I should explain a bit. What I'm looking for is bands who use a very futuristic, or "sci-fi" aesthetic as a core part of their musical pallet. I'm not looking for bands like Gamma Ray or Vektor; while shining examples of their chosen styles, they merely deal with sci-fi in terms of lyrics, but the bands I'm looking for can sing about anything, really, so long as the music fits that aesthetic.

Some examples-

Later Dark Tranquillity: their keys give them a very bleak, futuristic feel. The album art doesn't hurt either.

Kalisia - Cybion: the entire album is steeped in very sci-fi aesthetics, musically. It's also my favourite CD of all time, so take that however you may.

Anubis Gate's last three albums: their soundscapes feel very celestial to me. They achieve it with a mix of keys, spacey riffing and some electronic sounds, in addition to their very clean, soaring vocal delivery.

Ayreon - synth key spamming and other Arjenisms give off a futuristic vibe, what can I say.

And others like Pagan's Mind, some Machinae Supremacy, that sort of thing. After all this, it still feels like I'm being somewhat vague as this isn't really a defined genre style that you can easily "pin down". But if you've got something, go ahead and rec it. Thanks!

Listen to Samael's Eternal, and if you want some musical description of it you can always read my review.

Oh, yeah, I know Samael. There's probably a ton of bands I didn't mention that I've heard and are good examples of this trope, but hey, anything's welcome.

Definitely Nocturnus. Classic oldschool death metal with a very futuristic alien feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDNy6MuqrMQ


Maybe V:28. Their theme deals with a post-apocalyptic world. Music is industrial with elements of death, doom and thrash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGCVW7Gi ... re=related

Oh man, how did I forget to mention Nocturnus? The Key is one of my all-time American DM favourites.

Checking out V:28. I like what I hear so far, nice buildup.

Darkspace, for obvious reasons.

Tyrant Of Death (free&quality) stuff
http://got-djent.com/band/tyrant-death
start with "Parasite", "Generation Bliss", "Digital Injection"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njYXd7QFDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dSp2Xfre1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT7vXTBnQqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nVfj3QJgag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsQpurPSsz8

Yeah..


And you can try Wormed : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWyA6nwrs1M&feature=related

A good amount of industrial black metal tends to be futuristic in both sound and lyrical themes. For example: Thorns and Terra::POLARIS. These two bands are similar, with the latter taking influence from Thorns.

Also, a pretty obscure band called The Sprawlcosm is heavily cyberpunk/future themed. This band has a strange mix of IBM/electronics and even a touch of jazz (which I didn't really care for), but it's definitely worthy of a listen. There are parts of their album that are stunning and really capture the futuristic dystopian atmospheres of cyberpunk and make me feel like I'm in Neuromancer.

Abigor's newest album sounds like it would be right up your alley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-gOaOI6axM

You should definetly check out Neurotech. Finest use of Cyber-esque, futuristic synth I've ever heard.
Samples:
Nonexistent
Antagonist
The band has been kind enough to put the album up for download on their bandcamp page. Free of charge. Unless you want the physical copy of course.
http://neurotech.bandcamp.com/album/antagonist


Then there is Laments of Silence. Very futuristic sound. Unfortunately, they're a bit lacking in songwriting skills, and they use clean vocals that aren't exactly top pick of the litter... But the futuristic almost makes up for it. And if nothing else, they have potential. Check 'em out.
Samples:
Restart Your Mind
Paper Dolls


You should also check out Sonic Syndicate's debut album, Eden Fire. It has a lot of synth and a couple of songs with a really futuristic vibe.
They're not constant throughout the song like with Neurotech, but it's definetly there.
Samples:
Prelude to Extinction
Zion Must Fall


Even though they're a "Modern Metal" band, Marionette isn't a band that generally has a very futuristic soundscape... that is, except for this one song. Which is one of my very favorite "futuristic" songs. It has an amazing middle section which just oozes atmosphere.
The Song:
The Lie


Aaaaaaand that is all I have atm. I'll see if I can find any more.

Kovenant, if it wasn't mentioned already.
They haven't made a CD in a while, but their CD, S.E.T.I., I thought was really good, and they do have the sci-fi theme.

You might enjoy T3chn0ph0b1a; it's electronic/industrial metal with major black metal influences, and it has a rather futuristic theme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2YUOiAfBv0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffkgCPHg1FM

This sounds like some promising stuff. I don't have time to follow up on all of it right at this moment, but this is a real nice roundup of bands I haven't heard yet.

Both Scar Symmetry (Pitch Black Progress, Holographic Universe) and Mercenary (11 Dreams, The Hours that Remain, Architect of Lies) play a very Power Metal influenced style of melodic death metal with lots of synthesizer work for that futuristic tinge you're looking for. You could also check out the band Cipher System.

