Excuse the bump but I have to voice my opinion on several bands, first being Leaves' Eyes. I finally tried them, I have both albums, but Vinland Saga is the only one I've heard so far. What can I say? If I was in a headbanging mode I wouldn't listen to this, but it's some damn beautiful and atmospheric music in which the instruments are excellently used to build up a very convincing landscape of ice and snow. And the concept album is about vikings! Well I don't really know how to add to that, other than it's beautiful music which occasionally makes me want to cry. It's just too bad that all the stupid people in society would say that they sound like Evanescence (just because they also have a female front figure, of course).

Other recommendations:

Led Zeppelin - Not metal, but 70s hard-rock. If there's anyone here who actually doesn't know who these guys are... well, what the fuck are you waiting for? Go get some pieces of history. Amazing drummer too.

Charon - This finnish goth metallic act recently released their new album Songs For Sinners. It's good.

...And Oceans - The ultimate bastard child between black & industrial metal. They sound a bit like Anorexia Nervosa except with more keyboards and techno elements. VERY recommended.

Asian Kung-Fu Generation - Not metal or hard rock actually but some of their songs are in the hard rock area (though normally punk rock). All of you should know these guys already (did 2nd opening for Naruto & 4th for Fullmetal Alchemist). Actually I only write them down here because I'm listening to them right now and I really like it.

I've also listened some more to Crashdiet. These young swedes are gonna hit it big eventually.