I am looking for more bands Like Nightwish, Epica, and After Forever, pretty much female fronted symphonic metal bands with emphasis on guitar like the 3 said bands. I can't seem to find other bands in this style that I like, even the early more metal stuff by Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil are very weak compared to these bands.

Sirenia.

Edenbridge is pretty good.

Xandria sounds like a good fit.

Leaves' Eyes -



Victorians -

Yeah, Xandria's good. I also like WT's 'Mother Earth' a lot, but it's symphonic rock. 'Enter,' the more metal release, is indeed underwhelming. Perhaps Theatre of Tragedy's 'Aegis'? I like the first two better, but that one is more the style you're looking for. I was also once fond of Aesma Daeva's debut, but I don't remember it too well so take that with a grain of salt. Really, I haven't found too many good female-fronted europower bands, but I don't like europower in general too much.

This, I'd go so far as to say that the new album by them is the best symphonic metal has to offer, and I couldn't stand their previous material.

Their singer Dianne is also in Ex Libris, who's latest album Medea sits alongside Xandria's Sacrificium in my top ten albums of the year so far.

As do the latest releases from both Stream of Passion, a great symphonic/progressive metal band with Marcela singing in both English and Spanish, and Delain, who's new album has a lot of great riffs with a heavy guitar tone, even if the song writing is rather poppy. Their first two are also fantastic, but We are the Others was a letdown with a lot of filler (get the devil out of me was great though)

If you like After Forever I assume you know Floor's new project Revamp? She even does death growls on it, it's fantastic.

Would also second Edenbridge, Lanvall is a fantastic soloist and Sabine has a really pretty voice.

If you want things a little doomier and Ethereal, the first album by The 3rd and the Mortal, and The Gathering's Mandylion are also classics too, the latter's opening track is filled with great riffs (and they also happen to be my favourite band) Neither are symphonic, but felt they had to be mentioned as it's vaguely similar.

Oh yeah, early 3rd and the Mortal is fantastic, the EP rules too. Also Sins of Thy Beloved for doomier stuff, the lead electric violin (yes, you heard me) is mindblowing.

Hmm, there is too much gothic and doom metal being suggested here. 3rd and the Mortal has little to do with Nightwish or Epica.

Diabulus in Musica are one of the best symphonic metal bands around currently:


Ancient Bards are a little more power metal than the others, but very symphonic/epic and very good:


Haggard:


Xandria's two most recent albums are very Nightwish-sounding, and Edenbridge is also a good suggestion.

Eihwaz is a Russian band that's pretty good.
http://youtu.be/QXkdHRNnb6g

Pythia are pretty much intending to carry the torch of Tarja Nightwish:


Then an underrated gem in this band...

The vocals get on most people's nerves but I guess it's all subjective.

Tristania perhaps?

Angtoria and Sarah Jezebel Deva.

Came across this band Oratory a few years ago. Its a pretty good album, this was my favorite track off it, unfortunately the audio quality is really bad on the youtube video:

Coronatus


Silent Opera


Whispering Woods

You might want to check out Anatomy of the Sacred. They are a Female Fronted Symphonic Metal band from Pennsylvania, USA. www.anatomyofthesacred.com

www.soundcloud.com/anatomyofthesacred

Yousei Teikoku?

What about these bands?

Beyond The Black - In The Shadows (Turn up the volume)



Dark Sarah - Hunting the Dreamer (Turn it down again)



Nemesea - Whenever

I've looked for bands like After Forever and Within Temptation myself forever in the symphonic metal scene but never found that same quality. I finally got my beef from slavic folk metal bands, give this a try, 35 different female fronted bands so there must be something for you:

I bought these specifically when asking the guy at the CD store about someone who sounded like Nightwish.

Revamp

Visions of Atlantis

Here is one that just came up today on youtubes recommendations functionality..
Flowing Tears. Kinda Evanescence sorta sound, but I like it...