After Forever
Into Eternity
Fates Warning

Folk Metal (or folk influenced):

Empyrium
Aeternus
Nokturnal Mortum
Einherjer
October Falls
Manegarm
Pagan Reign
Temnozor
Skyclad
Windir

That should keep you busy

 

[challenge_everything]

Also check out Disillusion - Back to the Times of Splendor. Really amazing progressive death metal album for fans of Opeth.

Seconded.

 

[Orion Crystal Ice]

If you end up liking Sonata Arctica..or maybe even if you don't... I would consider Labyrinth...progressive leaning power metal with an exciting spirit about it. Clean lyrics, albeit in extremely broken English..love the Italians..two songs:






If you end up liking Fates Warning, Queensrÿche is another excellent place to go, those two bands are common introductions and top notch examples of the progressive/power/classic metal American sound. Intelligent socio-political lyrics....in their period of being good at least. For most people I really wouldn't recommend listening to anything past 1993. Two songs:

 

[Ross]

I've only got the Black Waltz (Their latest) though.

thats not the latest. For the Revolution is the latest.

anyways i would recommend Kiuas for the power metal side of things, great band though the new record is meh

but i think you should go with whatever anyone else said, some good recommendations

 

[Burkhard]

As far as progressive metal is concerned, I recommend the Norwegian band Atrox, especially their album "Terrestrials". You can download some songs from the Discography-section of their official website. If the vocals on this album (as well as on "Contentum" and "Orgasm") should sound too unusual to your ears, you might perhaps like their newest album better (which features only male vocals).

Apart from seconding the recommendation of Fates Warning ("The Spectre Within","Awaken The Guardian" and "Perfect Symmetry" are my favourite albums by them), I also recommend Psychotic Waltz (especially their first two albums "A Social Grace" and "Into The Everflow"), Sieges Even (except of their debut "Life Cycle" and "Sophisticated", they are more progressive rock than metal, though) and Shadow Gallery.

 

[metal_wrath]

Edge of Sanity

 

[Seditious]

you know Metal will rob you of your precious soul, whether or not it's explicitly morbid, right?

 

[muzmaze]

I have a penchant for melody, and complexity as well as creativity and the refusal to sacrifice art for other more superficial means.

Three different style bands that encompass this.

IMO, the best (fairly new) metal bands out there today.
-Pagans Mind
-Communic
-Pyramaze


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srWmsILIZ-Y&feature=PlayList&p=BF963511EBF00C39&playnext=1&index=3[/ame]

 

[General Zaroff]

Get Mastodon's Remission album

 

[Orion Crystal Ice]

+++++++++ to the Pagan's Mind.

Personally, I really don't like Communic, but I guess you'll decide for yourself.

 

[Dysterhet]

Temnozor

Yep, awesome stuff with lyrics influenced by national socialism.

If your moral views are not comfortable with black metal, stay away from this genre. I won't comment anymore because I pretend to stay here.

 

[waif]

- Blind Guardian (I have Somewhere Far Beyond and The Night at the Opera)

- Shadows Fall (I have The Art of Balance and Threads of Life)

- Dark Tranquility (I own Character)

- Opeth (I have Orchid and Ghost Reveries)

- Mastodon (I have Leviathan and Blood Mountain)

- The Sword (I have Age of Winters)

I'm gonna assume that the moral/religious thing means no overt satanism and no excessive gore.

First off, from those bands...
Get Live by Blind Guardian. Besides being one of the best live albums ever imo it'll act as a sort of catalog for you. You can figure out what you want from there.

From Opeth get My Arms Your Hearse, Still Live, and Damnation. You can stop there.

From Shadows Fall, The War Within and Of One Blood are excellent.

From Dark Tranquility, get The Gallery. This is pretty much exactly what you want. Also try Skydancer/Of Chaos And Eternal Night and Fiction.

You should also try Soilwork, Scar Symmetry, and Kalmah.
You should also try Hammerheart and the Nordland albums by Bathory. Their early and some of the 90s stuff is raw evil black metal but the stuff mentioned is epic Nordic metal. Great stuff.

Other folk metal stuff worth trying would be Skyclad, Elvenking, and Eluveitie.

Now, I know you said you don't like black metal, but try to be open-minded here. Listen to In The Nightside Eclipse by Emperor. Not overtly satanic, by the way. Aside from the last song. W/e. Give it a shot.

 

[PowerSpirit]

you know Metal will rob you of your precious soul, whether or not it's explicitly morbid, right?

What are you saying by this? Are you trying to implicit that metal will ruin this guy's personality? Not all genres have that effect, just look at thrash, power, and progressive metal. Many of the albums from that genre aren't "soulraping" imo. If you listen to the right genres of metal, you won't become most of the metalheads U meet on the site.

 

[Janga666]

What are you saying by this? Are you trying to implicit that metal will ruin this guy's personality? Not all genres have that effect, just look at thrash, power, and progressive metal. Many of the albums from that genre aren't "soulraping" imo. If you listen to the right genres of metal, you won't become most of the metalheads U meet on the site.

Music won't change your personality or "rape your soul"... whatever that means.

 

[waif]

Guys...there's an important skill you'll need when browsing this forum. That skill would be recognizing when someone is joking.

 

[Uthark]

I doubt he is tbh. Check the Behexen topic.