Neo-classical metal

[desie]

Just wondering if anyone listens to this stuff. Huge in Japan and to a lesser extent Europe but virtually unheard of anywhere else. There's a surprising amount of it around and the quality varies quite a bit.

For those who are a bit sceptical, I can recommend "Symphony X" as a pretty good starting point. Unique in the genre in that they are from the States. Just about the best voice in metal IMO in Russell Allen along with a killer guitarist (Michael Romeo). Great neo-classical prog/power metal with a very heavy sound.

 

[Darky]

Depends on what exactly you use to define "neo-classical".

A number of artists could fall into the category, depening on what your criteria are :

Yngwie Malmsteen
Cacophony
Luca Turilli & Rhapsody
Uli Jon Roth
The Great Kat
Tony McAlpine
(just to name a few)

 

[lenny&carl]

I have heard in my time some "Scandinavian Operatic Prog Metal" and I thought that was getting close to the best metal could ever be. But this stuff? i dunno. The classifications are pretty finely-tuned for a non-zealot to jump into.

 

[desie]

Originally posted by Darky
Depends on what exactly you use to define "neo-classical".

A number of artists could fall into the category, depening on what your criteria are :

Yngwie Malmsteen
Cacophony
Luca Turilli & Rhapsody
Uli Jon Roth
The Great Kat
Tony McAlpine
(just to name a few)

Well from that list certainly Yngwie is the master of the genre in my opinion. Whether you think he is a noodler or a genius I'm more drawn to him by his brilliant use of classical melody and chord progressions rather than his ability as a guitarist. Turilli/Rhapsody are another act that I'm a fan of. Not a huge fan of MacAlpine's solo stuff but the songs in his band "Ring of Fire" are out of the top draw IMO. There's no doubt Roth, Friedman and Becker know how to play some great guitar, however, the music itself didn't do a lot for me I'm afraid.

Not many of these acts would be known to the average punter, although one exception might be former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow, who put out a brilliant neo-classical solo album about 6-7 years ago called "Four seasons of life".

A couple of acts from Japan are also worth keeping an eye out for as long as you can handle some pretty average lyrics that can be attributed to the language barrier. Kelly Simonz is a guy who plays everything himself from guitar to keyboard as well as handling the singing duties. Has an absolutely incredible sense of melody in his songwriting. Concerto Moon is another band that do some really great stuff.

 

[Darky]

What impresses me about Rhapsody (and Luca Turilli's solo stuff) is that for the most part, it IS actually classical operatic music, with some passages using traditional classical arrangements and instruments, and others being modernised for guitar shredding, and that it all combines beautifully!

Huge fan of Roth and his 7 string, 30 fret monster Sky Guitar! I can listen to his stuff (his solo stuff is more classical, his Scorpions stuff all rock) and after probably ten thousand listens I am still in awe. Cannot imagine there possibly being a better guitar player on the planet.

Malmsteen is a very good guitarist, but his stuff is so repetitive it's not funny. If you play the same solo on every song on every album for 20 years, you'll get pretty good at it! Brilliant player, but his greatest specialty IMHO is the ability to cram three milllion notes into a 45 second solo... which nobody will remember by the time the song's finished.

Guys like McAlpine, David T. Chastain, Jan Cyrka etc are great players and are very good at what they do, but personally I find it pretty boring.