Dear reader,

I'm trying to get into the Melo-death genre, and don't really know where to start. i'm listening to some Kalmah, but other than that i'm somewhat lost. Do you have any suggestions as to bands that would serve as a good entrance into Melodic death metal genre?

also, bear in mind i've just started listening to black/death metal, and while i am enjoying it so far i don't think i'm quite ready for the super extreme bands yet.

All thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
Xiy

I would recommend you Children Of Bodom - Follow The Reaper and Hatebreeder/ Soilwork - The Living Infinite and Natural Born Chaos / At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul Thats my taste, but there are some very known bands like Amon Amarth / Dark Tranquility / Carcass / In Flames.

I hope it serves you well

I was in the same situation as you, many years ago. Melo-death was the first genre that I really jumped into seriously, which got me involved in more heavy music. I won't repeat anything already mentioned, so here are my recommendations:

Norther(disregard their last album, it's terrible)
Catamenia
Arch Enemy(old, from 96-99)
Amorphis(start with Tales of a Thousand Lakes)
Arthemesia(More in a melodic black metal style)
Barren Earth(a bit like Opeth)
Dimmu Borgir(I recommend Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, not exactly melo-death but it has similar elements, especially keyboards)
Dispatched
Dissection
Fear of Domination
Nightwish(start with the 90's albums)
October Falls(A Collapse of Faith is a stellar album)
Opeth(Deliverance)
Pain Confessor(you'll find that they seem to copy 2005 Children of Bodom)
Raintime
Wintersun

and one fellow Russian band, simply out of patriotic duty :P Svarga(Сварга)

You may notice these are all alphabetical I'm just browsing my current discography and picking out what I think is appropriate. I understand this list may seem extremely daunting at first, you are just getting into the genre, so I'll list the bands that I first began with, they are a surefire way of invoking your interest without being too off-putting with extreme vocals, instruments or harsh production.

Amon Amarth(Versus the World/Fate of Norns),
Ensiferum(the song "Ahti"),
Children of Bodom(Follow the Reaper),
Norther(Till Death Unites Us)
Wintersun(2004 album),
Kalmah(Swamplord),
Catamenia(Eternal Winter's Prophecy),
Dimmu Borgir(97-2003).

Check out those bands(a song or two from each album) and they're sure to leave a lasting mark on you, as they did for me. I hope you're ready for the journey into melodeath, lots of amazing music awaits.

(11-08-2013, 02:22 AM)uberlulz Писал(а): I was in the same situation as you, many years ago. Melo-death was the first genre that I really jumped into seriously, which got me involved in more heavy music. I won't repeat anything already mentioned, so here are my recommendations:

Norther(disregard their last album, it's terrible)
Catamenia
Arch Enemy(old, from 96-99)
Amorphis(start with Tales of a Thousand Lakes)
Arthemesia(More in a melodic black metal style)
Barren Earth(a bit like Opeth)
Dimmu Borgir(I recommend Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, not exactly melo-death but it has similar elements, especially keyboards)
Dispatched
Dissection
Fear of Domination
Nightwish(start with the 90's albums)
October Falls(A Collapse of Faith is a stellar album)
Opeth(Deliverance)
Pain Confessor(you'll find that they seem to copy 2005 Children of Bodom)
Raintime
Wintersun

and one fellow Russian band, simply out of patriotic duty :P Svarga(Сварга)

You may notice these are all alphabetical I'm just browsing my current discography and picking out what I think is appropriate. I understand this list may seem extremely daunting at first, you are just getting into the genre, so I'll list the bands that I first began with, they are a surefire way of invoking your interest without being too off-putting with extreme vocals, instruments or harsh production.

Amon Amarth(Versus the World/Fate of Norns),
Ensiferum(the song "Ahti"),
Children of Bodom(Follow the Reaper),
Norther(Till Death Unites Us)
Wintersun(2004 album),
Kalmah(Swamplord),
Catamenia(Eternal Winter's Prophecy),
Dimmu Borgir(97-2003).

