Female-fronted symphonic metal has attracted a larger audience recently; it features a woman, often a classically trained opera singer, performing lead vocals. The Finnish band Nightwish is one of the best-known symphonic metal bands, having risen to prominence overseas in the early 2000s. Its initial releases used keyboards to double as orchestra; beginning with the 2002 CD "Century Child," a real orchestra was used in the background. Norway's Tristania utilized a fiddle and heavy keyboards to mimic an orchestra. After Forever, a Dutch group, also utilizes keyboards.
Rhapsody of Fire, better known as just "Rhapsody," performs music based around fantasy themes, such as quests, dark lords and high adventure. Blind Guardian's music is often inspired by "Lord of the Rings," and it also uses synthesized orchestras. Finnish band Turisas performs Viking-themed symphonic metal. Sonata Arctica, best known as a Finnish power metal band, released a symphonic version of its 2010 release, "The Days of Grays."
Non-symphonic metal performers occasionally start or join symphonic metal projects, both to try something new and expand their present fan base. Star One is one such project; it features orchestral arrangements and male and female voices singing music based on science fiction movies and TV shows. Stream of Passion utilizes synthesizers, violin and a female singer.
As symphonic metal grew in popularity, the next logical step was to perform with an actual symphony. Metallica got the ball rolling in 1999, recording its album "S&M" with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Therion released "Vovin" in 2007, also with a live orchestra. Other bands that have performed with an orchestra include Within Temptation, which usually synthesized its music; as well as Dutch band Epica and German performers Xandria.