Falconer - Sweden, ex-Mithotyn, the singer was a musical theater dude they straight-up hired so the vocals aren't typical power metal (they are great through)
The Storyteller - so Swedish, from a concept album that bummed me out because they seemed to have gotten trolls and goblins mixed up BUT that still had some ripping songs
The Lord Weird Slough Feg - from the States, this has similar vocals to Falconer; I don't think they're as good (but then again, who is?) BUT this is from an entire record they wrote about a Traveller campaign.
I wouldnt call TTD NWOBHM at all. Not power metal either.
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 9:11am
I know you said you'd heard Rhapsody, but just in case...
Luca Turilli solo - in some weird subtle way this is not quite as good as what Rhapsody was doing at around the same time, but it's still pretty solid.
Heathenreel from Elvenking is such a solid album. And if youcan find it, the second release from Mundanus Imperium. They changed from black metal to power metal after their first release, but kept the space theme (even did a star wars song)
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 9:23am
Well, this thread taught me about youtube annotations:
The term "Power Metal" has evolved, pretty interesting really...
Nowadays there's a lot of noodling, keyboards and operatic elements to it, but when I was a young'un, it was stuff like Ded Engine (who sound quite a bit like JPriest), their first single kills, and of course Jag Panzer. Definitely agreed on Omen as well - There's a lot of similarities between those and say Overkill, though I doubt many would call them "power metal" these days.
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 11:05am
Totally. Off the top of my head - these days it seems like German/US power metal bands tend to sound more like the older stuff you're describing, Italian/French ones sound noodly and operatic, and Scandinavian ones sound like 90s Gothenburg with clean singing. Or at least, that's my quick mental shortcut when I'm looking for new bands to check out.
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 11:16am
I think the elephant in the room of this thread is that Manowar could write killer power metal when they wanted to:
The "Wheel of Fire" video has some crucial band reaction shots when Joey rolls up on a snowmobile, wearing only a speedo. Also champagne fights, onstage motorcycle horseplay, and so on.
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 11:18am
Also thanks for posting Nocturnal Rites - great band I'd totally forgotten about!
French band. This is from a concept album about a vampire who's trying to find the vampire that bit him so he can kill the guy and finally die. Vocals are a little nasally (they are French after all) for most people I show this band to but the guitar work is killer and they have some pretty heavy riffs.
^ You picked probably the best representation of Avantasia there. I shared a lot of people's feeling the second album didn't really "end", it just kinda tapered off. The Tower is the kind of song that should've capped off the whole thing. Instead the two albums are more like a bell curve with the first one ending on a great song and the second one opening with a great song.
Fairyland is ex Dark Moor, right? Is that song from their first album?
post by Snowden NLI at Dec 28,2012 12:56pm
Seriously, Avantasia can be tough unless you're really in the mood. We used to listen to Pt.1 on band trips a lot, and I never really got into Pt.2 the same way. But I was thinking if the OP was into Blind Guardian's concept records, Avantasia'd be worth checking out.
And yeah, that's the first Fairyland album. That singer was ex-Dark Moor (who I'd totally forgotten!), and I think she left Fairyland after that first record.
don't listen to power metal often, but there are times where i find it complimentary. seems to be a lull in power metal lately, quality or otherwise, no?
^ You picked probably the best representation of Avantasia there. I shared a lot of people's feeling the second album didn't really "end", it just kinda tapered off. The Tower is the kind of song that should've capped off the whole thing. Instead the two albums are more like a bell curve with the first one ending on a great song and the second one opening with a great song.
Fairyland is ex Dark Moor, right? Is that song from their first album?
can't hate on avantasia at all. not a huge fan of tobias vocals, but the guests are usually on point. Jorn to be specific. has pipes.
Jorn is generally great but I gotta say his first Avantasia appearance was his low point to my ears. I think he got better on the next few (as the overall album quality continued to decline), but something went wrong with his voice or the recording of his part on The Scarecrow.
My fave singer that I was introduced to via Avantasia is Bob Catley.
Jorn is generally great but I gotta say his first Avantasia appearance was his low point to my ears. I think he got better on the next few (as the overall album quality continued to decline), but something went wrong with his voice or the recording of his part on The Scarecrow.
My fave singer that I was introduced to via Avantasia is Bob Catley.
i don't disagree regarding the scarecrow. i thought the high point was his appearance on the wicked symphony. i also thought his stuff with masterplan was good at times, though the lyrics were facepalming in nature. specifically on the song 'spirit never die' though i've looked past the verse lyrics because the chorus is pretty powerful in that cheesy way that many including myself enjoy.
specifically on the song 'spirit never die' though i've looked past the verse lyrics because the chorus is pretty powerful in that cheesy way that many including myself enjoy.
Yeah that song in particular is one of the standouts of the past ~15 years in power metal.
couldn't agree more. have done much cardio-bicycling to that tune in commuting to work over the years. gave my cousin that tune on a power metal playlist for her iPod when she did her first marathon and she slayed it, citing that song as her favorite for energy.