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Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

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Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#121

Post by Bahamut »

aerhardt wrote: post #24
bogdan wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I grew up on power metal and nowadays I mainly listen to two genres: black metal and classical music. One of the things they have in common is that I can't understand a word in either. I really appreciate that because I find lyrics in songs distracting and most of the time cringy.

I can't listen to music with vocals at work, but I still listen to power metal 20 years later in quite a few contexts - gym, car, walk, simply active listening. I can't argue with the quality of the lyrics being cringey though. I've always thought it's a combination of the genre being niche and being founded on a set of lyrical themes that are restrictive - and maybe particularly challenging -, and also, the fact tha…

Interestingly enough, I believe while Kamelot was founded in the US, most of the members are from Europe currently.

One thing I learned ~15 years ago was that Nightwish commissioned lyrics from lyricists (one such commissioned person told me himself I believe a year or two after Dark Passion Play was released - they never used what he wrote for them though) - maybe that helps give the polished impression for some.

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#122

Post by YeGoblynQueenne »

camel-cdr wrote: post #53
feldrim wrote: post #5

Impressive work. I believe Encyclopaedia Metallum[0] would be a better source for the corpus, though the noise rate would be higher as there are many one-song/single/demo album bands, along with bands making music in multiple genres in different eras in their lifetime. 0. https://www.metal-archives.com/

Encyclopaedia Metallum is an amazing resource, it's also quite scrapable. I managed to quickly throw thogether a set of small bash scripts to crossreference the midgard [0] leaks with metal artists. [0] The midgard (Nazi online shop) sales record was leaked, including personal information, so I won't link it here

What did you find? We know there's plenty of far-right ideas in black metal but other sub-genres?

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#123

Post by YeGoblynQueenne »

DeathArrow wrote: post #8

I listen to Power Metal only because it is the closest genre to classical Heavy Metal (Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne,Motörhead, Judas Priest) and almost no band sings classical Heavy Metal anymore.

Oh man, you're so gonna love this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_wave_of_traditional_heavy_...

This should probably be your next stop:

https://www.youtube.com/@NWOTHMFullAlbums

And here's a small selection of some of my favourites from that new wave:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsmrGn_1E13fBQkyefFGu...

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#124

Post by golergka »

I know that unique word count is not a perfect way to measure "sophistication" of the lyrics, but I still find it funny that the "best" metal band has less than a half of Aesop Rock's vocabulary given how some metal fans look down on hip-hop. (That's not an attack on them, I'm a huge fan of both).

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#125

Post by Klonoar »

a_gnostic wrote: post #81
Helmut10001 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blind Guardian is well known in Europe, but very little overseas. I went to a concert once and the mood was really good. The crowd sang for themselves for half an hour. The band was going for 3 hours altogether. Everyone was friendly (nothing else I expected with power metal).

> but very little overseas Except in Japan (1). 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPlMB_dAo8

Japan and Metal have a unique relationship at this point.

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#126

Post by anthk »

aerhardt wrote: post #26
anthk wrote: post #22

OFC Gamma Ray is the least Power Metal band. Gamma Ray it's like blending Helloween and Pet Shop Boys. Still, a lot of albums from GR surpass Helloween. Yes, even the Keeper one.

Not my favorite band by a stretch, but Gamma Ray is 100% power metal, and nothing in it reminds me remotely of Pet Shop Boys... If anything, it's the unshakeable Helloween influence that brings the melodic happy metal vibes.

Yes and no. The first records are a genius mix blending power metal and synth like rhythms.

I think there's a noticeable difference from the block of 'Heading for Tomorrow' until 'Insanity...' and 'The Land of the Free'.

Then there's a pure power metal band.

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#128

Post by dmsayer »

yumraj wrote: post #127

Not Power Metal, but I thought I’ll take my chances. Any recommendations for someone who loves Rammstein , despite only knowing 2-3 words in German? I haven’t found many while searching for industrial metal.

static-x, especially the older stuff.

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#129

Post by scop »

mynegation wrote: post #69
mikub wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still consider "Nightfall in middle earth" one of the best albums of all times. I remember waiting in front of the recordstore on the releasday in 1998, came home and listened to it from start to finish a few times while reading the newest "Rock Hard" magazine, good times. Even today it's one of the few albums I still enjoy listening from start to finish.

The start of “Into the storm” after Morgoth says “She, the mistress of her own lust” on a spoken intro track gives me the shivers to this day and I still consider it the best banging start of the album I have ever heard.

“Into the Storm” is just brilliant. Punching intro, vocals come in for a little “soft” intro themselves, and then vocals go hard (“where can I run”) and we’re off to the races. I’m typically a guitar guy, but man I really enjoy Hansi’s talents to compose vocals…mixing moods, styles, speed, all in the span of a few verses. Reminds me of “Time Stands Still”. That second verse comes in real self-reflective and interior like (“I stand alone”) and then BOOM “I dare you!!!”.

Re: Power Metal: is it really about dragons? (2018)

#130

Post by scop »

ykonstant wrote: post #43
scop wrote: post #40

I only recently discovered Blind Guardian. Typically listened to thrash, rarely power metal. Man, what excellence. Brilliant vocals, great choruses, distinct and unique sense of melody both on guitar and vocals. Something I really love about them is that vocals, guitars, and drums all have very prominent and distinct parts. In many bands I feel like one instrument will often dominate and the band becomes boring. I.e.…

Blind Guardian carried me through high school on the backs of dragons.

Goosebumps reading that. On the back of dragons!
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