[For Beginners] The Epic World of Symphonic Metal: A Collection of Popular and Classic Songs

BLOOD RESOLUTIONMai Yajima

Mai Yajima “BLOOD RESOLUTION” MV (Full Ver.)

As a Japanese symphonic metal artist I’d love to introduce, Mai Yajima is a standout.

Her “vampire metal” sound, steeped in a dark aesthetic, avoids the typical vocal style often associated with female-fronted metal, which I think will sound fresh even to seasoned metal fans.

It’s also a track I’d recommend as an entry point for metal beginners.

April RainDelain

Delain – April Rain

Delain is a band formed mainly by Martijn Westerholt, former keyboardist of Within Temptation.

As you’d expect, their arrangements prominently feature keyboards, which may make the guitars feel a bit subdued in the background.

However, April Rain, for its part, offers a style that lets you enjoy the symphonic arrangements and the vocals more directly.

Amen & AttackPOWERWOLF

POWERWOLF – Amen & Attack | Napalm Records

Germany’s Powerwolf may look black metal on the surface, but they deliver a distinctive, valiant brand of symphonic power metal.

With a horror-themed world that draws on werewolf legends and vampires, their music stands out for its uniqueness compared to many other symphonic metal bands.

“Amen & Attack” is a masterpiece that encapsulates their appeal.

I Walk AloneTarja

Tarja – I Walk Alone (Video Single Version)

Tarja Turunen, who gained great popularity as Nightwish’s original vocalist with a beautiful, opera-like voice, recorded this song on her solo album My Winter Storm, released after she left the band.

While retaining elements of metal, her music more actively incorporates classical influences, and it was highly acclaimed in her home country of Finland, becoming a major hit.

Saints Don’t DieMaYaN

MaYaN – Saints Don’t Die (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

This is a symphonic death metal band led by Mark Jansen, guitarist of Epica—the leading symphonic metal band from the Netherlands.

Even in this 2018 track, the incorporation of death growls into symphonic metal elements remains intact, and the band’s unique worldview—born from a modern ensemble shaped by metalcore influences—shines through.

The striking contrast between male and female vocals is also incredibly dramatic and beautiful.

War Feeds WarBlind Guardian’s Twilight Orchestra

Blind Guardian’s Twilight Orchestra – War Feeds War

Strictly speaking, it might not be accurate to call them symphonic metal, but I absolutely want to introduce Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.

When you think of Blind Guardian, they’re a flagship German metal band known for their operatic vocals; however, vocalist Hansi Kürsch and guitarist André Olbrich had been envisioning, for over 20 years, a “work performed by an orchestra without a rock band lineup.” There are no guitars, no bass, no drums—yet don’t you still hear that “something that dwells in metal” coming through?

Old SynphonyOrion Riders

Orion Riders Old Synphony

An Italian band.

High-pitched vocals reminiscent of Andre Matos from Angra and an ensemble that shifts at a dizzying pace.

Their melodic repertoire is exceptionally rich, and the way they pack it all into a single track without holding back—while keeping everything beautifully cohesive—is truly captivating.