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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Thematt202 on July 13, 2013, 01:58:29 PM

Title: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 13, 2013, 01:58:29 PM
Following on from my post about ACoS and the other DT mega epics, I'd like to know whether any of you guys can point me in the direction of some more similarly epic finales.  The only non-DT song that I'm aware of with an epic finish is The Great Escape by Seventh Wonder. 

Recommendations would be gratefully received!
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: nicmos on July 13, 2013, 02:08:31 PM
A Day in the Life- Beatles
2112- Rush
Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin

Those are the first ones that come to mind.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 13, 2013, 02:12:00 PM
Do you want epic-length songs, or would a regular length song with an epic ending work?
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 13, 2013, 02:19:02 PM
Thanks guys. 

Epic and long would be better, but I'll listen to anything you recommend regardless of length.  Anything that ends as epicly as Losing Time/Grand Finale or Octavarium out there?
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 13, 2013, 02:24:36 PM
You might try the song "Ki" by Devin Townsend. It's only seven minutes, but it builds to an unbelievably epic end.

"The Sixth Extinction" by Ayreon also has an epic ending, and it's (almost) an epic-length song.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 13, 2013, 02:31:56 PM
Fantastic!  I'll give them all a listen later and report back tomorrow! 
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: jammindude on July 13, 2013, 02:32:57 PM
The Great Nothing - Spock's Beard
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: FrostbiteZ on July 13, 2013, 03:22:42 PM
Here is some my favourite finishes

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells part 1
Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge part 1
Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond part 9
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd - Sheep
Muse - Knights of Cydonia. Epic from start to finish
The Eagles - Hotel California
Barclay James Harvest - In Memory of the Martyrs. The live version from A Concert For The People
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: KevShmev on July 13, 2013, 03:24:47 PM
Rush - 2112
Pretty much every long song Transatlantic has done
The Flower Kings - Garden of Dreams (18-track suite)
King Crimson - Starless
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: PuffyPat on July 13, 2013, 03:33:21 PM
Muse - Knights of Cydonia. Epic from start to finish

I was about to post this. It's one of my all time favorite songs in general. SO epic.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Orbert on July 13, 2013, 03:36:09 PM
King Crimson - Starless

Oh, baby!  :hat
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: lonestar on July 13, 2013, 03:40:13 PM
Beyond the Bridge-The Difference is Human
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Buddyhunter1 on July 13, 2013, 04:21:14 PM
Between The Buried And Me - White Walls  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: sueño on July 13, 2013, 04:32:29 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Dct0l2uVM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DO9Dct0l2uVM

Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture

Epic!! :metal

Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Sketchy on July 13, 2013, 04:56:44 PM
Genesis  - Fountain Of Salmacis, The Musical Box, Supper's Ready
Camel - Lady Fantasy, Slow Yourself Down, Dunkirk

At least those ones feel epic to me.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: DT3930 on July 13, 2013, 06:05:15 PM
Definitely Celestial Elixir and Visions by Haken

Also try:
The Dream by Pyramid Theorem
Send a Message from the Heart by Karmakanic
Hedgegrow by Big Big Train
Curator of Butterflies by Big Big Train
Milliontown by Frost*
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ReaperKK on July 13, 2013, 06:22:33 PM
dredg - The Canyon Behind Her

Just the buildup is fantastic
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: fibreoptix on July 13, 2013, 07:12:56 PM
Dunno if this fits the bill, but The Invisible Man by Marillion does it for me.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: millahh on July 13, 2013, 07:41:25 PM
King Crimson - Starless

Oh, baby!  :hat

Indeed.  That pretty much defines "epic", and it's not cheesy, as some things categorized as "epic can be.

Canyon Behind her is a good call...always gives me chills.

And of course, this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERTT_sv8sV0
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: PowerSlave on July 13, 2013, 07:56:31 PM
I'm ashamed of all of you. None of you have mentioned the obvious choice.

Suppers Ready - Genesis
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: sueño on July 13, 2013, 08:18:59 PM
Genesis  - Fountain Of Salmacis, The Musical Box, Supper's Ready
Camel - Lady Fantasy, Slow Yourself Down, Dunkirk

At least those ones feel epic to me.

It's there...
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: PowerSlave on July 13, 2013, 09:26:13 PM
Genesis  - Fountain Of Salmacis, The Musical Box, Supper's Ready
Camel - Lady Fantasy, Slow Yourself Down, Dunkirk

At least those ones feel epic to me.

It's there...

I'm going blind in my old age. Forgive me lol...
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: senecadawg2 on July 13, 2013, 09:51:36 PM
It's already been mentioned a couple times, but it deserves the top spot IMO

Rush- 2112

Also...

