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Power metal

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Power metal is a style of heavy metal music. There is some dispute about the term, which can refer to two different, but related styles: one pioneered and largely practiced in North America, and one based in Germany and Scandinavia. In contemporary usage, "power metal" generally refers to the European style.

American power metal

Some consider modern American bands like Iced Earth and Nevermore to be the descendants of this style, but others claim that the movement has ended, swallowed by better known styles such as thrash and European power metal. Others consider the genre in America on the rise again, with fledging American power metal bands in places such as New York, home to Zandelle, Gothic Knights, Phoenix Reign, Twilight Odyssey and pioneers from the region, Virgin Steele. Also, a band from Florida called Kamelot has emerged as quite a popular band releasing a style associated with European bands, and featured the lead vocalist of Norwegian Black Metal band Dimmu Borgir on their latest album. Following Kamelot the Nebraska-based power metal band Cellador was signed August of 2005 to Metal Blade Records, signalling a return of the style by a homegrown band to a noted record label in America, although their sound is more similar to European power metal.

European power metal

Power Metal began in the mid 70's when Deep Purple Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore teamed up with Elf Vocalist Ronnie James Dio and formed *Rainbow. Rainbow were the first true power metal band. Rainbow's second album Rising is probably the first power metal album. Rainbow's operatic vocals and neo classical guitars were copied by almost every power metal band.

In the mid-1980s, European bands such as Helloween (Germany) and Europe (Sweden) put even more attention to the melodic development of the songs. Helloween mixed fast speed metal riffs with melodic ones and added Iron Maiden-like powerful vocals, further cleaning the sound. Their albums Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 1 (1987) and Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 2 (1988) are generally regarded as a milestone of this genre. Subsequently, European-style "happy metal" has spread across the continent (particularly to Finland) and worldwide, though it is comparatively unpopular in the United States.

Recently, however, many power metal bands have abandoned the "happy-metal" sound of their predecessors, and have adopted a more epic sound combined with the power metal core. Bands such as Blind Guardian have combined their classic power metal sound with an orchestral background as Rhapsody or Angra have done.

Musical characteristics

Power metal, as the term is used today, places primary importance on an epic sound, usually at high speeds, primarily due to its speed metal roots, and with catchy melodies. Whereas most rock lyrics focus largely on "the real world" - personal experience, historical incidents, social commentary, etc. - power metal often treats epic, cosmological or metaphysical themes. Many power metal songs draw inspiration from religion, science fiction, mythology, and fantasy, and they tend to be more optimistic than most metal lyrics.

Power metal vocals are generally "clean", as opposed to the growling vocals that characterise death metal, and are delivered by a trained vocalist. Following in the tradition of Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, power metal vocalists tend to sing in a high register and often in falsetto. Some singers, such as Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, and Andy Gibb and Barry Gibb, of the Bee Gees, record multi-layered vocals reminiscent of Queen. Because of the primary importance of vocals in power metal, vocalists generally do not double as guitarists as in other styles of metal, which is probably why Hansi Kürsch stepped down as bassist for Blind Guardian after their album "The Forgotten Tales". This is also the case, why Kai Hansen recruited Michael Kiske for Helloween after Kai sang himself on the first two Helloween albums. When Kai formed Gamma Ray with Ralf Scheepers his singing took a back seat as Ralf fronted the band. Although, after Ralf quit the band, Kai returned to singing and currently is both the vocalist and the lead guitarist of the band.

Power metal guitarists and bassists generally play rapid streams of notes, but change chords comparatively slowly, with a harmonic tempo of once per measure or slower. Fast and demanding guitar solos, however, are almost guaranteed.

Power metal drummers generally play with two bass drums for added speed, often playing a constant stream of sixteenth notes with snare drum accents on the beat. Some bands defy this formula, but it is surprisingly universal.

Many bands also play with a keyboardist, but keyboards are not generally a musical focus. A few, such as the Italian band Rhapsody, have also been known to record with more symphonic elements. Rhapsody actually calls their style of music "Hollywood Metal," emphasizing its resemblance to modern film scores.

This style is most popular in Europe, Japan, and some countries of South America (including Brazil, Argentina and Chile), and has a growing popularity in certain parts of North America.

Examples of power metal bands

  • Metal Rules - Webzine with interviews, news, reviews, etc.
  • The Gauntlet - An archive of metal bands with reviews, interviews, news and more
  • Metally Band List - Complete album discography of many power metal bands
  • Transcending the Mundane - Scroll to the end to read "How The Pumpkin Stole Power Metal!", an essay attempting to reclaim the term "power metal" for pre-Helloween bands.
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