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Author Topic: Looking for good metal music
Gecko
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My top criteria is this: CLEAN VOCALS

Please no bands that grunt/scream/whine/growl.

I recently discovered a band called Kamelot which I like a lot. I guess they're listed as Power Metal, so something in that genre would be good. Any bands with a heavy emphasis on melody, with maybe some syphonic elements thrown in, but not overwhelmingly so.

Any recommendations?

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Strider
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Anything by Metallica before they started to suck. That's about all I'm good for.
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Jeni
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Dream Theater
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Primal Curve
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeni:
Dream Theater

Ditto.
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Heffaji
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I love Dream Theater, but the vast majority of their work isn't metal.
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GaalDornick
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Symphony X's new CD "Paradise Lost". I think it comes out in a week, but I've heard it and it is freaking amazing. They're progressive metal with kind of a fantasy element to their songs. And their singer is the best metal has to offer right now. Dream Theater is also amazing, but their singer isn't very good IMO. Listen to their CD "Awake" or "Metropolis Pt. 2".

One of their new songs.

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Zhil
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Dragonforce .

Awesome guitar solos and epic vocals.

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Launchywiggin
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Though they might not technically be "metal", these are my favorite hard rock bands with good vocals.

Tool
A Perfect Circle
early Incubus
early Korn
early Muse
Chevelle

I hated 80's hair metal and power metal (like Van Halen, Dream Theatre)--though those bands generally had really good vocals. From the oldies, Led Zeppelin and The Jimi Hendrix Experience were my favorite metal bands of the 70's. Definitely check out Dream Theatre if you like that epic symphonic type rock.

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Eduardo_Sauron
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Blind Guardian (Many, many Lotr Songs)
Rhapsody (now Rhapsody of Fire)
Angra
Shaaman
Edguy
Avantasia
Demons & Wizards (Blind Guardian/Iced Earth)
TEN
Sonata Arctica
Domine (they like to sing about Elric)
Beyond Twilight
Manticora
Aquaria
Six Magics

(and the list goes on and on. I'm assuming you want male vocals only. Is it true?)

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Lyrhawn
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Nightwish is symphonic power metal with strong operatic female lead vocals.

It's about as far as I venture into metal these days, but then, my knowledge of genres is limited, so for all I know, I listen to a ton of metal and don't even know it. [Smile]

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Primal Curve
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I just can't take Dragonforce seriously. As much as I like big metal bands, I hate it when they start doing the fantasy thing. It comes across as incredibly sophomoric-- like a band I would have started in Junior High or something.
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twinky
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You might like Lacuna Coil. As an added bonus, Christina Scabbia (their singer) is absolutely stunning.

In the hard rock vein, I Mother Earth's last album, The Quicksilver Meat Dream, is hard to beat.

I've been looking for some good heavy stuff for a long time. Lately I've been on a bit of a heavy kick -- Tool, NIN, and newer Dream Theater. I'll have to check out some of the bands listed in this thread.

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BlackBlade
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quote:
Originally posted by Heffaji:
I love Dream Theater, but the vast majority of their work isn't metal.

Perhaps not, but Metal Magazines (and I've had to edit at least 4) all mention them prominantly.
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vonk
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Last night at the bar the jukebox had Europe's Final Countdown listed under the metal section. That's about like calling Dream Theater metal in my opinion. (And of course I had to play Final countdown, just cause it was there.)
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Gecko
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Thanks for the tips. Of the bands listed, I've listened to the following:

Nightwish
Dragonforce
Sonata Artica
Rhapsody of Fire

I like them all, but Dragonforce is a little too heavy for my taste. It sounds like my CD is skipping. Sonata Artica has some good songs too, but I find thier vocalist a little annoying.

Nightwish is great, and I think Rhapsody of fire is okay.

Those that recommended Dream Theater, any particular albums that stand out?

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Primal Curve
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I can't get Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory out of my head. It's a great albumn.
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Synesthesia
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Dir en grey!
They have plenty of none screamy songs and you won' find a better band in terms of playing everything you could want in terms of rock.
I love them!