Check out those bands(a song or two from each album) and they're sure to leave a lasting mark on you, as they did for me. I hope you're ready for the journey into melodeath, lots of amazing music awaits.

Thank you so much man. This is literally the best response regarding entering the melodeath genre i've gotten from anyone (i've asked a few other people outside of this forum as well). Just seriously, Thank you.

(11-08-2013, 05:51 AM)Xiy_The_Gyrudesu Писал(а): Thank you so much man. This is literally the best response regarding entering the melodeath genre i've gotten from anyone (i've asked a few other people outside of this forum as well). Just seriously, Thank you.

Don't mention it man :p Ever since I've gotten into melodeath, it has risen to become the dominating genre in my interest of metal, although I've grown to like and create room for many more styles of music. I would like to add one more recommendation if I may, this band is credited for being one of the pioneers of melo-death of the 2000's, and it is In Flames. Give a listen to the album "The Jester Race", don't bother with the stuff they have now, it's hardly comprised of the same band members anymore and the music has completely abandoned its melodic roots. Happy listening \m/

For me the best band for a good start is DARK TRANQUILLITY period 1995-2002. Melancholy with brutal and normal vocals and guitar sharp with feeling!

http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dark_Tranquillity/8

My list of good MDM bands (don't include famous bands):

1) Mandragora
2) Thousand Year War
3) December Flower
4) Dethklok
5) Raintime
6) Skyfire
7) Made of Hate / Archeon
8) Dissection
9) Blood Stain Child
10) Dark Lunacy
11) Embryo
12) In Mourning
13) Submind
14) Warbreed
15) Imperanon
16) Throne Of Chaos
17) Kaliban
18) Degradead
19) Omnium Gatherum
20) Destroy Destroy Destroy
21) Immortal Souls
22) Wintersun
23) Be'lakor
24) Light This City
25) Before The Dawn
26) Cadacross
27) Tracedawn (early)
28) Okular (progressive MDM)
29) Soulfallen
30) Nux Vomica (crust/mdm)
31) Serenity In Murder
32) Atmosphere Grey
33) Axamenta (melodic death/black)
34) Kadavrik
35) Barren Earth
36) Absence of the Sacred (Singapoore)
37) VonDream
38) The Last Hangmen
39) Elysian (prog/MDM)
40) Asguard (Belarus)
41) Blinded Colony
42) Archons
43) Allegaeon (tech mdm)
44) Forodwaith (mdm/flok a la Eluveitie)
45) Algol
46) Failed Perfection
47) Dorgmooth
48) Dark Oath
49) Karkaos
50) Lost Dreams
51) Persefone

Also there are famous bands as Children of Bodom, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, Ceremonial Oath, At The Gates, Carcass (Heartwork and Swansong), Amon Amarth, Kalmah, Norther, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Wintersun (first album), Soilwork

Hi,

- COB: The 3 first albums
- Norther: The 3 first albums
- At The Gates: Slaughter Of Soul and Terminal Spirit Disease
- Fallen Joy: The Order To Die
- Dark Tranquillity: Fiction
- Arch Enemy: Black Earth, Burning Bridges. The albums with Angela are pretty good too.

This list is of course totally subjective and describes my personal taste.

Enjoy!

In Flames (pre Reroute to Remain) <= Always good for a beginner.
Dark Tranquillity (Mind's I and The Gallery)
Scar Symmetry
Insomnium
Immortal Rites (Ger)
Hypocrisy
Midnight Realm (faily unknown but have a killer EP)
Cold Existence
Archeon/Made of Hate
Dark Lunacy (incorporates a string quartet...AMAZING)
Fragile Nova (Rus)
Burden of Grief
Darkemist (Great Chilean band)
System Shock
Soilwork
Disarmonia Mundi
The Duskfall
Zonaria
Within Y
Ebony Tears
Eventide
Aeverone
Lunarsea

While I lean more toward black metal here is a good list of bands I like in the realm:

Dissection
Dimmu Borgir
Dawn - Slaughtersun
Vinterland
Dark Funeral
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Hour of Penance