Symphonic Metal / Crossovers

[ChuckM 1]

I've never been a big fan of straight metal, but I've been gaining an interest in some symphonic metal and crossovers. Some examples I like are Rhapsody of Fire, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Powerglove, and the FF Advent Children (movie) OST.

Any other fans of this style here? Any more recommendations you can make for me to check out?

[Ollie 1,375]

Metallica's S&M album with Michael Kamen.

[Marc 1,071]

[Jonesy 55]

I would recomend Nightwish or Within Temptation.

I'm not fan of Symphonic Metal, but my little brother hears this music.

[Luke Skywalker 2,383]

isnt there a work of metallica with the LSO?

[Ollie 1,375]

I'm not sure, I think Michael Kamen did some recordings in London for Metallica.

The S&M album features the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Kamen.

[Greg1138 3]

I hate Metallica, but the work on S&M is stunning - some incredible stuff....

....and Steve Vai has done a fair bit with orchestras, though I am a bit out of date with Vai stuff so not sure if any has been released commercially....plenty on YouTube though (his guitar/orchestra version of For The Love Of God is breathtaking).

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

I would recomend Nightwish or Within Temptation.

I'm not fan of Symphonic Metal, but my little brother hears this music.

Within Temptation has done some nice stuff, though a lot of it is a bit to Zimmer-like for my tastes.

[Maglorfin 219]

Goshdarn it, I wanted to post this! There's more of the sort by Symphony X, but this must be the best example. I'm a big fan of the band and can't wait to hear them finally live when they come to Slovenia in March. Maybe I can even catch the opportunity for a photo and autographed album!

Otherwise, Nightwish is indeed cool stuff (the "Tarja years" IMO) as is Rhapsody and S&M which has by now become a classic, also Sonata Arctica, Therion, Stratovarius and ocassionally Dream Theater. You can also find a nice and exhaustive list here.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Does this count?

[crocodile 9,724]

S&M rules of course. But the isolated Michael Kamen track is even better!

Karol

[Docteur Qui 1,581]

Big metal fan... And a bit orchestral fan... But still not sold on them being together.

[Jonesy 55]

I would recomend Nightwish or Within Temptation.

I'm not fan of Symphonic Metal, but my little brother hears this music.

Within Temptation has done some nice stuff, though a lot of it is a bit to Zimmer-like for my tastes.

I'm not sure, but Nightwish used some Zimmer's pieces in concerts.

Even they are influenced by his music.

[Wojo 2,458]

David Garrett

[Jamesyboy 4]

Here are some recommendations:

Steve Vai-Sound Theories Vol. 1 & 2. Incredible live 2cd set recorded with the Metropole Orkest and some of Steve's best playing.

Dream Theater - Score - 3cd live set, with 2 discs recorded with the Octavarium Orchestra (anything by Dream Theater is incredible IMO. (Six Degrees of Turbulence also has some symphonic elements, albeit with keyboards)

Within Temptation - (2 albums) - Black Symphony (2cd live set recorded with the Metropole Orchestra) & The Heart of Everything.

Symphony X - V: The New Mythology, The Odyssey & Paradise Lost. All 3 incredible albums. Progressive heavy metal with an orchestrated flare. Lead guitarist was heavily influenced by Yngwie Malmsteen.

Kamelot - Ghost Opera & The Black Halo - their 2 best albums IMO.

Nightwish - Dark Passion Play

and although I'm not a huge fan, the band Epica falls into this style as well.

Hope that helps a little bit. If I think of anything else, I'll update the post.

Jamesyboy

[Thor 9,362]

One of my favourite bands is Rammstein, and even though they're more labeled 'goth metal', they have have often used symphonic arrangements in their music. There is also something quite dramatic in their songs.

Otherwise, you have stuff like the Norwegian black metal gods Dimmu Borgir (which have used orchestra extensively in later years), but that may be a little too hardcore for your taste.

[crocodile 9,724]

Isn't Zimmer's Kraken almost like metal?

Karol

[Thor 9,362]

Isn't Zimmer's Kraken almost like metal?

Karol

Zimmer has never done metal, as far as I know. However, he draws heavily upon prog rock traditions. His whole "power anthem" style - of which PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is part - is very much part of that.

Zimmer is often very much LIKED by metal fans, though. Probably something with the muscular sound.

[crocodile 9,724]

I noticed that.

Karol

[tjguitar 0]

I don't like metal, but I like rock, and Eric Clapton's work with Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic is awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0sxr-wg7qI

[ChuckM 1]

Thanks for the suggestions. Some great stuff here! I'm enjoying [the Kamen/Metallica collaboration] right now.

