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SanPeron
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2023 6:56 pm
Posts: 1027
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:43 pm 
 

Since we already had the death metal, doom metal, and metal in general threads and we have been talking about the new Sonata Arctica and Dragonforce albums for a few days now, I thought it would be a cool idea to do the same that we did in those threads but with power metal.

My top ten would be:

1) Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
2) Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
3) Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I & II
4) Running Wild - Death or Glory
5) Grave Digger - The Reaper
6) Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
7) Angra - Temple of Shadows
8) Stratovarius - Dreamspace
9) Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
10) Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave

Honorable mentions:

Edguy - Mandrake
Avantasia - The Metal Opera
Rata Blanca - Magos, espadas y rosas
Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Kamelot - Karma
Unleash the Archers - Apex
Manowar - Into Glory Ride
Theocracy - Mosaic
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold

The metal genre that has the most worldwide appeal of all, popular in most of the world, every country has a few power metal bands. I think I covered most of the classic stuff, but it would be cool to listen to any hidden gems that you can share with all of us.
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Last edited by SanPeron on Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Ivan Drago
Metal newbie

Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 6:10 pm
Posts: 292
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:10 pm 
 

Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
Dragonforce - Valley of the Damned
Hammerfall - Legacy of Kings
Manowar - Battle Hymns
Stratovarius - Destiny
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Gloryhammer - Space 1992
Sabaton - Carolus Rex
Symphony X - The Odyssey

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Iron Farmer
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:58 am
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:47 pm 
 

1. Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
2. Manowar - Triumph of Steel
3. Validor - Hail to Fire
4. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
5. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2
6. Grave Digger - Knights of the Cross
7. Running Wild - Death or Glory
8. Manowar - Sign of the Hammer
9. Gamma Ray - No World Order
10. Blind Guardian - Tales From A Twilight World

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LycanthropeMoon
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:53 pm
Posts: 2296
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:54 pm 
 

Oh boy. This is gonna be a bit difficult. Gonna stick to one album per band.

Kamelot - The Black Halo
Nightwish - Oceanborn
Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World
Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys pt. I/II
Stratovarius - Visions
Edguy - Mandrake
Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands
Avantasia - Ghostlights

Honorable mentions:
Battle Beast - s/t
Unleash the Archers - Apex
Riot - Thundersteel
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Conception - Parallel Minds
Angra - Angels Cry

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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:58 pm
Posts: 35187
Location: Where the dead rule the night
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:58 pm 
 

Huh well this should be something...

Sonata Arctica - Winterhearts Guild
Edguy - Hellfire Club
Tad Morose - Undead
Morgana Lefay - Grand Materia
Power Quest - Neverworld
Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side
Excalion - Waterlines
Helloween - Keeper III The Legacy
Kamelot - The Black Halo
Dark at Dawn - Of Decay and Desire

Not really a set in stone list but these are a bunch I come back to. You could add in one of the classic Dark Moors or something maybe. I'd probably trade either of Black Majesty's first two for any of these depending on mood. Dragonforce's second album too but I'm sick of them right now. I included both some light Euro stuff as well as heavier, meatier stuff - I always contend that the heavier acts I mention here are not just some offshoot of trad metal; there is a distinct difference in vibe, atmosphere etc and a focus on the choruses that I think ya need.
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Last edited by Empyreal on Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ace_Rimmer
Metal freak

Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:30 am
Posts: 4610
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:15 pm 
 

Not the most over the top power metal fan but here goes...

Kamelot - The Black Halo
Kamelot - Karma
Conception - Flow (more power/prog, or just proggy with some power... screw it, its my list)
Conception - In Your Multitude
Helloween - 7 Sinners
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle Earth (Interludes and all!)
Gamma Ray - No World Order
Sabaton - Heroes
Hammerfall - Legacy of Kings



USPM that would maybe make the list if I was adding that in...

