European Gothic, etc. Metal
Metal is pretty misunderstood. I was originally introduced to metal through my cousins and we mostly listened to Metallica ("Master of Puppets" was my fave). I liked the complex song structures and all-around good song writing. But most other metal bands I just didn't care for - especially hair metal and power metal (Def Leppard, Poison, Motley Crüe and the like). Just too much machismo and aggression.
Years and years later, Trey and I stumbled upon European metal - specifically gothic metal and its related genres, especially symphonic metal, the likes of which simply don't exist in North America. Its all very epic, much of it is non-formulaic, and they aren't writing for radio or lables as much as they write for themselves so you get some pretty creative stuff. It appeals to the epic adventurer side of my imagination as well as the part of me that always wanted to love metal a bit more but found most of it to have too much machismo and aggression (symphonic metal is nearly always fronted by a female singer).
This is more for my sense of fun via list-making but if you find it interesting then yay. ;)
GENRES, SUBGENRES & RELATED GENRES
Heavy Metal Music: This is the parent genre. Its normally easily identifiable but sometimes hard rock can be confused for metal. Wikipedia says it is distinguished by a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion and extended guitar solos. Allmusic states that "of all rock & roll's myriad forms, heavy metal is the most extreme in terms of volume, machismo, and theatricality." and loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Subgenres may omit some of these elements, but generally the heavy guitars tie it all together.
Gothic Metal is characterised by dark, often gloomy lyrics (à la gothic rock) combined with the aggression of heavy metal music. It originated in the 1990's in Europe, the child of death/doom metal. It has become very diverse, bands often borrowing from other sub-genres (like symphonic or folk metals) and a mix of both male and female vocals can be found, sometimes both in the same group. Gothic metal is famous for "beauty & beast" vocals, in which the genders sing opposite roles of light/angelic and aggressive, the male often using "death growls". Luckily not all gothic metals use death growls. Also significant in Gothic metal and all its sub-genres is the use of keyboards. Since the turn of the century, many gothic metal bands have dropped the death growls and have been creating their songs in a more formulaic way, allowing gothic metal to be a common sight on European music charts.
One major thing to keep in mind is that there is a giant division between European Gothic metal and North American Gothic Metal, the European variety being and older and more fully developed, solid genre while the North American variety is more of a sub-genre flavor.
Symphonic Metal is technically the description used when a symphony orchestra (or keyboards that sound like one) or other classical elements are used in the music. As a genre, however, it often is a sub-genre of gothic metal in particular. One signature of symphonic metal as a genre is the prevalence of female vocalists, sometimes using operatic techniques. The music itself tends to be more melodic than 'straight' gothic metal and though can be melancholy is usually more on the positive side, and the lyrics tend to be more mystical, often leaning towards fantasy. When a band is said to have 'symphonic elements' it is generally meant that they make use of minor classical or operatic themes. Symphonic Metal is often seen as a child of both Gothic and Power metal, though not all Symphonic metal bands use elements of these.
Power Metal is a common form of metal familiar to more Americans than these other genres. It features more clean, melodic guitars with a lot of power chords, giving the music a more "positive" rather than depressive feel, seeking to empower and energize the listener. Men will often sing higher pitched (think Def Leppard). Double-bass drumming is also a signature of power metal. Though most songs are quicker-paced, power metal is also known for its big ballads as well.
Doom Metal is highly atmospheric, featuring slow tempos and a heavier, denser, lower sound, often by down-tuning the guitars. Often the lyrics are of despair and impending doom or other deep introspections. Early Black Sabbath is a great example of this genre. Some gothic metal bands have their roots in doom metal, as Doom metal is a parent of Gothic metal itself.
Folk Metal often gets blended in to Symphonic metal due to folk elements lending themselves nicely to the mystical or fantastical themes found in Symphonic music. Folk metal is characterised by the use of traditional instruments, songs, and lyrics. It is a highly diverse genre covering every combination of metal and folk as well as many European cultures, especially Celtic and Viking, the latter of which has its own aggressive subgenre.
