Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performance consisting of elements borrowed from both classical and heavy metal music . Yngwie Malmsteen, the most notable musician in the sub-genre, contributed greatly to the development of the style in the 1980s. A common practice in the genre is to transcribe classical pieces and play them in a rock/metal band format. The Baroque and Classical periods have been particularly influential to the genre due to their unique sound and techniques that blend into a rock setting effectively. Some of the techniques used include counterpoint and pedal point.

The golden age of neo-classical metal was the late 80s with the many solo guitarists signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records. Musicians like Yngwie Malmsteen, Chris Impellitteri, Tony Macalpine, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, Greg Howe, Joey Tafolla, David Chastain, Jason Becker, and Marty Friedman, were all part of the scene. Most of these musicians followed the format left by Yngwie J Malmsteen in the early to mid 80s.

Recently, the genre has mostly been enjoyed by guitarists in more of an underground setting as the style is not well known outside of the realm of guitarists. Today, there are many more bands that contribute as a whole as opposed to solo musicians in the past. Some of today's notable neo-classical metal performers are Michael Angelo Batio, Joe Stump, David Valdes, Symphony X, Stratovarius, Adagio, Apocalyptica , and Warmen.

Even more recently there has been a sudden burst of slight neo-classical influence within mainstream metal acts such as Children of Bodom, Between the Buried and Me, The Human Abstract, and Protest the Hero.

Ad Astra- Neo-Classical/Power Metal
Angel Smile- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal
Aquilus- Neo-Classical Folk Metal
Ark Storm- Neo-Classical/Power Metal
At Vance- Neo-Classical/Power Metal
Black Jester- Neo-classical/progressive metal
Cacophony- Speed / Shred / Neo-Classical Metal
Carlos Lichman- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal/Shred
Catharsis- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Causemos- Neo-Classical Melodic Death Metal
Concerto Moon- Melodic/Neo-Classical Metal
Dagoth Ur- Experimental Death Metal (early) / Neo-classical Ambient (later)
Dark Sanctuary- Darkwave / Gothic Neo-classical
Dave Justo- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal, Shred
Delta- Neo-Classical/Progressive Metal
Dionysus- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Divine Symphony- Neo-Classical/Progressive Metal
Druadan Forest- Ambient/Neo-Classical Metal
Dynamic- Neo-classical melodic power metal
Elend- Dark Ambient / Neo-Classical
Erbio- Neo-Classical/Power Metal
Eternal Legacy- Symphonic/Neo-Classical Power Metal
Fabio Montorzi- Neo-classical
Felony- Melodic Heavy Metal with Neo-classical Influences
Fumihiko Kitsutaka- Heavy/Power/Neo-Classical Metal
Gaia Prelude- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal
Galneryus- Neo-Classical/Power Metal
German Schauss- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Giuseppe Silvestri- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal, Shred
Gladius Noctis- Progressive Neo-Classical Gothic Metal
God Silence- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Hemisphere- Neo-classical/Progressive Metal
Hess- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal
Infinite Tales- Neo-Classical/Gothic Metal
Ivan Bertolla- Symphonic, neo-classical, progressive metal
J. Hiltunen's Wings of Destiny- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Jonas Hansson- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal
Joshua Van Der Stam's Anaconda- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Kelly Simonz's Blind Faith- Neo-classical metal, guitar rock
Ken Snyder- Shred, Neo-classical
Kenta Igarashi- Neo-Classical Power Metal
KOSTA VRETO- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal, Shred
Kouichi Ogawa- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Le'rue Delashay- Neo-Classical
Lightning Sword- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal
Ludovico Reale- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
M.Z.- Neo-Classical Metal
Maestro- Heavy Metal, Neo-classical
Majestic- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Marco Ferrigno- Neo-Classical/Progressive Metal
Marcos De Ros- neo-classical/shred
Mark Protze- Neo-classical Metal- Shred
MASK- neo-classical/melodic power metal
Meduza- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Michael Romeo- Progressive/Neo-Classical Metal, Shred
Moonlight Fear- Neo-Classical Metal
Mr. Jumbo- Neo-classical metal/rock
Mysterian- Gothic/Ambient/Neo-Classical Metal
Mythic Force- progressive neo-classical metal
Narnia- Power, Neo-classical metal
Nauthisuruz- Atmospheric/Neo-Classical Black Metal
Nebel Torvum- ambient, neo-classical
Niels Vejlyt- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal
Norman K. Anderson- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Pablo G. Soler- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Pantheon- Neo-Classical Progressive Power Metal
Perturbador- Neo-classical
Platitude- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Project Alcazar- Neo-classical Progressive Metal
Rancorous- Neo-Classical/Death Metal
Roman- Symphonic Heavy/Neo-Classical Metal
Scene Of Decay- Neo-classical/Melodic Death Metal
Scott Motyka- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal/Rock, Shred
Seven Seraphim- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal
Shroud of Bereavement- Neo-classical Death/Doom Metal
Sibelius- Neo-Classical/Progressive Metal
Sinner's Tale- Melodic/Neo-Classical Power Metal
Skyline Symmetry- Neo-Classical/Progressive Metal
Space Odyssey- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal
Steel Seal- Neo-Classical Power Metal
Stéphan Forté- Progressive/Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Stormwind- Neo-classical power metal
Symphonia Melonia- Power/Speed Metal/Neo-Classical
Tenebreant- Atmospheric Neo-Classical Metal
The Mystery Hall- Neo-Classical Metal/Shred
Theodore Ziras- Neo-classical metal, shred
Thomas Bressel- Progressive/Neo-Classical Metal/Jazz Fusion
Time Requiem- Neo-Classical/Melodic Power Metal
Tomohiro Nishimura- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal, Shred
Twilight Opus- Neo-Classical Progressive Heavy Metal
Valkyr (UK)- Neo-Classical Heavy Metal
Virtuocity- Neo-Classical Metal
Vitalij Kuprij- progressive neo-classical metal
Warmen- Melodic Power/Neo-Classical Metal
Windham Hell- Ambient neo-classical avant-garde metal
Yves Custeau- Neo-Classical Progressive Metal