Manowar - Hail to England
Virgin Steele - Invictus
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Visigoth - The Revenent King
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron


Last edited by Ace_Rimmer on Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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TheArchivist
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Tue May 23, 2017 9:35 pm
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:23 pm 
 

Liege Lord - Master Control
Virgin Steele - House Of Atreus Act I
Fates Warning -Awaken The Guardian
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
Manowar - Into Glory Ride
Riot - Thundersteel
Vicious Rumors - Soldiers Of The Night
Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
Hexx - No Escape
Hexx - Under The Spell

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King_of_Arnor
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2020 12:35 pm
Posts: 779
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:34 pm 
 

I went with one album per band so it's not filled with Blind Guardian and Running Wild. Also didn't include USPM (sorry Slough Feg).

Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth
Falconer - Falconer
Running Wild - Death or Glory
Wintersun - Wintersun
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
Unleash the Archers - Apex
Lost Horizon - Awakening the World
Keldian - Outbound
Orden Ogan - Gunmen
Dragonland - Under the Grey Banner
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Waltz_of_Ghouls
Metalhead

Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:24 am
Posts: 858
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:58 pm 
 

Some might fall a bit more into the speed or heavy side of the genre, but here it go in no particular order. I've also limited myself to one album per band

Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Blind Guardian - Imagination From the Other Side
Helloween - Walls of Jericho
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Iron Savior - Unification
Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
Liege Lord - Master Control
Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction
Hibria - Defying the Rules

Honorable mentions

Lost Horizon - Awakening the World
Primal Fear - Nuclear Fire
Riot - Thundersteel
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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7730
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:20 pm 
 

I could do one album per band, but fuck it.

1. Mary's Blood - Bloody Palace
2. Mary's Blood - Countdown to Evolution
3. Nightwish - Oceanborn
4. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
5. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
6. Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World
7. Timeless Miracle - Into the Enchanted Chamber
8. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side
9. Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
10. Lovebites - Clockwork Immortality
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Bronze Age
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:55 pm
Posts: 713
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:50 pm 
 

Scanner - Hypertrace
Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force
Impelliteri - Screaming Symphony
Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part 1
Angra - Angel's Cry
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Nocturnal Rites - In a Time of Blood and Fire
Riot - Thundersteel

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HighwayCorsair
Knows a guy

Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:40 pm
Posts: 700
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:39 pm 
 

Almost zero thought going into this. No particular order.

Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
Liege Lord - Freedom's Rise
Running Wild - Death or Glory
Blind Guardian - Tokyo Tales
Queensryche - The Warning
Manilla Road - The Deluge
Scanner - Hypertrace
Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction
Twisted Tower Dire - The Isle of Hydra
Helstar - Nosferatu
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yungstirjoey666
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:47 am
Posts: 639
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:42 pm 
 

Basically all the four golden age Kamelot albums (Fourth Legacy, Karma, Epica, Black Halo)

In addition, Oceanborn by Nightwish, Mystery of Time by Avantasia, Moonglow by Avantasia, Ecliptica by Sonata Arctica, Symphony of Enchanted Lands by Rhapsody, A Past and Future Secret by Blind Guardian

Including USPM is Metal Church's self-debut, Iced Earth's Dark Saga, Crimson Glory, Queensryche, Riot's Thundersteel

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Oxenkiller
Veteran

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:42 am
Posts: 3613
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:39 pm 
 

While it's never been my "Favorite" genre, I was a fan of the old-school speed/power metal, before stuff like Helloween, and later, Hammerfall and DragonForce re-defined it. These days, Metal Church's debut probably woudn't even qualify as power metal (not melodic enough, not fast enough, not enough neo-classical guitar shredding, etc.) But...It'd be on my list.

Same with the first 3 Yngwie Malmsteen albums but I'm going with "Marching Out" specifically. Neoclassical shredding- check, but overall the songs and the riffs are there, ievery song is great, and the vocalist isn't just overdoing those high-pitched shrieks.
Not sure if Enforcer's debut qualifies either, I'd include it if I could (Because...it rules!) but, well, again, don't know if it's power metally enough. Agent Steel's debut is, again, is it thrash metal, speed metal or power metal? Fuck it; who cares, it's on the list.