Progressive Metal is difficult to explain and is not often associated with Gothic metal, but some bands I like have evolved into progressive metal or are progressive rock and borrow from the metal genres. It is generally complex music in every way, often using uncommon time signatures, having long and VERY long songs, and using technical and complex structures with virtuosic instrument playing. Solos are very detailed and long, and vocals are often minimized.
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GOTHIC, SYMPHONIC, & RELATED BANDS
This is pretty much a list of bands I have actually heard, though there are a LOT more out there. I tend to prefer female vocalists, so my collection of bands tends to revolve around the Symphonic genre, which is dominated by female vocalists. I am putting them in chronological order so I can see who influenced who, first. ;)
I make note next to their names the year they formed, the country they are from, and the genre/sub-genres related to the band:
G - Gothic
S - Symphonic
Po - Power
F - Folk
D - Doom
Pr - Progressive
The Gathering (1989 - G, D, Pr) Netherlands.
The Gathering have been a major force in the European metal scene. They started out as more of a doom metal band and have kept a more introspective, atmospheric approach to their music, though the way they go about it is more progressive. They were one of the first bands to incorporate keyboards as well as the first band to have soley female vocals. They have evolved from gothic-influenced metal to somber alt-rock over the course of their career. Their vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen has long been a favorite of mine and has since left to work on her solo career after 6 albums with The Gathering.
Theatre of Tragedy (1992 - G, D, S) Norway.
Theatre of Tragedy's first albums contributed a lot to the creation and evolution of the Gothic metal genre. Their first two albums were doom/death metal, featuring beauty & beast vocals (death-growls vs. light soprano). Their first three albums were written in Old English, another anomaly. Their best-known and loved album is their third, "Aegis" which did away with the death growls and began to use symphonic elements. From there the band morphed into an industrial-rock/electro metal act for two albums before firing female vocalist Liv Kristine and hiring a new vocalist for their return to gothic-rock/metal album "Storm". One significant theme is that of the male voice generally singing the verses with the female singing the choruses with only slight mixing.
Lacuna Coil (1994 - G) Italy.
Lacuna Coil's overall work is more energetic than most Gothic rock/metal bands and has evolved from slightly darker and more metal in their earlier work to more of a radio-friendly rock-metal on their current work. They are known for their dual male/female hamonies and for being more marketable than other bands of their genre, having had radio play in North America.
Flowing Tears (1994 - G) Germany.
Female vocals, gothic rock-metal, similar to Lacuna Coil and Beseech, though rougher. I don't have much of their stuff.
After Forever (1995 - Po, G) Netherlands.
They started out as a death metal band but with the addition of their female vocalist shifted toward Gothic metal, though they retain much of their power metal stylings (fast pace, powerful vocals, double-drumming). They use male vocals in the form of death grunts. I haven't heard enough to say more, though they remind me of Nightwish.
Nightwish (1996 - Po, G, S) Finland.
Despite forming two years after popular band Lacuna Coil, Nightwish hit the scene right away with albums before other 1994 bands did, and since then Nightwish has become arguably the most famous, most decorated melodic gothic metal band in the world. Self-described as "melodic heavy metal with a female vocalist", Nightwish uses Power metal drumming and mood elements and (until recently) female operatic vocals. Inspired by film soundtracks, Nightwish is one of the bands responsible for the creation of the Symphonic metal genre with their heavy keyboard/string sound, though they do not fit neatly into this category. With their new bassist (2001-present), Marco Hietala, powerful male vocals were added to the mix. Nighwish's music is some of the most epic in the metal world, having a 'larger than life' style, especially on later albums.
Within Temptation (1996 - S) Netherlands.
Award-winning, chart-topping Within Temptation has primarily been a symphonic band their entire career and one of the more purely so, though their most recent work is more gothic/symphonic rock than metal. WT has gone through a big evolution throughout their career, no two albums sounding quite the same. Their first album was very dark and was the only one to utilize male death-growls and beauty & the beast vocals but it also had the most complex structures. WT is known for its fantastical and pagan lyrics, sung by soprano Sharon den Adel, who manages to never sound dark or depressed. A signature band of the symphonic genre that helped it to become what it is today.
Tristania (1997 - G, D) Norway.
