Hi,
For a couple years i've been on the look out for more really pleasant sounding heavy metal.
These days most traditional/power metal has rather meaty and heavy production and vocals that go full out. While i sure like that style of metal too I also really like the opposite but there are barely any bands playing like this.

a few pointers

I really love Wytch Hazel a ton. Their album gets quite a bit of play from me.

Off the top of my head, I don't know of any others quite like them, though you may like these:

Under The Sun - surprisingly upbeat traditional doom metal. Here's one of their softer songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAqqsyK ... 2756AD5647

Miriam - Finnish melodic metal/rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5_NPtl ... rjBKwN4cgH

i did like the first song but its not really metal enough for what im looking for.
the 2nd song takes too much from modern metal for my taste.

Gotcha, yeah those were both sorta longshots. Here's one of Under The Sun's more metal songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkd9zC5 ... 47&index=1

Maybe Zuul?

Been a while since i last heard Zuul actually...

Under the sun definitely did spark my interest and i will listen to their album soon.

^Right on. It's a solid album IMO.

I'm thinking of High Spirits, it has a lot of groove and it holds a vintage quality to the overall sound - as well as to what regards songwriting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iHRAnIA2Yw

Kröwnn also maybe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_5JcbQGad0

And what about The Sword? It's very laid-back and traditional-sounding, but maybe it lacks the Metal edge...

high spirits counts i guess but they are a bit less melodic than I look for i guess.

Krownn is nice but more doomy than what i am looking for. The Sword are also a bit too much on the psychedelic rock and everything side. I did enjoy that high country album though.

Listen to this, it's Phil Swanson of Seamount singing; one of my favourite albums of last year - still mid-tempo, but it's what I like:

https://sumerlands.bandcamp.com/album/sumerlands

oh i heard sumerlands, its too "intense" sounding for what im looking for specifically here. Sure its not a really heavy record but compared to wytch hazel and the other bands i mentioned they are quite a bit heavier and more energetic.

Fair enough! My last try: Ark's eponymous, it's more in the prog vein though... And you'll tell me the drumming is too spectacular!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3VcdB1G0g

But well, it's a masterpiece and it can't harm to be reminded of it!

its been years since i last heard Ark. ill listen to em.

Hey man is it safe to assume you're already a Christian Mistress fan? Their most recent album specifically has a VERY laidback and breezy feeling. Warm days, open roads, sunshine. That sort of vibe.

I've never thought of Helvetets Port as being relaxed, that's interesting. I love their LP so much but I think it has quite a bit of drama and menace.

well compared to the average new trad metal album of today like Argus, Visigoth or gaywyre it is quite a bit more laid back. Yeah i know christian mistress.

Cool man, I think I might have something for this I just need to think on it for awhile. Let me know how Zuul ends up grabbing you, I think that might help guide me a bit because that seems like a great suggestion to me. They're like muscular but laid back at the same time.

Are you specifically looking for newer bands? Because Legend's Death in the Nursery is EXACTLY what you're looking for I think, but it's an old nwobhm classic. One of my favorite albums of all time.

What about Quicksand Dream? Vintage production, subdued vocals and beautiful melodies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICDMhv1fJNQ

Well kinda looking for newer bands because I don't think the old bands ever really got the production quite as I would like to see in this case. As in having that bright but still warm tone and feel. Oh and I listened to death in the nursery this past week Listened to the 2nd Zuul album and its got the guitar tone and everything else but the sounds are i guess till too fast and energetic.



quicksand dream are pretty great and actually also qualify for this.

Hey man have you heard the s/t LP by Corsair? Looks like they aren't on the archives anymore which is kinda surprising. I definitely consider them heavy metal but it's very breezy. Truthfully there are a lot of moments on the album I would describe as having a feminine quality. I just pulled it out yesterday because the weather was so beautiful and thought about this thread.

I love this tune, check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew1GPQ67TgI

Check out Desolation Angels! There's an old school NWOBHM band, but most of their stuff seems to fit the bill. I'd also recommend Sortilege's record, "Larmes Des Heroes." It has this really relaxed and somber atmosphere. Finally, Marquis De Sade's little EP or 7' is super laid back, but is still really metal! Plus I think Somewhere Up in the Mountain has fretless bass on it, which is cool for the time!

that corsair song is what i am looking for.
While i do like Desolation Angels, Marquis de Sade and Sortilege they are simply too rocking or too powerful for this specific request.

That is awesome! Definitely check out the whole album. I think you'll really dig it. I knew I had something in my collection that tripped this switch it just took me a minute.

Lester Maddox's "Gothic Lore" is smooth as honey and gentle as a dream. A weird, confusing dream... Check out fails' review for more info.

okay while that is not what i was looking for as this is more post-punk than metal it is up my alley in other ways.

Probably pointless to mention sense you already know Wytch Hazel, but the band they did a split with, Borrowed Time, is up this alley. Their album is filled with tons of classic riffage played in a more easygoing way that just makes you nod your head instead of headbang furiously. The song "Pygmalion" is my favorite and it's probably the softest/most rock-ish on the album

You'll probably have better luck with near-heavy metal that isn't on the archives.

Epic acoustic rock/NWOBHM worship Ashbury


Epic hard/prog rock band Wishbone Ash

This used to be one of my all time favorite songs in high school, haven't heard it in ages

yeah know all of these names already

I assume you know Pagan Altar, so I won't post any songs.

Longings Past
https://youtu.be/4CXWNdUP8-w

aye, no surprises there. If you haven't checked out the Lunar Shadow album yet, it's played pretty gently as well, kinda like Dark Forest filtered through Borrowed Time, I guess.

Also, maybe the new album by Sunrunner? Some parts are laidback and at other times it's fastpaced and loud, but somehow not on the Archives, so maybe it could be close.

If you dig Corsair, how about Hypnos?

Maybe try Magnesium, from Japan, specifically the song "time tells no lies". I'm not sure if it's on YouTube or not.

Hällas is a good match, I think, it'a very vintage-souding heavy metal band with a real positive vibe.

https://thesignrecords.bandcamp.com/album/h-llas-s-t

Aktor? A few heavier moments here and there, but the attitude's pretty chill IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onJtF5o7N20

Also maybe try Legend's Fröm the Fjörds already if you haven't, though you probably know it. Pretty relaxed, prog-influenced heavy metal, if I remember correctly, though maybe I'm wrong.

perhaps some molly hatchet?