Top Favorite Power Metal Albums ... rank them

[introclaus]

Alright, same deal here;

* Only 15 albums per genre
* Only one album per artist
* Rank them

EUROPEAN POWER METAL
1.Helloween - Keeper of the 7 Keys, pt 1
2. Blind Guardian - Imagination from the Other Side
3. Rage - Perfect Man
4. Running Wild - Under Jolly Roger
5. Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave
6. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
7. Wuthering Heights - Far From the Madding Crowd
8. Stratovarius - Visions
9. Scanner - Hypertrace
10. Lost Horizon - Awakening the World
11. Grave Digger - Tunes of War
12. Manticora - Hyperion
13. Masterplan - Masterplan
14. Firewind - Allegiance
15. Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands


US POWER METAL
1. Riot - Thundersteel
2. Sanctuary - Into the Mirror Black
3. Savatage - Gutter Ballet
4. Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
5. Titan Force - Titan Force
6. Warlord - And the Cannons of Destruction Has Begun
7. Vicious Rumors - Vicious Rumors
8. Helstar - Nosferatu
9. Jag Panzer - Thane to the Throne
10. Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
11. Kamelot - Kamelot
12. Omen - Battle Cry
13. Armored Saint - Raising Fear
14. Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstacy
15. Agent Steel - Skeptics Apocalypse


A few notes ...
* I didn't include any non-US or non-European bands on those lists, although, to be fair, bands such as Angra, X-Japan or Eyefear probably would have made the Euro Power list if I had included them
* US Power Metal is a strange term when used as a genre definition, but I kind of felt that the line had to be drawn somewhere, so the bands that are more rooted in heavy metal than power (Manowar and Virgin Steele comes to mind) were excluded although I really like those
* Yes, I know my logic is flawed ... I'm sure you would think some of the ones I chose aren't power metal, but to me they are

[gazinwales]

EUROPEAN POWER METAL
1. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
2. Blind Guardian - Nighfall In Middle Earth
3. Falconer - Falconer
4. Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out In Space
5. Luca Turilli - Prophet Of The Last Eclipse
6. Stratovarius - Infinite
7. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
8. Helloween - Keeper Of the Seven Keys I & II
9. Sabaton - Carolus Rex
10. Labyrinth - Return To Heaven Denied
11. Masterplan - Aeronautics
12. Avantasia - The Scarecrow
13. Gloryhammer - Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife
14. Rhapsody - Dawn Of Victory
15. Virtuocity - Secret Visions

US POWER METAL
1. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy
3. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer
4. Nevermore - Dead Heart In A Dead World

That's about it for USPM, not really into it and to my ears is vastly inferior to EPM.

[prog_powermetal99]

EUROPEAN POWER METAL

2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

That's about it for USPM, not really into it and to my ears is vastly inferior to EPM.

I always thought that Symphony X was considered progressive metal, or is it just that one album that you consider power metal?

[Sir Exar Kun]

It's a Monday morning, I watched Westworld before coming into work so my brain is already hurt, and you throw THIS out now?!? Ouch.

OK, I'll bite. Doing one list only, as I would likely only go five deep or so on the US side anyway....

1 - Aquaria "Luxaeterna"
2 - Angra "Holy Land"
3 - Helloween "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II"
4 - Blind Guardian "Imaginations from the Other Side"
5 - Stratovarius "Episode"
6 - Sonata Arctica "Silence"
7 - Avantasia "The Metal Opera"
8 - Secret Sphere "A Time Never Come"
9 - Gamma Ray "Somewhere out in Space" (LoF might be the strong album, but this was the first one I really got into before working backwards a bit)
10 - Nightwish "Century Child"
11 - Heavenly "Sign of the Winner"
12 - Luca Turilli "Prophet of the Last Eclipse" (funny that I pick this over any of the Rhapsody albums....)
13 - Dark Moor s/t
14 - Myrath "Desert Call"
15 - Serenity "War of Ages" (total wild card here sliding in at 15.....)

[Sir Exar Kun]

gazinwales wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:48 am
EUROPEAN POWER METAL

2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

That's about it for USPM, not really into it and to my ears is vastly inferior to EPM.


I always thought that Symphony X was considered progressive metal, or is it just that one album that you consider power metal?