Journey- Of a Lifetime
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: FiberglassMoon on July 13, 2013, 10:03:38 PM
Off the top of my head....tried to think of songs that specifically fit your request lol...all are amazing songs in their own right

The Odyssey by Symphony X (duh!) (Prog-Metal)
Speaking to Stones - Earth (Prog-Metal)
Iced Earth - A Question of Heaven (Heavy Metal)
Stratovarius - Elysium (Power Metal)
Riverside - Escalator Shrine (Prog Metal)
Wintersun - The Sons of Winter and Time (Melo-Death Metal...very orchestrated, super epic, also has fantastic clean vocals...def worth a listen)
Infected Mushroom - Heavyweight (Psy-Trance....but with a band!...amazing song...everyone seems to love it)
Devin Townsend - Ki
Blind Guardian - Wheel of Time (Power Metal)
Pretty much anything off of Anathema's past two albums...most songs have amazing buildups to great climaxes

Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Mosh on July 14, 2013, 03:05:04 AM
You might try the song "Ki" by Devin Townsend. It's only seven minutes, but it builds to an unbelievably epic end.

"The Sixth Extinction" by Ayreon also has an epic ending, and it's (almost) an epic-length song.
Ki blows my mind. It's as if the entire album was building to that moment. Brilliant.

I always liked the end of Symphony X's Rediscovery Part 2: The New Mythology. Check out the moment of silence at about 10:47 before the epic orchestral finish. I get chills every single time. So amazing.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: aprilethereal on July 14, 2013, 03:38:56 AM
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (just watched the video again, and I think it definitely fits here)
Dark Tranquillity - My Negation (maybe not what you are looking for stylistically)

Both are under ten minutes, but (IMO) epic as fuck.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Mladen on July 14, 2013, 04:59:16 AM
Iron Maiden - Seventh son of a seventh son
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: darkshade on July 14, 2013, 08:08:46 AM
Neal Morse - ?
The Tangent - In Earnest
Transatlantic - All Of The Above
The Flower Kings - The Devil's Playground
The Flower Kings - Garden of Dreams

Just to name a few...
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ZKX-2099 on July 14, 2013, 08:14:49 AM
Save Me by Avenged Sevenfold has a very powerful ending.

Guns N' Roses' Coma very intense as well.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ZKX-2099 on July 14, 2013, 08:29:26 AM
Also. SELKIES
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: FrostbiteZ on July 14, 2013, 09:51:25 AM
Iron Maiden - Seventh son of a seventh son
Properly my favourite IM song and I finally got to see them play it.
They should have named their current tour EPIC MAIDEN and not MAIDEN ENGLAND cause the setlist is epic :metal
For me the setlist would have beyond epic if they had added Alexander the Great and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: darkshade on July 14, 2013, 10:49:32 AM
Sorry, I have to say this, but sometimes, the best thing is climaxing during a big prog epic finale!  :metal :loser:
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Vahvahenki on July 14, 2013, 01:00:53 PM
Between The Buried And Me - White Walls  :hefdaddy

Also. SELKIES

Another BTBAM song that might be worth mentioning: Fossil Genera - A Feed From Cloud Mountain.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Tom Bombadil on July 14, 2013, 01:12:36 PM
Genesis- Musical Box and Supper's Ready
Rush- 2112
Tool- Lateralus and The Grudge
Pink Floyd- Dogs
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Kwyjibo on July 15, 2013, 03:54:43 AM
Yes - I'm Running
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: me7 on July 15, 2013, 04:16:23 AM
Leprous - Contaminate me
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Hayden on July 15, 2013, 04:31:46 AM
When I think of big finishes, I think of Transatlantic's "Stranger in You Soul".
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Ruba on July 15, 2013, 05:16:34 AM
Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Hayden on July 15, 2013, 05:48:40 AM
Nightwish - Beauty of the Beast

Or "Ghost Love Score".
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ReaperKK on July 15, 2013, 05:53:38 AM
Tool- Lateralus and The Grudge

Also Tool's Rosetta Stoned, the build-up around the 8 minute mark is amazing, I wish they had cut the song short a few minutes honestly.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 15, 2013, 06:41:38 AM
Surprised no one's mentioned Close to the Edge.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Cruithne on July 15, 2013, 07:32:26 AM
Ayreon - Day Twenty: Confrontation.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ZKX-2099 on July 15, 2013, 08:16:00 AM
Ayreon - Day Twenty: Confrontation.

I would say the very end hurts it a bit.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: SomeoneLikeHim on July 15, 2013, 08:21:25 AM
That's the best thing about it! I think I prefer "The Sixth Extinction"'s ending though.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 16, 2013, 02:14:21 PM
I've taken my time and listened to most of the above and there's nothing here that comes close to the way Octavarium and LT/GF build and finish.  I appreciate the suggestions though and welcome any more that people may wish to share.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 16, 2013, 02:23:45 PM
...... You didn't listen to Ki, did you?
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 16, 2013, 02:43:57 PM
Not yet.... But I will. 
SOON!