Their earlier albums have a lot of death/doom influence but they have since evolved away to a more pure gothic sound. I only have their newest album but apparently they made use of female operatic vocals in choruses on their earlier albums while the male voice (sometimes clean, sometimes death growl) does most of the verses. They also make use of choirs.
Xandria (1997 - G, S) Germany.
Xandria is interesting to categorize, leaning more toward the rock side rather than metal, but utilizing gothic stylings as well as symphonic instrumentation and keyboards. Female-fronted, they are noted for their "exotic" eastern flair and mythical themes. Their music tends to be powerful and large.
Beseech (1998 - G) Sweden.
Beseech is firmly in the Gothic Rock/Metal category (similar to Lacuna Coil), leaning more toward the rock side of things and being very radio friendly. They feature dual male bass/female vocals and have since disbanded after their 2005 album.
Elis (2000 - G) Liechtenstein.
Of the bands on my list, Elis is the most purely Gothic metal where many of the others lean toward rock (Lacuna Coil, Beseech, Xandria), with grinding guitars, great metal solos, thrashing drums, and dark lyrics, retaining the Gothic keyboards in the mix, and sometimes using male death vocals. Their third album was their last with vocalist Sabine Dünser, who died just after finishing her vocals. With the main songwriter gone, the styling of "Griefshire" is something of a departure from their previous work, sounding thicker with the addition of semi-operatic vocals and choir.
Sirenia (2001 - G, S) Norway.
I don't know much about this band though they have been significant in the gothic metal scene. They are female-fronted (operatic) with both clean and death-grunt male vocals. They are influenced by extreme and death metal, using melodic/symphonic instrumentals and synths. They can be compared to Tristania, as the main member/songwriter of the band, Morten Veland, was a founding member of both bands.
Delain (2002 - S) Netherlands.
Delain is a unique project founded by original Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt who left WT due to illness. The project features newcomer vocalist Charlotte Wessels along with a collection of top-notch musicians and a guest-musician/vocalist a mile long (including Nightwish bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala, WT vocalist Sharon den Adel, and Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine). Not surprisingly, Delain is similar to mid-era Within Temptation and Nightwish, including powerful ballads, always retaining the positive bend made signature by Within Temptation.
Leaves' Eyes (2003 - S, G, F) Norway, Germany.
Leaves' Eyes was created when vocalist Liv Kristine was fired from Theatre of Tragedy. She and her husband's band, Atrocity, combined to create a symphonic metal band that takes thematic cues from folk music, usually about vikings and other epic things. Leaves' Eyes can be compared to Within Temptation in its powerful yet never dark sound and soprano female vocals but retains a heavier guitar crunch. Leaves' Eyes stands out with its strong lyrical ties to nature and seafaring adventure, keeping with the themes across three albums, sometimes accompanied by aggressive male growling vocals.
Midnattsol (2003 - S, F, G) Germany, Norway.
Midnattsol is heavier than some other symphonic bands, using heavier guitars and more double-drumming, but stands out with their heavy use of folk melodies and lyrics based in Norwegian folk tales. They prefer to be described as "Nordic folk metal", tending to be darker than other symphonic bands overall. They remind me of a folky Elis. Interestingly, Midnattsol is fronted by Carmen Elise Espenæs, sister to Liv Kristine, Leaves' Eyes and former Theatre of Tragedy vocalist.
Epica (2003 - S) Netherlands.
Created by former After Forever guitarist, Epica is a female-fronted symphonic metal band. Vocalist Simone Simmons provides primarily operatic vocals, accompanied by male death growls. Their music is highly symphonic in the most literal sense, utilizing choirs and string orchestras and is probably the most strict in its orchestral stylings.
Stream of Passion (2005 - Pr, S, G) Netherlands.
A progressive metal band using a lot of symphonic elements. The members of this band (which is more of a project) live thousands of miles apart, with female vocalist Marcela Bovio hailing from Mexico, so much of the music is composed via the internet. I don't know much else about this band yet, though they remind me of Delain's symphonic elements combined with The Gathering.
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RELATED BANDS
Agua de Annique 2007, Netherlands.
