Edenbridge

Edenbridge is a symphonic metal band from Austria. Established in 1998, the band has so far published seven studio albums. One of the very few metal bands with female vocals I approve of.

Toured with Angra, Axxis, Pink Cream 69, Metalium, Trail of Tears, Sirenia

played the Summer Breeze and Bloodstock Festivals

Their last two releases were enhabced by the Czech Film Orchestra. At the moment they are again working on a new release
Studio albums
Sunrise in Eden (2000)
Arcana (2001)
Aphelion (2003)
Shine (2004)
The Grand Design (2006)
MyEarthDream (2008)
Solitaire (2010)
1. “Entree Unique” 1:13
2. “Solitaire” 6:15
3. “Higher” 3:50
4. “Skyline’s End” 5:32
5. “Bon Voyage Vagabond” 5:52
6. “Inward Passage” (Special Edition bonus track) 1:20
7. “Come Undone” 4:11
8. “Out of This World” 5:10
9. “Further Afield” 5:54
10. “Eternity” (Special Edition bonus track) 3:04
11. “A Virtual Dream?” 5:08
12. “Brothers on Diamir” 6:52
13. “Exit Unique”

Live albums
A Livetime in Eden (2004)
LiveEarthDream (2009)

http://www.edenbridge.org/

Sabine Edelsbacher – vocals
Lanvall Lanvall – guitar, keyboards
Max Pointner – drums
Dominik Sebastian – guitar

Triosphere

Norwegian metal band Triosphere was formed during 2004 by guitarist Marius Silver Bergesen, singer/bass player Ida Haukland and drummer Ørjan Aare Jørgensen.  Shortly after the release of their first album  the bands line-up was finally completed with the entrance of guitarist Tor Ole Byberg. German Rock Hard Magazine featured the band as one of the 20 most promising new bands worldwide in 2009. 2010 they released their second album ”The Road Less Travelled”.

Toured with W.A.S.P., Kotipelto, Chris Caffery, Kamelot, Jorn, Arch Enemy and Destruction, co-headlined Swiss metal festival “Metal Inferno 2008” together with Threshold, and they supported DIO on his last concert in Norway; in August 2011 performed at Wacken Open Air.

The band is now working on their third album scheduled for recording this fall.

Discography:

Deadly Decadence (Demo 2005)
Onwards (2007)
Road Less Travelled (2010)

1. Ignition
2. Driven
3. Human Condition
4. Death of Jane Doe
5. Marionette
6. The Road Less Travelled
7. The Anger and the Silent Remorse
8. Watcher
9. Twenty One
10. Worlds Apart
11. The Last Haven
12. Echoes

http://www.thetriosphere.com

Adagio

Adagio is a French neo-classical progressive metal band, their music is dark, complex and played on a very high level of skill. The ruling spirit is Stéphan Forté the guitarist and composer who hired musicians back in 1999 to record the first album Sanctus Ignis. 2003 a stable band line-up had found itself and they toured for the first time.

To the question:”How would you describe Adagio ?” Stéphan Forté replies:” If I had to dedicate my life to create one, and only one painting, it would be a black and glossy painting, describing a detailed scene of the apocalypse, with beauty, passion and above all a strong dramatic dimension. The particularity of this painting is that it would have a size increasing constantly, each time getting deeper and wider”

Their releases:

• Sanctus Ignis (2001)
• Underworld (2003)
• A Band in Upperworld (Live-Album, 2004)
• Dominate (2005)
• Archangels In Black (2009)

and Stephan Forte’s solo album ‘The Shadows Compendium’ 2010

What they are up to now I am not sure, there’s not really been any update on their homepage since 2011, maybe you’ll find more info on facebook

http://www.adagio-online.com

Helloween

Helloween – the mother of all power metal bands or as they call it, ‘German melodic speed metal’ .

The Germans have released 13 albums and a best of for the 25th anniversary of the band since their beginnings in 1984

Former members have gone on to found numerous bands, including Gamma Ray, Iron Savior, Masterplan and Unisonic.

Currently they are working on the follow up to the 2010 release ‘7 Sinners’ therefore they will only play one show in Europe this year and one is announced for Japan in Fall.

Need I say more? No, just go listen and for more info check out their homepage

http://www.helloween.org/

Darkwater

Darkwater is a Swedish prog metal band with power metal leanings

started in 2003 the five Swedes have released two albums up to date and have started working on a follow up.

They have nice melody lines and riffs with proggish enclaves, but altogether their music is very accessible and singalong ( not in any sense negative)

Played Progpower USA in 2011

Releases: Calling the Earth To Witness in 2007 and

Where Stories End       2010

1. Breathe
2. Why I Bleed
3. Into The Cold
4. A Fools Utopia
5. Queen Of The Night
6. In The Blink Of An Eye
7. Fields Of Sorrow
8. Without A Sound
9. Walls Of  Deception

Henrik Båth – Vocals/Guitars
Magnus Holmberg – Keyboards
Markus Sigfridsson – Guitars
Tobias Enbert – Drums
Simon Andersson – Bass

Not much to see on their homepage so go here for updates
http://www.facebook.com/darkwaterofficial

Avantasia

Avantasia is the solo project of Tobias Sammet, singer of the German band Edguy and also a kind of supergroup.

