Not to worry. Once we delve more deeply into Symphonic Metal, I have Highest Hopes the albums will get better as we go along, as this is only the first chapter in a long Dark Passion Play. BestWishes. 

It's an all-inclusive poll with a few favourite Progressive Metal bands thrown into the mix too, especially in the case of Ayreon and Evanescence. 

I may have gone slightly overboard by including the full complement of 25 bands in the poll, as I'm spoilt for choice and I can't decide who to vote for now. 

Thanks. As it's mainly a Symphonic Metal poll, at least no one will complain that I deliberately left Dream Theater out of the poll. 

Even you lost me quite completely in this Symphonic Metal Heaven, Paul

In the midst of all of this Heavy Metal mayhem, I'm unlikely to get much sleep tonight, at least not until the Sandman Enters my room, when I'll be off to never never land. 

Then, I can already tell that I find Apocalyptica's cover of Enter Sandman quite interesting, and even better than the original version, but it might be how far I get with this album.

Now I've had a bit closer look at your picks for this Symphonic Metal Heaven 

and it seems to be a more mixed heaven than I thought, Paul,

so I think that I'll better give it another colour  

and I'd be most happy to vote for Mercyfull Fate - Melissa (1983) 

- even it's older than all your other picks. 

Showed not to be true, as I at least find a couple more tracks interesting. 

You know, back in 1983, I went to a gig to see them perform that album, and they didn't show up!! 

That must have been a downer.  

I must admit, I'm not a big fan of the head-slammin' sound of Metallica, so if they appeared at a gig I was attending, it'd be a case of Enter Sandman, and exit prog fan, meaning me. 

I can understand that but actually, I'm quite fond of Master of Puppets (1986). 

and it is headbanger music.  

I just find the initial idea of playing Metallica with cellos silly, but since they made a successful career out of it, perhaps surprisingly to even themselves, more power to them. I'm not their fan and I don't know their later works well, so you can ignore my opinion. 

The only Metallica album I have any great liking for is Lulu, with Lou Reed (which I love), and when it comes to Master of Puppets, I’ll stick to Osada Vida’s cover of it:

Just to be sure you notice it, I've made the Symphonic Metal Heaven brighter.

However, I'm not sure if you like it better, as the present colour is much similar to the one much used on the cover of Master of Puppets (1986).  

Earth, Wind and Fire (& Water):- The Shining Stars of Symphonic Metal.  Full marks if you can identify these four well-known Queens of Symphonic Metal. 

I surely understand your  here, but I'm sorry to tell (again) that I am lost in this part of your Symphonic Metal Heaven , as well. 

David_D wrote: David_D wrote: David_D wrote: And I'll give Plays Metallica by Four Cellos some listen on this occasion. Then, I can already tell that I find Apocalyptica's cover of Enter Sandman quite interesting, and even better than the original version, but it might be how far I get with this album. Showed not to be true, as I at least find a couple more tracks interesting.

But I surely don't like the covers of songs from Master of Puppets (1986)  as I'm (in general as well) certainly most fond of the original versions (particularly when I like them).

Neverthereless, I certainly appreciate your very demanding and very good effort with this poll, Paul. 

Thanks again. It was a real labour of love putting this poll together. I'm just wondering if you can identify the four Symphonic Metal goddesses in the photo above. 

Keep on wondering, Paul. 

- and you even still owe me an answer. 

An answer? I'm not sure what the question was. 

David_D wrote: Keep on wondering, Paul.  - and you even still owe me an answer.

I wouldn't call it Symph metal. Gothic is more appropriate, but Evanescence and Lacuna Coil's are great albums, so Evanescence is my vote.

I'm sorry, Paul, if my characterizing of your Symphonic Metal Heaven was a bit too rough, and I hadn't even seen all the albums when I did it, so my basis for doing it could be better - but what I saw was not quite what I expected, so I got myself a little chock.

There's absolutely nothing to apologise for. My Symphonic Metal poll selection is probably not what anyone expected, so you're not alone, and I've had far worse criticism from one or two others here, without mentioning any names. 

I'll have a look at it tomorrow, Paul, but I can say that your use here of the term "Symphonic Metal" is not exactly according to the standard. 

You're quite right. There's at least a couple of dubious Symphonic Metal entries (Ayreon & Evanescence) in the poll, but they're just too good to leave out. 