This is the solo project started by Anneke van Giersbergen after she left The Gathering. A trained jazz vocalist and pianist, this album would fit in well with The Gathering's last album, "Home" with its laid back pace and subdued electric guitars. Though definitely not metal, fans of The Gathering will feel at home with Anneke on this album. Its hard to categorize - its rock, it has introspective lyrics, uses horns in some solo sections, and has an edge to every song.
AnaDies USA
They are a newer, small band that I saw open for Within Temptation. They use interesting off-beat tempos, remeniscent of No Doubt but their music is definetly metal/rock and obviously influenced by the European bands that originated the genre. Fronted by a strong female vocalist and accompanied sometimes with background male death growls. I really hope they do well because they bring an interesting American dynamic to the genre without ruining it. ;)
Evanescence (1995) USA.
You probably know them. Whenever "gothic metal" is mentioned in the US, people think of Evanescence, who really do not belong to the genre at all. They do have gothic rock stylings but are still more of an alt-rock group. Their classification is hotly debated in the metal community, with European metal fans generally saying that Evanescence does not belong. Looking at the founding date, it is obvious that they evolved outside the European genres and only later incorporated symphonic elements. Overall they do not sound anything much like their European cousins.
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ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS
Within Temptation
If you can get your hands on it, I recommend "Mother Earth" due to its large variety of songs and overall happy nature. Though it is inconsistent in some ways, it contains some of the biggest symphonic metal hits of all time, plus many of my favorites.
Nightwish
Their "Oceanborn" album is more energetic and positive than their other fare and has great hits. "Once" and "Century Child" are classic mid-era Nightwish with some of their best songwriting. "Dark Passion Play" is a must because it is their first with new, non-operatic singer Anette Olson and has Nightwish's most diverse and bombastic music yet.
Theatre of Tragedy
"Aegis" is one of the most solid of the gothic/symphonic metal genre, tinged with a slower doom sensibility but without any death growls. It is sung entirely in Old English and carries a theme of women of myth. The songs are never fast nor too slow and are just pure beauty.
Elis
"God's Silence, Devil's Temptation", their first album, is pure awesome. Missing from a lot of more symphonic gothic metal are the guitar solos but this album has stunning metal guitars. Sabine's voice (RIP) is unique but she sings clear. The German lyrics are sung lightly and clearly as well.
The Gathering
"Nighttime Birds" was made right in the middle of their gothic metal era. Vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen is one of my favorite singers of all-time, her voice doing acrobatics like those of Sarah McLachlan. The progressive metal elements keep The Gathering unique and very atmospheric.
Lacuna Coil
"Comalies" is the best gothic rock-metal album I have heard, solid all the way through with its wall-of-sound guitars and keyboards and take-no-prisoners vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. This album rocks without being cheezy and never brings you down.
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SONG RECOMMENDATIONS
Within Temptation: "Ice Queen", "Neverending Story", "Restless", "The Cross", "Running Up that Hill", "Memories" - Within Temptation
Nightwish: "Gethsemane", "Moondance", "Sleeping Sun", "Over the Hills and Far Away", "Bless the Child", "Beauty of the Beast", "Ever Dream", "Dark Chest of Wonders", "Nemo", "High Hopes", "Amaranth", "Sahara", "The Islander"
Leaves' Eyes: "Tale of the Sea Maid", "For Amelie", "Elegy"
Theatre of Tragedy: "Cassandra", "Angelique", "Ashes and Dreams", "Debris"
Lacuna Coil: "Veins of Glass", "To Myself I Turned", "Cold Heritage", "Stars", "Purify", "Entwined", "Heaven's a Lie", "What I See", "Enjoy the Silence"
Elis: "Such a Long Time", "Sie Erfasst Mein Herz", "Betrayal", "Anger", "Devil Inside You", "Ballade"
Beseech: "Between the Lines", "A Season in Green", "Forever Falling", "Innerlane", "Emotional Decay"
The Gathering: "Eleanor", "In Motion #1", "On Most Surfaces", "The May Song", "Rescue Me", "Probably Built in the 50's", "Rollercoaster", "Saturnine", "You Learn About It"
Delain: "Frozen", "See Me In Shadow", "The Gathering"
Xandria: "Cassablanca", "Now and Forever", "Black and Silver", "Who We Are"
Stream of Passion: "Out in the Real World"
Years and years later, Trey and I stumbled upon European metal - specifically gothic metal and its related genres, especially symphonic metal, the likes of which simply don't exist in North America. Its all very epic, much of it is non-formulaic, and they aren't writing for radio or lables as much as they write for themselves so you get some pretty creative stuff. It appeals to the epic adventurer side of my imagination as well as the part of me that always wanted to love metal a bit more but found most of it to have too much machismo and aggression (symphonic metal is nearly always fronted by a female singer).
