MelodiousFunk

They've already got wings, arms would just get in the way.

Wow, that is a deep cut. I remember playing it (I think I still have the cart) but I barely remember anything beyond enjoying it for a bit.

I am also not a fan of super growly vocals. There's a lot of stuff I love musically but the vocals put me right off. I'd listen to bands like Opeth and Beyond the Buried and Me more often if the growls weren't present.

If you're looking for metal with cleaner singing, I second the suggestions for Unleash the Archers and Nightwish. I can also recommend Blind Guardian, though the singer's voice is polarizing. One of my favorite metal singers is John Bush from Armored Saint. He also did a few albums with Anthrax in the 90s.

For instrumentals, I can't recommend much aside from guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai. Occasionally bands will release instrumental versions of their songs as B-sides, bonus discs, etc. Might be worth checking into.

Now I want some blue-flavored sugar water.

I've never been all that big on A7, but Nightwish leaned hard into theatrical/movie score territory for a few albums. Some notables:

Dark Chest of Wonders
The Poet and the Pendulum
Elan
Ghost Love Score
One more: Last Ride of the Day

what happens when they don’t deliver?

It will be the fault of The Other. The Other is evil. The Other is ruthless. The Other is mixing drag queen and trans DNA in your child's classroom using your fine silver and selling it to power the space lasers. Lies are the gift that keeps on giving.

Not a whole lot, but it's better than just my subbed feed. (Mostly niche interests far from any sort of critical mass.)

It had a grip?

I'd be surprised to learn that Jill Stein ever rubbed anything in her life.

more

Promise?