What were the last three bands that made you go "Holy ****...."?

Despised Icon

Bruce Dickonson (His new project kicks@$$)

Halford

Swallow the Sun comes to mind. First song I listened to by these guys was "The Giant". I was recommended that song and I absolutely loved it from then. It's an 11 minute song that I feel somewhat compelled to listen to every morning and night. I've gotten used to these guys, a 20 song listen on a daily basis for the past month or so I believe.

Eluveitie had brought up a similar effect I recall. It was last summer that I stumbled upon these guys and haven't ceased listening to them from then as well. They move the spirit of metal in me when no other band could. I would place them somewhere along the lines of "the most f*cking amazing thing I've heard and experienced" or something close to that.

This spot should be held for Opeth. But to be honest, I don't think I'm the least bit capable of coming up with an elaborate account as to how I felt at the first listen. The song was "A Fair Judgment", it seemed beautiful. I had to take a plane for 4 hours to catch their nearest show just a couple of months ago. I'm not obsessed really, I'm just stupefied.

First of all, I have to say, Kalmah is amazing!!! One of my favorite Melodic death metal bands! =D I also love Wintersun!

For me it would be the band Dark Fortress. When you where doing that band vs. band thing a few weeks ago I saw them and I had actually never heard them. I checked them out and thought exactly what's in this question cause they are awesome! I am beginning to love them now! (I say beggining to love them cause i've only known about them for a few weeks, if that.)

6th Awakening-

This better be good cause your making me pause the new Abigail Williams album I just got! =P Just kidding haha.... Ok, so first of all I loved the intro, it was just kind of cool! I was not expecting that womans voices at all but I like it! She has a great harsh vocal/ singing mix! And, I just love this riff that they keep doing during the chorus and did during the intro. I am really liking this band a lot! Thanks, I'm going to check more out from them! =D Well worth pausing Abigail Williams =P

EDIT

Oh damn, I just noticed that you said THREE bands haha, well here's two more!

I would also say The Ghost Inside. My friend showed me their album the other day and I was surprised that I had never even heard of them cause they're a hardcore band and I know a lot about the "cores". They're really good though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VK4Ic83hLU

Another band that this recently happened to me with is Northland. I, being the folk metal lover that I am, loved this band from the first time I started listening to them and I couldn't believe I had never listened to them before. Now they're not my favorite folk metal band or anything but I definitely love them and listen to them on a regular basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YULG8XxoDQY

For me i'd have to say

Gojira: I knew of the band for ages, but never looked into them..probably cause they are compared to Meshuggah alot..and i don't like meshuggah...but Gojira are great and really like them.

Eluveitie: I thought they would be like any other folk metal band, but they have some elements that seperate them from the other bands.

as far as 3rd choice...i just can't think of any right now that really surprised me

btw: I remember posting a Dark Fortress link on a question of yours a while back. I think the song "When 1000 Crypts Awake". Not sure if you were a fan before that, but either way, I think they are one of the better black metal bands out there. Melodic, yet with an eerie "evil" sound as well.

and yeah, their CD's are hard to find. I did manage to find Seance & Stab Wounds but probably overpaid slightly...but worth it :)

Ufomammut - just discovered these guys and they are amazing, incredible heavy psychedelic stoner doom, some titanic riffs and a great atmosphere.

Opeth - I had heard them before and didn't pay attention to them, now I heard them again and realize that I have been missing out on an incredible band...great death metal and experimentation

Burzum - Black metal band, starting searching for good black metal and found him, fell in love instantly, great atmosphere and captures everything that makes black metal enjoyable.

edit: I am at work now, can't really listen to your link unfortunately...

...Luke, Weedeater is sick, they are really heavy and dish out some good old-fashioned southern sludge!

As for where I hail from, the almighty state of Ohio! (although I am going to eventually get out of here to someplace warmer, maybe NC)

1) Scar Symmetry: ******* AMAZING band. They sing, scream, have mellow *** guitars and they're from Sweden. They are simply amazing. I've been listening to these guys for a good eight months now but it's one of the most recent that mad me wowzers.

2) Ensiferum: Though a fairly old band that many people have loved for a long time and people have told me countless times to listen to them. And I just recently fell in love with this band. What's there not to love about them?

3) Immolation: Another band that I procrastinated listening to for a long time. And when I finally did about 7 months ago, I fell in love. Such an amazing band.

Finntroll, Korpiklaani and Ensiferum.

I never really looked at Folk metal before until like 3 weeks ago and all three of these bands amazed me, especially the first two. I really love them now. Definitely have they made my top 10 bands list.

I meant to look at Wintersun but I fogot their bloody name! I saw it on R&P originally and thought I'd randomly have a look. I must still do that.

Well, earlier today I found this band looking up covers of songs and the guy doing the cover had a band called Closed For Tonight, they aren't signed though.

Job For A Cowboy, but that was way back when i was in 6th grade.

The Used, and that was even further back when I was in 5th grade.

Unfortunately, youtube kept juddering on me, so I had to stop listening. But I enjoyed what I heard. I love females who can scream, and she had a good singing voice too.

3 Bands That Made Ellie Go "Holy Sh*t":

And for your aural pleasure I shall include links, in case you haven't heard them before.

BLOODBATH:

I read about them in Zero Tolerance, and was interested because they have Mikael Akerfeldt in. But believe me, they are nothing like Opeth. They are a full-on metal assualt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBfoMgllphs

LONGING FOR DAWN:

This is a death/doom band, who are quite excellent. Sorry the video quality isn't very good, they don't have any videos except live ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NFVc9ciNnk&feature...

AYAT:

This is one of the rawest black metal bands I have ever encountered. They come from Lebanon, and are incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YpDZVxL1_g

Enjoy!

1. Septic Flesh

Very good Atmospheric Death Metal. Imagine aggression, melody, and melancholy all combined into one, and you'll get this band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMbPvC2jx9s

2. Pagan's Mind.

The BEST Progressive Metal band I've ever heard. Their 'space-like' atmosphere makes the music sound very original, and the lead singer's voice is perfect for the music. In summary, they're like Dream Theater in space.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM3VpOWHO7E

3. Orphanage.

Gothic and Death Metal combined. Pure awesomeness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft6ndS5fkAQ

BQ: Decent Melodeath, the clean female vocals provide a nice touch.

My most recent gasp wasn't a good one. It's when I was quoted the price of a new alto saxophone. I could have bought my first car 7 times for that.