[Thor 9,362]

Thanks for the suggestions. Some great stuff here! I'm enjoying S&M right now.

Nice. Thanks for letting us know about your Friday night activities!

[ChuckM 1]

Crap. I just looked up what that means in other contexts...

[crocodile 9,724]

Don't worry. Judging from the recent Blume's challange there is plenty of these kind of people here.

Karol

[hornist 1,261]

I'm playing on

album.

Not a big fan though, my ears are still suffering...

[Morn 8]

Why listen to metal when you can listen to Stravinsky and Jurassic Park?

Metal wishes it could be that brutal and aggressive.

[Greg1138 3]

I don't like metal, but I like rock, and Eric Clapton's work with Michael Kamen and the National Philharmonic is awesome:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=o0sxr-wg7qI

That piece still gives me the shivers....I remember the show first time round - had no idea about the Kamen God back then but it's funny how things turn full circle....

[Marc 1,071]

Here's a video I made which compiles all of the classical themes Symphony X has used throughout their discography

[Marc 1,071]

Felt like adding some real horns and trumpets to this masterpiece
 

 

[jackfiszr 26]

I recently asked ChatGPT to compile a comprehensive list of symphonic performances of rock and metal music. What followed was an absolute nightmare! Despite being able to code, the AI struggled with curating a simple list of several dozen entries. Every time I asked it to add something, it would systematically remove something else, even when I explicitly told it not to. It couldn’t grasp when an entry was removed, and it didn’t even acknowledge it when I pointed this out. It also failed to sort the releases chronologically, despite having all the release dates. Eventually, it began to mix in random, hallucinated information. After creating dozens of versions of the list, none of them was complete or free of mistakes. Anyway, here’s what I’ve managed to compile from its various responses (though it may still contain some misleading information). The main focus is on bands performing their own material with orchestras, while the greyed-out entries refer to symphonic reinterpretations by other artists.

 

Deep Purple / Jon Lord

1969 Concerto for Group and Orchestra One of the earliest collaborations between a rock band and an orchestra, Deep Purple performed alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, composed by Jon Lord, conducted by Malcolm Arnold.

2000 In Concert with the London Symphony Orchestra A modern revisiting of the Concerto, with improved sound and arrangements.

2004 Beyond the Notes A solo album from the Deep Purple keyboardist, Jon Lord, who explored orchestral and rock fusions extensively in his solo career, often performing with orchestras.

2014 Live in Verona Recorded at the historic Verona Arena, a modern orchestral performance with the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt.

The Beatles

1979 The Beatles Concerto Performed by Rostal & Schaefer, this album reimagines Beatles classics in a classical concerto format.

1986 The Beatles Symphony Vadim Brodski delivers an orchestral reinterpretation of The Beatles' timeless music.

1994 LSO Plays The Music Of The Beatles The London Symphony Orchestra performing orchestral arrangements of classic Beatles songs, with choral arrangements provided by London Symphony Chorus to complement the orchestral performances.

1999 Symphonic Beatles The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's symphonic tribute to The Beatles' iconic discography.

2006 Love (2006, orchestral remix) A unique remix project by George Martin and Giles Martin, blending The Beatles' original recordings with orchestral arrangements.

2009 Big Classical Beatles Box A comprehensive classical reinterpretation of The Beatles' music by various artists.

2011 The Beatles For Orchestra Carl Davis orchestrates a moving tribute to The Beatles, featuring lush orchestral arrangements.

2013 The Beatles Vadim Brodski returns with another orchestral interpretation of The Beatles' iconic songs.

Pink Floyd

1990 The Wall: Live in Berlin While not strictly with an orchestra, this legendary performance of The Wall featured massive arrangements, including a symphonic scale with military and choral backing.

1995 Us and Them: Symphonic Pink Floyd The London Philharmonic Orchestra delivers a full symphonic reimagining of Pink Floyd’s masterpieces, conducted by Peter Scholes.

2003 RPO Plays Pink Floyd The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs symphonic versions of Pink Floyd's iconic songs.

Genesis

1992 RPO Plays Genesis Hits and Ballads The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra reimagines Genesis' hits and ballads in a symphonic style.

Rolling Stones

1994 Symphonic Music of the Rolling Stones The London Symphony Orchestra offers a symphonic tribute to the Rolling Stones' classics like Angie and Paint It Black.

Rage

1996 Lingua Mortis Rage, a German heavy metal band, collaborated with the Prague Symphony Orchestra to produce a full album that blends orchestral music with metal.

1998 XIII An innovative album where Rage continues their symphonic exploration alongside orchestral arrangements.

1999 Ghosts Rage delivers a unique combination of metal and symphonic sounds, pushing creative boundaries.

2002 Lingua Mortis Trilogy A set combining the three records mentioned above.

2013 LMO Rage teams up with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra for a monumental symphonic metal project.

