Beautiful Music You Can Headbang To

November 4, 2007 Comments off

I love music. I’m also pretty open to listening to different genres, with a few exceptions (those being nearly everything that makes it to a pop hits radio station). My favorite type of music overall is definitely rock, but I also enjoy listening to metal, jazz, Latin, classical, big band and even a bit of country from time to time. Today, however, I’d like to write about one of my favorite sub-genres: symphonic rock/metal (which often overlaps with goth metal).

Chances are you haven’t heard most of these albums, and may not have even had the joy of hearing this type of music before, so I highly recommend you start. For $6/$9 per month (depending on whether you pay annual or monthly), you can listen to most of these full albums with Yahoo Music Unlimited (a service I highly recommend… almost as good as a Napster subscription and cheaper). Here are my my top five albums in this genre:

“Once” by Nightwish (2004)
Nightwish is a Finnish metal band popular in Europe and in my opinion epitomizes the symphonic metal genre better than probably any other band. “Once” is probably their best album to date, and was their last with classically-trained opera singer Tarja Turunen. I could mention the best songs on the album, but they’re all too consistently good to single any out (although “Nemo” is a good place to start). With rocking drums, beautiful vocals, crunchy guitars, nice keyboard, and a full orchestra and choir, this album is nothing short of a masterpiece. Nightwish’s latest release, “Dark Passion Play,” is also good, but not as consistently excellent as “Once.” Thanks to my friend Daniel for introducing me to Nightwish several years ago.
“Heart of Everything” by Within Temptation (2007)
Although perhaps not as classically-influenced as Nightwish, Within Temptation (of the Netherlands) also features a fantastic female vocalist combined with symphonic metal. Their beautiful lead singer Sharon Den Adel has an amazing range and is the main reason to check out the band. But that’s not to say the rest of the band doesn’t rock. They definitely do, and this is one of my favorite bands to crank up and rock out to while the house is empty . “Heart of Everything” is their latest and arguably best album, although the earlier “The Silent Force” is also excellent.
“Beethoven’s Last Night” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (2000)
Although more classically-influenced rock than symphonic metal, TSO is best known for their awesome rocked-out Christmas-themed albums. They combine excellent rock arrangements with very talented singers and poetic lyrics to create some truly powerful albums that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. They also put on an amazing live show, as I was fortunate to experience last Christmas. But while their Christmas albums are their best known and in some ways best, their sole non-Christmas album “Beethoven’s Last Night” is a wonderfully original fictionalized account of Beethoven’s last night on earth in the form of a rock opera. Part original songs, part reworked classics, BLN is a really cool album to listen through (in order) while paying special attention to the lyrics.
“The East Village Opera Company” by The East Village Opera Company (2005)
A band I just discovered, EVOC is rock band meets opera company (with a string section) that breathes new life into the opera genre. No, it’s not the same thing as a true opera, but their singers are very skilled and capable of powerfully belting out opera classics such as “La Donna e Mobile,” “Habanera,” and “Flower Duet.” For me, it’s a perfect mixture of classical beauty with upbeat and sometimes groovy rock. And a more approachable version of opera for those like me who find the “real stuff” a tad boring.
“Classified” by Bond (2004)
Ok, so Bond is probably the least “classical” of all these bands since they have a very “pop” sound which I would normally stay far away from. But I think they deserve to be included in this list because all four members of the band are classically-trained string musicians who perform upbeat and fun versions of everything from James Bond songs to classical pieces to original arrangements. Don’t be scared of their pop girl band exterior. These ladies can play.