Best Symphonic / Power Metal Bands

The Top Ten
1 Nightwish Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and lead singer Tarja Turunen. It's currently formed by Tuomas, Emppu, lead vocalist Floor Jansen, bassist and vocalist Marco Hietala, ...read more.

Tuomas Holopainen is the best thing to happen to music since Stephen Sondheim! The music of Nightwish is written with such attention to detail, and the lyrics are so moving, I guarantee that they will shake you to your core...in a good way! If you have not tried out this band yet and are thinking about doing so from this top 10, stop reading and go to YouTube and look them up. I'm serious! Do it now! Go!

Sorry but if you say that nightwish is better since flor jansen you really don't know about mezzosopranos,opera and years of studies of singing and the music, Tarja Turunen has one of the best contemporary voices. Flor is good but you simple can't compare the amaizing voice and years of practice and conservatory studies of Tarja with flor s voice, wich as I said is good, but not profecional mezzosoprano of course.

They are ultimately a symphonic metal band, but their music is so diverse they have a song for just about every emotion. Incredible songwriting from Tuomas and simply amazing live shows, especially since Floor joined.

I have every Nightwish album, and they hold the standard for this genre, in my opinion! Often imitated, but never duplicated!

2 Rhapsody / Luca Turilli

Rhapsody, Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turilli, Luca Turilli's Dreamquest, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, Thundercross... These are all names of separate bands technically speaking.. But they all revolve around Italians Luca Turilli and/or Alex Staropoli. Talented Italian musicians who focus on technical compositions and symphonic interludes, rather than lyrics or instrumental talent.

The spearhead of rhapsodic metal!

One of the best ones but the best one in the symphonic power metal genre.

Simply the best band of power/symphonic metal of the world

3 Blind Guardian Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large ...read more.

With their new - Beyond The Red Mirror album they stormed the rightful throne in the genre and showed amazing performance during the 2015 Europe tour. It was the best show (Warsaw) I've been to and I hope not last... ;) Songs like Sacred Worlds, Wheel of Time, The Ninth Wave, Prophecies, At The Edge of Time, The Holy Grail and The Throne represent power/symphonic metal from their very best side. May their music reign eternally the hearts and minds of those who wish to listen to the Bards.

All other Symphonic power metal bands are cute, but when you listen to "Sacred Worlds", you have no doubt who is the best.

Imagination from the other side best song in the world!

One of the best bands in the world.

4 Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011. On June 22, 2012, Youngblood announced on their website that their new vocalist is the Swedish singer Tommy Karevik, who was first featured on Kamelot's album Silverthorn as main vocalist, co-songwriter and lyricist.

Kamelot is just the most awesome band ever. No matter wether you listen to Tommy Karevik or Roy Khan, you will autommatically love it. I think it deserves the first position as it has been releasing outstanding albums along their whole life, and they haven't gained their fame just due to one good album. This band was the one who made me fall in love with prog/symph/power metal so they deserve all the recognition a band in this gender can have.

Regal symphonic power metal complete with top notch songwriting, expert musicianship, and otherworldly vocals.

This band should be number 1 on this list! The Rhapsody guys should learn a few things from Kamelot!

Yeaah Kamelot rocks. They should be first, and Rhapsody second. PLEASE GET NIGHTWISH OUT OF ANY METAL LIST.

5 Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, Finland. Created as a hard rock band named Tricky Beans, they later changed to Tricky Means and finally to Sonata Arctica, when they shifted to power metal.

Another Finnish band... Their old music has been praised by power metal artists around the world. Their new music is less "power metal" and more 'rocky', but still SA is a fantastic example of a great metal band.

The greatest power metal band. The best album for me is "The Days of Grays".

Excellent band. Not corny like most generic power metal bands. I love how they progress as a band and go a little bit torwards the progressive side, all of their albums and songs are gold. Best Metal band ever.

The best band for me are only Sonata Arctica FOREVER...

6 Dragonforce DragonForce are a British power metal band based in London, England. Formed in 1999, the group are known for their long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-themed lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound.

Despite all the hate this UK band receives.. None can deny its epicness. Most of the haters are people who prefer thrash metal and are simply jealous that Herman Li can play faster than them.. A lot of hate also came from their Inhuman Rampage tour, in which the technicians messed up the tuning and the whole tour was a disaster. Many rumors spurred from that tour which questioned Dragonforces ability to play their studio music as fast live.

Those rumors were quick to diminish after they performed live and instrumentally played perfectly.. The singer ZP Theart though was blamed for having a terrible voice... Which is why as an executive decision he was asked to leave the band and make way for a new singer!