This is more for my sense of fun via list-making but if you find it interesting then yay. ;)
GENRES, SUBGENRES & RELATED GENRES
Heavy Metal Music: This is the parent genre. Its normally easily identifiable but sometimes hard rock can be confused for metal. Wikipedia says it is distinguished by a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion and extended guitar solos. Allmusic states that "of all rock & roll's myriad forms, heavy metal is the most extreme in terms of volume, machismo, and theatricality." and loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Subgenres may omit some of these elements, but generally the heavy guitars tie it all together.
Gothic Metal is characterised by dark, often gloomy lyrics (à la gothic rock) combined with the aggression of heavy metal music. It originated in the 1990's in Europe, the child of death/doom metal. It has become very diverse, bands often borrowing from other sub-genres (like symphonic or folk metals) and a mix of both male and female vocals can be found, sometimes both in the same group. Gothic metal is famous for "beauty & beast" vocals, in which the genders sing opposite roles of light/angelic and aggressive, the male often using "death growls". Luckily not all gothic metals use death growls. Also significant in Gothic metal and all its sub-genres is the use of keyboards. Since the turn of the century, many gothic metal bands have dropped the death growls and have been creating their songs in a more formulaic way, allowing gothic metal to be a common sight on European music charts.
One major thing to keep in mind is that there is a giant division between European Gothic metal and North American Gothic Metal, the European variety being and older and more fully developed, solid genre while the North American variety is more of a sub-genre flavor.
Symphonic Metal is technically the description used when a symphony orchestra (or keyboards that sound like one) or other classical elements are used in the music. As a genre, however, it often is a sub-genre of gothic metal in particular. One signature of symphonic metal as a genre is the prevalence of female vocalists, sometimes using operatic techniques. The music itself tends to be more melodic than 'straight' gothic metal and though can be melancholy is usually more on the positive side, and the lyrics tend to be more mystical, often leaning towards fantasy. When a band is said to have 'symphonic elements' it is generally meant that they make use of minor classical or operatic themes. Symphonic Metal is often seen as a child of both Gothic and Power metal, though not all Symphonic metal bands use elements of these.
Power Metal is a common form of metal familiar to more Americans than these other genres. It features more clean, melodic guitars with a lot of power chords, giving the music a more "positive" rather than depressive feel, seeking to empower and energize the listener. Men will often sing higher pitched (think Def Leppard). Double-bass drumming is also a signature of power metal. Though most songs are quicker-paced, power metal is also known for its big ballads as well.
Doom Metal is highly atmospheric, featuring slow tempos and a heavier, denser, lower sound, often by down-tuning the guitars. Often the lyrics are of despair and impending doom or other deep introspections. Early Black Sabbath is a great example of this genre. Some gothic metal bands have their roots in doom metal, as Doom metal is a parent of Gothic metal itself.
Folk Metal often gets blended in to Symphonic metal due to folk elements lending themselves nicely to the mystical or fantastical themes found in Symphonic music. Folk metal is characterised by the use of traditional instruments, songs, and lyrics. It is a highly diverse genre covering every combination of metal and folk as well as many European cultures, especially Celtic and Viking, the latter of which has its own aggressive subgenre.
Progressive Metal is difficult to explain and is not often associated with Gothic metal, but some bands I like have evolved into progressive metal or are progressive rock and borrow from the metal genres. It is generally complex music in every way, often using uncommon time signatures, having long and VERY long songs, and using technical and complex structures with virtuosic instrument playing. Solos are very detailed and long, and vocals are often minimized.