The old German band Atlain did a frickin' awesome album called "Livin' in the dark" back in 1985 or 6 which was, in my opinion, better than anything Helloween ever did but still in roughly the same style- classic power metal and for sure, it's in.
Ah heck, I can't really leave "Keeper of the 7 Keys part 1" off the list, though I honestly am not as into it as I was when it came out. I just heard too many copycat bands over the years I guess.

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ChildClownOutlet
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:52 pm
Posts: 1580
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:11 am 
 

Excalion- Waterlines
Persuader- Evolution Purgatory
Sonata Arctica- Reckoning Night
Iced Earth- Burnt Offerings
Tales of Evening-A fény nyomában
Falconer- Falconer
Judicator- Let There Be Nothing
Power Quest- Master of Illusion
Iron Savior- The Landing
Blind Guardian- A Night At The Opera
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SanPeron
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2023 6:56 pm
Posts: 1027
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:18 am 
 

Oxenkiller wrote:
While it's never been my "Favorite" genre, I was a fan of the old-school speed/power metal, before stuff like Helloween, and later, Hammerfall and DragonForce re-defined it. These days, Metal Church's debut probably woudn't even qualify as power metal (not melodic enough, not fast enough, not enough neo-classical guitar shredding, etc.) But...It'd be on my list.

Same with the first 3 Yngwie Malmsteen albums but I'm going with "Marching Out" specifically. Neoclassical shredding- check, but overall the songs and the riffs are there, ievery song is great, and the vocalist isn't just overdoing those high-pitched shrieks.
Not sure if Enforcer's debut qualifies either, I'd include it if I could (Because...it rules!) but, well, again, don't know if it's power metally enough. Agent Steel's debut is, again, is it thrash metal, speed metal or power metal? Fuck it; who cares, it's on the list.

The old German band Atlain did a frickin' awesome album called "Livin' in the dark" back in 1985 or 6 which was, in my opinion, better than anything Helloween ever did but still in roughly the same style- classic power metal and for sure, it's in.
Ah heck, I can't really leave "Keeper of the 7 Keys part 1" off the list, though I honestly am not as into it as I was when it came out. I just heard too many copycat bands over the years I guess.


I love 80s US power metal too, if I had to choose 10 albums from that genre, I would probably pick these. I love both European and North American scenes, they are very different, I think US power metal is closer to traditional heavy metal and it was heavily influenced by the NWOBHM and European power metal took the Iron Maiden sound to a whole new level in terms of speed and epicness. The line between speed metal and power metal is often blurred, but it's awesome music. We don't need to focus on genre classification too much.

1) Mannila Road - Mystification
2) Riot - Thundersteel
3) Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
4) Crimson Glory - Transcendence
5) Metal Church - Metal Church
6) Manowar - Into Glory Ride
7) Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction
8) Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
9) Queensryche - The Warning
10) Omen - Battle Cry

Honorable mentions to Master Control by Liege Lord, King of the Dead by Cirith Ungol and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part I & II by Virgin Steele.
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Coastliner
Metalhead

Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:49 am
Posts: 668
Location: beyond the blue on some ancient, tattered Fates Warning cover
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:36 am 
 

One album per band:

01 Fates Warning – Awaken the Guardian
02 Savatage – Hall of the Mountain King
03 Queensryche – Rage for Order (if you consider it power metal, if not then: The Warning)
04 Manowar – Kings of Metal
05 Crimson Glory – Transcendence
06 Metal Church – The Dark
07 Hades – Resisting Success
08 Tony MacAlpine – Maximum Security
09 M.A.R.S. – Project: Driver
10 Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force – Odyssey

Power metal is one of those subgenres that aren't easy to define because of regional (American, European) and epochal (first wave, second wave…) differences. I wonder if there are genre definitions on the Archives site (like on Progarchives for example), a guideline to ensure we're all talking about the same things.
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Zerberus
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:29 pm
Posts: 2325
Location: Denmark
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:52 am 
 

Some of my absolute favourite bands and albums are power metal, but I wouldn't really consider myself a big power metal fan. I have a very narrow list of bands I like.

1. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
Even outside of power metal NiME is one of my top 10 albums of all time. Epic, melodic, memorable, unique.

2. Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Fantastic mix of progressive metal and power metal. Might as well have been pretty much any of their previous albums, but Paradise Lost was always my favourite.

3. Kamelot - Karma
I prefer Karma to the other fan favourites. I can tell it isn't as well-rounded and polished as the two subsequent albums, but I prefer the more "old school" atmosphere on Karma.

4. Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
Blazing guitars, grand instrumentation and great tempo and super memorable choruses - Everything a great PM album needs.

5. Manowar - Fighting the World
Honestly I don't consider Manowar a power metal band at all, but since most other people do I'll include them here anyway. Fighting the World is the perfect mix of the silly anthemic heavy metal that Manowar became known for, and some of their classic heavy metal sound from the first albums.

6. Running Wild - Death or Glory
Absolute classic. I feel like the production could be clearer and heavier, but the songwriting is faultless.

7. Luca Turilli - King of the Nordic Twilight
Very similar to Rhapsody, obviously, just a little more silly in the best way.

8. Hammerfall - Legacy of Kings
I'm not a Hammerfall fan at all. LoK is basically their own album that I like, but this album I absolutely love. Great songwriting all around.

9. Dexter Ward - III
Surprisingly strong newer PM album that I really love. Powerful and very effective songwriting and performance.

10. Liege Lord - Master Control
More of a speed metal album in my head, but definitely a strong USPM vibe too. Phenomenal songwriting, truly an iconic album.
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lordcatfish
Metalhead

Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:44 pm
Posts: 1461
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:21 am 
 

Something like this (not really in order). It's heavy on Tobias Sammet stuff, but in his prime he was one of my favourite songwriters, so hard to look past Edguy / Avantasia albums.

Edguy - Hellfire Club
Edguy - Mandrake
Edguy - Rocket Ride
Avantasia - The Scarecrow
Avantasia - Ghostlights
Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave
Masterplan - Masterplan
Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild
Triosphere - The Heart of the Matter
Helloween - The Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
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nightbreaker33
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:20 am
Posts: 618
Location: Greece
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:31 am 
 

1. Scanner - Terminal Earth
2. Manowar - The Triumph of Steel
3. Helstar - Nosferatu
4. Helloween - The Walls of Jericho
5. Rage - Perfect Man
6. Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear
7. Savage Grace - Master of Disguise
8. Omen - Battle Cry
9. Liege Lord - Master Control
10. Hittman - Hittman
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rawsewage
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:29 pm
Posts: 475
Location: Shamokin, PA
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:49 am 
 

Stuck to Euro-power

1) Angel Dust-Enlighten The Darkness
2) Helloween-Keepers of the Seven Keys Pt.2
3) Blind Guardian-Somewhere Far Beyond
4) Labyrinth-Return To Heaven Denied
5) Scanner-Hypertrace
6) Running Wild-Port Royal
7) Human Fortress-Defenders of the Crown
8) Kamelot-Karma
9) Hibria-Defying the Rules
10) Celesty-Mortal Mind Creation

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Zerberus
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:29 pm
Posts: 2325
Location: Denmark
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:57 am 
 

rawsewage wrote:
Stuck to Euro-power

1) Angel Dust-Enlighten The Darkness
2) Helloween-Keepers of the Seven Keys Pt.2
3) Blind Guardian-Somewhere Far Beyond
4) Labyrinth-Return To Heaven Denied
5) Scanner-Hypertrace
6) Running Wild-Port Royal
7) Human Fortress-Defenders of the Crown
8) Kamelot-Karma
9) Hibria-Defying the Rules
10) Celesty-Mortal Mind Creation


I was close to adding Defying the Rules to my list too. Had listened to it many years ago and forgotten about it, and only recently did I "rediscover" it. Great stuff.