It started out in 1999 as a one-time studio-recording project for a ‘metal-opera’, but was called back to life in 2008 for a tour, more albums were relased and now it is official – work on a new album has begun and a release date set for sometime 2013.

The music can be best described as power metal with lots of different influences like classical music, a little prog, acoustic rock and hard rock.

Guest musicians appearing on the recordings and for the touring read like a who-is-who of metal and hard rock:  Michael Kiske (Ex-Helloween), Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), Timo Tolkki (Ex-Stratovarius), Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray, Iron Saviour, Unisonic), Alice Cooper, Roy Khan (Ex-Kamelot), Eric Singer (Kiss), Amanda Sommerville, Jorn Lande, Alex Holzwarth (Ex-Rhapsody), Sascha Paeth (producer of Kamelot, Epica), several members of Edguy, uh and many more.

A short overview of releases:

• The Metal Opera:
  • 2001: The Metal Opera
  • 2002: The Metal Opera Part II

• The Wicked Trilogy:
  • 2008: The Scarecrow
  • 2010: The Wicked Symphony
  • 2010: Angel of Babylon
• The Flying Opera – 2011; live double CD and DVD

Check out Tobias’ homepage for more info and links (German and English):

http://www.tobiassammet.com

and now delve into the music and enjoy, this is quite a unique experience:

Anthriel

Anthriel is progressive metal from Finnland, the Scandinavian countries seem to serve the perfect breeding ground for this kind of music. They also cite neo-classical and old school heavy metal influences.

Started in 2004, released one album so far in 2010, very busy touring at the moment and they have started recording the follow up album this May (2012) so stay tuned.

Meanwhile check out

The Pathway

1. Devil’s Lullaby
2. Mirror Games
3. Guardian
4. Repression
5. Haven of Grace
6. Dark Divided Minds
7. The Deliverance
8. Controversial Euphoria.
9. Light Divine.
10. Scent of Dawn.
11. Promised Land.
12. Chains of the Past.

Simo Silvan – vocals
Timo Niemistö – guitars
Jari Kuokkanen – drums
Klaus Wirzenius – bass
Antti Hakulinen – keys
http://www.anthriel.com/

Seventh Wonder

Seventh Wonder are from Sweden and have been together since 2000, singer Tommy Karevik joined the band in 2005. Yes, it is that same Tommy Karevik that has been chosen to replace Roy Khan in Kamelot. So now you know what I mean when I say that Seventh Wonder has the most outstanding vocals I have ever heard in a band like this. So powerful and yet totally melodious, almost too beautiful for a powerprogmetal band … Seventh Wonder have it all, power-shredding, 30 minute songs in the approved progressive fashion, melodious vocal lines, strange riffs and rhythmic parts.
I was hooked on that band from the very first minute, and I really wonder why they are not better known.
Releases:
Become (2005, recorded with former vocalist Andi)
Waiting In The Wings (2006)
Mercy Falls (2008)

and

The Great Escape (2010)

01. Wiseman
02. Alley Cat
03. The Angelmaker
04. King of Whitewater
05. Long Way Home
06. Move on Through
07. The Great Escape

They played with Queensryche, Testament, Sxmphony X, and at progpower USA and Europe.

Tommy Karevik – Vocals
Andreas Blomqvist – Bass
Johan Liefvendahl – Guitar
Andreas Söderin – Keyboards
Stefan Norgren – Drums

http://www.seventhwonder.nu

Angra

Angra was a powermetal band with progressive and neo-classical elements, from Brazil

They had their peak and were very successful in the 1990ies and released quite a number of discs. Though the sound may seem dated on some of the songs the music still has a lot to say for

It is a classic band you should check out, I have made a playlist for your exploration, my fav albums are Fireworks and Rebirth, the latest, Aqua (2010)  I do not like so much

Latest news: Singer Edu Falaschi declared he’s leaving Angra for good taking bass player Felipe Andreoli with him to pursue a former side project that has ripened into the band Almah full time

http://www.almah.com.br/

Guitar player Kiko Loureiro has already released some solo albums

Discography:

Angels Cry – 1993
Holy Land – 1996
Fireworks – 1998
Rebirth – 2001
Temple of Shadows – 2004
Aurora Consurgens – 2006
Aqua – 2010

Tracklist:
1. Viderunt Te Aquae
2. Arising Thunder
3. Awake from Darkness
4. Lease of Life
5. The Rage of the Waters
6. Spirit of the Air
7. Hollow
8. A Monster in Her Eyes
9. Weakness of a Man
10. Ashes

http://www.angra.net/

Tellus Requiem

Upcoming band from Norway, progressive power metal, really great stuff here

Released the album Tellus Requiem by themselves in 2010
fast, hard, powerful, sounds close to Symphony X

Stig Nergård – Guitar
Ivar Hagen Bøe – Bass
Espen Hektoen – Drums
Anders Sundbø – Keys
Ben Rodgers – Vocals

I hope some more will be released soon