I was going to suggest this but darkplanetar beat me to it. Anyway, I'm in.

Newsted - Soldierhead

I like Jason's new band.

Halestorm - Love Bites (So Do I)

Not sure if I would consider it metal or just hard rock, But I like her voice.

Cheers on the giveaway, Steely_Gaze!

I think female vocals go well with metal/symphonic music really well. A couple of groups I particularly enjoy are:

Dotma:
Whispering
Kingdom of the Sky

Magica:
Center of the Great Unknown

Echoterra:
In Your Eyes
All the Lies

Amberian Dawn:
Arctica
River of Tuoni
Re-Evolution (Full Album)

Ooh, a giveaway AND metal. In x2!

From Arjen Anthony Lucassen, a prog rock opera/power metal multi-instrumentalist Dutch dude:

Ambeon, a one off project from 2001, starring a 14-year-old Astrid van der Veen. It's eerie and ethereal, and her vocals are goddamn amazing. A touch of gothic, but I love it despite that.

Also, a sample album from his main band Ayreon. Dat solo. It's usually him plus a random assortment of artists from other bands, changing from track to track. I wholeheartedly recommend the entire body of his work.

I FORGOT ONE

Undersmile, bizarre sludge doom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9vNikes7QI

Female vocals

Awesome music

The Heavy Eyes - These Men are Wolves
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Some female voices I used to listen:

The Sins of thy Beloved - All Alone
After Forever - Beyond Me
Within Temptation - Restless

Theatre of Tragedy - , [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J4Onll7VNs]Cassandra and Lorelei (not metal, but I really like this album)

also Even Vast - Dawning Gloom


and of course, L7 - Pretend we're Dead

Holy smokes. I get in from work and I have SO much awesome to listen to. There have been some incredible suggestions, and I'd love to respond personally to everyone, but just don't have all the time in the world, so quick replies are necessary.

Wow, SubRosa reminds me a lot of the Stoner/Doom band Blood Ceremony, only a lot less flute. Not bad at all.

Wow. Astarte sounds like real honest-to-evilness female fronted Black Metal. Tasty. Can't believe I hadn't listened to them before. Many thanks on the good recommendation(s)!

Going into my Must-Buy list immediately! Superb suggestion!

That is worthy of a listen or two. I'm not the biggest Black Metal fan, but this has a lively depth worth exploring.

Damn! Well, Darkplanetar, that list (even discounting the ones I know well) will keep me busy for ages! And judging from the quality and diversity of material selected, you definitely have excellent taste!

Freaking spectacular! This is exactly my brand of metal. I cannot believe I had never heard of Battle Beast before. I intend to correct this egregious error with album purchases. As in, right now. Thank you so much!

Edit: Well bugger. I just listened to their first album on youtube, with Nitte Valo on vocals and I am crushed. She is utterly incredible. The closest I've yet heard to a pure Power/Epic female lead.

Most excellent! I feel like I had Warlock in the back of my mind somewhere, but don't know why. I certainly know I haven't listened to any of their great music. Thanks for the stellar suggestion!

Inredible! This marks another great band I hadn't heard of before. It was such a musical depth as to be astonishing. I think I'm gonna like going through their previous albums.

You had me on 'Blackened folky Nightwish'. And they sold me with awesome, haunting melodies. In fact, you've got a great list of groovy music. I also loved Sinister Realm. I haven't tried much of them yet, but it reminds me a lot of Arkham Witch (and by extension, The Lamp of Thoth), only more Doom-y.

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There have been so many great suggestions, I can barely keep track of them all! Already, I have a list of new music as long as my arm and plenty more to keep my head a'banging and my ears a'burning. Heck, I almost feel greedy getting so much awesome.

Remember, the giveaway ends whenever I wake up tomorrow morning! And again, thanks everyone for their suggestions. You've all helped to make my day better.

BU\m/P!

Also, a brief entry! Not much of a metal fan, classic rock is where it's at, and while I love me some early Sabbath, it really is the hard rock bits, rather than the metal. I've still found some enjoyment with Iron Maiden and Dream Theater; I also like how there's a bit of metal in many legendary rock groups, be it The Who, Led Zeppelin, or Queen.

But I'll just put in a simple entry for Blind Guardian's The Curse of Fëanor. As part of a magnificent concept album, I'd strongly suggest you listen to the entire Nightfall in Middle Earth. But what am I thinking, you've probably done so already ;)

Cheers and thanks for the giveaway, and a very Happy Birthday!

Okay, this post ends the giveaway! I won't consider anything posted after it.

Now, I'm gonna make up a list of all the entrants and post shortly with our two winners!

Through the services of random.org (whose numbers never lie), the winners are...

tAnt0 -- a game of their choosing, $9.99 or less.

and...

Romanul -- a copy of Hocus Pocus.

I want to thank everyone for entering. This thread is just loaded to the gills with superb music. I have new bands to peruse and new songs to enjoy across an entire spectrum of Metal, from Doom, to Stoner, to Power, to Epic, and everything in-between.

congratz to the winners and the gifter and thanks again for letting us dream;)

Congrats to the winners (don't really mean it, just trying to be polite)


BTW, that NB song is from an album called "Om".

Thanks again for the giveaway :) And Congratulations to Romanul :)

Las Cruces - , [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK7x7bBZuw8]Ringmaster and Killer Kane

Congrats to the winners and thanks again to Steely_Gaze.