T is for...

's "maestro" is set to release his first solo album next month. The record is an orchestral soundtrack to his favourite comic book -. Although it is mainly instrumental and more symphonic than metal, Tuomas has said that it will appeal to fans of Nightwish. It features guest vocals from Tony Kakko and Johanna Kurkela.

See also: Theatres Des Vampires, Theocracy, Tiamat, Timo Tolkki's Avalon, Trail of Tears, Turisas

U is for...





Nightwish and Lacuna Coil, though they are considered to have more of a pop orientation. They have released 3 albums so far, the most recent being 2013's Dark Half Rising. Unshine - A gothic symphonic metal act from Finland. The band formed in 2000 when singer Susanna Vesilahti first joined in their rehearsals. They describe themselves as "druid metal" with pagan and Celtic themes, and have been compared to bands likeand, though they are considered to have more of a pop orientation. They have released 3 albums so far, the most recent being 2013's









See also: Ufych Sormeer, Ultimate Fate, Under Sanity's Bane, UnSun





V is for...





Serenity and Siegfried Samer from Dragony. They are working on the a sixth album. Visions of Atlantis - This Austrian band formed in 2000 and have since been through many line-up changes. They have 6 former vocalists including Melissa Ferlaak, Maxi Nil and Nicole Bogner who sadly passed away in 2012. The band recently announced their intention to go back to their original style and rehired three of the old members as well as Clémentine Delauney fromand Siegfried Samer from. They are working on the a sixth album.













Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- in America. They were a Japanese visual kei band who dressed in Rococo fashions and played elaborate symphonic metal. Although not hugely well-known elsewhere in the world, they had 5 successful albums in Japan. Their bassist Jasmine You sadly died in 2009 and the band finally split up in 2012, with members moving onto other projects. Versailles - Also known asin America. They were a Japanese visual kei band who dressed in Rococo fashions and played elaborate symphonic metal. Although not hugely well-known elsewhere in the world, they had 5 successful albums in Japan. Their bassist Jasmine You sadly died in 2009 and the band finally split up in 2012, with members moving onto other projects.













a capella geniuses. Formed in 2006, the band have 5 singers and a drummer, with the singers playing the part of all the instruments. They are largely inspired by symphonic and melodic metal. Van Canto are notable in the scene for their covers of songs like Wishmaster by Nightwish, and also for their guest appearances on Tarja's second album, and singer Inga Scharf on Heidi Parviainen's Dark Sarah project. Van Canto - Although not technically symphonic metal and perhaps not technically even a band (bear with me), they aregeniuses. Formed in 2006, the band have 5 singers and a drummer, with the singers playing the part of all the instruments. They are largely inspired by symphonic and melodic metal.are notable in the scene for their covers of songs likeby Nightwish, and also for their guest appearances on's second album, and singer Inga Scharf on Heidi Parviainen'sproject.









See also: Valyre, Veni Domine, Vesania, Vesperian Sorrow, Virgin Black





W is for...





Mother Earth in 2000. The band have often performed with an orchestra, and did so at their 15th anniversary celebration Elements in 2012. The band's latest, Hydra, was a worldwide success and has seen them collaborating with Tarja and headlining Wembley Arena. Within Temptation - Now described as Europe's biggest symphonic rock band, this Dutch group began life in 1996 as a gothic doom act formed by partners Sharon Den Adel and Robert Westerholt. They are certainly one of the biggest and most influential bands in the genre, largely thanks to their breakthrough albumin 2000. The band have often performed with an orchestra, and did so at their 15th anniversary celebrationin 2012. The band's latest,, was a worldwide success and has seen them collaborating withand headlining Wembley Arena.





Ensiferum. The band could fit into many different genres and have been labelled melodic death, power, folk and black metal over the years. But one thing's for certain - their long-awaited, two part album Time has a definite symphonic feel, with epic choirs and haunting Japanese-style melodies. Wintersun - A Finnish band led by Jari Mäenpää, formerly of. The band could fit into many different genres and have been labelled melodic death, power, folk and black metal over the years. But one thing's for certain - their long-awaited, two part albumhas a definite symphonic feel, with epic choirs and haunting Japanese-style melodies.









See also: Waltari, Waiting Silence, Whispers of Fate, Wildpath, Winterage





X is for...





Nightwish. Original singer Lisa Middelhauve (now working on solo projects) departed in 2008 and had a short-lived replacement in the form of Kerstin Bischof. Finally Manuela Kraller joined for Neverworld's End, an album which propelled them to new heights. Dianne Van Giersbergen from Ex Libris (no relation of Anneke) is their current singer. Xandria - This band from Germany have had quite the journey, starting off as a lighter symphonic/gothic band with electronic elements and becoming a full-on epic orchestral act á la. Original singer Lisa Middelhauve (now working on solo projects) departed in 2008 and had a short-lived replacement in the form of Kerstin Bischof. Finally Manuela Kraller joined for, an album which propelled them to new heights. Dianne Van Giersbergen from(no relation of Anneke) is their current singer.





See also: X Japan, Xerath





Y is for...









Z is for...









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I hope you enjoyed this A-Z tour of symphonic metal! If you did, please do share with your friends and comment below if you have any suggestions for bands that have been missed.

Please note: this is my personal guide and I apologise for any mistakes or omissions. Thanks for reading.