Waltari

1996 Yeah! Yeah! Die! Die! (Death Metal Symphony in Deep C) An ambitious fusion of death metal and classical symphony, combining operatic vocals, orchestral arrangements, and metal aggression. The album stands out for its unique compositions, blending genres like electronic, opera, and disco with the powerful sound of the Avanti! Symphony Orchestra.

Metallica

1996 Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos Though it’s not a live orchestra, Apocalyptica's reinterpretation of Metallica's music on classical cellos offers a similar vibe.

1999 S&M A definitive live collaboration blending Metallica's heavy metal sound with full symphonic backing, featuring their greatest hits and two new tracks, with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen.

2020 S&M2 A follow-up to S&M, Metallica reunites with the San Francisco Symphony, celebrating the 20th anniversary with a new setlist and orchestral arrangement.

2024 Plays Metallica, Vol.2 Apocalyptica returns with a second volume of their symphonic Metallica reinterpretations.

Led Zeppelin

1997 Kashmir: Symphonic Led Zeppelin The London Philharmonic Orchestra pays tribute to Led Zeppelin’s timeless music, featuring classics like Stairway to Heaven and Kashmir.

Yngwie Malmsteen

1998 Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra Yngwie Malmsteen fuses classical music with electric guitar virtuosity alongside an orchestra.

2002 Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra Live A live performance of Malmsteen's Concerto Suite, showcasing his neoclassical style with orchestral backing.

Scorpions

2000 Moment of Glory Scorpions joined forces with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to reinterpret their classic hits, giving them a symphonic edge.

The Doors

2000 The Doors Concerto Not a direct live performance with an orchestra, but surviving members of The Doors collaborated with Nigel Kennedy and an orchestra to reimagine some of their classics.

Yes

2002 Symphonic Live While featuring Yes performing live, the album also integrates symphonic orchestral arrangements into their progressive rock catalog.

Queen

2002 Queen Symphony A classical symphony inspired by Queen's music, arranged into six interconnected movements by Tolga Kashif and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

2011 RPO Plays Queen A lush orchestral reimagining of Queen's most beloved tracks, arranged and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

2016 Symphonic Queen Orchestral covers of individual Queen songs, closer to the original versions than Queen Symphony but performed purely instrumentally by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Who

2003 Live at the Royal Albert Hall Orchestral renditions of The Who's iconic rock catalog, performed at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the Jools Holland Orchestra.

2017 Tommy Live at the Royal Albert Hall The Who performs their classic rock opera "Tommy" live, joined by a full orchestra for a grandiose musical experience.

KISS

2003 KISS Symphony: Alive IV KISS performed their iconic songs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, blending their hard rock sound with orchestral arrangements.

Nightwish

2006 End of an Era While not a full orchestral performance, Nightwish incorporated symphonic elements in their live album, and their later works heavily feature orchestras.

Dream Theater

2006 Score Dream Theater celebrated their 20th anniversary with a live performance alongside the Octavarium Orchestra, combining progressive metal and orchestral music.

Styx

2006 One with Everything A live symphonic performance with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, featuring Styx's classics like Come Sail Away.

Epica

2008 The Classical Conspiracy Symphonic metal band Epica performed live with a full orchestra and choir, blending their heavy sound with classical influences.

Within Temptation

2008 Black Symphony This live album features the Dutch symphonic metal band performing with the Metropole Orchestra, resulting in a grand and atmospheric performance.

Satyricon

2015 Live at the Opera A groundbreaking black metal performance enhanced by the power of a full choir, with the Norwegian National Opera Choir.

Elvis Presley

2015 If I Can Dream The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra reinterprets Elvis Presley's greatest hits with lush orchestral arrangements.

Dimmu Borgir

2017 Forces of the Northern Night Dimmu Borgir performs black metal with a full orchestra, bringing their dramatic sound to new heights.

Therion

2018 Beloved Antichrist Therion often integrates symphonic orchestras into their studio recordings and live performances, merging metal with operatic elements.

Evanescence

2018 Synthesis Live A reimagining of Evanescence's classics in orchestral and electronic formats, recorded live.

Death

2020 Symphony of Death DeathOrchestra brings a symphonic twist to Death's iconic death metal sound.

Ihsahn

2024 IHSAHN (Orchestral Version) Ihsahn reimagines his solo work with orchestral arrangements, bringing a new depth to his progressive metal sound.

[jackfiszr 26]

It's a shame Iron Maiden never did a symphonic collaboration, but they did use a Jerry Goldsmith intro during Rock in Rio 2001