Power metal

For this week’s entry, we will discuss the most uplifting and somewhat cheesy subgenre of heavy metal known as power metal. Power metal essentially combines characteristics of traditional heavy metal and speed metal while occasionally adding symphonic elements into the mix in order to create a unique style of metal that sounds very “epic.”

There are various recurring musical qualities of power metal. Power metal is characterized by having very slow guitar and bass chord changes, in contrast with subgenres such as thrash metal that feature very rapid changes. Guitar players of the subgenre are also usually very technical and skilled musicians, and are known for demonstrating their musical prowess through complex lightning fast guitar solos. Bass guitarists often aren’t featured very much in power metal, in order to allow for a heavy emphasis on the guitar-playing. The vocals of power metal are also very highly emphasized throughout the music. The vocals are usually soaring and operatic, with many of vocalists able to hit notes in a high register. Drummers usually use double bass pedals or two bass drums. Power metal bands also frequently feature keyboardists, which isn’t typically common in most of the other heavy metal subgenres.

There are two different “scenes” of power metal. The first is American power metal. American power metal began to take shape in the early 1980s, drawing influences from speed metal and the NWOBHM. American power metal is very riff-driven, and doesn’t feature keyboards often. Some examples of American power metal bands include Kamelot, Manowar, and Jag Panzer. American power metal never really took off or gained much popularity.

However, European power metal, the second of the two power metal scenes, did experience quite a bit of popularity. European power metal took more direct influence from the NWOBHM and less from speed metal. European bands used keyboardists heavily and focused on melody and positive lyrical themes through their music. Some popular European power metal bands include Blind Guardian, Firewind, Helloween, Stratovarius, HammerFall, Dragonforce, and Sonata Arctica.

Today power metal has a strong following of devoted fans and many power metal bands experience much success, particularly in Europe.