I figured there would be a few folks that have a lot of overlap with my lists so no surprises there. Glad to be in good company. Hopefully there are a few new ones that people will check out. Here's my last update for under appreciated band and then back to the grind.
Anubis Gate - Andromeda Unchained Anubis Gate - Anubis Gate Songs to Try: Snowbound, Waking Hour, Resurrection Time, The Final Overture, The End of Millenium Road, Hold Back Tomorrow, Re-Formation Show, World in a Dome, Golden Days
Anubis Gate is a fairly recent discovery of mine and a band that I'm surprised doesn't get as much discussion on DTF as I thought they would warrant. They've gone through several line-up changes over the years, particularly at vocals, but they've managed to put out some great work. "Andromeda Unchained" is exceedingly rare on physical CD's these days so head on over to iTunes to get a copy. There's nothing overly technical and many songs follow standard song writing conventions, but they are all tight compositions and have a great heavy and sometimes sci-fi themes. "Snowbound" is immediately accessible and a winner. "The Final Overture" is a clear standout that highlights their best work. The band's most recent album is their self titled work. Still fairly straightforward in style, but consistently strong and enjoyable. Check out "Golden Days" for some great hooks.
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Therion - Vovin Songs to Try: The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah, The Wild Hunt, Black Sun Draconian Theory, Raven of Dispersion
Therion - Lemuria / Sirius B Songs to Try: Typhon, Three Ships of Berik Part1 and Part 2, The Dreams of Swedenborg, Son of the Sun, The Wonderous World of Punt
Therion is a very peculiar and awesome band. I wasn't sure what to think of them when I first discovered them, but after giving them some serious time I saw some real brilliance. They are an operatic symphonic metal band. Both male and female operatic style leads dominate the music and on some albums harsh male vocals make an appearance. It's difficult to explain what they sound like, so you'll just have to try them yourself, but many songs feature orchestras playing along with the band. Huge variation in styles from soft and beautiful to aggressive and fast. "Vovin" is the album that kind of broke them onto the music scene and received relatively high critical praise. "Lemuria /Sirius B" is a double album that was released in two parts over a year and feature some of their best moments. They are certainly an acquired taste, but give them a chance and hear something unique and wonderful.