Music recommendations? (Asking about a specific band.)

[cupcake_goth]

Look, everyone knows I have a tragic weakness for bombast. This is not a secret. Give me power chords and overwrought lyrics with gothy clichés^* and I will be gleeful.

With that disclaimer out of the way: One of the munchkins over on the Emilie Autumn forum asked me if I had ever heard the song "Jillian" by Within Temptation. Er, no? I said, but checked it out on iTunes. I liked it enough to investigate more by the band. Do any of you listen to them? Or have suggestions for bands like them?




^*Bands I would list in the "Bombast!" category include the Sisters Of Mercy, Queensryche (especially the Rage For Order album), HIM (yes, I own a lot of music by them, and grin whenever I listen to any of it), and Autumn Tears. My Chemical Romance would almost be placed in the "Bombast!" category (especially The Black Parade), but are a little too ... punk-influenced to be strictly Bombast kids.

Comments

[a-lovesuicide.livejournal.com]

I really like Within Temptation (my favorite album of theirs is The Heart of Everything), but then I have friends that absolutely despise them. And I'm not really sure about other bands like them, as I'm not quite music savvy in that genre. XD

[angelinglass.livejournal.com]

Thank the gods you listen to HIM. Everyone should. XD

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Really, how could I not? It's almost like they were grown in a lab to appeal to my need for bombast. Plus Ville is very, very pretty in the video for "Join Me In Death", and I'm occasionally shallow like that. ;)

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

I adore "Within Temptation" - I have two of their CDs in my car on permanent rotation. Love them. They are beautifully bombastic. Especially "What have you done?"

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. "Kamelot" is bombastic, too. Especially their "Ghost Opera" CD.

[aka-paloma.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw your request for bombast in the gothy realm, I immediately thought of Within Temptation even before I got to that part of your entry. I quite enjoyed their The Heart of Everything album. Lots of bombast, power chords, and gothy cliches to be found here, not to mention chorals, sweeping orchestral bits, and some Latin thrown in for good measure. IT'S SERIOUSLY EPIC. And the singer's voice is lovely, too.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

So I should just give in and purchase it? So far I like everything I've heard by them off of Pandora ...

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

I've heard a few Within Temptation tracks, and I'd say they'd fit into your Bombast category. Full disclosure: I went to a show where they were headlining and bailed out after the opening band, because we'd really come to see the opener (The Dear & Departed) and it was a work night and a two-hour drive. I'd compare the tracks I've heard to Evanescence, but maybe with more writing talent. Maybe also a little bit like Lacuna Coil.

None of these are my main listening niche. I don't turn them off when I hear them, but I don't seek them out. Whereas Sisters of Mercy and MCR? I'll drive several hours if necessary and you'll find me pressed right up against the stage and I'll buy the merch and I'll be on a high for days after.

I saw HIM at Projekt Revolution a couple of years ago (we went for MCR, natch) and my reaction was "you know, if I were 13, I'd eat this up with a spoon, because they remind me of Def Leppard." And Pyromania is still one of my guilty pleasures. Is Def Leppard "Bombast!" or too light?

And where does Muse fall in this? I have a hard time deciding whether I like Muse; the fuzzed-out bass lines make me gleeful, and the bombast overall is nice, but the singer does a THING with his voice that drives me up a WALL, but it only shows up once in a while.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I am STILL kicking myself that I wasn't able to go to the Project Rev date in Seattle. HIM, Placebo, AND MCR! Accursed work deadlines keeping me from good concerts.

I know what you mean about HIM appealing to one's inner mopey teen; I think that's part of the reason I like them. My inner teen is not very inner at times.

I will travel to see MCR, but I flat-out refuse to go see SoM any more. I've seen two dreadful shows by them in a row, and that was enough punishment for me.
I've not heard anything by Muse, actually. Not that I know of.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

I love Lacuna Coil, who have a similar sound. I recommend "Heir of a Dying Day," "Swamped," "Halflife," and "Our Truth."

