Power metal
| Power metal | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | NWOBHM, speed metal, heavy metal |
| Cultural origins | Early–mid 1980s, Germany |
| Typical instruments | Vocals − electric guitar − bass − drums − keyboards |
| Mainstream popularity | Medium in Europe, Japan, South America and North America, and underground in Asia. |
| Fusion genres | |
| Symphonic metal - progressive metal - folk metal - neo-classical metal | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Germany - Scandinavia - Italy - Brazil - Japan - USA | |
Power metal is a style of heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in England with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a later more widespread and popular style based in the rest of Europe (especially Germany, Italy, Scandinavia), Brazil and Japan (early Visual Kei bands) with a lighter, more melodic sound and frequent use of keyboards.
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Musical characteristics
Power metal is today associated with fast tempo and melodic harmonies, the sound tempered by characteristics of speed metal, power metal's musical forerunner.
Vocals
Power metal is highly focused on the vocalist, with "clean" vocals being much more prevalent than the growling vocals often associated with death metal and black metal. Following in the tradition of Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford and other heavy metal vocalists, power metal vocals are often in a high register. The majority of the genre's vocalists sing in the tenor range, capable of hitting very high notes, like Timo Kotipelto of Stratovarius, Michele Luppi of Vision Divine, Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween) or Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear. There are however many exceptions, such as Pyramaze / Iced Earth frontman Matt Barlow, Falconer frontman Mathias Blad, and Sabaton frontman Joakim Broden; they sing in either baritone or bass range, though in certain songs like Creator Failure, Dracula and many other songs, Matt Barlow hits very high notes reminiscent of Rob Halford, or makes use of the growling technique.
Power metal vocalists Timo Kotipelto of Stratovarius, Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica, Andi Deris of Helloween, Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray, Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, Jens Carlsson of Persuader / Savage Circus , Matt Smith of Theocracy, Roy Khan of Kamelot and Lord Tim of LORD record multi-layered vocals reminiscent of Queen, creating a choral effect.[1] However, high registered singing is not restricted to power metal bands even though the style is typical within the genre. Some singers within other heavy metal genres also have high registered voices similar to singers of power metal bands. For example Joey Belladonna, of American thrash metal band Anthrax, has a voice that is often high-pitched.
Lyrical themes
Power metal's lyrical themes, though as varied as metal itself, typically focus on fantasy and mythology (e.g., Symphony X, Rhapsody of Fire, DragonForce, Dragonland, 3 Inches Of Blood, Ascension, Blind Guardian, Shaman, HammerFall, Falconer, Domine, Virgin Steele), camaraderie and hope (e.g. Stratovarius, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Lost Horizon, Highland Glory), personal struggles and emotions (e.g. Sonata Arctica, Primal Fear, Angra, Masterplan, X Japan) war and death (e.g. Manowar, Sabaton, Iced Earth, Firewind) or combinations of the listed themes. Many typical metal themes such as anti-religion and politics are comparatively rare but not unheard of.
Instrumentation
Power metal guitarists and bassists generally play rapid streams of notes, but change chords comparatively slowly, with a harmonic tempo of once per measure or slower. Fast and demanding guitar solos, however, are almost guaranteed. The slow changing of chords are significant in defining power metal just as the fast rapid chord changes often define traditional thrash metal. Power metal often makes use of Major chord progressions as well as circle progressions. Some of the most influential and imitated power metal guitarists are Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray, Michael Weikath of Helloween and Timo Tolkki of Stratovarius. It is a common trait in power metal for the bass guitar to take a back seat, so to speak; often simply providing the chord root notes and being drowned out by the more prevalent rhythm guitars. However, some power metal bands incorporate bass that is more audible with colorful patterns distinct from the rhythm guitars, such as Helloween, Hibria, and Symphony X.
A number of power metal drummers generally play with double bass pedals or two bass drums, utilizing them to play a constant stream of sixteenth notes (semiquavers) with snare drum accents on the beat. This style is fairly common in power metal as in other heavy metal subgenres, though it is by no means universal. Power metal though has become the most prevalent in the use of this technique. The style was perfected by drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg of Helloween, setting a blueprint for many other drummers to follow. Some drummers however do not use this technique and use a more thrash metal style of drumming with rapid bursts of double bass that involve three to six beats with the double kick. Iced Earth and Blind Guardian both have had drummers who have used this style of drumming as opposed to the more common style. Even more uncommon is the use of the blast beat in the genre. The American band Cellador, the Finnish band Kiuas and the British band DragonForce are good examples of power metal bands that utilize blast beats in many of their songs.
Power metal bands often incorporate keyboards into their musical arrangements, something popularized by Jens Johansson of Stratovarius, though their usage varies from subtle accents to a full-blown melody line. Some symphonic power metal bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, Fairyland and Nightwish have also been known to record with more symphonic elements, and as such, they utilize a full orchestra to fill the role the keyboardist plays in other power metal bands.
Types of power metal
American power metal
This branch of power metal emerged in 1980s United States as an offshoot of thrash metal, speed metal, and heavy metal. Though very close to its roots, US power metal (often abbreviated USPM) is often faster than standard heavy metal, with a more riff-driven approach than its later European counterpart, but more melodic and often with a higher emphasis on guitar leads than thrash. USPM is also notable for its wide (but not universal) use of high-register operatic vocals, a trend which would continue with the birth of European power in the late 80s/early 90s. A notable difference between the American and European styles is the use of keyboards; While almost universal in the European style, they are fairly rare in the American style. US power metal saw a sharp decline in popularity at the beginning of the 90s, though a small number of bands continue playing the style today. In the 2000s it has seen a resurgence in popularity, with many older releases being reissued and new bands forming in the style.
Notable USPM bands include Leatherwolf, Manowar, Iced Earth, Manilla Road, Virgin Steele, Fates Warning, Savatage, Liege Lord, Jag Panzer, Crimson Glory, and Helstar.
European power metal
In some cases referred to as Melodic Power, especially for bands such as Sonata Arctica, DragonForce and Shadowkeep, originating from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the European branch of power metal emerged in the latter half of the 1980s with Germany's Helloween, Blind Guardian and Rage and Finland's Stratovarius in the 1990s, with a strong focus on melody and uplifting, positive themes. Helloween mixed fast palm muted speed metal riffs with high-pitched clean vocals and guitar. The album Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 was a landmark in the development of the European style. Stratovarius further developed this melodic direction by making heavy use of keyboards. This genre branched and spread over Europe and into most of power metal's subgenres, incorporating further influences from classical and folk music and reinforcing the high fantasy imagery as well as sometimes developing a more emotional, romantic edge. The style has become one of the largest metal subgenres and its popularity is far from waning. The United States also has its share of European style power metal bands, an example of which is Kamelot. Some other power metal bands put less emphasis on speed.
See also
- List of power metal bands
- Neo-classical metal
- Progressive metal
- Symphonic metal
Literature
- Sharpe-Young, Garry (2003). A-Z of Power Metal. Rockdetector Series. Cherry Red Books. pp. 464. ISBN 9781901447132.
- Dio, Ronnie James; Bukszpan, Daniel (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. Barnes & Noble Publishing. pp. 300. ISBN 0760742189.
- Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme metal: music and culture on the edge. Rockdetector Series. Berg Publishers. pp. 194. ISBN 1845203992.
References
- ↑ Helloween cover Queen's song 'Sheer Heart Attack' (Blabbermouth net)
External links
- Power Metal at Allmusic
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Portal:Heavy metal