The first song I hear by an artist makes a strong impression on me and often ends up being one of my favorites in their catalogue. This 14-minute masterpiece was the first I ever heard of Nightwish (aside from that misheard lyrics video which is the most almost anyone hears of them) and it completely blew me away. It, like all the other songs on Nightwish's latest albums, was recorded with a full orchestra. The intrigue steadily builds with the largely ambient orchestral intro for the first minute before the trumpets come in and the band explodes onto the scene. The metal guitar, horns, and choir trade off in a crowning moment of EPIC. This song resembles film music (a favorite of Nightwish's resident keyboardist/composer, Tuomas) in its scale and complexity. There are quite a few quiet parts, a nice contrast that makes the song even more memorable. The version with lyrics is also cool (it's basically Tuomas's life story plus Poe references), but the instrumental version lets you concentrate solely on how INSANELY EPIC the music is.
This song also starts off quietly and ambiently before a lonely organ comes in above the wind to play a few notes. The band begins repeating the song's all-Latin chorus louder and louder--it means something like "The book is written, the book shall be brought, in which all is contained, by which the world will be judged". Pretty epic. The choir and organ back singer Fabio Lione up for this part for EVEN MORE EPIC. Bonus points for some awesome shred guitar. Check it out.
INTO THE FIRES OF FOREVER/WE WILL FLY THROUGH THE HEAVENS/WITH THE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE/WE STAND STRONG TOGETHER/THROUGH THE FORCING OF POWER/IT WILL SOON REACH THE HOUR/FOR VICTORY WE RIDE/FURY OF THE STORM/[2-minute hyperfast guitar solo]
At only ten minutes, Ghost Love Score is a disappointing follow-up to The Poet and the Pendulum. Not. Actually it is not disappointing at all and was released three years earlier. Like its longer nephew (sorry, learned about binary trees today) it resembles film music, with loud parts, quiet parts, and (plenty of) epic parts. Go to 7:10 on that video and you'll see what I mean. Only one thing could make it more epic...
I traditionally listen to this song after taking tests. Once again the the shredding guitar, fast drumming, and symphonic/choral elements combine to make one seriously epic song. Particularly the incredibly sing-alongable chorus. "Gloria/Gloria perpetua/In this dawn of victory!"
I have written a three-page essay on this song and why it is epic. And the metal gods manage it with no keyboards!
This song is from the same album as The Poet and the Pendulum, but it is considerably more guitar-focused. It has great riffs and an intense, uber-heavy atmosphere. The chorus (or what would be the chorus in the non-instrumental) version currently has no movie that could possibly do it justice as a soundtrack.
I don't know of any band that can so seamlessly blend shred guitar and organs/harpsichords and not have it come off as ridiculous like Rhapsody of Fire. Well, maybe it is ridiculous. But that's just part of their charm!
As I've previously written, Dream Evil is known for taking power metal to self-parodic levels, but try not to sing along with the awesome chorus. Just try. One of the more awesome guitar riffs I've ever heard as well. Bonus points for the lyrics actually being about an epic final battle.
Yes, a quarter of my definition of epic is from one album. One awesome album. This song starts out slower, with deep, pounding guitar and a choir maintaining an ominous atmosphere. After a few "verses" this gives way to a tribal-sounding drum march, then a violin solo--epic indeed! The last minute and a half are possibly the most intense piece of music I have ever heard--just when you think it's about to end, they turn it up a notch.
The first 1.5 minutes of this song are relatively quiet before the Italian bards turn it up to 11. The swirling strings, the choir, the surge of energy in the chorus--words can't describe it. I recommend listening.
The last song on my (to be) CD is the only one by an American band. (Don't worry, they have a Norwegian opera singer for a vocalist) No relation to Ghost Love Score aside from their epic blend of metal and orchestra. I'm running out of words to use, but you should probably listen to it.
Addendum: In the updated version of this playlist, I've replaced "Agony Is My Name" with Wurzelbert, but German symphonic metal band Equilibrium. After listening to the first minute or so, it pretty much sounds like the world is ending. Booming guitars combine with symphonic bombast, all turned up to eleven. The all-German vocals sound so evil, but really they're about a funny root-man who thrills people by playing his fiddle ("Wurzelbert,, Wurzelbert, Wurzelbert, spiel die fiedal!"). Wow.
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