I haven't figured out what I really think about symphonic death metal as a genre. Sometimes I find myself really liking it and sometimes I find it ponderous and a little boring.
I suppose what's true about most metal sub-genres is it all depends on how high you have the talent knob cranked on any individual band as to how it's going to turn out in the end.
New Hampshire's own Archaic Eclipse has a new symphonic DM song up for free download on their LastFM page that I think it's worth checking out. If you like this type of thing I think you'll really like this. If you don't, you won't... and for someone on the fence like me, it's seems a very good effort. Check it out for yourself.
Archaic Eclipse - Foresight Of The Wanderer (1)