Top 10 Iconic Metal Songs with Clear Classical Influences (Except Symphonic and Neo-Classical Metal)
Symphonic metal and Neo-classical metal are excluded because everybody knows they have classical influences and it's very easy to detect classical elements in these 2 genres.Metal music is heavily influenced by classical music and this was the most important difference with hard rock. It's not necessary to hear absolutely clearly classical music in metal songs because metal music also developed its own forms that are, again, based on classical, but are more indirectly related to classical.
However, in some of the most iconic metal songs you can hear clearly classical influences - from thrash to death metal and everything in between. Here are some songs from different subgenres and decades.
1995. This is probably the most iconic death metal song, sharing the crown with Lack of Comprehension (also by Death). Just play the song sample. What was Chuck playing on the guitar? Classical.
1986. The riff is something that a string section would play. No wonder Apocalyptica (a cello cover band) started with Metallica covers - Metallica songs sound good on cellos.
Also try this cover (it sounds like a classical piece): Apocalyptica - Welcome Home (Sanitarium).
Yeah, metal bands actually play modified versions of classical music but on electric guitars.
1990. What do you think Megadeth play in the amazing intro? Classical music. Yeah, metalheads actually listen to modified classical music non-stop (some of them - without even knowing it)!
1980. Everybody knows this song so no need to explain much. Its classical vibe was very important for the next stages of development of metal music because Iron Maiden became the most influenial band of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, and this way - leaders in metal music in the early 80s.
2001. This song is progressive power metal. It's epic and definitely classical-based. Similar to many compositions in classical music, this song is so intricate and with so many tracks that it alone required as much production time as the rest of the album (A Night at the Opera, 2002). I prefer the re-recorded version of 2012 over the original (the sample is from the new version, 2012).
1988. This is a technical thrash instrumental. It's classical-based start to finish. One of the best metal instrumentals of all time.
Thanks for adding this iconic song, zxm. I can't believe I forgot it, provided that it was probably the first metal song of this type. Yes, it's related to Johann Sebastian Bach but it's more correct to say that Deep Purple used Bach-like chord sequences.
Very confusing with metal and hard rock about this song. I read that the organ solo and guitar solo are based on Johann Sebastian Bach's composition.
1995. This is classic heavy metal with significant thrash elements but you can clearly hear classical elements, too. Even on the sample below.
1994. Progressive metal. There are many classical elements all the way. A great song about a Japanese diplomat in the USSR who saved jews in WW II by issuing exit visas (against the orders of his government).
2011. This is a technical death metal song. It became famous for its insane drumming but here we are interested in its symphonic arrangement and direct quotes from classical composers that go very well with death metal.
Most often 4:00-5:05 and the intro but not only.
1995. You can hear part of it on the sample. This song deserves to be higher in general but I already put a Death song at #1 and wanted to include other bands from other subgenres in the top 10.
1979. Proto symphonic metal 20 years before the peak of the genre in the late 1990s. This song came out after Dio departure and the singer is Graham Bonnet but he's very good.
A song of 1992.
Also give a listen to the impressive cover version Blind Guardian made in 1996 - Theatre of Pain (Orchestral Version). You will understand that in 1992 Blind Guardian actually wrote a classical music piece.
Guitars, esp. Kirk guitar in the 2nd half.
2008. Folk metal. Probably the most iconic metal instrumental since 2000 (not a typical instrumental though).