I'm somewhat lacking material. All the bands I have right now that utilize violins are Profugus Mortis, Shape of Despair and Paysage D'Hiver's Welt Aus Eis, however I'm sure there must be more. Searching for "Line-Up: Violin" in the search outside is intriguing, it gave me out 700 matches, but it seems to me that I can't really make that filtered at all. Which is kinda bad, considering there are many bands that only have 1-2 demos and are rather unknown and unobtainable.

Therefore I'm asking what kind of bands you can recommend to me, that utilizes Violins or other instruments like that (Cello and the others). Because these instruments are teh win.

My request is that it shouldn't be influenced melody-wise by classical music too much. I've listened to Profanum before because they said it was great, and I found it bad - because of the classical influence. Classical music is just something I can't get to like.

Well, Phlebotomized had a violin player on both their albums. You might be interested in that.

You could try pretty much any folk metal band out there; if you're into that kind of thing...

Have you also tried Apocalyptica? Their music consists in cellos only.

Check out Dark Lunacy. It's a melodic death metal band, and they're using violins and pianos, without being too much influenced by classical music. You might like it.

My Dying Bride.

Yeah, almost all folk bands will be good, symphonic black metal, or anything that tries to be epic (perhaps blond guardian on a night at the opera). I mean I can think of innumerable metal bands with violins and other such instruments.

Reencarnacion from Colombia have violin in some of their songs.

Manegarm! Listen to Manegarm. Amazing.

Elvenking. Avoid the new album, however.

I'm surprised it took so long for My Dying Bridge to get mentioned. A Forest of Stars uses a violin as well.

I love violence in metal.

Winds (Nor) is an absolutely brilliant classically-inspired metal band featuring Hellhammer on drums and some amazing piano and violin arrangements. The vocalist does all the string arrangements so, even though he's not the best singer out there, he's clearly contributing a lot to the band. You won't find metal with a greater classical influence than this. Get it now!

You'd also like Haggard, who take a more orchestral angle than Winds does. They've got a shit-ton of members who play classical instruments for that reason, and they actually do it right. Check out "Eppur Si Muove;" I'm sure you'll like it.

Edit: Sorry, dude, I didn't notice that you didn't want bands with classical influence. That's too bad. I'll leave these recs up though in case you ever change your mind...

It took them 10 minutes to get mentioned.

Jag Panzer uses violins in some songs, although they're probably different from what you're using for. More Power Metallish, and not as prominent.

Do a search for Pete Johansen. He did some work on Sirenia and Tristania's albums, as well as The Sins Of Thy Beloved, all of which are mostly Gothic offshoots of the Death/Doom style of Theater Of Tragedy. He also did some work on one of Morgul's albums if you're looking for something more black metal oriented.

More so crust/d-beat, but are heavily influenced by Neurosis are the band Fall of Efrafa. They have cello on their debut "Owsla". It's failrly findable to, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding it, download or otherwise.

Lux Occulta on their first album, always reminds me of Estatic Fear's second album, even though their styles are quite different.

Dissolving of Prodigy on their Death/Doom stuff, they're great for fans of the 'romantic' stuff.

Black Messiah for the 'folkish' use of the instrument.

Quo Vadis on their first album.

Kimaera (they now use a violin to replace the female vocalist, and they're going to use it in their next album).

Celestial Season on their old stuff.

Other bands: Vehementer Nos, The Eysian Fields, The Eternal Blade, Pantheon I, Mournful Gust, Lament Christ...

Martin Powell and Pete Johansen are two "do not miss" violonists.

Gnaw Their Tongues, a Finnish one man black metal/ambient/industrial project, features violin and string work on a good number of his songs.

Gorguts' Obscura has a brief but very awesome violin section in the second track.

Celestial Season, How Like A Winter, Sins of Thy Beloved, I believe Cryptal Darkness used some violins at some point but I can't really remember, maybe someone would be able to correct me. Dying Tears, Estatic Fear,

New Profugus Mortis doesn't have violin anymore, only their debut. As far as I know, they don't plan on getting another violinist.

Dominia is another band to check out. They're pretty good dark/gothic melodic death (ala Dark Lunacy) which uses a violin as a lead instrument.

At the Gates on The Red In The Sky Is Ours. It's not really an integral part of the music but it really adds a unique feel to the album.

As it seems genre is not really an issue, I recommend America's Brave, a female fronted progressive metal/rock band. Violinist is used throughout the most recent album, 'Monuments' (which is very good). They also have a pianist, which can only add to the magical nature.

http://www.myspace.com/braveband

Turisas, a Folk metal band
Mark Wood, a solo metal violinist. Hes actually pretty cool. he has a six string fretted electric violin.

Im trying to learn metal on my violin... so far, tis not going good, but Im gettign there...

Check out Ne Obliviscaris. Often written off as an Opeth rip-off, but these guys have stronger, more focused songwriting as well with some very well done fusion-ish violin passages.

Also... JELONEK!!!! Might be too 'classical' sounding for you, but worth checking out nonetheless.

Yes, seconded. These guys are fantastic.

Believer - Dimensions

It's got violins, violas, cellos, and even some soprano vocals. It was very ahead of it's time.



Broken Hope - The Bowels of Repugnance

Brutal death metal, with occasional violin intros for unique atmosphere.

My Dying Bride is the best answer. They utilize the violin a ton, especially on Like Gods of the Sun. Very good violin hooks and riffs on songs like A Kiss to Remember and For You.

"She's Gone" by Black Sabbath

3 WORDS

My Dying Bride...

check it out!

Unexpect

HUNG, from New York. They've got a trained viloinsit on electric guitar as their lead and namesake. Awesome prog/melodic death, with a bit of black influence thrown in.

13 Winters, A Forest of Stars, Elvenking, and Haggard all come to mind.

Check out Hevein as well. Really unique stuff.

In The Woods - Omnio. The violin is prominent and throughout the whole album, and not intermittent like a lot of albums in this thread.

Apocalyptica. Presumably they've been mentioned by now. Anyway, 'Reflections' is one of the most outstanding albums I've ever heard. Simply brilliant.

Lately I've seen 'Cantar' (Bel) opening up for 'Skepticism' and their violin player is one of the best I've ever seen. They've only released one (self-titled) album yet but it's really excellent doom/black. Check 'me out!

Skyclad

I second this. Not opeth-y at all.



This as well. Winds are incredible.

DARK LUNACY

Check out that avant-garde metal band Unexpect.