There is also Evanescence, of course, whom I also love. Favorites include "Bring Me to Life," "Call Me When You're Sober," "Sweet Sacrifice," "Going Under," and "Tourniquet."

[marc17.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard of Within Temptation, but for cliche gothic music about vampires, have you listened to the Demonkiss CD by Blutengel?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I have not! Why do I have this dim memory of Blutengel being more on the tweedly-beep oontz EBM side of things? Is this a silly misconception I've picked up somewhere?

[nebulasan.livejournal.com]

Within Temptation is really good and I would pick up The Silence Force, The Heart of Everything and Mother Earth. As for bands like them, the only ones that come into my head are Lacuna Coil, Evanescence and Nightwish.

[jadegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm quite fond of symphonic/gothic metal, although it seems I lose 'cool points' by admitting it! :)

Nightwish, Kamelot, Epica, After Forever, Delain's Lucidity album.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Pfft, "cool points". Listen to what you like!

[elfstar18.livejournal.com]

Do you like any visual kei stuff from Japan? It seems like a natural fit with your aesthetic sense.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I like Malice Mizer, but I haven't really listened to anything else. Partially because I get into a lot of music via the lyrics. Since I don't speak Japanese, that's a barrier to a lot of the visual kei music for me.

[maschalismos.livejournal.com]

...if I had known you didn't know Within Temptation, you would have gotten a long email about them by now. I'm still kinda !!! over this. Glad you've been hipped to the jive.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

My darling blood-spattered cherub, I am so out of the loop with music that it's kind of tragic. I don't listen to the radio, and barely listen to Pandora; in fact, I only use Pandora when I want to learn more about a band.

So really, the only way I learn about new (to me) bands is when one of my friends starts waving their hands at me and demanding I listen to something.

[cherry-faery.livejournal.com]

From the very limited bit of Within Temptation that I've heard (as in I just looked it up now to see what they're like), I can suggest Theatre of Tragedy. I'll be surprised if you haven't heard those guys before but their earlier stuff is really fantastically so goth it hurts. (Newer stuff is more EBM-ish which you already know if you listen to them and if that's the case, then kindly disregard this parenthetical note.) Other fun bands that you've probably heard of but might not have are The Sins of Thy Beloved and I Am Ghost. (Last one being more punk-ish but they are still great) To add to elfstar18's comment, you might enjoy some of the stuff by Buck-Tick. In spite of being in Japanese, they've got some fantastically atmospheric music (particularly the song "Gessikai" which was featured as the theme to a vampire anime, I believe).

I'll cage my inner music nerd now and let you get on with your day. Happy listening!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't feel you have to cage your music nerd! I live in this strange musical isolation chamber, so the only way I learn about bands I might like is when people wax enthusiastically at me. Tell me more!

[kibarika.livejournal.com]

Hi Jilli! elfstar18 is my friend, like IRL! Whee!

I've really enjoyed what I've heard from Within Temptation (all on Pandora). Not only have they got the bombast, but their lead singer has one of the clearest voices I've ever heard, which goes a long way for me.

I also second the Nightwish recommendation - operatic metal... Hard to get more bombastic than that.

Lacuna Coil is good as well but has a slightly more down-to-earth sound, in my opinion.

I've liked Kamelot quite a bit as well. On my Pandora I have Theatre of Tragedy bookmarked, which is certainly a bombastic band name. There's also a band called EPIC which I've heard on Pandora that seemed rather bombasty to me. All of this stuff I came to through creating a Nightwish station.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, I am getting déjà vu now.

[macpain.livejournal.com]

if you have the chance, check out their album/dvd "black symphony". it's a recording of a show they put on, i think last year, at home in the netherlands. i was completely blown away and therefore i highly recommend that everyone get at least a glance on said performance.

oh, and also seconding the suggestion about nightwish, they're one of my all-time favourite bands.

[bork.livejournal.com]

Within Temptation is a good band, and I agree with the previous poster who suggested Nightwish.

Now, if you want bombastic, I'm going to recommend Moonsorrow.

