One of the trademarks of Heavy Metal is to use the iconography and dressing the way you want to sound. One of the beautiful things about this genre is the performances are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the ears. In this musical survey, I'll be posting links for recommendations so people can get started listening to these awesome bands as they perform.

I am constantly updating the band lists and links to songs/videos on this page. As before, all the links were working when this blog post was originally created. I have included the albums the songs are from to enable folks to Google them or sample them in iTunes or Amazon should the links break later on down the line. If you hear anything you like, please support these bands by buying their music.

NIGHTWISH
Nemo, official music video, song from the album "Once", with original frontwoman Tarja Turunen
Dark Chest of Wonders, song from the album "Once", with original frontwoman Tarja Turunen
The Escapist, bonus song from the album "Dark Passion Play", with second frontwoman Anette Olzon
Storytime, official music video, song from the album "Imaginaerum", with second frontwoman Anette Olzon
Floor Jansen performs Storytime at Wacken Open Air 2013 with a power and conviction that has me wondering if there's anything she can't sing.
I Want My Tears Back, official live music video, song from the album "Imaginaerum", with current frontwoman Floor Jansen
Plus the links posted on my previous blog post about Ghost Score Love.

WITHIN TEMPTATION
What Have You Done, official video featuring Keith Caputo, song from the album "The Heart of Everything"
Dangerous, official music video featuring Howard Jones, song from the album "Hydra"
Frozen, official music video, song from the album "The Heart of Everything"
Mother Earth, live from the Black Symphony in Rotterdam 2008, title track from the album "Mother Earth"
Fire and Ice, official music video, song from the album "The Unforgiven"
Plus the tracks listed in my previous blog entry.

EPICA
Storm the Sorrow, official music video, song from the album "Requiem for the Indifferent"
Unleashed, official music video, song from the album "Design Your Universe"
Never Enough, official music video, song from the album "The Divine Conspiracy"
Cry for the Moon, studio session recording, song from the album "The Phantom Agony"
Seif Al Din, studio session recording, song from the album "The Phantom Agony"
 
KAMELOT
The Haunting (Somewhere in Time), live with Simone Simons from Epica, song from the album "The Black Halo"
Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife), official music video, song from the album "Silverthorn"
My Confession, official music video, song from the album "Silverthorn", featuring the quartet Eklipse
March of Mephisto, song from the album "The Black Halo"
Poetry for the Poisoned, parts 1-4 of this song stitched together with lyrics, songs from the album "Poetry for the Poisoned"
Liar Liar, song from the album "Haven", featuring the death growls and clear voice of Alissa White-Gluz from Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy

SIRENIA
Seven Widows Weep, official music video, song from the album "Perils of the Deep Blue"
The Other Side, official music video, song from the album "Nine Destinies and A Downfall"
The Path to Decay, official music video, song from the album "The 13th Floor"
Lethargica, song from the album "At Sixes and Sevens"
Fallen Angel, song from the album "The Enigma of Life"
Dim Days of Dolor, offical music video, title song from the album of the same name
Love Like Cyanide, official music lyric video, from the album "Arcane Astral Aeons"

DELAIN
The Gathering, official music video, song from the album "Lucidity"
Get the Devil Out of Me, official music video, song from the album "We Are the Others"
April Rain, official music video, title song from the album "April Rain"
We Are the Others, official music video, title song from the album "We Are the Others"
Suckerpunch, official music video, song from the album "Lunar Prelude"
We Had Everything, song from the album "Apocalypse & Chill"
Masters of Destiny, song from the album "Hunter's Moon"
The Quest and the Curse, official music video, title song from the album "The Quest and the Curse"

LEAVES' EYES
Hell to the Heavens, official music video, song from the album "Symphonies of the Night"
Elegy, official music video, song from the album "Vinland Saga"
Frøya's Theme, song from the album "Njord"
My Destiny, official music video, song from the album "Njord"
Take the Devil in Me, official music video, showing scenes of the band performing and on the road, song from the album "Njord"
The members of the band talk about the work and production for the album "Symphonies of the Night"

