Can you recommend bands that play the following types of music?

Question

I'm interested in music that blends both classic and heavy metal tunes. I just find violines and metal so stimulating that they almost bring an erotic pleasure to me!
I also enjoy symphonic hard rock, symphonic progressive rock, and I love speedy and violent irish and scotish tunes.
So can you suggest bands/albums which contain either :(1) metal and classic blends, or(2)symphonic rock/Symphonic progressive rock/symphonic new age, or (3) Violent, speedy and fast paced irish or scotish music and dances.
Thank you.

Answer 1

Metal and classial blends? I'm glad I clicked this question, that's totally my thing.
First off, you're gonna have to look into Therion. They're awesome. and they're pretty much classical music written for guitar and drums. and symphony orchestra and chorus.
Next off, you need to check out Apocalyptica. They're a cello quartet that plays covers of Metallica.
Also, there's Blind Guardian, Raphsody, Children of Bodom, Leaves' Eyes, Nightwish, Dragonforce, Norther, Samael, Sonata Arctica, and a bunch of other bands that I can't think of off the top of my head right now. Most of these are just plain classically influenced and they don't have real orchestras, though. But they're still really good.
I don't know if you're really into the darker stuff but there are a LOT of black metal bands that have really symphonic/classically influenced music. My favorite is Dimmu Borgir. Now I think of it, i don't think there's such thing as a Black Metal band that's not classically influenced.

You asked for symphonic rock/Symphonic progressive rock/symphonic new age but I really can't help you there, sorry.

you also asked for violent, speedy and fast paced Irish or Scottish music and dances.
Check out the Chieftains, The Irish Rovers, The Clancy Brothers, and The Dubliners. They play more traditional Irish music (and some Scottish) so some of their songs are the slow kind and others are the thrashingly fast dances.
Great Big Sea also does some more modern renditions of Irish tunes, they're worth checking out.
Also get some of James Galway's recordings. He's a classical flautist (flute player) from Ireland and he's recorded a bunch of Irish Folk tunes. Most of them are pretty slow and beautifull but a few of them are nice and fast.
And of course there's Flogging Molly. They're punk and Irish folk at the same time. They're the only punk I listen to (and they're bloody hilarious).
Or you could just pick up any random recording of bagpipes :)
By the way, Ireland seems to have more violent, thrashing dances than Scotland so you're more likely to find what you're looking for in Irish music. But don't ignore Scotland alltogether, they're got some amazing fast dances.

But if you're into fast, violent folk music you should look into Folk Metal. It's a really obscure subgenre of metal that's basically just folk music played with electric guitars and gravelly vocals and lots of drums or else it's metal with a lot of influence from folk music. And because almost all good metal bands are from Scandinavia, it's Scandinavian Folk music. And scandinavian folk is very similar to Scottish and Irish.
anyway, some band names to check out if you're interested are Finntroll, Moonsorrow, Falkenbach, Týr, Vintersorg, Korpiklaani and Einherjer.

have fun.



ps. sorry for being so longwinded, I get that way when I'm talking about music I ike

Answer 2

Here are a few excellent metal/classical bands,
1) My Dying Bride (esp. when they had a full time violinist).
2) Lacrimosa - Tilo Wolff is amazing!!
3) Aesma Daeva
Also I would highly recommend seeking out a 70's progressive band called Curved Air, especially the first 4 albums (Air Conditioning, 2nd Album, Phantasmagoria & Air Cut). They had 2 of the best violinists that rock has ever had, Darryl Way on the first 3 & the amazing Eddie Jobson (also w/ Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, UK, etc.) Lots of classical textures in the music & Sonja Kristinas beautiful voice, good stuff!

Answer 3

Probably apocaliptica or nightwish is also an option. I hate them both and prefer heavy metal but i hope you find what you're looking for

Answer 4

hawkwind
- assault & battery
- masters of the universe