History Main / SymphonicMetal

Symphonic metal is a subgenre of metal that tends to use elements normally found in symphonies or ClassicalMusic. That's the basic description of the genre, but its actual implementation can vary widely. The symphonic part can be an entire symphony, a keyboardist, or violin and cello player. The usage of the symphonic elements can vary from trying to create a classical feel, to simply adding thickness to the music. On the softer end are bands where female vocals are frequently used (with bands often featuring female lead vocalists), and acoustic guitars may be included. On the harder end are bands whose style more closely matches BlackMetal or another type of Extreme Metal. A band might specialize in Symphonic Metal, or might play a song or album in the style. Of course most metal bands do use classical music scales al least to some extent, but this is about metal bands adopting instruments and movements from the classical music.

+ Film Score, HardRock, TraditionalHeavyMetal, {{Opera}}, BlackMetal and/or DeathMetal (the more extreme examples)

Symphonic metal is a subgenre of metal that tends to use elements normally found in symphonies or ClassicalMusic. That's the basic description of the genre, but its actual implementation can vary widely. The symphonic part can be an entire symphony, a keyboardist, or violin and cello player. The usage of the symphonic elements can vary from trying to create a classical feel, to simply adding thickness to the music. On the softer end are bands where female vocals are frequently used (with bands often featuring female lead vocalists), and acoustic guitars may be included. On the harder end are bands whose style more closely matches BlackMetal or another type of Extreme Metal. A band might specialize in Symphonic Metal, or might play a song or album in the style.

* Music/FloorJansen

* Music/{{Scorpions}} ( On the ''Moment of Glory'' album, much in the same vein as Metallica above)

* Music/AfterForever (one of the {{Trope Codifier}}s alongside Music/{{Nightwish}})

* Music/{{Nightwish}} (TropeCodifier of symphonic power metal)

* TropeCodifier: Music/{{Nightwish}} began life as a PowerMetal band, but the founders were all classically trained musicians and it didn't take long for them to start incorporating it into their sound, which was hugely influential over the development of the genre. Music/{{Epica}} singer Simone Simons was inspired to study classical singing after hearing Music/TarjaTurunen on Nightwish's ''Oceanborn''.