I was a little nervous stepping into the forum as a newb and all, but this is my kind of topic.
Sounds like you're looking for power metal with a lot of emphasis on the instruments rather than the vocals. I don't really listen to a ton of bands where vocals are rare, so I hope that won't be too much of an issue. But I can recommend bands like Gamma Ray because Kai Hansen is a great musician and songwriter. Stratovarius also has other amazing instrumentals, especially in their earlier work.
Gamma Ray - "Rebellion In Dreamland" (1995):
Gamma Ray - "Beyond The Black Hole" (1997):
Stratovarius - "Holy Light" (1997):
Stratovarius - "Stratofortress" (2003):
Straying outside of power metal, I'm really a thrash metal fan and my favorite band is Megadeth. Every guitarist they've had in the band is a real talent, so I'd check out both them and the album Return to Metalopolis, first solo album of their ex-guitarist Chris Poland, if you can find that.
Megadeth - "Wake Up Dead" (1986):
Megadeth - "Hangar 18" (1990):
Megadeth - "Tornado Of Souls" (1990):
Megadeth - "Dialectic Chaos" and "This Day We Fight" (2009):
Megadeth - "Sudden Death" (rerecording; 2011):
Chris Poland - "Return To Metalopolis" (1990):
Not sure how many of those you've already heard, but I hope this helps a little.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:26 am
by Sirius
Interesting. Fast-paced power metal in general? There are a few that come to mind that do this:
Early Sonata Arctica (first two albums, mostly). Another power metal act from Finland, would fit into the list perfectly!
First two Avantasia albums as well - it's a ... well, to state the obvious, a metal "rock opera". The later ones are a much different style (arguably closer to hard rock or Bon Jovi-style glam).
Earlier Edguy albums might also appeal - the lead vocalist/songwriter, Tobias Sammet, also wrote the Avantasia albums.
Helloween is probably pretty similar, as well. (With some exceptions; a lot of mid-90s songs like "Windmill" are not even metal at all. Their '80s and post-2000 material would probably be the best bets. The two Keeper of the Seven Keys albums seem to be the most popular.)
...and, if you want the stereotypical one: Dragonforce. I never really saw much creativity in their music, but they sure can shred.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:20 pm
by Isaac
You guys rock.
Recommendations from my friend:
Hammerfall lol, he says "piss" at the end.
Blind Guardian
Edguy it's got vocals though.
Iced Earth an Iron Maiden cover.
Iced Earth
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Guilty Gear
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Guilty Gear
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Guilty Gear
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Hard Corps Uprising
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Hard Corps Uprising
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Hard Corps Uprising
Daisuke Ishiwatari/Hard Corps Uprising
Recommendations from my brother:
Perhaps you'd like Dream Theater?
Yngwie Malmsteen?
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:25 pm
by TigerRaptor
Kamelot? They're a power metal band.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:09 am
by Alter-Fox
Well, after just clicking on the first one I'd immediately recommend Techno Industry and Robot Jungle from the D2 Redbook CD but I have this wierd feeling that you've already heard those. There are some other bands I'd recommend but it has nothing to do with anything in this topic so I won't.
Sounds like you're looking for power metal with a lot of emphasis on the instruments rather than the vocals.
The only reason I hate metal is that annoying (no offense to metal fans) screaming, so maybe I should check this out too.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:38 pm
by Sirius
That's not really surprising - the screaming and/or growling vocals thing isn't for everyone. It doesn't bug me too much, but I'd much rather listen to someone who sings a little more normally. That usually winds up being more on the power/progressive side of the spectrum, and there are quite a few female-fronted bands out there now as well.
I did recently stumble on a band that seems to rarely, if ever, use vocals at all: they're called Scale the Summit. I'm not sure how good they are at this point though (but I've heard them mentioned a few times so it seems they're good enough to have fans). From their discography I'd have thought they were one of those new-age "landscape song" artists, but nope, they are actually a metal band.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:28 pm
by Flatlander
Some stuff I've been listening to lately:
Axxis -
Nightwish -
Orden Ogan -
Just got At Vance - Ride the Sky but haven't listened to it yet; been listening to Dream Theater for a long time, seen 'em three times live.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:43 am
by Pandora
Metal without vocals? Pelican comes to mind, but much more low tempo.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:34 am
by snoopy
If you're not looking for stuff without lyrics, you may find that you like Avenged Sevenfold, too.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:48 am
by Enzo-03
I tend to gravitate toward older metal, usually thrash such as Megadeth and Slayer. I used to be a big Metallica fan but I haven't liked as much of their new stuff as Megadeth. I still love Metallica's old stuff, especially pre-black album stuff, but I like Megadeth better in general (especially their first album).
GWAR is one of my favorites as well, they keep coming out with great stuff and I like a lot of their new stuff better than their old stuff. Shame that Cory Smoot (aka. "Flattus Maximus") died a few months back.
I also was a bit shocked to read of the death of Ax. Cx. frontman and founder Seth Putnam. I bet "dying is gay", huh Seth?
Every now and then I have a Death binge.
Fun Fact: ManOWar was once officially the loudest band on earth at 129.5 dB. Just ask the Guinness Book of World Records. The category for loudest band no long exists anymore (Guinness decided they didn't want to "promote hearing loss"), so they're the last ones to receive the official honor. They achieved 139 dB during a sound check before a live performance in 2008.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:04 am
by Pandora
I still love Metallica's old stuff, especially pre-black album stuff,
I am with you there. The black album was when they started to bore me.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:24 pm
by Isaac
Stratovarius "Learning to Fly"
I wish someone would make a fast paced Decent music video to this song.
Re: Metal Thread
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:20 pm
by Flatlander
Isaac wrote:Stratovarius "Learning to Fly"
I wish someone would make a fast paced Decent music video to this song.