Ok Im just curious to see what people have to say. On this because there is an ever increasing number of them and quite a few very average ones out there but which are your favorites (Why?), and what are some bands you might recommend.

Not this is a list that could get pretty long if I let it so we will try to keep it brief.

Please don't just come into this thread and just say something like "Nightwish!!!!!!!!!!!!". Give us a reason for why you have made this choice.
No point in a poll for this because there will be so many different choices.

Ok here are some favorites of mine
Epica (These guys are really an awesome band. Where or not they are female fronted they are a band you could thouroughly enjoy without the singing, but Simone Simons is an outstand singer that seems to be getting better with age.)

The Gathering (I strongly prefer these guys where they were fronted by Anneke van Giersbergen, but whatever, these guys have made some outstanding albums that hold up against the best of all time, plus Anneke is a great singer.)

Edenbridge (Its hard to believe but this was the first female fronted band I ever heard, and much to my suprise I found them quite enjoyable Sabine has a rather different voice, but she really improved on the later Edenbridge albums as she got more experience. But the main reason I really like these guys is for Lanvall's guiter work, it is truely outstanding, he is a rather underrated guitarest.)

Leaves Eyes (Liv Kristien has an unbelieveable voice, plus the band makes really good music to go with it. The lyrics are often pretty bizarre but nevertheless a band well worth a mention.)