Melodic Metal Recommendations

Hey all!  Lately I've been in the mood for some fine, very melodic metal - probably on the power-metal side of things but not necessarily.  I'm thinking Silence-era Sonata Arctica or Within Silence and with more mid-range vocals that ultra high-pitch.  I'm familiar with Darkwater but that's one band that comes close.  Can anyone recommend me something along those lines?  Thanks!

First band that came to mind...

Thanks Metaldude!  That is right up the ally of music I'm looking for.  However, some of the lyrics gave me pause.  They seem very "find your inner strength"-type which is somewhat in opposition to the message of the Gospel...  I read in an interview that they consider themselves Christians but were quite adamant about not pushing a Christian message in their lyrics but rather keeping them more accessible for everyone.  I'll have to look into them more...

Stratovarius is not a christian band, but it's my favorite european power metal band. Without Stratovarius, there would not be Sonata Arctica. But also their vocals might be a bit too high for you.

But here are some christian bands, which you have probably already heard of:
- Narnia
- Rob Rock
- impellitteri (I would say it's christian when rob rock is on vocals)
- Gloriam Dei
- Reinxeed (not  a christian band, but I believe the guy behind the band is a christian..)
- Golden Resurrection
- Audiovision
- Wisdom Call
- Seventh Avenue (I can really only recommend Terium)
- Hallowed (there's one EP around)
- Mehida (try the song Guilty. Mikko used to play keys in Sonata)
- we all know Theocracy here..

Also:
- Sacrecy
- Oratorio
- Majestic Vanguard
- Divinefire
- German Pascual
- Sinbreed (I can recommend the first album only)
- Eterna (Epiphany is a solid album)
- Random Eyes

Maybe most of these are vocally too high for your taste, but it's a good list to start with.

Pretty much anything on Ulterium Records.

Also there was this band in the 80's...they wore yellow and black...and fired their bass player...

I'd probably recommend Harmony, the rest listed here are outstanding.

You get a second recommendation for Seventh Avenue

Tales Of Tales and Terium are beasts of albums

7 Days

Venia, Female vocals