Power metal

This article is about the music genre. For the Pantera album, seePower Metal (album).For the Metallica demo, seeList of Metallica demos § Power Metal demo.

"Epic metal" redirects here. For epic doom metal, seeDoom metal § Epic doom.

Power metal
Power metal bandBlind GuardianatWacken Open Airin 2016
Stylistic origins	Heavy metal NWOBHM speed metal neoclassical metal
Cultural origins	Europe and United States in the 1980s
Fusion genres
Symphonic power metal
Regional scenes
Europe North America South America East Asia Australia
Other topics
List of power metal bands

Power metalis a subgenre ofheavy metalcombining characteristics of traditional heavy metal withspeed metal,often within asymphoniccontext. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contrast with the heaviness and dissonance prevalent in, for example,extreme metal.Power metal bands usually have anthemic songs with fantasy-based subject matter and strong choruses, thus creating a theatrical, dramatic and emotionally "powerful" sound.

The term was first used in the mid-1980sand refers to two different but related styles:

• the first largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal;
• a later, more widespread and popular style based in Europewith a lighter, more melodic sound and frequent use ofkeyboards.

Origins

Kai HansenofGamma Rayduring a show in Barcelona. Hansen is regarded as one of the biggest influences in the early development of power metal.

AnthropologistSam Dunntraced the origins of power metal back to the late 1970s, when the groundwork for power metal lyrical style was laid down byRonnie James Dio.The fantasy-oriented lyrics he wrote forRainbow,concentrated around medieval, renaissance, folk, and science fiction themes, directly influenced modern power metal bands.According to Dunn, the songs "Stargazer" and "A Light in the Black" from the 1976 albumRising,as well as "Kill the King" and "Lady of the Lake" from the 1978 albumLong Live Rock 'n' Roll,might be among the earliest examples of power metal. In his 2011 documentary seriesMetal Evolution,Dunn further explained howRob HalfordofJudas Priestcreated a blueprint for power metal vocal delivery. His almost constant high-pitched singing became one of the main characteristics of power metal. The twin-guitar sound promoted by Judas Priest's duo ofK. K. DowningandGlenn Tiptonalso highly influenced this subgenre.

Another British band,Iron Maiden,brought epic and melodic sensibility to metal, creating anthemic, singalong music, an approach widely embraced by modern power metal musicians. The emergence of the early German power metal scene in particular was made possible byScorpionsandAccept.Swedish guitaristYngwie Malmsteenmade a significant impact on many future power metal guitarists, with his accurate and fastneo-classicalstyle. His bandmateJens Johanssonmodernized the keyboard sound ofDeep Purple'sJon Lord,which was further incorporated into the genre.Manowar's mythologicalsword and sorcerylyrics influenced a number of power metal bands.

Throughout the early 1980s especially in the years 1982 and 1983, a US power metal style first emerged from traditional heavy metal, thenew wave of British heavy metal(NWOBHM), and thrash/speed metal influences. The exact first origin is often contested, but bands such asCirith Ungol,Jag Panzer,Manilla Road,Omen,Riot,Savatage,andWarlordare thought to have influenced the earliest development of the style.

More concretely, in 1987 German bandHelloweenreleased their second album,Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I,cited byAllMusicas "a landmark recording that remains arguably the single most influential power metal album to date. Its volatile combination of power and melody would inspire an entire generation of metal bands".This release influenced a European power metal style to evolve, which proliferated throughout the globe and since the start of the 1990s is still the most commonly heard style of power metal.

Musical characteristics

Power metal is today associated with fasttempoand melodic harmonies, the sound tempered by characteristics ofspeed metal,power metal's musical forerunner.

