My Top 10 Melodic Metal Bands

10. DragonForce

Firstly, I know what you're thinking. "Not DragonForce, they're so overrated." HEAR ME OUT.

While this may be true on some (most) parts, a good number of their songs actually sound really beautiful and harmonic, and can make you want to charge straight into battle. The lead singer ZP Theart quit after a good number of albums were made, and he went to go on a solo singing career. He was then replaced by Marc Hudson, and the band is feeling more fresh than ever.

Notable songs:

Symphony of the Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOkW9kkLE4o

Valley of the Damned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyUijJ1uoVI

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.dragonforce.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DragonForce
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dragonforce
Instagram: http://instagram.com/dragonforcehq

9. Alestorm

This quirky band takes its themes from pirate lore and sound. They can actually sound really melodic and harmonic, but this band sure knows how to party. They're fun to play pirate games with (my personal favorite is playing Gangplank to the tune of Keelhauled, always makes my games more enjoyable). They are definitely the top quality pirate metal band available to listen to, and are the pioneers of Pirate Metal as a whole.

Notable songs:
Keelhauled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-Z_psXODw

Drink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f55CqLc6IR0

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.alestorm.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alestormband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alestormband

8. Whispered

More of a heavier metal band in this list, and much like Alestorm, Whispered is a pioneer in its own unique genre, Samurai Metal. They are a Finnish band, but they make music based on Japanese and Eastern influences. They have very harsh, despondent songs, with deep ominous choirs and vocals, but it all ties to the beauty and intricacy of the band and the way they write their music.

Notable songs:
Fallen Amaterasu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMdfV_XPWkM

Dead Cold Inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryta9gPHQ0Q

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.whisperedband.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whisperedmetal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whisperedband

7. Symphony X

Symphony X is a band that is well known for its long final songs in the album, which are considered to be the best. Most of their songs are pretty progressive, starting out more slow, and picking up in pace and story.

Notable songs:
Rediscovery 1 & 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xyycpgmu_w

Through the Looking Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRF1AcJoCgw

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.symphonyx.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/symphonyx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/symphonyx

6. Wintersun

More of a harder metal band compared to the rest on this list, like Whispered, the vocal style of this singer is more harsh and has many growls, but the melody of the songs really brings the band together. I definitely fell in love with this band after hearing Time I. I also REALLY love the band's logo, much like band #1! Wintersun is a good band to play the Witcher 3 to. :P

Notable Songs:
Sleeping Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR7RwQJsoDc

Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7WHLgnfk_E

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.wintersun.fi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wintersun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wintersun

5. Rhapsody (of Fire)

You can't listen to melodic metal without thinking about Rhapsody. They have made countless songs based around their own mythology, as they make their own stories and fantasy. They have even made few songs with CHRISTOPHER FUCKIN LEE. Seriously, check those songs out. I'll link them below.

Notable songs WITH CHRISTOPHER LEE:
Unholy Warcry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjg5Lqf7yvU

Magic of the Wizard's Dream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HCGp0eiGtA

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_rhapsodyoffire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhapsodyoffire

4. Kamelot

More of a dark themed and oriented symphonic band, Kamelot has sang about the mythologies of Faust, among other things. Like I said before, they're more on a symphonic and orchestral basis, and write many songs involving beautiful instruments from symphonies and orchestras to tell their dark tales.

Notable songs:
Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORAc_hx33-Q

When the Lights are Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Nr4aD18Eg

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.kamelot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KamelotOfficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamelotofficial
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kamelotofficial

3. Volbeat

The oddball of this list, but nonetheless amazing. While not falling in a more speed metal theme along with the rest of the list, Volbeat provides some amazing twists on the Rock and Metal genre. You'll hear influences from Elvis, Queen, and many other bands, with themes of old west tales, mafia gangsters, and outlaws. An extremely talented band that deserves support.

Notable songs:
Lola Montez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CspafvAui4

Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uPPy8vSW0I

We
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Padl8ueruu

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.volbeat.dk/3/home/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/volbeat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/volbeat
Instagram: https://instagram.com/volbeat

2. Dark Moor

Dark Moor took an interesting shift from pure power metal to a more symphonic metal, much like Kamelot, they write in a more classical and orchestral manner, and have provided melodies that are absolutely beautiful to listen to. They write songs on a number of classical topics, such as the tragic fall of Ophelia in Hamlet, and the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Notable songs:
An End so Cold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyWdXaIaLgk

Don't Look Back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvjvWkH8eE

The Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZPesL8YPq0

Vivaldi's Winter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-07bZ0TJf0

Social Media:
Official site: http://www.dark-moor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkMoorBand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/official.darkmoor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialdarkmoor/

1. Sonata Arctica

This band is an absolute modern masterpiece. It's hard to begin about this band, truth be told. I discovered them when I was young and they are the ones who have introduced me into such a wonderful and creative genre of music. I used to honestly hate metal because all I thought it was, was noise. Just thrashing about and whatnot. This band takes all of those stereotypes and says "lol fuck you" and makes their own beautiful, soaring, masterpieces. I'm pretty much a grown guy and their songs make me blubber like a baby from the sheer beauty of them. If there's anything I want you to take from this list, it's LISTEN TO THIS BAND. They cover every emotional aspect of life, and write lyrics that can speak to a wide variety of people. Sonata Arctica has covered many different genres of metal, such as progressive metal, power metal, symphonic metal, thrash metal, etc. But now they are done experimenting with their sound, and are going back to their roots of energetic and beautiful music. It's a good time to be a Sonata fan.

Notable masterpieces:
My Selene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZsOSXDua2M

Deathaura
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZTZ7hxHpGY

Larger than Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwEqjpzfXng

Gravenimage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac1_RHE-Fvo

The Ruins of My Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=471XEdmJZzI

Social Media:
Official site: http://sonataarctica.info/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonataArctica
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonataarctica
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sonataarcticaofficial