Music

Music videos of some of my favourite tracks.

Within Temptation – Sinead
From the album The Unforgiving. This is a concept album which sees WT trying some new styles. In this track the scene is set in a disco and so the usual symphonic metal sound and Sharon den Adel’s vocals combine with a funky disco beat. Very catchy though.

Eluveitie – Inis Mona
Folk metal at its best. Swiss band Eluveitie’s blend of modern and traditional instruments creates a sound like nothing else. The section from 2:24 in particular with Nu-metal-esque guitar riff and whistle is pure class. And just check out that hurdy-gurdy!

Within Temptation – Mother Earth
An awesome homage to Mother Earth by the awesome Dutch band. What else needs to be said?

Nightwish – Ghost Love Score
Truly one of the most epic symphonic metal songs ever made. The Finnish band’s former singer Tarja’s vocals are perfectly suited to these tracks and that is what I really miss about her. But the truly epic parts of this song are actually the ones where she is not singing.

Within Temptation – Memories
This is a song I really overlooked for a long time. I liked it but never quite realised how good it was as it was overshadowed on the Silent Force album by Somewhere, a song with a similar subject.

Sirenia – The Other Side
Sirenia have never quite lived up to the standard set when Monika Pedersen (the singer here) left the band. This is another symphonic metal epic although the band are nowhere near as well known as others such as Nightwish, Epica or WT

Epica – Acoustic Tracks
Epica are a symphonic metal band fronted by Simone Simons. The Dutch band recorded these tracks as part of a live studio recording for DVD. Pure quality with stunning vocals.

Kamelot – The Haunting
I am not a big fan of Kamelot but this track featuring Simone Simons of Epica is really good. Unfortunately the bulk of Kamelot’s music is a depressing dirge which seems to be an excuse for singer Roy Khan to indulge in theatrical misery. However he has just left the band, so who knows what direction they may take.

Ensiferum – Iron
A great track by Finnish Viking metal band Ensiferum. I saw them a couple of years ago at Paganfest in London and they were excellent.

Epica – Cry for the Moon
Arguably Epica’s most popular song this track epitomises the gothic symphonic metal genre with harsh male vocals, clean female vocals, symphonic and choral elements. Although not immediately apparent the song is about the abuse of children by the Catholic church.

Within Temptation feat. Anneke Van Giersbergen – Somewhere (Live)
An absolutely stunning duet recorded for the Black Symphony DVD/CD.