Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Stylistic origins Cultural origins NWOBHM, symphonic rock, gothic metal, melodic power metal, progressive metal, neo-classical metal, classical music mid-late 1990s, Continental Europe (mainly Scandinavia and the Netherlands) (this regards symphonic metal proper; for symphonic variations on other styles of metal, especially extreme metal, the cultural origins are in late 1980s-early to mid 1990s in Switzerland and Scandinavia) Guitar - Bass - Keyboards - Piano - Drums - Violin - other acoustic and electronic instruments - occasionally backing choirs
Fusion genres Symphonic power metal Symphonic gothic metal Symphonic black metal Cello metal Other topics Timeline of heavy metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g. operatic female lead vocals; instrumentation that includes acoustic guitars and different types of keyboards instead of relying solely on electric guitars; asymmetrical meters such as 5/4 and 7/8, and classical thematic material in addition to characteristically heavy metal power riffs. When referring to bands from other genres, it refers to bands who use minor classical and operatic themes in their music similar to what one finds in the symphonic metal genre, to show they are more "symphonic" than other bands within their genre.
Musical characteristics
The main musical influences on symphonic metal are early gothic metal, power metal, and classical music. Keyboards are normally the focal point of the music. While other instruments typically play relatively simple parts, the keyboard parts can be very complex and technically challenging, often played in a wide variety of classical styles and emulating anything up to and including full orchestral arrangements. An actual orchestra is sometimes employed, both live and in the studio, to similar effect. It is more difficult to generalize about the guitar and bass work found in this style. As with gothic metal, this can often be described as a synthesis of other rock and metal styles, with black metal, death metal, power metal, and progressive metal elements being the most common; but unlike in gothic metal, elements of classical music are frequently present as well. Many of these bands at least sometimes use these instruments (as well as the lead vocals) to play simple, catchy melodies which make symphonic metal (along with power metal, which shares this characteristic) one of the more accessible current metal subgenres. Songs are often highly atmospheric, though more upbeat than those of other metal subgenres; even songs with morbid themes routinely feature prominent major-key fanfares. Particularly central to creating mood and atmosphere is the choice of keyboard sounds. Lyrics cover a broad range of topics. As with two of symphonic metal's otherwise most dissimilar influences, power metal and opera, fantasy and mythological themes are common. Concept albums styled after operas or epic poems
Symphonic metal are not uncommon. Bands in this genre often feature a female lead vocalist, most commonly a mezzo-soprano. There is sometimes a second, male vocalist, as is also common in gothic metal. Growling, death metal style vocals are rare, but not unknown. Further backup up to and including a full choir is sometimes employed. Male vocalists are more common in the symphonic power metal category. Sometimes the vocalist is performing classical singing in an operatic style. Those bands are referred to as Operatic symphonic metal[1] [2] for example Nightwish (Tarja Turunen),[3] Haggard,[1] Therion, Operatika, Dremora, Dol Ammad, Visions of Atlantis, Aesma Daeva. Operatic style is not exclusively tied to symphonic metal, it appears also in avant-garde metal, progressive metal, gothic metal and melodic metal.
Symphonic metal The prototypical symphonic black metal band is Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth.
Symphonic metal This blend of symphonic and gothic metal has also been arrived at from the opposite direction. The band Nightwish from Finland began as a symphonic power metal act[14] and introduced gothic elements on their 2004 album Once,[15] particularly on the single "Nemo".[16] They continued to mix their style of "bombastic, symphonic and cinematic" metal with a gothic atmosphere on their next album Dark Passion Play in 2007.[17] The Swedish group Therion also introduced gothic elements to their brand of symphonic metal on their 2007 album Gothic Kabbalah.[18]
Notes
[1] The Manitoban (PDF-file, page 25): Opera Metal for the Masses (http:/ / hotink. theorem. ca/ system/ manit/ issues/ 000/ 003/ 903/ 15oct2008_FINAL_screen_quality. pdf?1253635013) stored at webcitation.org (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/ 5s9fQJw00) [2] Opera metal (http:/ / www. uni-protokolle. de/ Lexikon/ Opera_metal. html) [3] powermetal.de: Opera metal (http:/ / powermetal. de/ review/ review-Various_Artists/ Opera_Metal_Vol__2,13011. html) [4] Shyu, Jeffrey. "Interview with Jeroen van Veen of Within Temptation" (http:/ / www. ssmt-reviews. com/ int/ within. htm). Ssmt-reviews.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [5] Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Within Temptation" (http:/ / www. musicmight. com/ linkto/ artist/ {7036F111-5A46-4A6A-9973-02C5DB7). MusicMight. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [6] Taylor, Robert. "Mother Earth review" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ album/ r548440). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [7] Deming, Mark. "AMG Within Temptation" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ artist/ p508773). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [8] Bowar, Chad. "The Heart of Everything review" (http:/ / heavymetal. about. com/ od/ cdreviews/ fr/ withintemptatio. htm). About.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [9] Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Prison of Desire review" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ album/ r640587). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [10] Sharpe-Young, Garry. "After Forever" (http:/ / www. musicmight. com/ linkto/ artist/ {6242F8AC-8706-4359-B076-7801F67). MusicMight. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [11] Rivadavia, Eduardo. "The Phantom Agony Review" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ album/ r674057). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [12] Bowar, Chad. "The Divine Conspiracy review" (http:/ / heavymetal. about. com/ od/ cdreviews/ fr/ epicadivine. htm). About.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-22. [13] "Epica: 'The Divine Conspiracy' Enters Dutch Chart At No. 9" (http:/ / www. roadrunnerrecords. com/ BLABBERMOUTH. NET/ news. aspx?mode=Article& newsitemID=80811). Blabbermouth.net. 2007-09-14. . Retrieved 2008-05-09. [14] Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Century Child review" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ album/ r641059). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-23. [15] Grant, Sam. "Once review" (http:/ / www. soniccathedral. com/ webzine/ index. php?option=com_content& task=view& id=85& Itemid=36). Soniccathedral.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-23. [16] Fulton, Katherine. "End of an Era review" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ album/ r842788). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2008-04-23. [17] Bowar, Chad. "Dark Passion Play Review" (http:/ / heavymetal. about. com/ od/ cdreviews/ fr/ nightwishdark. htm). About.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-23. [18] Bowar, Chad. "Gothic Kabbalah review" (http:/ / heavymetal. about. com/ od/ cdreviews/ fr/ theriongothic. htm). About.com. . Retrieved 2008-04-23.
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/