They sit squarely on the line. I don't know that either side is wrong. I left them off my power metal list as I had already included them on the traditional prog list.

[gazinwales]

Sure SX have some prog songs, but to me there are mainly power metal.
I would have put Nightwish on my list but aren't they 'symphonic metal'?

[introclaus]

12 - Luca Turilli "Prophet of the Last Eclipse" (funny that I pick this over any of the Rhapsody albums....)

I almost did the same - such a great album! To me though, it falls more towards the prog genre than any Rhapsody album.

[introclaus]

gazinwales wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:48 am
EUROPEAN POWER METAL

2. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

That's about it for USPM, not really into it and to my ears is vastly inferior to EPM.


I always thought that Symphony X was considered progressive metal, or is it just that one album that you consider power metal?

They sit squarely on the line. I don't know that either side is wrong. I left them off my power metal list as I had already included them on the traditional prog list.

Same... they can fit in either, but not both haha. I too had them on my prog list, hence why I didn't add them here.

[introclaus]

EUROPEAN POWER METAL
7. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith


US POWER METAL
3. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer

These two seem wrong to me listed here - more heavy metal than power metal in my book.

[Random Axe]

I bring little to no value to this thread.

True power metal is def not my genre. I don't even think I can even pick five that stand out for me. Plus, I've been told I'm not very good at classifying bands within a sub-genre.

Labyrinth/RTHD - this was probably my introduction to PM. Tarantino was in stellar form on this.

Vision Divine/Stream of Consciousness- very similar in structure to Labyrinth since its the same primary songwriter. Michelle is every bit as good as Roberto.

Kamelot /Fourth Legacy - I got this a month or two after I purchased Flow so I was new to Khan. They've written better songs on subsequent albums, but front to back this is their best for me.

[introclaus]

I bring little to no value to this thread.

True power metal is def not my genre. I don't even think I can even pick five that stand out for me. Plus, I've been told I'm not very good at classifying bands within a sub-genre.

Labyrinth/RTHD - this was probably my introduction to PM. Tarantino was in stellar form on this.

Vision Divine/Stream of Consciousness- very similar in structure to Labyrinth since its the same primary songwriter. Michelle is every bit as good as Roberto.

Kamelot /Fourth Legacy - I got this a month or two after I purchased Flow so I was new to Khan. They've written better songs on subsequent albums, but front to back this is their best for me.

The Tarantino part made me chuckle

Yes, Tiranti (!) was awesome on RtHD, but I actually think I prefer No Limits (with Fabio) as that and the EP were my introduction to the band and I loved their sound which at that time were an interesting blend of power metal and some electronics.

Vision Divine never hit me the same way Labyrinth did (although I love the Symmetry demo which is what evolved into VD).

For Kamelot the first two albums with Khan to a certain point didn’t back then and especially now in retrospect doesn’t well with me - probably because I love (!!!!!) the debut and really enjoyed the second album as well, and Khan just feel off / wrong here for me with something this “fast paced power metal”. Then again, that quickly changed when they did the live album which actually worked better for me than both the two studio albums, as it showcased how great he is, and then obviously with the next album forward they started catering more to his voice once they went more epic/gothic.

[gazinwales]

EUROPEAN POWER METAL
7. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith


US POWER METAL
3. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer

These two seem wrong to me listed here - more heavy metal than power metal in my book.

This is the reason I normally stay away from these threads.
Defenders was power metal before the term was even coined.
Manowar perhaps, but I don't know many USPM bands.
We're almost arguing 'balls and strikes' here

[introclaus]

EUROPEAN POWER METAL
7. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith


US POWER METAL
3. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer

These two seem wrong to me listed here - more heavy metal than power metal in my book.

This is the reason I normally stay away from these threads.
Defenders was power metal before the term was even coined.
Manowar perhaps, but I don't know many USPM bands.
We're almost arguing 'balls and strikes' here

To be honest, genre-fits are in the eye of the beholder. If these fits the description to you, then so be it. It’s the same as what is regarded as quality music to you and what’s not… impossible to argue.

[Mardoch]

This one's a lot harder for me, because my grumpy old man smothered my jovial inner child a long time ago...so I don't spend much time with power metal anymore. That said, there are still enough discs to qualify.

