Here's the new list for 2023. I have tried to go through and update it but sometimes the info is hard to find, especially for more obscure bands or if the update was just a random social media post saying "we're recording" or "something is coming soon"... I've also put albums that were released at the end of the year back into the released list for 2022. I have probably missed things so if you spot any errors or new things to add, do give me a shout.
The format is "band name - album title (if known) - release date (if known) - recording status/any other notes". I've marked out things that are related projects or similar genres that might be of interest with a (+) sign.
Those with a ? after the date are rumoured/likely but have not had a date officially announced.
Add these new releases to your Google Calendar - thanks u/asdreth!
Upcoming Symphonic Metal Albums in 2023:
Bare Infinity - 2023
Coldbound - 2023?
Coronatus - 2023?
Crysalys - Unknown Title - 2023?
Diabulus in Musica - 2023?
Dianne Van Giersbergen - Soulward Bound - 2023 - New solo album
Elvellon - Unknown Title - 2023? - Currently recording
Ex Libris - 2023? - Working on new music
Exit Eden - Femmes Fatales - 12th January 2024
Haggard - Grimm - 2023? Never?
Heavenly - Unknown Title - 2023? - Currently being worked on
Hydra - EP - 2023 - Band to release a farewell EP before splitting
LEAH - The Glory and the Fallen - January 2024
Lunatica - Unknown Title - 2023? - Album was in pre-production in 2019 but there have been no announcements since
Lyriel - Unknown Title - 2023? - In progress
Nightwish - Unknown Title - 2024? - Currently recording
Osturra - 2023?
She & Her Darkness - 2023? - orchestral metal album with various female voices such as Maxi Nil and Aeva Maurelle
Snow White Blood - disbanded then reformed with new singer, single coming in 2024
Solborn - Unknown Title EP - 2023? - May not be in progress, band seem to have split
The Dark Element - Unknown Title - 2023
Trail of Tears - Unknown Title - 2023? - With Ailyn as new singer, entering studio in October
Upcoming albums - similar genres or related projects in 2023/24:
Alissa White-Gluz (+) - Unknown Title - 2023? - Alissa says the album is finally complete but they are looking into when will be best to release it
Amaranthe(+) - The Catalyst - 23rd February 2024
United Metal Minds (+) - Unknown Title - 2023? - In progress
Valkea Valo (+) - Unknown Title - 2023? - New project of Manuela Kraller
Already released:
Mechina - Cenotaph
Beyond the Black - Beyond the Black
Twilight Force - At the Heart of Wintervale
Dark Sarah - Attack of Orym
Phoebus the Knight - Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror
Xandria - The Wonders Still Awaiting
Delain - Dark Waters - New record with new lineup
Emetropia - An Acoustic Endeavor EP
Enemy of Reality - Where Truth May Lie
Elysion - Bring Out Your Dead
Nachtmuse - Darker Skies EP
Ad Infinitum - Chapter III - Downfall
Dark Side of The Moon - Metamorphosis - Symphonic metal cover band of film/TV music
Lyrre - Not All Who Dream Are Asleep
IGNEA - Dreams of Lands Unseen
Kamelot - The Awakening
Phantom Elite - Blue Blood
Seven Spires - Live at ProgPower USA XXI
Penumbra - Eden
Floor Jansen (+) - Paragon
Liv Kristine (+) - River of Diamonds
Sirenia- 1977
Oryad - Sacred & Profane
False Memories - Hybrid Ego System
Masqued - When Demons Call
Rainover - Nox
Tarja's Outlanders (+) - Outlanders
Eleine - We Shall Remain
Edge of Paradise - Hologram
Blackbriar - A Dark Euphony
Mystfall - Celestial Vision
Panda Kingdom - Panda Kingdom - Metal opera
Stream of Passion - Beautiful Warrior EP
Cyhra(+) - The Vertigo Trigger
Tarja - Rocking Heels Live at Metal Church (Live)
Sinheresy - Event Horizon
Within Temptation - Bleed Out - They have recently announced a new comic book series that will tie in with the upcoming album. New single
Everdawn - Venera
Therion - Leviathan 3
SideQuest - The Story of No One (Part II)
Winterage - Nekyia
Theocracy = Mosaic
Please comment with any suggestions, additional details or anything else you can think of to add!
