Stringbender

Hey folks! Looking for something new to listen to in the metal category (or hard rock category, but has to be pretty heavy) I'm really a huge fan of Savatage, (and yes- I get stuff by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Circle II Circle as well) but what I really need is metal that has good vocals- use of metal mixed with classical songs/elements and maybe something a bit dramatic sounding.
Any ideas?
I've gotten Dragonforce- nice.. but not quite the type of tunes I'm talking about here, but still good..

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3mag5num7

Metallica's live album S&M is basically Thrash Metal meets Classical, I'm a big fan, give it a look.

I'm Not Jesus - Apocalyptica is a good song. The instrumental section is made up of classical string instruments such as chellos and the like.

Check out A Perfect Circle, Maynard James Keenan, Josh Freese, James Iha, Jeordie White, and Billy Howerdel.

This is just a quick start, I'll be back.

Nicky Tuna

I dont know why i have this feeling, but I think Black Sabbath has some songs that might fit for you

Habey Gonzo

Rhapsody has some of this epic you want, but maybe not enough solos? Also Blind Guardian has a nice sound.

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Stringbender

Sabbath is always good stuff- I have some sabbath- as well as Dio and Rainbow and all that. I don't know really how to describe what I'm looking for unless you guys have heard Savatage- songs that blend classic-school-heavy metal with classical stuff, but also another thing that few bands can pull off is something called POLYPHONY- this is say one guy sings one part- then another guy comes in singing different lyrics (while the first guy keeps singing) and sometimes bands add to it up to 5 different vocal parts going at the same time.
Rhapsody- did they sing "Unholy War Cry"?- I heard that tune and it was pretty good stuff..

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Uncut Rubber

Dimmu Borgir sometimes blends some classical elements into their songs... but I'm not really a fan of neo-classical metal (or power metal for that matter), so I'm afraid I can't help you much farther.

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Habey Gonzo

If you're looking for these several voices at the same time, then I'm not sure about Rhapsody, but for sure Blind guardian. if I remember another one, I'll tell you

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Stringbender

Blind Guardian..I'll look them up.. I got a 12 dollar credit to the cd shop by the university (where all the good metal is!!)

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Kameraad Pannekoek

Yes, very Blind Guardian. The later albums are much more epic than the earlier few, but I love them all.

Look for A Night at the Opera or A Twist in the Myth if you can. They are the two newest, and imo the best (Well, Nightfall in Middle Earth was fantastic too, but I'm not big on half the 'songs' being narratives).

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Stringbender

Hey guys, thanks for all the info. I went and Wiki'd Blind Guardian to get a better idea of what to expect. Upon reading, it sounds like practically everything I am looking for in a good metal band. So, I just got Night at The Opera and A Twist In The Myth today- have only listened to the first couple songs in the car on Opera (mostly just bouncing between tracks to get a feel) and so far the stuff sounds awesome- I'll give it a more in depth listen to today- but so far BIG THANKS!!!

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Habey Gonzo

I just remembered, Iced Earth, another band in the same style (maybe more thrashy) than Blind Guardian, is nice as well. But here's the interesting part: Blind Guardian and Iced Earth did a side project together, called Demons and Wizards. Very good thing as well. Give it a try if you can.

__________________
-=The C in rap is silent=-

IceWind -=- Habey Gonzo's nest

Kameraad Pannekoek

Oh man Demons and Wizards for sure. I actually see Iced Earth as very different from Blind Guardian really. More thrashy and riffy, less focus on powerful huge melodies and such. Still way awesome though. Something Wicked This Way Comes is a classic.

But yeah, the first Demons and Wizards cd is very awesome. Combines the two styles well. The second was nice too, but the first is my favorite.

__________________
If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you.
Dave's Gear:
MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp
Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster
Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp
Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

Habey Gonzo

I specially like "Horror show", by Iced Earth, and yep, the first album by demons and wizards

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-=The C in rap is silent=-

IceWind -=- Habey Gonzo's nest

MusicMan

If you're not familiar with Nine Inch Nails, and looking for some hard-hitting songs that aren't necessarily thrash metal, try these songs...

March of the Pigs
Head Like a Hole
Gave Up
Happiness In Slavery
Last
Suck
Mr. Self Destruct
Heresy
The Becoming

Those songs are on three albums that everyone should own.

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Neverlife

wohoo, not many Dragonforce fans out there, the lyrics sometimes get to, i dunno, far? But the music is good, i love it

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Habey Gonzo

Well, I love dragonforce, but Stringbender asked for "no dragonforce", so didn't include it in the list

__________________
-=The C in rap is silent=-

IceWind -=- Habey Gonzo's nest

Stringbender

Well, I have Inhuman Rampage- love it- even though the guitars sound brittle.. I was looking for something else- kind of like Queen-meets-Iron Maiden. Savatage is this- and add Styx to the mix.

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Habey Gonzo

What do you mean by brittle? They lack power? (I agree on that)

__________________
-=The C in rap is silent=-

IceWind -=- Habey Gonzo's nest

Stringbender

Dragonforce is an awesome band- amazing prowess, but the guitars sound brittle because it's ALL treble- the notes they are hitting are all in the upper frequencies, but more importantly the guitars' TONE is very weak..they need to get more bass and mids into the guitar tone..and the guitars need more volume or something with the sound..I can't really determine what their sound needs- the solos are awesome but they lose something in the sound- you can almost tell that they recorded using small-wattage amps..

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Stringbender

Actually, Zephyr said something that really describes some of what I'm looking for "powerful, huge melodies"- that really says a lot.

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stevendelman

protest the hero

between the buried and me

Neverlife

lol i've been checking out a couple of these bands (looking for good metal also)

I love the stuff thats between like Dragonforce, and Coheed and Cambria, and that kind of stuff.

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Neverlife

what about Symphony X, also, they're pretty good

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Stringbender

I have Symphony X and I agree- they're pretty good stuff.. have The Odyssey and find it cool.
Ok- maybe I better say what I have.. all of the classic hard rock and metal stuff pretty much going from 1966 all the way to 1990 -from the 90's until present I have had to pick and choose- but that's a story for another day and post.

So- excluding all the "what every hard rock/metal freak guitarist should have in his/her collection"

I have Pantera
I have a Dragonforce (Inhuman Rampage) and find it awesome.
Symphony X
Every Savatage recording I can get (if you have not heard them- think Queen meets Iron Maiden..you owe it to yourself to get some..I can tell you the good ones to get)

Yes- I have almost every Iron Maiden I can get..
every Dream theater, a couple Blind Guardians (thanx to Habey and Zephyr)
..so anyhow I could go on and on.. but I'll be nice and cut this short-

however- your INPUT IS EXTREMELY APPRECIATED!

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3mag5num7

If you can manage the rather harsh vocals, Opeth is a really cool band. They mix black metal with acoustic guitars, piano, string instruments, melodic singing. It's pretty cool. Check out the album Blackwater Park, sick songs and REALLY cool album artwork, lol.