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GOTHIC, SYMPHONIC, & RELATED BANDS
This is pretty much a list of bands I have actually heard, though there are a LOT more out there. I tend to prefer female vocalists, so my collection of bands tends to revolve around the Symphonic genre, which is dominated by female vocalists. I am putting them in chronological order so I can see who influenced who, first. ;)
I make note next to their names the year they formed, the country they are from, and the genre/sub-genres related to the band:
G - Gothic
S - Symphonic
Po - Power
F - Folk
D - Doom
Pr - Progressive
The Gathering (1989 - G, D, Pr) Netherlands.
The Gathering have been a major force in the European metal scene. They started out as more of a doom metal band and have kept a more introspective, atmospheric approach to their music, though the way they go about it is more progressive. They were one of the first bands to incorporate keyboards as well as the first band to have soley female vocals. They have evolved from gothic-influenced metal to somber alt-rock over the course of their career. Their vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen has long been a favorite of mine and has since left to work on her solo career after 6 albums with The Gathering.
Theatre of Tragedy (1992 - G, D, S) Norway.
Theatre of Tragedy's first albums contributed a lot to the creation and evolution of the Gothic metal genre. Their first two albums were doom/death metal, featuring beauty & beast vocals (death-growls vs. light soprano). Their first three albums were written in Old English, another anomaly. Their best-known and loved album is their third, "Aegis" which did away with the death growls and began to use symphonic elements. From there the band morphed into an industrial-rock/electro metal act for two albums before firing female vocalist Liv Kristine and hiring a new vocalist for their return to gothic-rock/metal album "Storm". One significant theme is that of the male voice generally singing the verses with the female singing the choruses with only slight mixing.
Lacuna Coil (1994 - G) Italy.
Lacuna Coil's overall work is more energetic than most Gothic rock/metal bands and has evolved from slightly darker and more metal in their earlier work to more of a radio-friendly rock-metal on their current work. They are known for their dual male/female hamonies and for being more marketable than other bands of their genre, having had radio play in North America.
Flowing Tears (1994 - G) Germany.
Female vocals, gothic rock-metal, similar to Lacuna Coil and Beseech, though rougher. I don't have much of their stuff.
After Forever (1995 - Po, G) Netherlands.
They started out as a death metal band but with the addition of their female vocalist shifted toward Gothic metal, though they retain much of their power metal stylings (fast pace, powerful vocals, double-drumming). They use male vocals in the form of death grunts. I haven't heard enough to say more, though they remind me of Nightwish.
Nightwish (1996 - Po, G, S) Finland.
Despite forming two years after popular band Lacuna Coil, Nightwish hit the scene right away with albums before other 1994 bands did, and since then Nightwish has become arguably the most famous, most decorated melodic gothic metal band in the world. Self-described as "melodic heavy metal with a female vocalist", Nightwish uses Power metal drumming and mood elements and (until recently) female operatic vocals. Inspired by film soundtracks, Nightwish is one of the bands responsible for the creation of the Symphonic metal genre with their heavy keyboard/string sound, though they do not fit neatly into this category. With their new bassist (2001-present), Marco Hietala, powerful male vocals were added to the mix. Nighwish's music is some of the most epic in the metal world, having a 'larger than life' style, especially on later albums.
Within Temptation (1996 - S) Netherlands.
Award-winning, chart-topping Within Temptation has primarily been a symphonic band their entire career and one of the more purely so, though their most recent work is more gothic/symphonic rock than metal. WT has gone through a big evolution throughout their career, no two albums sounding quite the same. Their first album was very dark and was the only one to utilize male death-growls and beauty & the beast vocals but it also had the most complex structures. WT is known for its fantastical and pagan lyrics, sung by soprano Sharon den Adel, who manages to never sound dark or depressed. A signature band of the symphonic genre that helped it to become what it is today.
Tristania (1997 - G, D) Norway.
Their earlier albums have a lot of death/doom influence but they have since evolved away to a more pure gothic sound. I only have their newest album but apparently they made use of female operatic vocals in choruses on their earlier albums while the male voice (sometimes clean, sometimes death growl) does most of the verses. They also make use of choirs.