Kinda interesting to see Somewhere Far Beyond get so much love in this thread, of the classic BG albums I always thought it was every so slightly on the weaker side compared to the others.
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ChoujuX
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 2:05 pm
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:06 am 
 

Easily my favorite genre. Only doing one album per band otherwise it'll just be Theocracy and DragonForce.

1.) Theocracy - Mosaic
2.) DragonForce - The Power Within
3.) Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
4.) Twisted Tower Dire - Crest of the Martyrs
5.) Sabaton - Metalizer
6.) Hammerfall - Crimson Thunder
7.) Dream Evil - DragonSlayer
8.) Avantasia - A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
9.) Majestica - Above the Sky
10.) Battle Beast - Bringer of Pain

Honorable mentions to Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle-Earth, Manowar's Fighting the World, and Helloween's Walls of Jericho.

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DoomMetalAlchemist
Veteran

Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:10 am
Posts: 2860
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:14 am 
 

1. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I
2. Warlord - The Holy Empire
3. Emerald (US) - Armed For Battle
4. Manowar - The Triumph of Steel
5. Battleroar - Age of Chaos
6. Axel Rudi Pell - Oceans of Time
7. Gamma Ray - Insanity & Genius
8. Manilla Road - Crystal Logic
9. Heaven's Gate - Livin' in Hysteria
10. Antonio Giorgio - Golden Metal

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KaiKasparek
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Location: Suomi Finland Bukkake
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:22 am 
 

no order:

Blind Guardian- At The Edge Of Time
Frozen Crown- Call of the North
Gamma Ray- Powerplant
Helloween- Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2
Lovebites- Electric Pentagram
Manilla Road- Mystification
Manowar- Hail To England
Nightwish- Oceanborn
Riot- Thundersteel
Running Wild- Blazon Stone
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Jophelerx
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Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:22 pm
Posts: 1464
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:10 am 
 

I'll do one for USPM and one for the European variety (or at least, non-USPM) since my overall list would be mostly USPM and it seems like OP had the European variety in mind.

USPM:

1) Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
2) Slauter Xstroyes - Winter Kill
3) Enchanter - Defenders of the Realm
4) Matthias Steele - Haunting Tales of a Warrior's Past
5) Cauldron Born - Born of the Cauldron
6) Hanker - The Dead Ringer
7) Manilla Road - The Deluge
8) Satan's Host - Virgin Sails
9) Omen - Battle Cry
10) Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II

European/Non-US:

1) Kamelot - The Black Halo
2) Adramelch - Irae Melanox
3) Kamelot - Epica
4) Grave Digger - Rheingold
5) Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
6) Falconer - Northwind
7) Dragonforce - Valley of the Damned
8) Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards
9) Existence - Reign in Violence
10) Iron Savior - Battering Ram

There are definitely some hidden gems among European power metal releases that I do enjoy quite a lot, and I thought about including Final Prophecy's demo here, but ultimately I wanted to go with full-length releases. The Dutch Martyr and Dark at Dawn are some other bands I enjoy quite a bit but haven't listened to as much lately so I decided against including them. Other older stuff like Scanner and Cloven Hoof's Dominator came close to the making the cut as well. There are definitely some cool in gems in European power metal, but my list ended up coming off fairly normie aside from Adramelch and Existence. Some of these albums are popular for a reason I guess!

My USPM lists are always skewed towards proggy stuff, which is interesting, since it's way harder to make a good progressive USPM album, and there are way more blue collar/simpler albums that I end up liking overall, but the more ambitious progressive ones that *do* succeed are just so incredible that they skew the top 10.
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Ace_Rimmer
Metal freak

Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:30 am
Posts: 4610
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:24 am 
 

If Manilla Road qualifies as power metal, which I guess makes sense if Manowar does, then I should swap out Virgin Steele with Crystal Logic.

