Power metal

Power metal
Power metal
	Power metal band Blind Guardian at Wacken Open Air in 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 metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. 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.^[1]^[2]

The term was first used in the mid-1980s^[3] and 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 Europe^[4] with a lighter, more melodic sound and frequent use of keyboards.

^ Neo-classical & Power Metal (progrockandmetal.net)
^ Sharpe-Young, Garry (2003). A–Z of Power Metal. Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 978-1-901447-13-2. "Riffs became labyrinthine, vocals scorched higher altitudes—and they even managed to crank out some more volume."
^ Power Metal (guitarmasterclass.net)
^ Sharpe-Young, Garry (2003). A–Z of Power Metal. Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 978-1-901447-13-2. "American metal such as Queensrÿche, Attacker, Jag Panzer, Iced Earth, Liege Lord, and Savatage; European bands such as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Running Wild, and Grave Digger;"

[1] Neo-classical & Power Metal (progrockandmetal.net)

[Rockdetectordesc-2] Sharpe-Young, Garry (2003). A–Z of Power Metal. Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 978-1-901447-13-2. "Riffs became labyrinthine, vocals scorched higher altitudes—and they even managed to crank out some more volume."

[3] Power Metal (guitarmasterclass.net)

[Rockdetectorstyles-4] Sharpe-Young, Garry (2003). A–Z of Power Metal. Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 978-1-901447-13-2. "American metal such as Queensrÿche, Attacker, Jag Panzer, Iced Earth, Liege Lord, and Savatage; European bands such as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Running Wild, and Grave Digger;"

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Power metal
Power metal band Blind Guardian at Wacken Open Air in 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