THERION
Rise of Sodom and Gomorra (live from Poland 1998), from the album "Vovin" (Featuring Martina Hornbacher who recorded the original on the album with Therion in 1997)
For comparison, the original album cut of Rise of Sodom and Gomorra, from the album "Vovin"
Son of the Staves of Time, official music video, song from the album "Gothic Kabbalah"
Summernight City, live cover of the ABBA song of the same name from Hellfest 2011, from the album "Secret of the Runes"
The Miskolc Experience (Preview Trailer), the opening is the 4th movement of Dvorak's Symphony no. 9 From New World
Compare the Perennnial Sophia (featuring Katarina Lilja) to Birth of Venus Illegitima (featuring Martina Hornbacher) to  Tuna 1613 as another example of the range of variation Therion has in its repertoire.
  
XANDRIA
Valentine, official music video, song from the album "Neverworld's End", featuring former frontwoman Manuela Kraller
Forevermore, a fan video done with lyric subtitles, song from the album "Neverworld's End"
A Prophecy of Worlds to Fall, song with lyric subtitles, song from the album "Neverworld's End"
Nightfall, official music video from the album "Sacrificium"
Voyage of the Fallen, from the EP "Fire & Ashes"

SONATA ARCTICA
I Have A Right, official music video song from the album "Stones Grow Her Name"
Full Moon, song from the album "Ecliptica"
Victoria's Secret, song from the album "Winterheart's Guild"
Only the Broken Hearts (Make You Beautiful), song from the album "Stones Grow Her Name"
Don't Say a Word, song from the album "Reckoning Night"
The Wind Beneath My Wings, cover of the famous song performed by Bette Mildler of the same name

SYMPHONY X
Paradise Lost, title song from the album "Paradise Lost"
Serpents Kiss, official music video, song from the album "Paradise Lost"
The Divine Wings of Tragedy, title song from the album "The Divine Wings of Tragedy"
Iconoclast, title song from the album "Iconoclast"
When All Is Lost, song from the album "Iconoclast"

BLIND GUARDIAN
A Voice in the Dark, official music video, song from the album "At the Edge of Time".
Nightfall, song with lyrics from the album "Nightfall in Middle Earth", an album inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion.
Sacred Worlds, song with lyrics from the album "At the Edge of Time", this song appears as an in-game concert in the RPG action game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
War of the Thrones (piano version), song from the album "At the Edge of Time", inspired by George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones.
Wheel of Time, song from the album "At the Edge of Time", inspired by Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time saga.

SERENITY
Velatum, official music video, song from the album "Fallen Sanctuary"
Serenade of Flames, featuring Charlotte Wessels (Delain), song from the album "Death & Legacy"
Wings of Madness, official music video from the album "War of Ages"
The Chevalier, official music video, featuring Ailyn (Sirenia), song from the album "Death & Legacy"

BAL-SAGOTH
Callisto Rising, song from the album "The Power Cosmic"
In Search of the Lost Cities of Antarctica, song from the album "Atlantis Ascendant"
Of carnage and gathering of the wolves, song from the album "The Power Cosmic"
Atlantis Ascendant, song from the album "Atlantis Ascendant"
Six Score and Ten Oblations To a Malefic Avatar, song from the album "The Chtonic Chronicles"

HAGGARD
Per Aspera Ad Astra, song from the album "Eppur Si Muove"
Chapter II: Upon Fallen Autumn Leaves, song from the album "Tales of Ithiria"
Chapter III: La Terra Santa, song from the album "Tales of Ithiria"
Chapter V: The Hidden Sign, song from the album "Tales of Ithiria"
Awaking the Centuries, live video at Wacken 2007, song from the album "Awaking the Centuries"

EDENBRIDGE
Higher, official music video, song from the album "Solitaire"
Alight A New Tomorrow, official music video, song from the album "The Bonding"
The Undiscovered Land, live video during the Aphelion Tour 2004, song from the album "Aphelion"
Shine, song from the album "Shine"

RHAPSODY OF FIRE
Rising From Tragic Flames, song from the album "Dark Wings of Steel"
Angel of Light, song from the album "Dark Wings of Steel"
Sea of Fate, official music video, song from the album "The Frozen Tears of Angels"
Wisdom of the Kings, official music video, song from the album "Symphony of Enchanted Lands"
The Magic of the Wizard's Dream, official music video feat. Christopher Lee, song from "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret"