Vocals

Power metal is highly focused on the vocalist, with "clean" vocals being much more prevalent than the growling vocals often associated withextreme metal.Inspired byRonnie James Dio,Bruce Dickinson,Rob Halford,Geoff Tate,and otherrockandheavy metalvocalists, power metal vocals are often in a high register, and the singer's vocal range is usually wide.The majority of the genre's vocalists sing in thetenorrange and are capable of hitting very high notes, for exampleTimo KotipeltoofStratovarius,Tony KakkoofSonata Arctica,Michael Kiske(Helloween) andAndre Matos(ex-Angra). There are many exceptions who sing in eitherbaritoneorbassrange. Some vocalists sing in a harsh,thrash metalstyle, includingChris BoltendahlofGrave Digger,Kai HansenofGamma Ray,Peavy WagnerofRage,andWintersun'sJari Mäenpää.Many power metal vocalists, most notablyHansi KürschofBlind Guardian,record multi-layered vocals reminiscent ofQueen,creating a choral effect.

Lyrical themes

Most songs of German bandBlind Guardianare based on fantasy, mythology and science fiction, and their live shows often feature fantasy decorations.

Themes that frequently feature throughout other metal subgenres, such as religion and politics, are comparatively rare in power metal - albeit not unheard of. Power metal's lyrical themes often focus onfantasyandmythology,camaraderieand hope, personal struggles and emotions, war and death, or combinations of the aforementioned. For example, Finnish bandSonata Arcticahave been known for focusing their lyrics of their songs on fantasy but also have many songs based on reality, love and relationships.

Many power metal bands based theirconcept albumson fantasy books andnational epics;Blind GuardianbasedNightfall in Middle-EarthonTolkien'sThe Silmarillion,whileKamelotbasedEpicaandThe Black HaloonGoethe's Faust.Some bands have even written their own imaginary stories, likeRhapsody of Fire'sEmerald Sword SagaandThe Dark Secret Saga,Iced Earth'sSomething Wicked Saga,orAvantasiabyEdguy'sTobias Sammet.

Historical themes have also seen usage in the works of bands, most famouslySabaton,whose lyrics extensively focus on historical wars, battles, and individuals that received notable recognition for their wartime accomplishments. Examples includeWorld War I,World War II,Vikings,Samurai,and much more from around the world including theAmerican,SwedishandGerman militaries.Serenity,an Austrian (symphonic) power metal band, focuses mainly on historical figures and events, includingSir Francis Drake,Marco Polo,Galileo,Beethoven,andNapoleon.

Contrary to traditional power metal music,Powerwolffocuses onTransylvanianwerewolf andvampirelegends and darkmyths.The lyrics of the band are characterized by the treatment of Christianity and ancient Romanian legends. Powerwolf, however, do not consider themselves a religious band, but rather call themselves spiritual.

Instrumentation

Power metal guitarists and bassists generally play rapid streams of notes, but changechordscomparatively slowly, with aharmonic tempoof once per measure or slower. Fast and technically demanding guitar solos, however, are almost guaranteed.The slow changing of chords is significant in defining power metal just as the fast rapid chord changes often define traditionalthrash metal.Power metal often makes use of Major chord progressions as well as circle progressions. Some of the most influential and acclaimed power metal guitarists areKai HansenofGamma Ray,Michael WeikathofHelloween,andTimo Tolkkiformerly of Stratovarius. It is a common trait in power metal for the bass guitar to take a back seat, so to speak; often simply providing the chord root notes and being drowned out by the more prevalent rhythm guitars. However, some power metal bands incorporate bass that is more audible with colorful patterns distinct from the rhythm guitars, such as Helloween,Hibria,andSymphony X.

Many power metal drummers play double bass patterns with either twobass drums,or utilize adouble bass pedal;using them to play a constant stream ofsixteenth notes (semiquavers)with snare drum accents on the beat, a style not restricted to, but most often associated with, power metal. The style was used by drummerIngo SchwichtenbergofHelloween,setting a blueprint for many other drummers to follow. Others, such as the drummers ofBlind GuardianandIced Earth,use a more thrash metal style of drumming with rapid bursts of double bass that involve three to six beats with the double kick.

Power metal bands often incorporate keyboards into their musical arrangements, something popularized byJens Johanssonof Stratovarius, though their usage varies from subtle accents to a full-blown melody line. Some power metal bands also record with symphonic elements, and as such, they utilize a full orchestra to fill the role usually played by the keyboardist.

