fantasy metal

French symphonic power metal band created by Philippe Giordana and Willdric Lievin in 2000. They chose Elisa C. Martin (ex-Dark Moor, Dreamaker) for the vocals. In 2003, Willdric and Elisa left to create a new band (Hamka), so they picked Max Leclercq (Magic Kingdom) as new singer. Following the release of their first demo, Tribute to Universe, their basic metal style began evolving into something more fantastic and symphonic, to which their second demo, Realm of Wonders, attests.

Founded in 1989 by Kai Hansen in Hamburg, Germany after leaving Helloween, Gamma Ray borrowed straight from the Helloween classics, and continued to pioneer Hansen's style of power metal. After four years with Helloween, Kai Hansen decided to leave the band at the height of their career. He then went on to do some studio work with Blind Guardian. Kai and his friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran' Pace decided to start a project. They recruited bassist Uwe Wessel and drummer Mathias Burchard. The resulting sound was very close to Helloween's power metal style.

There is more than one band by the name Rhapsody: 1) Rhapsody (now known as Rhapsody of Fire) is a symphonic power metal band from Italy, but have been "on hold" since 2008. A new album has been announced, "The Frozen Tears of Angels", billed for release in March. They incorporate classical music, baroque and power metal styles. The classical influences include such composers as Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolò Paganini, and Antonin Dvořák. Their songs are also heavily influenced by power metal in general and their lyrics are fantasy-themed.

Carach Angren is a symphonic black metal band from the Netherlands, formed by two members of Vaultage. Their style is characterised by prominent use of orchestral arrangements. All of their studio albums are concept albums with lyrics based on famous ghost stories, such as the Flying Dutchman. The name means "Iron Jaws" in the language of Sindarin, and is the name of a fortified pass into North-Western Mordor in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Read more about Carach Angren on Last.fm.