1. Dream Evil - United
2. Twilightning - Plague-House Puppet Show
3. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
4. Angra - Temple of Shadows
5. Kamelot - The Black Halo
6. Black Fate - Between Visions and Lies
7. Edguy - Hellfire Club
8. DGM - FrAme
9. Sunburst - Fragments of Creation
10. Pyramaze - Disciples of the Sun
11. Almah - Birds of Prey
12. Serenity - Words Untold & Dreams Unlived
13. Damnation Angels - Bringer of Light
14. Lance King - A Moment in Chiros
15. Balance of Power - Ten More Tales...

[gazinwales]

This one's a lot harder for me, because my grumpy old man smothered my jovial inner child a long time ago...so I don't spend much time with power metal anymore. That said, there are still enough discs to qualify.

2. Twilightning - Plague-House Puppet Show

Damn it I knew there was another Finnish power metal band/album I couldn't think of and you nailed

[LarryD]

I'm staying clear of this post .... I don't want everyone yelling " thats not power metal, thats prog metal " with each band that I list ......

[Mardoch]

This one's a lot harder for me, because my grumpy old man smothered my jovial inner child a long time ago...so I don't spend much time with power metal anymore. That said, there are still enough discs to qualify.

2. Twilightning - Plague-House Puppet Show

Damn it I knew there was another Finnish power metal band/album I couldn't think of and you nailed

I'm still sad they dissolved. The rock stuff they pivoted to after Plague-House Puppet Show was also pretty damned solid and I'd've happily taken another album of it.

[BumZen]

Decided to just do a top 15 power metal, but in no specific order:

Angra - Temple of Shadows
Stratovarius - Episode
Manticora - Hyperion
Hammerfall - Legacy of Kings
Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side
Falconer - Chapters from a Vale Forlorn
Kamelot - Karma
Iced Earth - Dark Saga
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Wuthering Heights - Far From the Madding Crowd
Riot - Thundersteel
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Masterplan - s/t
Judicator - Let there be Nothing
Sabaton - Carolus Rex

It's funny how we can discuss genres, but to me some that were included by others aren't real power metal in my book, or would qualify for the list. Crimson Glory (too proggy), Nevermore (too groovy), Symphony X (proggy), Scanner (too speedy) for example are all bands I love dearly, but I wouldn't put on here. I'm not saying the argument can't be made - by myself even - I just had to cut off somewhere.

I'm surprised I didn't find room for favorites such as Sanctuary, Iron Fires first album (my first love in power metal), Helloween, Labyrinth, Shaman, Pyramaze, Vision Divine, Secret Sphere, Heavenly, Jacobs Dream (shut up, the first one rules) and other favorites.

[John Frank]

I am a huge fan of American power metal. Cutting that list down to 15 was painful. For Europower, I was struggling just to find enough titles to complete the list. Only the first six Europower albums are all-time faves of mine. Everything on the American power list is an all-time fave, and there are a bunch more all-time favorites that could be added.

Europower

1. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (1988)
2. Rage - Secrets in a Weird World (1989)
3. Persuader - The Hunter (2000)
4. Scanner - Mental Reservation (1995)
5. Judicator - At the Expense of Humanity (2015)
6. Eternity's End - Unyielding (2018)
7. Gamma Ray - Land of the Free (1995)
8. Labÿrinth - Return to Heaven Denied (1998)
9. Lost Horizon - Awakening the World (2001)
10. Savage Circus - Of Doom and Death (2009)
11. Elvenking - Heathenreel (2001)
12. Falconer - s/t (2001)
13. Blind Guardian - Imagination from the Other Side (1995)
14. Iron Savior - s/t (1997)
15. Running Wild - Pile of Skulls (1992)

American power

1. Sanctuary - Into the Mirror Black (1990)
2. Judas Priest - Painkiller (1990)
3. Metal Church - Blessing in Disguise (1989)
4. Onward - Evermoving (2001)
5. Oliver Magnum - s/t (1989)
6. King Diamond - Abigail (1987)
7. Chastain - The 7th of Never (1987)
8. Pariah - Blaze of Obscurity (1989)
9. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (2005)
10. Armored Saint - Raising Fear (1987)
11. Antithesis - Dying for Life (2001)
12. Archetype - Dawning (2002)
13. Pharaoh - The Longest Night (2006)
14. Liege Lord - Master Control (1988)
15. Destiny's End - Breathe Deep the Dark (1998)

[gazinwales]

Judas Priest are English and KD is from Denmark, both part of Europe....