(Am I getting the hang of this?)
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Liampie on July 16, 2013, 02:57:24 PM
What? The Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X not mentioned yet? And you didn't like Visions by Haken enough? Listen again. And again. It's a masterpiece with an epic finish.

Other stuff you should check out:

Star One - The Eye of Ra (under eight minutes. this is as epic as a song of this lenght can get... fucking ace)
Ayreon - The Abbey of Synn (such an underrated song! Among Ayreon's very very best, IMO)
Ayreon - Cosmic Fusion
Circus Maximus - Mouth of Madness
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Onno on July 16, 2013, 03:35:13 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Dct0l2uVM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DO9Dct0l2uVM

Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture

Epic!! :metal
Oh hell yes.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: RuRoRul on July 16, 2013, 03:45:29 PM
Judging from the examples in the original post, I'd guess you're really wanting a long epic that feels as grand as those songs overall rather than just a song with an epic finish (of which there are many examples - many DT songs for starters, and I'm sure nearly every song posted in this thread).

Assuming that's the case, the only song I could put on a par with A Change Of Seasons, Octavarium, and The Great Escape (which is one of my favourite songs of all time) is The Odyssey by Symphony X. Try giving it another chance.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 16, 2013, 03:50:59 PM
Thanks, I think you hit the nail on the head there!  I'm looking for long(ish) songs that sound majestic and dramatic as they build to a close. 

I've listened to Ki, not my kind I thing but I see why you suggested it.  I'm a big Symphony X fan already so I love The Odyssey and DWoT.  I just don't feel that they end in the same overblown explosion of awesomeness that my examples are blessed with. 
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: darkshade on July 16, 2013, 04:11:44 PM
Keep in mind that a lot of songs have been mentioned, many of which are long epics, sometimes need a few listens to grasp. I know the ending of some Flower Kings and Transatlantic epics didn't really "WOW" me until at least the third time around, when my mind could get hold of the structure of the music, and how the climatic epic finish works in context of the song/epic.

First time I listened to Octavarium, the epic, it didn't actually do anything for me. The 'Razor's Edge' finale just kinda happened. I didn't realize it's greatness, not only in it's delivery and context within the song, but also how the main melody from the first verses with JLB are reprised in JP's solo.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: millahh on July 16, 2013, 06:15:19 PM
I...take it you didn't listen to Starless, then?
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: ReaperKK on July 16, 2013, 06:40:25 PM
dredg - Canyon Behind Her, check it out but it's not an epic song (pretty short, a little less than 7 minutes if I remember)

Try Tiny Tears by Devin Townsend
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Elite on July 16, 2013, 06:45:48 PM
Probably some that have been mentioned before:

King Crimson - Starless
Devin Townsend Project - Ki
dredg - The Canyon Behind Her
Haken - Visions
Leprous - MB Indifferentia
Leprous - The Valley
Leprous - Passing
Pain of Salvation - Iter Impius
Shadow Gallery - Destination Unknown
Spock's Beard - The Light
Spock's Beard - Flow
Anathema - A Simple Mistake
Porcupine Tree - Dark Matter
Steven Wilson - Get All You Deserve

And that's just off the top of my head, there's a shitload more out there.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Thematt202 on July 17, 2013, 06:29:39 AM
Yeah, I tried Starless but didn't feel that it ended in a similarly epic way to LT/GF.  Same thoughts about The Difference is Human but I did nevertheless enjoy that one immensely, so thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: elyster on July 19, 2013, 12:56:31 PM
Marillion - This Strange Engine (...and I don't mean the 20 minutes of silence followed by h laughing hysterically)

Love the way they close this one out.  And it keeps getting better when they perform it live it somewhat diminishes the epicness of the original recording.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: growthmusic57 on July 19, 2013, 07:25:29 PM
Massive epic finishes, you say? Deftones - "Pink Cellphone"

 :biggrin:
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: showdonttell on July 19, 2013, 08:40:29 PM
Surprised no one's mentioned Close to the Edge.

Yes! (pun intended) This is very epic.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Ruba on July 24, 2013, 11:27:13 AM
The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. Whereas the song is rather short, it plays a very important role in the album concept, shall I say it has the climax of the whole album?

I also have to bang my own drum. My band's (named Dayfall) debut EP's final song Illusion of Life has a rather big finish. We really worked on it, we had a guest violinist and our keyboardist played bodhran in it. And we added a new keyboard choir patch to the very end a day before we sent the final recordings to be pressed. Even though the sound quality isn't the best possible, I think it worked out pretty nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bKWRgDCBtw
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Lucien on July 24, 2013, 12:28:13 PM
Breaking All Illusions.
Title: Re: Songs with massive epic finishes
Post by: Captain Reddot on July 25, 2013, 03:50:41 AM
Stargazer by Rainbow!