This is the best band ever, I just fell in love with it for the first time I have heard it. They work so hard and talented musicians, I wish this band was on way on the top of the list :( they deserve much more love

The name is wrong: it's DragonForce. Also this is the best band of all time. No competition. All hail Herman Li.

There was really only symphonic stuff on their debut.

7 Symphony X Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael Lepond.

Slightly more prog metal than power metal, but with songs such as "The Odyssey" and "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", this band definitely deserves a spot on this list.

8 Ensiferum Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal."

Another Finnish band.. Listening to these guys just makes you want to grab a beer.

9 Epica Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever.

Even though I am not a big fan of female-fronted metal bands I feel that this band should be higher than #25 - I think they deserve a spot in the top 10.

I love this band!

10 Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation, they have released 16 studio albums, 4 DVD and 3 live albums.

Yet another band from Finland.. These guys influenced many power metal artists worldwide and have been around for a very long time.

The Contenders
11 Iced Earth Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal.

They released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations,... read more

awesome band.. Just listen and enjoy! Also check out demon and wizards. They are a combination of blind guardian singing, and iced earth playing riffs. I can't figure out my favorite, cause I love em all

12 Avantasia Avantasia is a German supergroup rock opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy.

Avantasia is such an amazing project. They have been one of my favourite bands for a while now.
Not only are they good musicians and Tobias is a great songwriter, but the way the include guest musicians into most of their songs just makes them even better. Although, the core sound remains the same throughout most of of their work, the way they use their guests gives all songs and albums a unique feeling.

13 Angra Angra is a Brazilian power metal band formed in São Paulo in 1991. The band gained international acclaim for their unique blend of power metal, progressive rock, and elements of traditional Brazilian music. Their technical proficiency is often highlighted, especially their intricate guitar work and complex song structures. Angra has been influential in the South American metal scene, contributing to the global diversity of the genre.

A very intricate Brazilian band that plays very technical music and includes a vast amount of symphonic interludes and other obscure snippets of music in the midst of their songs.

Such powerful and strong songs. I just love every song of them!

This is the best band, yeah

14 Theocracy Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia.
15 Edguy Edguy is a heavy metal band from Fulda, Germany that was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer.

I am just addicted to Tobi's voice! I love both Edguy and Avantasia!

I'm just addicted to Tobi's voice! Avantasia and Edguy are the best!

16 Primal Fear Primal Fear are a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They play heavy metal, power metal and speed metal. Primal Fear remind of Judas Priest but Primal Fear are faster and heavier. They use twin (dual) lead guitars. Ralf Scheepers voice reminds of Rob Halford.
17 Dark Moor

A band with wonderful compositions and brilliant technical skill.

I fell in love with this band when I first listened to their song "The Dark Moor" and "Night of The Age". Now I have all their albums.

When I first heard them I fell in love with their music and that still hasn't changed

When you listen to some songs of Dark Moor you get an "eargasm"

18 Within Temptation Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt.

Are you kidding me? This band stands alone for symphonic metal. Period. The closest to them is Delain. Sharon den Adel is amazing, as good as Amy Lee with better songs.

Within temptation music is very melodius with very strong lyric. I think this group will be one of the best gothic metal band ever

19 Rainbow Rainbow are a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1993 to 1997. They were originally established with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow were ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million albums worldwide. The band's early work primarily featured mystical lyrics with a neoclassical metal style.

The true metal epicness started here: Stargazer, Gates Of Babylon, A Light In The Black.
Highly recommended:
Difficult To Cure (a metal instrumental, which is a Beethoven cover, Ode To Joy).
It's an AWESOME Beethoven interpretation - Beethoven just went heavy metal! And you will get that symphonic metal feel.

Without Rainbow, none of these bands would exist

20 Gloryhammer

Definition of symphonic power metal. UNICORNS RULE

Seriously? Underrated!

Best on the list

21 Dragonland

Dragonland hooked me into Symphonic Power Metal. Comprehensive and atmospheric with progressive elements that add to their powerful symphonic creations. They will always be #1 with me.

One of my favourite bands of all time, so diverse and always very melodious

Dragonland's songs good to hear, this my list
1. Stratovarius
2. Angra
3. Dragonland

22 Sabaton Sabaton is a power metal band from Falun, Sweden formed in 1999. The band's main lyrical themes are based on war and historical battles.

They don't have symphonic elements in their music.

23 Northern Kings
24 Versailles

Great song from versailles especially to hizaki and teru. you're amazing

Trust me.. They performed live better that studio recording..

25 Dreamtale

I was very surprised not to find this band on the list, maybe not at the top but still. If you don't know this guys, you should really check them out. Starter Pack : firebird, two hundreds men, secret door ( lyrics are strong with this one. ), and much more to discover if you're willing to. No pressure, just sharing something I consider very special.

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