Power metal
'Power metal'\ is a style of heavy metal music pioneered and largely practiced in Germany and Scandinavia.
The first power metal song is arguably the 1976 song "Stargazer" by the band Rainbow.
Power metal was developed in the mid-1980s primarily by the German band Helloween, who were influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Power metal borrows from 1970s metal styles, but adds important elements of speed and melody. Whereas most genres of rock focus largely on personal experience, historical incidents, social commentary, or other aspects of "real life," power metal often treats cosmological or metaphysical themes. As such, lyrics draw heavily from science-fiction, mythology and fantasy; Tolkien-esque imagery is especially common in the latter.
Power metal vocals are generally clean and delivered by a trained vocalist; singing power metal involves more than a few high notes. Often power metal vocals have multi-layer vocals similar to Queen Typical power metal bands consist of a vocalist, two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer. Many bands also play with a keyboardist and a few, such as the Italian band Rhapsody have been known to record with more symphonic elements.
Examples of power metal bands
| Heavy metal | Genres |
|---|
| Alternative - Australian war - Black - Christian - Circus metal - Death - Doom - Epic - Hair metal - Goth - Metalcore - Neo-Classical metal - NWOBHM - Power - Oriental - Stoner - Sludge - Thrash - True metal |
| Grindcore - Industrial metal - Nu metal - Progressive metal |
| Other topics |
| Fashion - Umlaut |