Good call on Mercenary and Scar Symmetry, since Merc is one of my favourites and I've been listening to quite a bit of SS lately. Haven't heard Cipher System, but my local HMV does have them, so I'll check them out for being mentioned in the same breath as Merc and SS if I like what I hear on Youtube. Actually, I got into SS because I was told that Holographic Universe had Mercenary-like leanings, so that's worked for me before.

Cipher System are more similar to Dark Tranquillity, though, in that they don't have clean vocals (form what i remeber at least), like Merc and SS do.

For Cipher System I do recommend their first album, as their sophomore is really meh...

Their debut is more in line with Soilwork and Dark Tranquillity and they make good use of keyboards there.

2 fairly obvious answers:

-THORNS.
-Dodheimsgard's International 666.

There's a industrial black metal band called Savaoth you should look for. Maybe the works of Aborym and ..And Oceans will like you too.

Covenant's Nexus Polaris, The Kovenant's Animatronic-SETI and maybe Arcturus's The Sham Mirrors and Sideshow Symphonies.

Seconding Samael, but you should check Passage, Eternal, Era One/Lesson in Magic, Reign of Light and Solar Soul.

Angst Skvadron ,no lyrics are available but the song titles are sci-fi oriented.They have a eerie atmosphere throughout their records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLiOm8nQTZ4

Voivod .I didnt read the lyrics but this sounds spacey to me (and not just because of the intro).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5HN3otnoL8

Meshuggah is the first band that comes to my mind when its future-lyrics or some robo war.Also the sound is very mechanical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOd-T58qHLA

Axis of Advance , also has some "post-war devastated planet lyric" ,insane drumming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgC6ozEwyvM

Industrial black metal like Aborym and Blacklodge use a lot of "futuristic" sounds and samples and conjur up images of an alien sci fi nightmare for me. Pretty awesome

Also, Blut aus nord's last two albums seem so progressive and ahead of their time it's almost as if they were made in the future in my opinion

Not sure if that's what you meant

I don't know if anyone has recommended Progenie Terreste Pura yet but they are very spacy and futuristic sounding black metal.

Also you can check out The Circle Of Zaphyan which is spacy sounding death metal.

i second that



oh wait...

Second Scar symmetry. Canada, more specifically Quebec, has a good death metal scene with bands that utilizes that spacey aesthetic. Bands like Augury, Obliveon, First Fragment, and Martyr are all worth checking out

Ah! Just remembered SeeCReeS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glU-9GOvers

Seconding Voivod but only anything from Killing Technology and onward.

Just about any Industrial Black Metal. I highly reccomend thee Maldoror Kollective.

The fact that absolutely nobody mentioned Vektor completely baffles me. Super technical thrash metal with tons of progressive influences and black metal tinges, plus some of the most insane vocals you'll ever hear in a thrash band and a really, REALLY spacey atmosphere.

Read the OP before posting.

Oh, for fuck's sake! Yeah, you guys can start throwing the rotten tomatoes. Don't worry, I'll take a shower later.....

FUNEROT!

Sci-fi themed thrash/death of a unique variety. The riffs and guitar tone give it an extremely spacey feeling. I'd recommend starting with the Stranded in Time EP, Invasions from the Death Dimension CD, or Nova II LP.

Ananta
Cruentus
Fear Factory
Noein (Fra)
Shade Empire
Sybreed
Red Harvest
Paul Wardingham

Thank you, mate! These guys can riff.

Hey TS, I think you could enjoy Sybreed. I think they are pretty boring, except for a few good songs, but they fit your description accurately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QH1AH8nnKQ

If they could write riffs like these all the time, that'd be great.

Glad you dig it! Criminally unknown/underrated band. The last album they put out "And Then You Fucking Die, Man." is also great but they incorporate a LOT more punk and rock influence and it doesn't have as much of a "spacey" feel to it (though it's def still there) so I didn't rec it in the context of this thread but you should def check it out if you like their other stuff.

First thing that jumps to my mind is Impulse, by Blindead. This EP sounds like it should be the Doom soundtrack to one of the Alien movies.

Azure Emote has a lot of futuristic sounding industrial samples. Some call them experimental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dP-uToMhI

Check out Alchemist, amazing band.

Some of the albums that always gave a very futuristic feel are listed below

Liege Lord - Master Control
Scanner - Hypertrace & Terminal Earth
Voivod - Killing Technology
Iron Savior - Unification

Also check out Machinae Supremacy if you havent already.

One of my all-time favourites, actually.

Man, I've got a lot of catching up to do with this thread. Lots of stuff I haven't heard.