[introclaus]

Judas Priest are English and KD is from Denmark, both part of Europe....

And Pariah is British too

I think John was going purely by sound not geography - which I guess is fine. It wasn’t what I intended with the post but hey …
Now, in terms of sound, neither of them are US power metal if you ask me (or even power metal), but to each their own. Pariah would fall under either NWOBHM or thrash in my opinion, Judas Priest under either NWOBHM (although they actually were before( or just pure heavy metal. King is heavy metal or perhaps semi-proggy metal.

Oh, and he put Judicator under Euro power, which I think is wrong … they to me sound like Iced Earth with a Hansi inspired vocalist, and geographically they are Americans…

Either way, John knows his music and if he thinks that’s where they fit in, then who are we to argue?

[John Frank]

Judas Priest are English and KD is from Denmark, both part of Europe....

And Pariah is British too

I think John was going purely by sound not geography - which I guess is fine. It wasn’t what I intended with the post but hey …
Now, in terms of sound, neither of them are US power metal if you ask me (or even power metal), but to each their own. Pariah would fall under either NWOBHM or thrash in my opinion, Judas Priest under either NWOBHM (although they actually were before( or just pure heavy metal. King is heavy metal or perhaps semi-proggy metal.

Oh, and he put Judicator under Euro power, which I think is wrong … they to me sound like Iced Earth with a Hansi inspired vocalist, and geographically they are Americans…

Either way, John knows his music and if he thinks that’s where they fit in, then who are we to argue?

Yeah, as you said, these things are debatable. Painkiller is clear power metal to my ears, for example. From your list, Savatage, Crimson Glory, Titan Force, and Warlord are all trad metal to me. I classify old Agent Steel as thrash. Albums like Abigail, Them, and Conspiracy sound heavier to me than standard metal.

I agree Judicator has American power in their sound as well.

And, yes, I went by genre description, not geography. I did not realize that was a requirement. Even if I did think it was a rule, I would likely have ignored it, as it seems silly to me.

I look forward to your industrial metal and hair metal (or is it hard rock or melodic metal?) lists.

[introclaus]

Yeah, as you said, these things are debatable. Painkiller is clear power metal to my ears, for example. From your list, Savatage, Crimson Glory, Titan Force, and Warlord are all trad metal to me. I classify old Agent Steel as thrash. Albums like Abigail, Them, and Conspiracy sound heavier to me than standard metal.

I agree Judicator has American power in their sound as well.

And, yes, I went by genre description, not geography. I did not realize that was a requirement. Even if I did think it was a rule, I would likely have ignored it, as it seems silly to me.

I look forward to your industrial metal and hair metal (or is it hard rock or melodic metal?) lists.

It's all good - rules are there to be broken

Btw, I've always wondered over the years how come you hold "Blaze of Obscurity" in such high regard. I love it, don't get me wrong, but then again I love everything (except "Unity") they did - but of the two first Pariah albums I find "The Kindred" better, and if you want to include the Satan stuff with Michael Jackson on vocals, I think "Suspended Sentence" is by far their masterpiece (heck, it's my favorite of all Satan/Blind Fury/Pariah albums). I went back this morning and replayed "Blaze..." and as always I think it's a great album, but nothing sticks out to me the same way as it does on "The Kindred" and "Suspended Sentence".

Oh ... and I've got plans for other lists, but no industrial metal haha ... I can list the number of releases I like in that genre on one (or two) hands at most.

[John Frank]

Yeah, as you said, these things are debatable. Painkiller is clear power metal to my ears, for example. From your list, Savatage, Crimson Glory, Titan Force, and Warlord are all trad metal to me. I classify old Agent Steel as thrash. Albums like Abigail, Them, and Conspiracy sound heavier to me than standard metal.

I agree Judicator has American power in their sound as well.

