Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal music pioneered and largely practiced in Germany and Scandinavia.

Power metal was created in the mid-1980s by the German band Helloween, who were primarily influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Power metal borrows from those styles, but with added elements of speed and melody. The lyrics are often based on fantasy and science-fiction topics. Power metal vocals are generally clean and delivered by a trained vocalist; singing power metal involves more than a few high notes. 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:

• Angel Dust
• Blind Guardian
• Demons & Wizards
• Dragonforce
• Dream Evil
• Elvenking
• Gamma Ray
• Hammerfall
• Helloween
• Iron Savior
• Nightwish
• Rhapsody
• Sonata Arctica
• Stratovarius
• Symphony X
• Thunderstone
• Virgin Steele
• Agora
• Grave Digger
• Kamelot
• Iced Earth
• Mob rules
• Freedom Call
• Mago de oz
• Tierra Santa
• Calvaria
• Luca Turilli
• Ivory tower
• Zandelle
• Shadowkeep
• Black Majesty
• Total Eclipse
• Concerto moon
• Oratory