Epic and Heartwrenching: Metal Music Recommendations
Two days ago I got H.I.M.’s album from last month, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. A little mainstream but still beautiful. I’ve now returned to metal music, as these days I’ve been focused too much on playing classical and listening to DBSK (both on other ends of the spectrum). And since many people are wondering about (aka questioning) my taste in music, I’ve decided to list my favorite bands and their songs, with live or studio videos for each. 
I may not be entirely objective…most of these bands are Finnish, and I am very biased when it comes to my favorite musicians: Tuomas, Emppu, Eicca, Perttu, Ville, Alexi, and Henkka. (Only Eicca is married at the moment, so hehehe.) Tuomas has thanked me publicly and Emppu knows of my existence.
Oh, as for the heaviest metal…I cannot guarantee clean language (I forgot some of the lyrics) but Children of Bodom and Wintersun are the only melodic death metal bands I can listen to without covering my ears.
SYMPHONIC:
Nightwish
Ever Dream (live with Tarja)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W39WaGTPnvg
Just before the band fired Tarja. It made Tuomas cry, so I obviously cried too.
Phantom of the Opera (live Tarja and Marco duet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj7WrKfw6n0
The audience burst into tears. Amazing operatics. 
The Siren (live with Tarja)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYBsdvFORU
Sahara (with Anette)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aImI9UfdiU
May he now rest in Elysian Fields…
7 Days to the Wolves (with Anette)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVYEVYnuuME
Tarja
Damned and Divine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Y5WQUWPzM
The Seer (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGKc_fSoZ5w
Epica
Cry for the Moon (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wvH3m3hHs
Never Enough (music video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLtA8SkmVw
Amberian Dawn
River of Tuoni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LVIca35Evk
LOL it’s female-fronted and the audience is entirely male…
CELLO:
Apocalyptica
Romance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14sRksQGgts
Perttu’s true hair color is actually blond…and isn’t Eicca’s accent mmmm?
One (Metallica cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjQGt7WjK0
Fade to Black (Metallica cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x97f-_y93a0
Bittersweet (Apo + Ville of H.I.M. + Lauri of The Rasmus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJIVdoyrgpI
LOVE:
H.I.M.
Love the Hardest Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGySQFaH008
Love’s the devil counting teardrops in the rain…
Killing Loneliness With You (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8G0zeRSWU
Poison Girl (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDOth5A7uQ
Love his jacket.
PROGRESSIVE:
Cohobation (unsigned)
Eden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmgdklEQrrU
This song, among others, was written and composed by the lead guitarist/second singer John N-T when he was younger than I am now. I talked to him a few times before and would go to Sweden just to see the band.
MELODIC DEATH:
Children of Bodom
Angels Don’t Kill (Live HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc5wyajR0z4
Hate Crew Deathroll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSlTJ9YHdr0
Triple Corpse Hammerblow (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPB0TOlayy0
Summer (Vivaldi cover, Alexi and Roope)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iLIhLv8LuY
Winter Sun
Starchild
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc4WFzl-6Xs
And a Finnish cover artist:
Wintersun – Winter Madness Solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozA234H0vFU
Wintersun – Death and the Healing Solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04MLyyjW5TI
Vivaldi/Bach Stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmNMW352Zj4
I’ve been a fan of that Finnish guitarist for well over a year. His fingers are amazing, eh?
A French cover artist and composer:
Various metal/rock covers
http://www.youtube.com/user/BahamutZero62
Original compositions
http://www.myspace.com/JeromeBailly
Symphonic with a lot of piano. I ran into him two years ago and have been a fan ever since.