Don't think this fits here but under mod advice reposting here. Its a little long, not sure if its a request or a recommendation anymore... Anyway,
(Btw - this started out as a request. Its basically evolved into a songlist. Only thing these bands have in common is Norther's melodic style so check it out if a bunch of genres with a similar melody is something you are into.)
TLDR: Just cannot seem to find anything that has both Norther's melodic style, its vocal style and its rocking instruments. I have sifted through a good few dozen bands and only a few are a good fit (rest are just examples). Any help is appreciated, otherwise enjoy this multigenre song list.
Skip halfway down if you just want to see the list.
Norther is one of the only Death Metal bands I like, but its one of my favorite Metal bands period. Death Metal can have too much growling, I like harsh vocals but when it sounds like its a grizzly bear roar its too much for me. Nother hits the sweet spot between harsh vocals and clean vocals imo. I also love fast tempo, energetic music and Power Metal is one of my favorite music genres, but it tends to be a little.. light aesthetically. Norther takes everything I like about Power Metal while mixing it with Heavy Metal to really get your blood pumping. Theres even just the right amount of Electronica mixed in and the melody shifts often enough that you never get tired of listening to them!
Just I can't seem to find anyone else quite like Norther. Looking in Death Metal hasn't turned up much, I've had some success with Heavy Metal but it tends to be slow and as previously mentioned Power Metal is a little light. Melodeath seems close at first listen but it just doesn't seem to do it for me. Ensiferum is the closest I have found to this style.
Edit: Googling request gives more Melodeath (which I am not looking for).
Edit: Added examples:
Skip this paragraph if you just want to listen to the examples. What I have noticed is that many of these bands are either Swedish, Finnish or German. Viking Metal and Black Metal are common genres as well. But some of the best examples are just Heavy Metal. I'm listing these songs because they all have that quality I am looking for. Some are better examples than others. Generally the further down the list it is the worst of an example it is, but I also didn't go through making sure its in perfect order either. At the end of the list its mostly just the melodic style I am citing as reference. And yeah, I get that something like Minstrelix couldn't be further from Norther. But take that melody in a vacuum and compare it to Norther's (with some heavy drums thrown in). Thirst For and Victorious One for side by side comparison. If you can't hear the similarities between the melodies then I don't know what to do.
Now I imagine the first question is going to be "but why not a band like Imperanon?" because its just lacking to me. Yeah I can logically tell that all the core elements are there and its not like I don't like it. It just doesn't do for me what Norther does.
Windir - Norwegian Black Metal. Journey to the End, pretty close if a little lacking in melody.
Thirfing - Swedish Viking Metal Sweoland Conquer, pretty spot on, little slow until minute 2.
Blood Stain Child - Japanese Heavy Metal. Vocals pretty spot on. Fast paced too (maybe too fast?). Very close fit. Pretty much everything besides their Electronica stuff. Requiem is a good representation.
VintergratA - Black/Folk Metal. Pretty spot on. Смородина
In Flames - Swedish Heavy Metal. Really close fit, if a little light. I, The Mask
Ajattarra - Finnish Dark Metal. Ave Satana Pretty spot on lyrically, lacking instrumental wise.
Shylmagoghnar - Dutch Prog/Melodeath. Something about the melody is spot on. Rest is a half fit. This Shadow of the Heart is a good representation.
Grailknights - German Melodeath-Power-Viking Metal. These guys play with genres a bit so some of its pretty spot on. Engraved on a Tree Trunk (Could only find live), Now or Nevermore or Fight Until You Die are good representations.
Van Canto - German Cappella/ Viking Metal. Half fit at best. Way too clean for instance. But something about it is still there. Battleday's Dawn into Firevows is a good representation.
Moonspell - Portuguese Heavy Metal. Another multi genre band. Half fit at best. Ancient Winter Goddess is a good representation.
Heavy Generation - Italian Heavy Metal. Path of Denial, its a little clean, a little slow.
Turisas - Finnish Viking Metal. Bit too light. Vocals are way too clean Stand Up and Fight.
Vreid - Noregian Black Metal. Lifehunger, its a little harsh.
Some of these are just examples that dip into what I'm looking for, Grailknights is a key example.
Child of Bodom, Hobodoctor is right that they have the instrumental portion down pretty spot on. Just the lyrical style that I find fault with.
Seven Thorns - Danish Power Metal. Way too clean. Etheral
Derdian - Italian Symphonic Power Metal, Way too clean. I Don't Want to Die, Forever in the Dark
Mynstrelix - Japanese Neoclassical/ Power Metal. Clean af but that melody and those instrumentals are spot on (if a little light). Thirst For (Just needs the percussion.)
Children of Bodom - Half fits, instrumental wise its spot on. Its the lyrics I have an issue with.
Wintersun. Certainly has all the core elements. Some songs are hit and miss. Starts off strong with Winter Madness and falls off. Mostly its just that its a little monotonous across the whole album
Soilwork Figure Number Five Sounds too much like Rock N Roll.
Psycroptic — As The Kingdom Drowns. On the surface this doesn't really fit at all. No idea why it half fits on my mind.
At the Gates - Swedish Melodeath. Pretty close fit, could use more melodic variance. The Night Eternal
Edit: Added formatting