This is a completely serious suggestion. They're not very Goth, but they have a very 'epic' sound. Bonus points - they sing very epically in Finnish. Bonus points for wearing armor on stage and generally looking like they could sack Rome at any second. They may be too metal for you, but they are fun. Embedded video (hopefully in pink) here:

[arinye.livejournal.com]

If you want gothy bombast, it's hard to get better than E Nomine. It's sort of the bastard child of Gregorian chant and gothic metal, and pretty much everything they've put out gets the Shareth Seal of Approval.

[x-andatariel.livejournal.com]

I love Within Temptation.
My particular favourite is the song Angels.

[macpain.livejournal.com]

oh my gosh, that song is so bloody powerful. i was completely sold after hearing it for the first time.

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

Good lord, I think it's the first sign of the apocolypse that I stumbled on a great goth band before you (fwiw, I figured you already knew about them) - I LOVE Within Temptation. I think my favorite piece so far is Stand My Ground (same album - yes, I still call them that :>) - I've really gotten into The Heart of Everything (album).

I also like Nightwish - the full orchestral thing is impressive - Particularly Dark Passion Play (and on that album, esp, The Poet & The Pendulum).

Both are especially wonderful for inspiring writing :>

I also found (for bombast) Cruxshadows (Sympathy for Tomorrow), Machine in the Garden (esp. Corpus Christi) and Deine Lakaien (esp, Don't Wake Me Up)

[strawberry-goth.livejournal.com]

Within Temptation?! I love them. Ironically, I was listening to "Jillian" on the way home. But as mentioned above, definitely recommend their albums "The Silent Force" and "The Heart of Everything". Sharon den Adel's voice is pretty isn't it?

Some other bands: Epica, The Sins of Thy Beloved, Theatre of Tragedy, Nightwish (but nothing after "Once" it's not the same without Tarja).

Oooh, I should go through my collection of symphonic/gothic/doom metal and see if there's anything else that might interest you. ^_^

[mirandapadgett.livejournal.com]

Nightwish is the first band that springs to mind. I'm more partial to their back catalogue, when Tarja was still on board. Also, Theatre of Tragedy, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Lullacry, Xandria ... gods, I listen to tons of this stuff.

[thatursula.livejournal.com]

Clan of Xymox, VAST, Eisbrucher, Deathwatch Beetle Repairman, hocico...more will occur to me later...

[lorelei-mayrose.livejournal.com]

To me the hight of bombast in symphonic metal is Therion. You should definitely check them out, they're simply the awesomest band.
And may I advise my own band? *shameless advestising*
www.myspace.com/amaranthysmetalband

[princesadeplata.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm popping out of lurkdom to share some bombast with you! Hope you like. :)
If you haven't listened to Lacrimosa yet, you simply must, especially to "Elodia" and "Fassade." They--Tilo and Anne--sing mostly in German but they do translate the lyrics to English. And I just love Tilo's voice. Pluuus, Anne was part of Two Witches.

I also recommend:
-early Theatre of Tragedy (esp. "Aegis")
-The Sins of Thy Beloved, Epica, After Forever, Alas, Nightwish
-early Tristania (esp. "Widow's Weeds")
-Haggard (esp. "Eppur Si Muove")
-Artrosis--Polish
-Aesma Daeva (esp. "Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written In Water")

And ones you might like, may have some bombast:
Dargaard, Dark Sanctuary--French, Illuminate--German, Goethes Erben--German, Autumn's Grey Solace, Arcana.

[deadrose.livejournal.com]

were I you, I'd head to Last.fm and start plugging in tags to see what comes up. Symphonic metal, folk metal, goth metal, and of course bombast. It'll play you stuff, find a song you like, click to the band station and it will play you similar material as well as that band. Or you could just start with the Nightwish station and go from there. I've discovered quite a few bands I really like that way. I've also played with tags like 'haunting', 'janglepop', and 'melancholy' to find more interesting things, depending on my mood at the moment.

[tauren-wardrums.livejournal.com]

I have their entire discography, if it interests you.

[tauren-wardrums.livejournal.com]

Also: If you like Within Temptation, you should also check out a band called Edenbridge.