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solo
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I'll second Tool, Chevelle, Metallica, and The Quicksilver Meat Dream (I Mother Earth).

Corrosion of Conformity (Southern rock influenced metal)
Trivium
Apocalyptica (metal on cellos)
Iced Earth (especially Tribute To The Gods)
Isis
Pelican (very cool instrumental band)

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SteveRogers
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Project 86
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Primal Curve
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quote:
Originally posted by SteveRogers:
Project 86

Dude, you're like a broken record.
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SteveRogers
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I'm really trying to get the word out about this band. They are good, and they deserve a little bit more recognition.
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SoaPiNuReYe
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Family Force 5 is good.
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TheHumanTarget
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I'm gonna go with Pash...even though they're not metal...at all...but as Mer (the lead singer) told me yesterday, "I've got to make it. If I don't, I'm gonna snap and take out one of my cube-mates."

So...support Pash, save a life. Pash

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Paul Goldner
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Hrm. No Iron Maiden mention yet? [Smile] You might like Ronnie James Dio, also. Or Queensryche.
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vonk
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solo - does CoC fit the clean vocals requirement?

What about Queens of the Stone Age? They scream some, but a good bit is cleaner (not sparkly, but, ya know) vocals.

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JLM
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Try Hammerfall. They split their time between conventional and speed metel, the vocalist sounds similar to Getty Lee (from Rush) and all their songs are about knights and dragons and the crusades and stuff. Sometimes they are a bit campy, but as far as metal goes it is quite fun to listen to.

Also, if you want classic metal you can't go wrong with Led Zepplin. And if you don't mind a bit of reggae, punk and rap mixed in 311 is tops.

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solo
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quote:
Originally posted by vonk:
solo - does CoC fit the clean vocals requirement?

What about Queens of the Stone Age? They scream some, but a good bit is cleaner (not sparkly, but, ya know) vocals.

I guess that depends on your definition of clean vocals. Pepper Keenan has a gravelly voice but I'd put it in the same realm as Metallica. They are not Death Metal Cookie Monster vocals, that's for sure.
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SteveRogers
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quote:
Originally posted by SoaPiNuReYe:
Family Force 5 is good.

I'm going to see them live. I'm going to see them live. [Party]
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GaalDornick
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I thought the OP was asking about current metal bands, but if we can talk old metal bands then Megadeth needs to be mentioned. Their vocals are relatively clean for a metal band.

The Scorpions are one of my favorite bands, and according to wikipedia they're hard rock/heavy metal. They are very, very talented. "No One Like You" and "Sails of Charon" have some of the coolest guitar riffs.

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Gecko
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I would put Mustaine's vocals under the whiney catergory.
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Flaming Toad on a Stick
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MAIIIIIDEEEENN!!! (Iron Maiden)
Oh, and Tool, Metallica (their new stuff does not suck!)
Nightwish and Disturbed are amazing too.

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airmanfour
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Dream Evil, Lacuna Coil, and SYMPHONY X. Your clean lyrics hangup hurts my heart.
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Flaming Toad on a Stick
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quote:
Originally posted by airmanfour:
Your clean lyrics hangup hurts my heart.

Amen. Sometimes, nothing makes a song like a good scream, or growl, or David Draiman style "AH AH".
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Gecko
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My feelings toward dirty vocals are rooted in me being a long-time Bob Dylan fan.

The lyrics make or break a song for me, if I can't understand what the hell the vocalist is talking about, it ruins the experience of the song. It just feels like noise to me then.

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GaalDornick
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quote:
Originally posted by Gecko:
I would put Mustaine's vocals under the whiney catergory.

I guess. But you can understand them at least.
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Eduardo_Sauron
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Add to the list:

Epica
Within Temptation
After Forever
Dreams of Sanity
Dark Moor
Simphony X
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Wuthering Heights
Yngwie Malmsteen
Luca Turilli (From Rhapsody, but his solo albums are also very good)


See if you like it

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Lyrhawn
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TSO has more than Christmas music?
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The Flying Dracula Hair
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Yeah, Kamelot ARE a blast.


