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November 18, 2007
[edit] American/classic power metal
American power metal emerged in 1980s America as an offshoot of heavy metal and speed metal. It is usually fast, straightforward and somewhat heavy and aggressive, but with a distinct epic 'fighting' feel. Keyboards never take a major role in this style, with the focus on vocals and riffs. The music is very similar to its influences but coined the term 'power metal' and was vital in inspiring the later melodic power metal movement. Europe has its own bands playing in a very similar style such as Grave Digger.
Main Influences: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Accept, Savatage
Examples: Manowar, Jag Panzer, Crimson Glory, Metal Church
[edit] European/melodic power metal
This style emerged in 1980s Europe with Germany's Helloween and Finland's Stratovarius with a strong focus on melody and uplifting, positive themes. Helloween mixed fast palm muted speed metal riffs with high pitched clean vocals and guitar inspired by bands like Iron Maiden. Stratovarius further developed this melodic direction by making heavy use of keyboards and neo-classical guitar solos. This genre branched and spread over Europe and into most of power metal's subgenres, incorporating further influences from classical and folk music and reinforcing the high fantasy imagery as well as sometimes developing a more emotional, romantic edge. The style has become one of the largest metal subgenres (outside the alternative metal movement) and its popularity is far from waning. It should be noted that America also has its share of European style power metal bands, an example of which includes Kamelot.
Main Influences: Rush, Scorpions, Rainbow, Europe
Examples: Blind Guardian, HammerFall, Sonata Arctica, Gamma Ray, DragonForce
[edit] Extreme power metal
The harsh vocals and aggressive feel of melodic death metal mixed with with the neo-classical guitar and keyboard melodies of power metal. It is often debated whether these bands can truely be called power metal as many see melodic singing as what most sets power metal apart from extreme metal. This genre is heavily based in Finland.
Examples: Children of Bodom, Norther, Wintersun
[edit] Folk-power metal
There are some folk metal and viking metal bands that take more influence from power metal then the darker atmosphere of black metal and some bands go as far as to replace extreme metal screaming with melodic singing. Lyrics may cross into both power metal and folk metal, sometimes featuring themes of both nature and fantasy. The genre may cross into extreme power metal.
Influences: Skyclad
Examples: Elvenking, Falconer, Ensiferum, Turisas
[edit] Prog-power metal
Music that combines the long instrumental passages and unusual time signatures of progressive metal like Dream Theater with the uplifting vocals and neo-classical guitar and keyboards of power metal. Lyrics often are more introspective than the optimistic fantasy based lyrics of typical power metal.
Influences: Savatage, Dream Theater, Watchtower
Examples: Symphony X, Evergrey, Angra, Kamelot,
[edit] Symphonic power metal
Power metal bands that make extensive usage of instruments normally found in classical music or keyboards imitating them similar to symphonic metal. These additional elements are often used as key elements of the music when compared to normal power metal, contributing not only an extra layer to the music, but a greater variety of sound. Keyboard heavy bands such as Sonata Arctica who use their keyboards simply as synthesizers without an orchestral sound are not truly part of this genre.
Influences: Stratovarius
Examples: Rhapsody of Fire, Fairyland, Nightwish
[edit] Thrash-power metal
Power metal with musical influences from thrash metal. The high clean vocals and melodies of power metal are always retained (setting the genre apart from extreme power metal), but often with aggressive riffing, some shouted vocals and lyrical themes inherited from Thrash Metal
Influences: Metallica
Examples: Iced Earth, Nevermore, Demons & Wizards
[edit] Epic metal
Heavy metal with fantasy/warrior themes or an overall epic feel to the instruments. The term is usally accociated with bands whose with musical connections to power metal. However, it is also applied to other heavy metal genres, most commenly early doom metal like Candlemass and Cirith Ungol, gothic metal like Tiamat and Therion, and viking metal like Finntroll.
Influences: Rainbow
Examples: Manilla Road, Virgin Steele, Cirith Ungol, Bal-Sagoth
November 12, 2007