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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)

#31

Post by aerhardt »

TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #29
aerhardt wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A pity, because there was a vibrant power metal scene here in the 90s and 2000s. They mostly sang in Spanish though.

It would probably make the analysis a bit difficult, but it would be interesting to see it incorporate more international bands. Some bands are still going strong, although my favorite band Mago de Oz feels like it definitely peaked between 2000 and 2010 with the release of the Gaia albums. I'm not sure that I'd call all their albums power metal, but some of their newer stuff is definitely more power metal-y. If anyo…

I don't think Mägo de Oz was power metal, but their early 2000s material definitely had some influences, since power metal was such an important current in European metal at the time.

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

#33

Post by lukan »

gnatolf wrote: post #6
lukan wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"some lyric based clustering is as good as anything to separate genres" I think melody and rhythm are kind of important, too (otherwise a minstrels verbal recitation could count as power metal). But it definitely is a good metric.

I wonder whether bands are more consistent in style of play over their lifetime, as compared to lyrics or other 'metrics'. It's probably easy to find all types of variance/consistency. My hunch would be that the more specific and entrenched a genre is, the closer these bands stick to their styles (and lyrics).

"My hunch would be that the more specific and entrenched a genre is, the closer these bands stick to their styles (and lyrics)."

They usually also have the problem, that their fans often don't like them to change. They want more of what they know, but better. Not different (especially in entrenched genres).

Turisas for example, a band making songs mainly about vikings. I watched them live a few years ago - was quite good, but the band made remarks that they do not take the whole viking thing that serious (nostalgic buisness they called it) and would rather play something else. And they did one song in the end, in a quite different style (sounded like futuristic metal) but the audience was not thrilled - they were there for viking and glorious battle metal. So this is what Turisas are still playing, this is what brings them money, but they have not made a new album in over 10 years, but how can you make a good album, with a theme you don't find that exiting anymore?

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

#34

Post by anthk »

aerhardt wrote: post #28
anthk wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spain had Basque speed metal bands, but not Power. Also there's Reno Renardo but it's an obvious parody of Metal, a la Nanowar.

I can't tell from your comment whether you're saying that there were no power metal bands in the Basque Country, or more broadly in Spain... If it's the latter: there was absolutely a power metal scene in Spain. Avalanch, Warcry, Dark Moor (in the article) were power metal all the way and extremely prominent in the broader metal scene - they were some of the biggest metal bands of the early 2000s. Saratoga and Tierra…

Yeah, I forgot about Warcry and Avalanch. Tierra Santa definitively had some overlap with Power Metal.

I was about to say 'Basque Power Metal' bands. Berri Txarrak it's more akin to Rise Against. Su Ta Gar it's speed metal with some thrash influences.

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

#35

Post by anthk »

darkwater wrote: post #27
anthk wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spain had Basque speed metal bands, but not Power. Also there's Reno Renardo but it's an obvious parody of Metal, a la Nanowar.

Big Nanowar fan here, but I would not day they parody metal...I mean, they obviously do but at the same time they actually like metal. So, it's not your typical parody, it's more kind of an inside joke.

The same with Reno Renardo, obviouly they do tons of references to the most known bands.

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

#36

Post by anthk »

TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #29
aerhardt wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A pity, because there was a vibrant power metal scene here in the 90s and 2000s. They mostly sang in Spanish though.

It would probably make the analysis a bit difficult, but it would be interesting to see it incorporate more international bands. Some bands are still going strong, although my favorite band Mago de Oz feels like it definitely peaked between 2000 and 2010 with the release of the Gaia albums. I'm not sure that I'd call all their albums power metal, but some of their newer stuff is definitely more power metal-y. If anyo…

Mago is Folk Metal. Also, before Gaia there was Finisterra which was everywhere.

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

#37

Post by mikub »

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…

I can imagine some lyrics can be hard to listen to for an english speaking native. Manowar made a german version of "Heart of steal" it's called "Herz aus Stahl" it's so bad when I heard it for the first time I thought "Oh man I hope we don't sound that bad to all the people who speak english when we're singing english."

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

#38

Post by lukan »

TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #29
aerhardt wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A pity, because there was a vibrant power metal scene here in the 90s and 2000s. They mostly sang in Spanish though.

It would probably make the analysis a bit difficult, but it would be interesting to see it incorporate more international bands. Some bands are still going strong, although my favorite band Mago de Oz feels like it definitely peaked between 2000 and 2010 with the release of the Gaia albums. I'm not sure that I'd call all their albums power metal, but some of their newer stuff is definitely more power metal-y. If anyo…

"2000 and 2010 with the release of the Gaia albums"

That is when I was listening to them and did not follow on them later on. Did they produce anything interesting after that? Even just a single good song?

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

#40

Post by scop »

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. great vocals, no guitar solos or great guitar but could care less for vocals. When I started listening to Blind Guardian and heard a chorus for the first time, I thought “Dang that was awesome, but I bet the guitar solo will suck or not exist”…and MAN was I wrong. Brilliant vocals and brilliant guitar work. And then that drumming is just always going. My life is 2% better for having found them.
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