Xandria (1997 - G, S) Germany.
Xandria is interesting to categorize, leaning more toward the rock side rather than metal, but utilizing gothic stylings as well as symphonic instrumentation and keyboards. Female-fronted, they are noted for their "exotic" eastern flair and mythical themes. Their music tends to be powerful and large.
Beseech (1998 - G) Sweden.
Beseech is firmly in the Gothic Rock/Metal category (similar to Lacuna Coil), leaning more toward the rock side of things and being very radio friendly. They feature dual male bass/female vocals and have since disbanded after their 2005 album.
Elis (2000 - G) Liechtenstein.
Of the bands on my list, Elis is the most purely Gothic metal where many of the others lean toward rock (Lacuna Coil, Beseech, Xandria), with grinding guitars, great metal solos, thrashing drums, and dark lyrics, retaining the Gothic keyboards in the mix, and sometimes using male death vocals. Their third album was their last with vocalist Sabine Dünser, who died just after finishing her vocals. With the main songwriter gone, the styling of "Griefshire" is something of a departure from their previous work, sounding thicker with the addition of semi-operatic vocals and choir.
Sirenia (2001 - G, S) Norway.
I don't know much about this band though they have been significant in the gothic metal scene. They are female-fronted (operatic) with both clean and death-grunt male vocals. They are influenced by extreme and death metal, using melodic/symphonic instrumentals and synths. They can be compared to Tristania, as the main member/songwriter of the band, Morten Veland, was a founding member of both bands.
Delain (2002 - S) Netherlands.
Delain is a unique project founded by original Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt who left WT due to illness. The project features newcomer vocalist Charlotte Wessels along with a collection of top-notch musicians and a guest-musician/vocalist a mile long (including Nightwish bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala, WT vocalist Sharon den Adel, and Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine). Not surprisingly, Delain is similar to mid-era Within Temptation and Nightwish, including powerful ballads, always retaining the positive bend made signature by Within Temptation.
Leaves' Eyes (2003 - S, G, F) Norway, Germany.
Leaves' Eyes was created when vocalist Liv Kristine was fired from Theatre of Tragedy. She and her husband's band, Atrocity, combined to create a symphonic metal band that takes thematic cues from folk music, usually about vikings and other epic things. Leaves' Eyes can be compared to Within Temptation in its powerful yet never dark sound and soprano female vocals but retains a heavier guitar crunch. Leaves' Eyes stands out with its strong lyrical ties to nature and seafaring adventure, keeping with the themes across three albums, sometimes accompanied by aggressive male growling vocals.
Midnattsol (2003 - S, F, G) Germany, Norway.
Midnattsol is heavier than some other symphonic bands, using heavier guitars and more double-drumming, but stands out with their heavy use of folk melodies and lyrics based in Norwegian folk tales. They prefer to be described as "Nordic folk metal", tending to be darker than other symphonic bands overall. They remind me of a folky Elis. Interestingly, Midnattsol is fronted by Carmen Elise Espenæs, sister to Liv Kristine, Leaves' Eyes and former Theatre of Tragedy vocalist.
Epica (2003 - S) Netherlands.
Created by former After Forever guitarist, Epica is a female-fronted symphonic metal band. Vocalist Simone Simmons provides primarily operatic vocals, accompanied by male death growls. Their music is highly symphonic in the most literal sense, utilizing choirs and string orchestras and is probably the most strict in its orchestral stylings.
Stream of Passion (2005 - Pr, S, G) Netherlands.
A progressive metal band using a lot of symphonic elements. The members of this band (which is more of a project) live thousands of miles apart, with female vocalist Marcela Bovio hailing from Mexico, so much of the music is composed via the internet. I don't know much else about this band yet, though they remind me of Delain's symphonic elements combined with The Gathering.
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RELATED BANDS
Agua de Annique 2007, Netherlands.
This is the solo project started by Anneke van Giersbergen after she left The Gathering. A trained jazz vocalist and pianist, this album would fit in well with The Gathering's last album, "Home" with its laid back pace and subdued electric guitars. Though definitely not metal, fans of The Gathering will feel at home with Anneke on this album. Its hard to categorize - its rock, it has introspective lyrics, uses horns in some solo sections, and has an edge to every song.
