Symphonic Metal 2010s Albums

Moonglow revisits Avantasia’s metal-opera scale with deeper shading, polished melodies and a stronger sense of story.

Dynamind joins Sabine Edelsbacher’s clear, expressive voice to Lanvall’s symphonic writing with unusual precision.

M.E.T.A.L. is Freedom Call’s wholehearted celebration of melodic power metal and the joy of listening to it.

Resist takes Within Temptation’s dramatic foundation into a leaner, more electronic and pop-conscious sound world.

The Shadow Theory combines Kamelot’s symphonic scale with modern guitar hardness around themes of fear and inner duality.

An EP put into national distribution on 28 March 2018. The band's own release list describes it as the EP where reading the score of "CADAVER" backwards gives you "REVADAC" — the two title tracks are one piece of music read in both directions. The third track is a live recording from 14 September 2017.

The second full album, in national distribution from 19 September 2018. Thirteen tracks: the two songs of the March EP CADAVER / REVADAC, plus re-recordings of the 2015 single "Wings" and of "Kyobo no Koibito" from the 2014 debut affected. Music videos were made for "Knight of Sword" and "Kizasi", the latter released in both a flat and a VR version.

Cradle of Filth's twelfth studio album, from September 2017, built on the Victorian fascination with death.

The Great Momentum layers Edenbridge’s symphonic grandeur over the forward force of firm guitar riffs.

Ghostlights gathers guest vocalists, symphonic color, hard-rock accessibility and power-metal velocity into one broad narrative.

The Holographic Principle joins orchestral-style arrangements, choirs and heavy guitar riffs inside large-scale compositions.

Master of Light lets Freedom Call’s bright melody, speed and positive singalongs ring out with particular openness.

Myrath's fourth album, from February 2016, named with the English translation of the band's own name.

An original EP first sold at Comic Market 91 on 29 December 2016 and put into national distribution through Canned music on 18 January 2017. Three tracks. The title song got one of the band's earliest official music videos and has been a fixture of their live set ever since.

Shadowmaker binds Apocalyptica’s signature cello sound tightly to heavy-rock riffs and dark vocals.

Cradle of Filth's eleventh studio album, from July 2015: their first for Nuclear Blast and the first outing for a new line-up.

Haven connects Kamelot’s dark symphonic-metal atmosphere, detailed guitar work, melancholy melody and dramatic vocal expression.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful overlays Nightwish’s symphonic-metal grandeur with a gaze toward nature, life and science.

The second original full album, first sold at M3-2015 Spring on 26 April 2015 and put into national distribution by Disk Union on 13 May. Its songs are titled in German and French and its subject is the vampire. The CD holds six tracks, the streaming release five.

The band's first original single, sold at Comic Market 88 on 14 August 2015. Five tracks: the song itself and four versions of it with the vocal, the guitar, the bass and the drums taken out in turn. Disk Union put it into national distribution on 31 March 2018.

The Quantum Enigma joins Epica’s orchestral scale, heavy guitar riffs and dramatic vocals with meticulous control.

Beyond fills Freedom Call’s world with light-catching melodies, fast rhythms and choruses made for collective singing.

The first original full album, sold at Comic Market 86 on 16 August 2014 and put into national distribution by Disk Union on 22 October. After six years of Touhou Project arrangement records it was the first Unlucky Morpheus album made entirely of their own songs. Seven tracks.

Hydra places Within Temptation’s large symphonic-rock framework around varied voices and contrasting textures.

The Mystery of Time uses multiple vocalists, thick choirs and symphonic arrangement to tell a large-scale rock-opera story.

The Bonding combines weighty orchestration, transparent vocals and lyrical guitar to create grand symphonic metal.

The Q-Music Sessions, born of a Dutch radio project, has WITHIN TEMPTATION recasting pop and rock hits in grand style around Sharon den Adel's voice.

Cradle of Filth's tenth studio album, from October 2012 and the only one made by the band as a three-piece.

Requiem for the Indifferent uses orchestral weight, heavy guitars and the contrast between clean and harsh vocals to frame social concerns on a large scale.

Land of the Crimson Dawn opens Freedom Call’s bright melodies, brisk speed and fantasy-colored world to the fullest.

Silverthorn introduces a new vocalist while reconnecting Kamelot’s heavy riffs, symphonic decoration and dark storytelling.

El Dorado Hotel layers Lana Lane’s clear vocals, keyboard-born fantasy colors and dramatic guitar work.

DRAGONLAND's fifth album, released in 2011 after a five-year gap since Astronomy. The third chapter of The Dragonland Chronicles saga, it completes the story of the first two albums and was released by AFM Records; many regard it as the band's masterpiece.

The third album by Tunisia's Myrath, from October 2011, built on Arabic scales and melody inside progressive metal.

Imaginaerum layers Nightwish’s orchestra, choir, heavy guitar and Anette Olzon’s voice into a fantasy narrative about dreams and memory.

The eighth Septicflesh album, from April 2011, recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Unforgiving builds on a narrative concept with Sharon den Adel’s clear voice, heavy guitar and electronic accents.

7th Symphony joins Apocalyptica’s weighty cello sound to metal riffing while making room for guest vocals and electronic color.

Angel of Babylon expands Avantasia’s metal-opera appeal through varied guest voices and symphonic arrangements.

The Wicked Symphony polishes Avantasia’s grand rock-opera feel with huge choruses, emotional melody and multiple vocal personalities.

Cradle of Filth's ninth studio album, from November 2010, a concept record about Lilith.

Solitaire connects Edenbridge’s symphonic breadth, clear vocals and power-metal momentum.

Legend of the Shadowking collects Freedom Call’s bright, fast melody, singalong choruses and fantasy-world atmosphere in a concept-minded record.

Poetry for the Poisoned layers Kamelot’s shadowed melodies, symphonic breadth and dramatic choruses into a dark, theatrical world.