In a recent interview, Floor Jansen said Nightwish has a new album written and ready to start recording in '23.
Thanks, I'll add this - man I used to know immediately when Nightwish were working on a new album, I'm so out of touch now!
Nightwish was my gateway drug into metal! I was so excited when they got back together, but the way they went through singers struck me as off. I wonder if Toumas is really pushy towards the singers or something? :/
I don't think there was any improprieties, but the ways their two previous singers left were less than ideal, and I absolutely blame the band more than the singers for the way it happened (I obviously don't know the behind the scenes stuff). They are just bad at parting ways with someone in a respectful manner.
Oh for sure. I meant more like He was too demanding and controlling, rather than any improprieties! I see what you mean though!
The new album will be out in 2024. Human Nature was recorded in summer 2019 and released in april 2020.
This has been very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks! :D
Kamelot has very awkwardly and vaguely promoted their new album as coming out in March.
Haha they really just threw that in there, huh... Will update, thanks
Such a weird post, along with the awkward band photo collage and the Facebook page image of a tour bus
Good to know Ignea have an album coming, their last one was superb. I don't think the new Nightwish album will be this year though, more likely to be 2024.
No official details yet, but Blackbriar just signed with Nuclear Blast and released a single under the label, so it seems reasonably likely they'll be releasing an album this year.
Also, I had no idea Lyriel were making something new. I thought they were broken up for some reason. Glad to be mistaken!
The Lyriel one has been on there for a while so not sure how they're getting on. In 2019 they were posting studio pictures and saying they were working on new stuff but I don't think there's been any news since!
Regarding Dark Side of the Moon: the album is Metamorphosis and is scheduled for May 12th. https://label.napalmrecords.com/the-dark-side-of-the-moon
Thanks, updated!
First time i hear about new Kamelot, awesome
I’m getting back into symphonic metal after many years so I’m going down your list and listening to all of the bands. So thank u, I’m really enjoying it! So many good bands 🖤
That's awesome!
Thanks for the list, what's your most anticipated?
Ooh, well now I know Nightwish are up to something then probably that, haha. But of the more definite ones, probably Ad Infinitum and Dark Side of the Moon because I really like Melissa.
Melissa will be on the new Kamelot album as well.
Has this been confirmed? I know she was announced for the Kamelot 2023 Latin America tour, but not for the studio album.
Comment deleted by user
Twilight Force - At the Heart of Wintervale (January 20)
Thanks, added!
Worth noting that Seven Spires will likely have a new album this year, as will Tulip.
Maybe. Lead singer of Seven Spires teased some news coming out on January 6th i think
Just saw the post, live album and single release, so I'll add a mention of those
It's a live album.
Coronatus (does anyone listen to them?) is going to release a single soon (so presummably a whole album too)
Thanks, added!
False Memories - "Hybrid Ego System" - June 9, 2023
Elysion - "Bring Out Your Dead" - March 17, 2023 (There's on the list, need to be updated)
Edge of Paradise - "Hologram" - July 14, 2023
Thanks, I've added these and moved a whole bunch of things to the released section
Mystfall - Celestial Vision (21st of July)
Rainover - Nox (21st of June)
Tarja's Outlanders - Self-titled (23rd of June)
Thanks, updated these
Phoebus the Knight - Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror - will be out this January, for realsies this time! And of course:
Therion - Leviathan 3
Winterage - Untitled album - currently recording, so I assume it will be out this year...
Lighting a candle in the window for Grimm...
Thanks, added these.
I think the day Grimm drops will be the day I retire lol
Bold of you to assume it's gonna come out in your lifetime >.< I'm betting on a 23rd century release.
(Small detail, but for the sake of readability: there's a line break missing between The Dark Element and Therion. Thanks for the list!)
😂
Should be fixed now!
Yes ! Everything is going fine for Ferrum Fero Ferro Feror ! The label confirmed it will be out in time !
This is an awesome list, thanks for putting in the effort!
Thank you!
Any Royal Thunder fans here? More Southern rock, but anyone who appreciates female rock vocals should check them out. They're recording a new album this year, and they released a new single back in November.
Hoping with Tarja’ Outlanders project we get an EP or LP with all the songs released so far in one record. Love the genre-blending and how different Tarja sounds.