I listen mostly to black metal now, but before I "settled down" I explored various metal bands, and I recall some with clean vocals you might dig:

Hot-darn SKYCLAD for one thing, their album "The Answer Machine?" with their old front man is still in heavy rotation for me.

Candlemass

Elvenking

Lumsk

seconding you check out Blind Guardian

Falconer

The Sword

and the Metal Tribute to ABBA album

and I'm not going to leave without recommending Bathory, the albums labeled as a part of the "viking" material that are not Blood Fire Death might be relevant to your interests.

Otherwise I'd suggest utilizing: http://metal-archives.com/
Try browsing under the Power genre and do a search for bands described as "melodic" or "symphonic".

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Eduardo_Sauron
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Lyrhawn, they have a great album called "Beethoven's Last night". Very good stuff.
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Paul Goldner
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Satriani. Not really heavy metal, but the best damn guitar you'll ever listen to.
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theCrowsWife
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quote:
Originally posted by Gecko:
The lyrics make or break a song for me, if I can't understand what the hell the vocalist is talking about, it ruins the experience of the song. It just feels like noise to me then.

Definitely check out Skyclad then, as The Flying Dracula Hair already mentioned. They tend to have very clever lyrics and the music is great. Albums that I particularly like:

Folkémon
Irrational Anthems
The Answer Machine


--Mel

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GaalDornick
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Racer X
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JLM
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quote:


and the Metal Tribute to ABBA album

[/QB]

There was a metal tribute to ABBA? [Confused]

Well, my curiosity is piqued.

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The Flying Dracula Hair
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Yeah, Helloween and Therion are on it even, it was called ABBAMetal: A Tribute to ABBA. The bands that play on it are not really my cup of tea but I love their interpretations of ABBA's music, my favorite has to be Sinergy's (who I've never heard of before) version of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQGezfQiKuc
There's a few samples of the tracks off the compilation (minus Yigunowy) played over.. er, the A-Teens apparently.

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vonk
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quote:
Originally posted by Gecko:
My feelings toward dirty vocals are rooted in me being a long-time Bob Dylan fan.

The lyrics make or break a song for me, if I can't understand what the hell the vocalist is talking about, it ruins the experience of the song. It just feels like noise to me then.

If you need to be able to understand the lyrics and you're a Dylan fan, I wouldn't suggest going to any of his concerts. Can't understand a single word that man says.
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ricree101
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It's already been mentioned, but Blind Guardian is excellent, especially their cd Nightfall In Middle Earth.
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The Flying Dracula Hair
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quote:
Originally posted by ricree101:
It's already been mentioned, but Blind Guardian is excellent, especially their cd Nightfall In Middle Earth.

I'm COMPLETELY re-discovering Blind Guardian after I linked to it and got by reeled in by Kursch's pipes. I've been saving a coupon for Amoeba, I think I'm going to have to pick something up...
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Lyrhawn
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quote:
Originally posted by Eduardo_Sauron:
Lyrhawn, they have a great album called "Beethoven's Last night". Very good stuff.

Heh, now I feel like an idiot, I actually HAVE that CD, I just haven't listened to it in forever. I love TSO though, they come to Detroit in December every year but I never get the chance to see them. Maybe this year!
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Flaming Toad on a Stick
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TSO freaking rules.

Also, a cool link.

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The Flying Dracula Hair
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quote:
Originally posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick:
TSO freaking rules.

Also, a cool link.

Hwow, that's some kinda nuts! Those people don't have too much time on there hands, but enough to make my life more interesting [Big Grin]

Have some of some other things Gecko might want to check out, I'm visiting my mother and am actually using the computer that has all these other bands I was exploring years ago:

Arcturus

Cruachan

Aryeon

and Pain of Salvation, though I haven't gotten far enough through any of their songs to know if they start yelling or not. It feels like they might at any moment, but I don't think they do.

Oh, and previously outer space death metal Ewigkeit put out an album that is cleanly sung before shutting the project down, and left up my favorite cut off it.

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