The Power Metal Thread!

[Ediruc]

I didn't find this thread on here anywhere, so I thought I'd post it up! My favorite power metal band is Blind Guardian -- German quality! (Lots of ! today ). Edguy is also a fave (also good German quality ). If you haven't heard of these bands (which would shock me) I think you should check them out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_VFJn2kJM

(hmm...it wouldn't let me embed it)

[BlueEyedBeast]

My favorite power metal bands are as follows;

Manowar, Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, Demons & Wizards, Rhapsody [of Fire], Stormwarrior, etc.

[xamarth]

I'm not too knowledgeable about this genre of metal but I know enough that liking Dragonforce will get me criticized. So be it, I really like them despite the accusations which may or may not be true.

Sabaton is pretty damn awesome just as a metal band, let alone Power metal.

[Wulfric]

My favorite power metal band is probably Gamma Ray from Germany. I like some of the bands listed already, Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Manowar and so on. Hammerfall is one of my favorites too.

[BlueEyedBeast]

Since nobody here seems to know who StormWarrior is, I will take the liberty of posting some of their songs here now.

Behold Pagan Power Metal!

StormWarrior - Signe of the Warlorde

StormWarrior - Iron Prayers

StormWarrior - Heading Northe

StormWarrior - Deathe by the Blade

StormWarrior - Heroic Deathe

StormWarrior - Valhalla

StormWarrior - Óðinn's Warriors

StormWarrior - The Revenge of Asa Lande

StormWarrior - Remember the Oathe

StormWarrior - Lindisfarne

[Belus]

I love Blind Guardian, Gamma ray, early Helloween, Stratovarius, Kamelot, Sonata Arctica.

A band that should be of special interest to people here, though, is Kiuas. Kiuas play power metal blended with melodic death (think Children of Bodom with cleanish vocals), with folk and symphonic elements. But the lyrical contents are largely blackened, singing about Christian invaders bringing lies to the northlands and how they will eventually be driven out by a return of the old gods and a "new dark age."

Take, as a shining example, "And the North Star Cried," from The Spirit of Ukko:

Long ago when the gods were still young and guarded the heavens
With might the four furious winds swept across the snows
Proud, fearless and free the children of Ukko walked the Earth
And at dusk they sang anthems to the welkin and their beloved North Star

...And still she smiled upon the Earth

Through these lands of ice the North Star once led our way
Now blood covers the frozen ground
Scarred by an eerie sound as the North Star cries in pain

On the darkest of winters evil arrived from across the sea
Disguised as a wooden cross - as the coming of salvation
Death and destruction they brought and clashes of steel filled the nights
And the North Star watched as the blood of her children flowed

...And her tears fell upon the Earth

Our fathers' blood was spilled on the ice
And the North Star cried in the night
Our beloved gods were violently droven to exile
Gone are the days of the North Star's reign
Now her tears are all that remain
But one day they'll wash the blood away
and the spirit that once died
Shall rise again!

And The North Star Cried

[BlueEyedBeast]

Well I've been listening to the new Rhapsody of Fire album, titled 'The Frozen Tears of Angels'. Here are some particularly epic tracks from that one.

Rhapsody of Fire - Reign of Terror

Rhapsody of Fire - On the Way to Ainor

[ChaosLord]

I'm not a big fan of the power metal genre, but some bands that I like are Tad Morose, Iced Earth, and Brainstorm.

I'm more into black, death, and folk metal.

[LadyFirehawk]

If it sounds like someone took a D&D campaign and set it to music, I'm all over it. (Also, it's great for when I'm writing and need inspiration.) Overall my tastes definitely run into the symphonic end of things; black and death metal tend to screw with my ears a bit due to an unfortunate combination of super sensitive hearing and auditory processing issues. Lots of screaming and BLARGH! is not good for my brain unless it's used sparingly for effect. (I can take Dragonforce in small quantities, which for them is maybe half of a song. )

My favorites, with varying degrees of symphonic... Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian, a bit of Hammerfall here and there although I do get tired of them after a while, Sonata Arctica, and Sabaton. On the very symphonic end, and probably out of this category altogether, are Therion and Tyr.

Hmmm, come to think of it I would have to say folk metal is definitely growing on me...