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS
New Dawn, official music video, song from the album "Delta", Mario Plank and Maxi Nil on vocals
Seven Seas, song from the album "Trinity", Mario Plank and Melissa Ferlaak on vocals
Lost, official music video, song from the album "Cast Away", Mario Plank and Nicole Bogner on vocals

TRISTANIA
Equilibrium, official music video, song from the album "Ashes", Vibeke Stene and Østen Bergøy on vocals
Year of the Rat, official music video, song from the album "Rubicon", Mariangela Demurtas and Kjetil Nordhus on vocals
Himmelfall, song from the album "Darkest White", Mariangela Demurtas and Kjetil Nordhus on vocals

UNSHINE
The Paradise Lost, song from the album "The Enigma of Immortals"
Catherine His Beloved, song from the album "The Enigma of Immortals"
Spellbinder, song from the album "Dark Half Rising"

LEAH
Old World, song from the album "Of Earth and Angels"
Prisoner, song from the album "Of Earth and Angels"
Ex Cathedra, song from the album "Of Earth and Angels"
Old World, live video from 12-12-12, song from the album "Of Earth and Angels"
Dreamland, song from the album "Otherworld"
Kings and Queens (2015) album sampler/teaser

LUNATICA
The Neverending Story, song from the album "Fables & Dreams"
Hymn (Ultravox Cover), song from the album "Fables & Dreams"
New Shores, song from the album "New Shores"
Who You Are, song from the album "The Edge of Infinity"
The Edge of Infinity, title song from the album "The Edge of Infinity"
The Day The Falcon Dies, song from the album "New Shores"

KATRA
One Wish Away, official music video from the album "Out of the Ashes"
Beast Within, official music video from the album "Beast Within"
Grail of Sahara, song from the album "Beast Within"

APOCALYPTICA
I Don't Care, official music video (featuring Adam Gontier on vocals) from the album "Worlds Collide"
Cold Blood, official music video from the album "Shadowmaker"
Life Burns, official music video (featuring Lauri Ylonen on vocals) from the album "Apocalyptica"
Hall of the Mountain King, official live video from "Apocalyptica: The Life Burns Tour DVD"
Farewell, instrumental track from the album "Apocalyptica"

FADING AZALEA
Track samples from Maze of Melancholy can be found here

IGNEA
Alga, official music video from the album "The Sign of Faith"
Queen Dies, official music video from the album "The Sign of Faith"
Seytanu Akbar, official Music Video shot at BUMA 2017

BEYOND THE BLACK
In The Shadows, official music video from the album "Songs of Love and Death"
Songs of Love and Death, live performance at Wacken 2014, iconic title track of album of the same name
Million Lightyears, official music video from the album "Heart of the Hurricane"
Forget My Name, music recording video from the album "Lost in Forever"
Lost in Forever, official music video and title track from the album of the same name
Heart of The Hurricane, official lyric video and title track from the album of the same name
ORIGINS - The online acoustic experience, official first Beyond The Black full acoustic concert video

METALWINGS
Fallen Angel in the Hell, official music video from the EP album of the same name
Crying of the Sun, official music video from the EP album "Fallen Angel in the Hell"
For All Beyond, official music video from the debut album of the same name

ANARIA
Leaving You Behind, official music video from the album "Exile"
Cursed, official music video from the album "Exile"
Omen, official music video from the album "Exile"
Into the Flood, official music video from their 2013 single
Awaken, track from their first album "Ancestors"
Awaken: The Orchestral Experience, official music video of the orchestral version of Awaken from the album "Ancestors"

BELLE MORTE
Mercy, official music video from the EP "Game on"
Lace, official music video from the album "Crime of Passion"
Broken Things, lyric video from the album "Crime of Passion"

IMPERIAL AGE
The Legacy of Atlantis, official music video from the album "The Legacy of Atlantis"
The Monastery, official live performance from the album "The Legacy of Atlantis"
Anthem of Valour, official music video from the album "Turn the Sun Off!"
Turn the Sun Off!, official live performance video from the album "Turn the Sun Off!"
Love Eternal, official live performance video from the album "The Legacy of Atlantis"
Vanaheim, official live performance video from the album "Warrior Race"