And, yes, I went by genre description, not geography. I did not realize that was a requirement. Even if I did think it was a rule, I would likely have ignored it, as it seems silly to me.

I look forward to your industrial metal and hair metal (or is it hard rock or melodic metal?) lists.

It's all good - rules are there to be broken

Btw, I've always wondered over the years how come you hold "Blaze of Obscurity" in such high regard. I love it, don't get me wrong, but then again I love everything (except "Unity") they did - but of the two first Pariah albums I find "The Kindred" better, and if you want to include the Satan stuff with Michael Jackson on vocals, I think "Suspended Sentence" is by far their masterpiece (heck, it's my favorite of all Satan/Blind Fury/Pariah albums). I went back this morning and replayed "Blaze..." and as always I think it's a great album, but nothing sticks out to me the same way as it does on "The Kindred" and "Suspended Sentence".

Oh ... and I've got plans for other lists, but no industrial metal haha ... I can list the number of releases I like in that genre on one (or two) hands at most.

Yeah, we are in complete disagreement on Satan/Blind Fury/Pariah/Satan. Blaze is easily my fave. Next is Life Sentence, then Court in the Act, then Atom by Atom, then Unity. I never got into The Kindred at all. I think I finally decided I liked a song or two on Suspended Sentence. Blind Fury is okay.

So, yeah, we are not on the same page here.

Fine, no industrial metal. All you really need for that is Swamp Terrorists and Pitchshifter anyway.

[introclaus]

Yeah, we are in complete disagreement on Satan/Blind Fury/Pariah/Satan. Blaze is easily my fave. Next is Life Sentence, then Court in the Act, then Atom by Atom, then Unity. I never got into The Kindred at all. I think I finally decided I liked a song or two on Suspended Sentence. Blind Fury is okay.
So, yeah, we are not on the same page here.

At least we agree it's a brilliant band - except for "Unity" which I feel is a horrible disc that should never have been put out under that band name.

Fine, no industrial metal. All you really need for that is Swamp Terrorists and Pitchshifter anyway.

Haha, I don't like either of those.

I love APOLLYON SUN (because of Marquis and Tom obviously), I think the first three albums by THE KOVENANT (Covenant) were great, I really like TREPONEM PAL's self titled debut, SEIGMEN's "Metropolis" and "Radiowaves" albums are quite cool, I like MINISTRY's "Land of Rape & Honey", I can somewhat accept the sound of KILLING JOKE's "Extremities...", and I think FEAR FACTORY's earlier period was listenable.

Anything else called "industrial" is pretty much just noise to me.

[Alberto]

Not a lot of bands I love in this style, so I'll keep it limited to a top 10:

1 - Nightwish / Oceanborn
2 - Rhapsody / Symphony Of Enchanted Lands
3 - Sonata Arctica / Silence
4 - Stratovarius / Visions (Episode is almost on par)
5 - Helloween / Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II (Part I is almost on par)
6 - Angra / Holy Land (Angels Cry is... you know)
7 - Dark Moor / The Gates Of Oblivion (Hall is also excellent)
8 - Luca Turilli / King Of The Nordic Twilight
9 - Wuthering Heights / Within
10 - Skylark / Gate Of Heaven

[Random Axe]

I guess I may revise my entry if Anubis Gate's first two albums are considered power metal. Not totally sure what they are other than great.

Not trying to blur the lines, just trying to participate lol!

[BumZen]

I guess I may revise my entry if Anubis Gate's first two albums are considered power metal. Not totally sure what they are other than great.

Oh yeah. The first Anubis Gate still gets a lot of play here. Not sure what I would call them either, but it's not a typical power or prog metal band.

[introclaus]

I guess I may revise my entry if Anubis Gate's first two albums are considered power metal. Not totally sure what they are other than great.

Oh yeah. The first Anubis Gate still gets a lot of play here. Not sure what I would call them either, but it's not a typical power or prog metal band.

Not typical power or prog, that's for sure, but yes, those first two are leaning more towards power metal (in the USPM sense), whereas all the later albums are prog metal.

When I signed the band at first, it was all instrumental demos (and they went by a different name). We got Torben in on vocals, and those two albums became a reality. I also must mention how crazy awesome the logo and artwork on those two albums were, thanks to Mattias Noren.