Symphonic Metal

Symphonic Metal: 35 upcoming festivals, including 16 with tickets on sale.

Symphonic Metal is a heavy metal subgenre characterized by its dramatic, epic sound, blending powerful drums and guitars with extensive orchestral arrangements inspired by film scores and classical music. While not strictly adhering to symphonic structures, bands evoke a grand, atmospheric quality through their use of keyboards, choirs, and sometimes full orchestras. Emerging in the mid-1990s, it draws heavily from power metal and gothic metal, incorporating their melodicism and often operatic vocals. Iconic artists include Nightwish, Epica, and Within Temptation, who have popularized its majestic soundscapes.

Parent genreHeavy Metal