AnaDies USA
They are a newer, small band that I saw open for Within Temptation. They use interesting off-beat tempos, remeniscent of No Doubt but their music is definetly metal/rock and obviously influenced by the European bands that originated the genre. Fronted by a strong female vocalist and accompanied sometimes with background male death growls. I really hope they do well because they bring an interesting American dynamic to the genre without ruining it. ;)
Evanescence (1995) USA.
You probably know them. Whenever "gothic metal" is mentioned in the US, people think of Evanescence, who really do not belong to the genre at all. They do have gothic rock stylings but are still more of an alt-rock group. Their classification is hotly debated in the metal community, with European metal fans generally saying that Evanescence does not belong. Looking at the founding date, it is obvious that they evolved outside the European genres and only later incorporated symphonic elements. Overall they do not sound anything much like their European cousins.
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ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS
Within Temptation
If you can get your hands on it, I recommend "Mother Earth" due to its large variety of songs and overall happy nature. Though it is inconsistent in some ways, it contains some of the biggest symphonic metal hits of all time, plus many of my favorites.
Nightwish
Their "Oceanborn" album is more energetic and positive than their other fare and has great hits. "Once" and "Century Child" are classic mid-era Nightwish with some of their best songwriting. "Dark Passion Play" is a must because it is their first with new, non-operatic singer Anette Olson and has Nightwish's most diverse and bombastic music yet.
Theatre of Tragedy
"Aegis" is one of the most solid of the gothic/symphonic metal genre, tinged with a slower doom sensibility but without any death growls. It is sung entirely in Old English and carries a theme of women of myth. The songs are never fast nor too slow and are just pure beauty.
Elis
"God's Silence, Devil's Temptation", their first album, is pure awesome. Missing from a lot of more symphonic gothic metal are the guitar solos but this album has stunning metal guitars. Sabine's voice (RIP) is unique but she sings clear. The German lyrics are sung lightly and clearly as well.
The Gathering
"Nighttime Birds" was made right in the middle of their gothic metal era. Vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen is one of my favorite singers of all-time, her voice doing acrobatics like those of Sarah McLachlan. The progressive metal elements keep The Gathering unique and very atmospheric.
Lacuna Coil
"Comalies" is the best gothic rock-metal album I have heard, solid all the way through with its wall-of-sound guitars and keyboards and take-no-prisoners vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. This album rocks without being cheezy and never brings you down.
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SONG RECOMMENDATIONS
Within Temptation: "Ice Queen", "Neverending Story", "Restless", "The Cross", "Running Up that Hill", "Memories" - Within Temptation
Nightwish: "Gethsemane", "Moondance", "Sleeping Sun", "Over the Hills and Far Away", "Bless the Child", "Beauty of the Beast", "Ever Dream", "Dark Chest of Wonders", "Nemo", "High Hopes", "Amaranth", "Sahara", "The Islander"
Leaves' Eyes: "Tale of the Sea Maid", "For Amelie", "Elegy"
Theatre of Tragedy: "Cassandra", "Angelique", "Ashes and Dreams", "Debris"
Lacuna Coil: "Veins of Glass", "To Myself I Turned", "Cold Heritage", "Stars", "Purify", "Entwined", "Heaven's a Lie", "What I See", "Enjoy the Silence"
Elis: "Such a Long Time", "Sie Erfasst Mein Herz", "Betrayal", "Anger", "Devil Inside You", "Ballade"
Beseech: "Between the Lines", "A Season in Green", "Forever Falling", "Innerlane", "Emotional Decay"
The Gathering: "Eleanor", "In Motion #1", "On Most Surfaces", "The May Song", "Rescue Me", "Probably Built in the 50's", "Rollercoaster", "Saturnine", "You Learn About It"
Delain: "Frozen", "See Me In Shadow", "The Gathering"
Xandria: "Cassablanca", "Now and Forever", "Black and Silver", "Who We Are"
Stream of Passion: "Out in the Real World"