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Jophelerx
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:22 pm
Posts: 1464
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:36 am 
 

In my opinion, Crystal Logic is not primarily a power metal album (with "Flaming Metal Systems" being the one exception), but from Open the Gates to Mystification they had more of a USPM style in their sound. Of course, I'm not telling other people they're wrong to put Crystal Logic on a list here, but to me it's an epic heavy/doom album primarily. That's why I felt okay including The Deluge as I feel it has a more USPM sound. This is very subjective, though, and ultimately with all the stylistic changes Manilla Road made over the years just putting your favorite album of theirs seems fine. (They are my favorite band of all time so I never mind seeing them pop up.)
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Xytras71
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:57 am
Posts: 488
Location: Toronto, Canada
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:40 am 
 

I’ll give it shot though I am not well-versed in this particular subgenre but do have my faves:

1. Manowar - Hail To England
2. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys (both of them)
3. Omen - Battle Cry
4. Savatage - Sirens
5. Satan’s Host - By The Hands Of The Devil
6. Blind Guardian - Nightfall In The Middle- Earth
7. Iced Earth - The Horror Show
8. Running Wild - Death Of Glory
9. Manilla Road - Mystification
10. Helstar - Nosferatu

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CoffeeCat
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2022 9:09 am
Posts: 339
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:44 am 
 

I am not a major genre fan and my experience is relatively limited, so this is purely my 100% personal picks and leaves out what I assume is a ton of stuff that I'd otherwise love.

Sticking to one album from each band. I'm also including some prog/power and USPM in here since that tends to be more my speed anyway, plus I don't just want this entire list to be Blind Guardian and nothing else. The order is just what came to mind at what time.

Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time
Anubis Gate - Horizons
Persuader - The Fiction Maze
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Pyramaze - Disciples of the Sun
Savage Circus - Dreamland Manor
Slough Feg - Traveller
Pharaoh - The Longest Night
Manilla Road - Crystal Logic
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:30 pm
Posts: 7730
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:16 pm 
 

I'm back, and I've decided to do one album per band now. Because I can.

The previous list, if you don't want to scroll up:
Spoiler: show
1. Mary's Blood - Bloody Palace
2. Mary's Blood - Countdown to Evolution
3. Nightwish - Oceanborn
4. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
5. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
6. Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World
7. Timeless Miracle - Into the Enchanted Chamber
8. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side
9. Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
10. Lovebites - Clockwork Immortality


The upgraded list:

1. Mary's Blood - Bloody Palace
2. Nightwish - Oceanborn
3. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
4. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
5. Timeless Miracle - Into the Enchanted Chamber
6. Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
7. Lovebites - Clockwork Immortality
8. Avantasia - Ghostlights
9. Dawn of Destiny - Rebellion in Heaven
10. Kamelot - The Black Halo
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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:35 pm 
 

Don't know why I didn't put Pharaoh on mine. Them, as well as any of the 80s USPM, just strike me as different from the Euro sound that I was thinking of when putting together the list. USPM is a useful descriptor for that certain type of pumped up 80s metal - different from your Maidens, Priests etc - but it doesn't really seem like its own full genre. I usually just think those bands are trad metal.
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Zelkiiro
Pounding the world with a fish of steel

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Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:42 pm 
 

For the most part, I'd say USPM falls under the traditional heavy metal umbrella. It has echoes of the power metal sound, but isn't quite steeped in it enough to merit full subgenre classification.
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SanPeron
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2023 6:56 pm
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Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:50 pm 
 

Another cool album of US power metal is the album Power Metal of Pantera released in 1988. Most people think that they played only glam metal in the years before Cowboys from Hell, but that album in the style of USPM, one of the best that Pantera released, is extremely underrated.
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Empyreal
The Final Frontier

Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:58 pm
Posts: 35187
Location: Where the dead rule the night
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:53 pm 
 

Zelkiiro wrote:
For the most part, I'd say USPM falls under the traditional heavy metal umbrella. It has echoes of the power metal sound, but isn't quite steeped in it enough to merit full subgenre classification.


