What does power metal really mean?

Question

Someone older than me told me Sepultura and Slayer play power metal, but, from what I know, power metal is the genre bands like Gamma Ray and Blind Guardian play, which are pretty far from the first two. Was that person wrong or did 'power metal' mean something else in the past? If so, why has it changed its meaning?

Answer 1

Power metal is a style of heavy metal music with the aim of evoking an "epic" feel, incorporating characteristics of primarily traditional metal along with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. 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, with American band Kamelot being a notable exception.

American power metal, like European power metal, is influenced by Queen, Rainbow (also see Dio), Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Savatage, and Queensrÿche. Some consider modern American bands like Iced Earth, Nevermore and Symphony X 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. In the 80's bands such as Lizzy Borden and Savage Grace on the one hand, and Sanctuary, Crimson Glory, Liege Lord and Jag Panzer on the other represented the U.S. 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 genre pioneers Manowar and Virgin Steele). New Jersey's Symphony X. Florida's Kamelot has recently emerged as a forerunner in the genre with the release of their albums Epica and The Black Halo. However, it should be noted that musically, Kamelot resembles European power metal more closely. Following Kamelot, the Nebraska-based power metal band Cellador was signed in August of 2005 to Metal Blade Records, signaling a return of the style by a homegrown band to a noted record label in America, although their sound is also more similar to that of European power metal.

In the mid-1980s, European bands such as Accept (Germany), Helloween (Germany) and Europe (Sweden) put even more attention to the melodic development of the songs. Although, lyrically, Accept was a straight-forward hard rock/heavy metal, it was their musical aspects, which were critical in the development of power metal. Their existence contributed to the creation of speed metal, but it mainly was the focus of power metal. 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. In recent times, English band DragonForce have gained a large cult following (as well as being highly respected by many already accomplished metal bands) for their extreme, epic and powerful vocals, intense guitar, and heavy reliance on the keyboard. Subsequently, European-style "happy metal" has spread across the continent (particularly to Finland) and worldwide, though it is comparatively unpopular in the United States, United Kingdom and other English speaking countries. However, a large festival known as ProgPower occurs once a year in several countries including the United Kingdom and United States, and is a large draw for many of the genres fans.


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 Heavenly, Rhapsody of Fire, 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 and mythology, and science fiction and fantasy (especially high fantasy) and they tend to be more optimistic than most metal lyrics, with powerful and uplifting choruses.
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. The majority of the genre's vocalists sing in the tenor range with the ability to hit falsetto notes (with the exception of former Iced Earth frontman Matt Barlow and Sabaton frontman Joakim Broden, who sing in either baritone or bass range). Some singers, such as Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian and Matt Smith of Theocracy, record multi-layered vocals reminiscent of Queen. Because of the primary importance of vocals in power metal, vocalists can make or break a band of this style and generally do not double as instrumentalists.

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 (semiquavers) 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 of Fire, 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, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile), and has a growing popularity in certain parts of North America, notably in the province of Quebec, Canada, where it has a very strong fan base. UK Power-metal band DragonForce's recent spike in popularity is a fine example.

Answer 2

Power metal is the sub genre of the heavy metal music, so the elements of this unique genre are so much effected by heavy metal music. Nowaday, usually, if we say about heavy metal bands, i mean the new bands, then many people say it as power metal band even their music are heavy metal music. And the old time heavy metal bands are called as traditional heavy metal band. This power metal genre born for the first time in the hands of some hard rock in the late 70's and early of 80's, we can say the band like Rainbow, for the really best example, then in 80's we will find some bands that really effected in power metal nowaday, bands like Dio, Helloween, Yngwie Johann Malmsteen and rising force and many more, after these first wave bands, then we will find like what you said Gamma ray, blind guardian, etc. Then the world is conquered by some new bands as the second wave bands, like mob rules, Dark moor, etc, then right now we seen so many bands in the third waves, the bands like Heavenly, nightwish, dragonforce, nostradameus etc.

The unique elements of power metal bands :
1. They usually played by five musicians, and usually they are using keyboard to develop their harmony.
2. They play in some speedy tension of music and usually use some high octave voice or falsetto.
3. They use a high tone of guitar riff and a double bass drum.
4. The most unique is their cover art album, usually they use some fantasy pictures.

Hope that useful, btw, your older friend is absolutely wrong, sepultura and slayer is playing Thrash metal music, their music are so different from power metal.

Answer 3

Blind Guardian is a very good example of Power Metal. They differ from bands like Slayer and Sepultura for a few reasons. The guitars for one, are somewhat more technically played, as in there are a lot more notes played, and are played fast. There is heavy use of keyboards and syntheisizers. Also, vocals are sung, to a degree, differently. Yes, some bands will use the guttural voice but change lots of times to actual singing. The person you were talking to was just mistaken.

Answer 4

Power Metal is a form of metal very often neo-classical in nature. It usually is very fast and technical, and it is the most melodic of the metal sub-genres (excluding Hair Metal, which is really more rock). The musicians are usually all exceptionally accomplished and the singers tend to actually sing, not growl appallingly badly like many of 'metal' bands around today. The lyrics are usually based around shockingly bad stories involving dragons or monsters with ridiculous names. Examples of Power Metal would be bands like, DragonForce, Rhapsody Of Fire (Whole orchestras involved), Helloween, Rising Force etc... Essentially it is Lord Of The RIngs set to metal music! If you can get past the shocking lyrics, you might quite enjoy it. Not only is it technically impressive but it is also quite melodic. For once Melodic Metal is not an oxymoron.

Answer 5

I would have to say power metal has always been power metal. When I think of power metal of the past, I think of Iron Maiden or Helloween. Sepultura and Slayer are thrash metal, shading into death metal.

Answer 6

I was just simply shocked to find out that Power Metal had something to do with Music .....
In MY neighborhood that is the term we use when my 80 yr old neighbor lady backs out onto the street in her 1988 Mercedes !!!!