Melodic Metal

[Drealm]

What is exactly the definition of Melodic Metal?

For me it's a band that clearly search for great much-sought riffs. But it need talent to come up with that. For now, I possess 2 CD that I consider Melodic Metal:

1. Wintersun : THE definition of melodic metal for me (second album coming soon...never waited a new album that much)

2. Cradle of Filth - Midian : It's clear that someone in this band is working hard.

But I really like Melodic metal and 2 CD is not enough to satisfy my hunger.

Do someone have recommendations of albums I should give a listen?

By the way, if anybody simply want to discuss melodic metal, go ahead.

[kvincent5555]

Back in the day, almost all metal was melodic, and it was good. Sabbath, Priest, Ozzie, Maiden, and others had good riffs and good melodies.

When metal split off into thrash, glam, and progressive during the 80s, the glam and progressive bands worked with cheap, formulaic melodies so teenyboppers would watch their videos. Not long after, lots of cheesy death metal bands also used melody in a bad way.

Hence today, many metal listeners, including myself to some extent, are skeptical of melody in metal, due to these bad experiences. We associate melody with commercialism and mediocrity, and tend to prefer the more groovy, rhythmic approach of Pantera, Megadeth, etc.

I have nothing against melody per se in metal. But over the years, it's earned a bad name for itself. One possible exception is Rotting Christ. Despite the cheesy name, some of their songs are very melodic and riffy in a good way.

[jrock93]

Just to clarify, Sabbath and Ozzy were not melodic metal. A melodic metal band is a metal band that has melodic choruses. Now the only melodic bands are melodic death metal or melodic metalcore. I would suggest finding bands that sing their choruses in a melodic fasion, such as Killswitch Engage.

[Drealm]

A melodic metal band is a metal band that has melodic choruses.

So on that basis, would you consider Fear Factory a melodic metal band?

I'm a great fan of them but I never really considered their riffs melodic; it's more industrial for me. But they sometimes use clear voice, so from that point it becomes melodic metal?

[jrock93]

no they aren't. Power metal bands such as Dragonforce or Helloween are though. Melodic metal bands with only clean singing are heavily influenced by NWOBHM bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, so their singings often sing in a similar operatic manner.

[shadowmac]

no they aren't. Power metal bands such as Dragonforce or Helloween are though. Melodic metal bands with only clean singing are heavily influenced by NWOBHM bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, so their singings often sing in a similar operatic manner.

This description is the closest I've seen here, but it leaves much unsaid and is not completely accurate.

First, Judas Priest was NOT a NWOBHM band - they were around prior to that movement. Motorhead and Saxon ares considered NWOBHM bands, though the vocals do not fit into the above description. There was more to it than just the vocals and some of the populare NWOBHM bands were actually American bands.

There are many melodic metal bands (Heed and about half of Mercenary's stuff are two examples) that are not particularly Euro influenced, though I do agree that the vast majority of the popular melodic metal bands of today appear to be heavily influenced by the NWOBHM bands.

As an aside, apparently there is a new movement called THE NEW WAVE OF AMERICAN HEAVY METAL, which I became aware of recently when my band was put into that category by a reviewer (even though I consider us to be more Euro / NWOBHM influenced).

From above post: "progressive bands worked with cheap, formulaic melodies so teenyboppers would watch their videos."

I have no idea what prog band(s) you are talking about - I am very familiar with the genre and I am unaware of any "actual" progressive metal band that employed "cheap, formulaic melodies..." as a staple of their writing. Dream Theater, Dali's Dilemma, Enchant, Shadow Gallery, Symphony X, Fates Warning and numerous others are examples of what I consider prog. Queensryche, for example, is not a prog band by definition - they illustrate progressive moments but they are not "prog". I am curious as to who you were describing; can you please name some of the bands that you were referencing in the above quote?