Yeah there was a whole push to really micro-categorize things years ago, but all of those bands could be comfortably fully enjoyed by anyone who was into early Riot, Sabbath, Budgie, old Dio, etc. It's just good to be able to specify that specific mid-80s sound with rough, beefed up vocals, fast, militaristic tempos without being thrash, etc.
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Ace_Rimmer
Metal freak

Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:30 am
Posts: 4610
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:15 pm 
 

Metallica was called power metal when they first came out, not to mention the first Metal Church album, so USPM is a whole different beast IMO. More grit and heft tha, IMO, most europower metal which tends to devolve into stuff like that last Dragonforce album or Twilight Force.

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CoconutBackwards
Bullet Centrist

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 2:02 pm
Posts: 1787
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:42 pm 
 

ChoujuX wrote:
Easily my favorite genre. Only doing one album per band otherwise it'll just be Theocracy and DragonForce.

1.) Theocracy - Mosaic
2.) DragonForce - The Power Within
3.) Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
4.) Twisted Tower Dire - Crest of the Martyrs
5.) Sabaton - Metalizer
6.) Hammerfall - Crimson Thunder
7.) Dream Evil - DragonSlayer
8.) Avantasia - A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
9.) Majestica - Above the Sky
10.) Battle Beast - Bringer of Pain

Honorable mentions to Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle-Earth, Manowar's Fighting the World, and Helloween's Walls of Jericho.


Whoa!! You like Mosaic more than As the World Bleeds??

I'm admittedly extremely new to Theocracy, but I've been through Mosaic multiple times and it hasn't grabbed me like As the World Bleeds.
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7stringbuttplug
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2024 3:55 pm
Posts: 5
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:15 pm 
 

I don't listen to much Power Metal so it's gonna be lots of repeats from same artists and not in any particular order
Dragonforce - Valley of the Damned
Dragonforce - Sonic Firestorm
Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame
Rhapsody - Legendary Tales
Instanzia - Ghosts
Celesty - Legacy of Hate
Power Quest - Wings of Forever
Luca Turilli - King of the Nordic Twilight (this is probably my #1)
Sonata Arctica - Winterhearts Guild
Heavenly - Coming From the Sky

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Oxenkiller
Veteran

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:42 am
Posts: 3613
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:34 pm 
 

Yeah, this is the whole thing about micro-categorizations of things, trying to fit bands into one box or another. You can keep getting more and more specific, pidgenholing bands into genres within genres, but at some point there is so much ambiguity and quite a lot of overlap, that it actually becomes counterproductive at some point.

Although I would agree that on average, the 80's American power metal bands did have a distinct musical difference from the European bands that came a bit later. There was more influence of traditional heavy metal, and more emphasis on heaviness and grit, as opposed to the European bands where the focus was more on speed and melody. But even before the Euro melodic speedy power metal sound evolved, you had some of the early Accept stuff that was fast and heavy enough to qualify as power metal- songs like "Fast as a Shark" and "Breaker" for example.

And yes, Pantera's "Power Metal" album was, as it's name implies, a very solid power metal album. It tends to get lost in the shuffle, being unfairly lumped in with what they did before it, and unfairly compared to what they did after it.

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ChoujuX
Metal newbie

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 2:05 pm
Posts: 45
PostPosted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:52 am 
 

CoconutBackwards wrote:
Whoa!! You like Mosaic more than As the World Bleeds??

I'm admittedly extremely new to Theocracy, but I've been through Mosaic multiple times and it hasn't grabbed me like As the World Bleeds.

As the World Bleeds was always my favorite until last year! I don't think Theocracy has a bad album, easily the best band I've ever heard (and great guys to talk to, especially Matt). Mosaic is a bit heavier, almost thrashy at times, which I dig. Some really nice riffs throughout the album and some of Matt's best vocal melodies (3:00 in Red Sea is perfection).

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