And I can say that my comment was partly meant as fun. 

Well, I don't think, I'll say more in this matter than I've already written, Paul, except from adding that I had been looking at RYM's classifications, and as you know, I'm quite serious about Prog definition. 

My point was that their career jump-started with the Metallica cover album. I may be wrong, but I think that if they had done their own music only, they wouldn't be nearly as known or popular as they are. This is pointless speculation of course. They're good at what they do and deserve their popularity, whether based on their own material or covers. 

Thanks. I liked Rhapsody of Fire when they performed as Christopher Lee's backing band. 

The last time I posted a Christopher Lee video here, one unkind soul said he couldn't sing. I think the video above proves otherwise. 

   sorry, Paul

But by the way, it was a problem when I fell in love  with one few years ago. 

Thanks for the recommendation. I've just listened to Xandria for the first time and I've fallen instantly in love Now and Forever with their beautiful singer, Lisa Middelhauve. 

Xandria - Sisters of the Light

That remark made me watch this video, as I'm fond of oriental influence, Archisorcerus - and I liked the little of it there was - but otherwise I think more of it as Symphonic Pop-Metal.

By the way, I'd like to tell that I'm fond of Nekropsi (TRK) - Mi Kubbesi (1996), as I suppose you're familiar with this band.

It sounds full of Eastern promise, so I'll watch the Sisters of the Night video while sucking on a Turkish Delight and it doesn't even matter to me that the vocals are totally out of sync with the video. 

Which makes me curious about what Turkish Delight is.

As James Bond (Roger Moore) once said, "When one is in Turkey" (or was it Egypt?), "one should delve deeply into its treasures." 

Certainly sounds allright to me. 

By the way, Archisorcerus, it has been very popular in Poland in really many years, but it has come from Turkey then? 

I thought a baklava was something you wore on your head, but it sounds like it could get a bit messy if you put that on your head. 

  1999: Aesma Daeva - Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written in Water -  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nQLLfKq6zQMJO1jkECUxSjjBtJuHAowEk" rel="nofollow -

 

 

I'm not familiar with Aesma Deva but I just began to listen to Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written in Water from 1999, and I like it quite a lot so far. 

it's beautifull 

Well done! Yes, that's exactly right. 

By now I've heard "Part I: A Quiet Chamber Kept for Thee" , and after the first listen of it, I'd say that's something special.  

There goes my vote, Paul, even I don't find Part II as good as Part I.

And maybe another good news, this album imo can be seen as some of the Heaven-part of your Symphonic Metal Heaven , so I've made (edited) the last one some more brighter.  

I guess, it's good to distinguish between PA and other places, but I'd at least say that  Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written in Water is a good album to bring for the PA audience. 

I preferred Aesma Daema's debut, mainly because After Forever went a bit overboard with the growling monster vocals on their debut. 

That's 2 albums listened to so far in the poll - only another 23 to go. 

I'm certainly not fond of growling, either, even I own one album with Isis where I can accept it.

Otherwise, Paul, you make me curious about how you've picked all these albums.  

I simply picked every Symphonic Metal band I could think of and then added Ayreon and Evanescence to make it the full complement of 25 entries. 

My own approach is very different, as all the albums, I've so far listed in all "my" threads/and one poll (), have been from my collection, and thus some I know very well - but you're still very glad of listening to new-to-you music while I have a period when I almost only listen to my collection. 

 

I currently only have four CD albums in the poll:- by Evanescence, Leaves' Eyes, Nightwish & Within Temptation, although all of the albums are within temptation (so to speak) if the price is right. 

 

 

Apocalyptica: a Finnish Symphonic Metal band who sound like no Symphonic Metal band you've ever heard before, as there's no guitar-shredding to be heard here - only cello-shredding.

 

 1996: Apocalyptica - Plays Metallica by Four Cellos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nZbMSDX9L8HTUM-b83QRzgta_-NplwLFY" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nZbMSDX9L8HTUM-b83QRzgta_-NplwLFY

 

"Cello Metal"? 

- but some of their later albums sound as Metal.

This surely made me big laughing, Paul, even last night. 

I can tell just from listening to the heavy Cello Metal sound of Apocalyptica  that they have three Shredded Wheat for breakfast in the morning. 

Now, as my English is not that heavy, what is Shredded Wheat? - even I know the meaning of these two words. 

or I just google it.

like these?