Styles

American style

The American branch of power metal emerged in early 1980s in the United States, drawing influence primarily from traditional metal and theNWOBHM.Though very close to its roots, US power metal (often abbreviated USPM) is often faster and more energetic than traditional heavy metal, with a more riff-driven approach and a relative lack of keyboard usage compared to its later European counterpart. However, it is often more melodic thanthrash metal,with a greater emphasis on guitar leads. USPM is also notable for its widespread (but not universal) use of high-register operatic vocals, a trend which would continue with the rise of European power metal in the late 1980s and early 1990s.This style is not exclusive to North America, as European bands such asSacred Steel,Majesty,and Australian bandPegazuslater adopted a style inspired by USPM bands in the 1990s.

The early releases of progressive metal bandsQueensrÿcheandFates Warning,such asThe Warning(1984) andThe Spectre Within(1985), heavily influenced a number of bands that were to develop a common sound towards the late 1980s. Among the better known representatives of the style, such asManowar,Vicious Rumors,Virgin Steele,Riot,orJag Panzer,a small number of bands enriched their sound with progressive and epic elements (the most obvious examples beingCrimson Glory,Savatage,Sanctuaryand theepic doom metalbandCirith Ungol); or even withthrash metalelements, e.g.,Iced Earth.US power metal saw a sharp decline in popularity at the beginning of the 1990s, though the style has rebounded somewhat in the past decade, with bands such asLiege LordorHeir Apparentreforming for live performancesand many, such asHelstarandOmen,still releasing new material.

European style

Italian bandRhapsody of Fireperforming in Buenos Aires in 2010

European power metal originated fromspeed metaland theNWOBHM,emerging in late 1980s, particularly in Germany, withHelloween,Running Wild,Rage,Grave Digger,andBlind Guardian.The second and third Helloween albums;Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I(1987) andPart II(1988) are usually considered the first proper European power metal albums.Alongside the early German bands came Finland'sStratovariusin late 1980s. These bands pioneered the genre, but took it in somewhat different directions. Helloween, followed by earlyGamma Ray,mixed fastpalm mutedspeed metalriffs with high-pitched clean vocals, and with a strong focus on melody and uplifting, positive themes. Stratovarius further developed this melodic direction by making heavy use ofkeyboards,with lyrics dealing with emotions and personal issues. Blind Guardian utilized the technique of vocal and guitaroverdubbingto create an epic atmosphere, with lyrical content strongly based on fantasy novels, myths and legends. The symphonic and neo-classical elements also found their way through power metal with bands likeRhapsody of Fire(Italy),Serenity(Austria) andNightwish(Finland).At the same time, bands such asHammerFallsimplified their power metal to bring it closer to traditional heavy metal.

Over the late 90s and early 00s, power metal spread over Europe especially as well as the rest of the world, often incorporating new influences. Italy'sElvenking,Sweden'sFalconer,Spain'sMägo de Oz,and Denmark'sWuthering Heightsintegrated elements offolkmusic with power metal.Angra,Kamelot,and especiallySymphony Xare known for combiningprogressiveand power metal. Some bands are known for combining power metal with more aggressive musical forms;Children of Bodomwere one of the earliest who combined elements of power metal and an early form ofmelodic death metal.

European-style power metal became widespread in comparison with US style as of the mid 1990s, with numerous North American bands such asTheocracy,Borealis,Forgotten Tales,Avian,Pharaoh,Circle II Circle,andKamelotdemonstrating the style. This European style of power metal is sometimes considered the "second wave" of power metal since its spread was in the late 1980s and especially the mid-late 1990s rather than proliferating throughout the 1980s, and the widespread influence and development of the genre that came in its tow while US "first wave" style markedly declined.

See also

• List of power metal bands
• Neoclassical metal
• Symphonic metal

General bibliography

• Sharpe-Young, Garry(2003).A–Z of Power Metal.Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. p. 464.ISBN978-1-901447-13-2.
• Dio, Ronnie James;Bukszpan, Daniel (2003).The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal.Barnes & Noble Publishing. p. 300.ISBN0-7607-4218-9.
• Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007).Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge.Rockdetector Series. Berg Publishers. p. 194.ISBN978-1-84520-399-3.

External links

• Power MetalatAllMusic
• Power Metal Radio