The difference, by ear
Both are arrangement-led with orchestral scale. Oriental metal's melodic material comes from outside Western harmony entirely.
Symphonic metal is sung cleanly where Oriental metal is part sung, part screamed, at much the same pace, around 110 to 170 bpm. To hear the difference, play Orphaned Land next to Nightwish. They share a root in heavy metal, and Oriental metal came first, by two years.
In figures
Oriental metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Folk metal › Oriental metal
In short
Middle Eastern modes, oud and traditional percussion built into progressive or death metal.
How it sounds
- Middle Eastern modes - hijaz, kurd - used as the basis for riffs.
- Oud, saz, darbuka and other traditional instruments built into the arrangements.
- Vocals alternating between Western technique and Eastern melisma.
Key acts
- Orphaned Land
- Melechesh
- Myrath
Start here
The pickOrphaned Land - Mabool. A concept album about the flood, told through three faiths.
Full page →Symphonic metal
Where it sits
In short
Full orchestra and choir treated as equal instruments, usually with an operatic female lead. Metal's most visible face in the European mainstream.
How it sounds
- Orchestra and choir as a permanent section, often recorded live rather than sampled.
- Classically trained or lyrical female vocals, sometimes alternating with growls.
- Broad, multi-layered production with film-score dynamics.
Key acts
- Nightwish
- Within Temptation
- Epica
- Therion
Start here
The pickTherion - Theli. The moment the choir becomes the lead instrument.
Full page →