...check out Sonata Arctica. I saw ém play support to Stratovarius and Rhapsody and came away very impressed. They´re very young (average age 20) but great musicians and write really good melodic/symphonic metal songs. The guitarist plays in a Malmsteenesque way, has a very keen sense of melody and doesn´t overdo it the whole time. I bought their album "Ecliptica" on the strength of their live performance and I urge anyone into neoclassical/symphonic melodic metal to get a copy. I really like it. It´s also very encouraging to see young musicians forming a new wave of melodic metal and gives me hope that the genre will return to greater prominence.
Sonata Arctica. Ecliptica. Go buy.