Also YES to a Seven Spires live album. I saw them live in March 2022 and we are overdue for a professional recording.
Also under “related projects”, isn’t Floor Jansen’s solo album dropping this year?
I’ll be honest, I’m not super excited for it. So far singles have been pretty radio-friendly, bland compositions especially compared to the more experimental stuff (by SM standards) Charlotte Wessels, Tarja and others are releasing.
That said even if I find Floor shines best in a live hard rock/power metal setting, I am glad she is gaining a ton of traction and fans outside the realm of metal and rock.
The new Mechina album is fantastic. They always do great work. Looks like we got lots of good stuff coming our way.
Floor Jansen - Paragon (24th of March).
Kamelot - The Awakening (17th of March)
Penumbra also plan to release their new album Neverdream this year.
Thanks, added!
Just discovered Phoebus the Knight on Reddit ! Really curious to see how this is album is gonna be. Have to listen to the EP now !
Phantom Elite just announced their album Blue Blood coming out March 17th.
Thanks, added!
Comment deleted by user
Has the announcement been made yet? I had a quick look on their Facebook but couldn't see. If you give me a shout I can add it when it's been confirmed!
Some updates:
Liv Kristine - 21st of April “River of Diamonds”
Aqvilea - 14th of Feb “Activm” (this could just be a single - not confirmed yet)
Penumbra - 7th of April “Eden”
Added Liv and Penumbra, thank you, let me know if the other one is definitely an album!
Add Enemy of Reality "Where Truth May Lie" it's my most anticipated album, most well known symphonic metal bands sound the same nowdays, check out their single "Serenade of Death" it's truly fantastic!
Emetropia is releasing an acoustic EP on March 24th.
Thanks, added!
Update for Ignea's new album Dreams of Lands Unseen. It will be released on April 28th, 2023 and is available for preorder via Napalm Records.
Thanks, added!
Unfortunately, I just read that Snow White Blood are splitting up, so unfortunately there won't be a new album
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpk9TPMqIZA/
Huge shame because they were one of my favourite bands and the band that got me into symphonic metal
That's a shame! I'll update
Lyrre's debut has a name and date - Not All Who Dream Are Asleep, March 30.
Thanks, added!
Oryad are releasing their debut “Sacred & Profane” on the 25th of May
Thanks, added!
Sirenia - 1977 released 26th May (according to iTunes).
Thanks, updated!
New eleine album comes in July . Its called "we Stall remain".
Thanks, added!
New symphonic metal Band mystfall Release the first Album "celestial Vision" in july. The band Masqued release the new album " when demons call" in june.
Thanks, added!
Sinheresy are currently recording a new album. I know their sound had changed quite a lot from their first two albums but I guess they still count as symphonic?
I'll note it down!
WT also announced Bleed Out which is supposed to come out on the 18th of this month (August) if I remember right.
Thanks, added!
LEAH's album "The Glory and the Fallen" will be released in January 2024
Thanks, added!
Dates!
Oct 20:
"Bleed Out" by Within Temptation
"Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes pt 2" by Temperance
"XI" by Elegy of Madness
Oct 27:
"Nemesis A.D" by Serenity
Thanks, added!
Some new albums that is not on the list and I think they fit here
Arduinna’s Dawn - "Reflections" - October 7, 2023
Elegy of Madness - "XI" - October 20, 2023
Solarcycles - "LUNAR" - October 27, 2023
Beyond God - "The Great Divide" - December 8, 2023
Thanks, added!
Lycania - My kingdom come - October 21
Thanks, added!
Orphaned Land will be releasing "So a Heaven You May Create" on December 10th
This is a symphonic live album from a traditionally not symphonic band.
Thanks, added!
I'm honestly going to look these guys up as I've really only heard of nightwish... I always thought lacuna coil and Xandria where symphonic metal too... unless they are but just don't have albums coming out soon....
Wait i take that back just saw xandria lol
We usually put Lacuna Coil in "similar genres" because loads of symphonic metal fans love them but they aren't particularly symphonic! I can only find a vague "maybe in 2024" for their next album though
Ostura's new album will be called "The War", the album is finished according to their Facebook page, but no release date yet.
Thanks, added!
I found a mistake: Blackbriar will be on 29th september, not 9th