Power Metal

Endless – The Truth, the Chaos, the Insanity Review

By El Cuervo on March 21, 2016 in 2016, Brazilian Metal, Power Metal, Power Prog, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 9 comments

“Latin American metal is cruelly under-represented on the world stage, lacking the major label support of their European and North American counterparts. The exception to this seems to be power metal, with figureheads such as Angra and Hibria having emerged from Brazil’s urban jungles. A compatriot to these names, Endless has been limited by a spotty output of only 2 albums in around 20 years but their third full-length is now due and calls itself The Truth, the Chaos, the Insanity. Power metal though it is, drawing on the Europower formula, the riffy rhythm guitars land it somewhere close to Symphony X’s prog-power.” Well, how could this be bad!?

Sunburst – Fragments of Creation Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 18, 2016 in 2016, Greek Metal, Inner Wound Recordings, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 52 comments

“It’s well known that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with power metal and progressive/power. Some of my favorite bands ever—Symphony X and Blind Guardian the most obvious among them—fall into this category, and I keep an ever-watchful eye peeled for new additions to my catalogue. Yet the genre is also plagued by some serious annoyances for me. First, many of the most popular vocalists are people who I find nigh-on unlistenable (Warrel Dane). Second, unlike my esteemed colleague and dictatorial collaborator Lieutenant Corporal Steel Druhm, I find that much of the music being produced within this scene just isn’t terribly heavy. Bands that others worship—see Anubis Gate—feel washed out and bland, offering up little “metal” to keep me engaged.”

Paragon – Hell Beyond Hell Review

By Steel Druhm on March 11, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 12 comments

“Paragon has been nothing but consistent over their 22 year career, releasing album after album of raging Germanic power metal in the same vein as Grave Digger and Iron Savior. Though they’ve had plenty of fun moments, 2012’s Forces of Destruction took a big leap forward in terms of song writing, heaviness and staying power. Coming off their best album to date obviously puts more pressure on the band and perhaps that’s the reason for the 4 year wait for Hell Beyond Hell.” Roll out the Cheese wheel!

Demise of the Crown – Demise of the Crown Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 1, 2016 in Canadian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Power Metal, 27 comments

“After a conversation with a friend about power metal, I came to the realization that many of my favorite bands in the genre are cheesy as hell. I’ve come to this slightly ashamed conclusion many times over the years, and as I’ve done before, I pulled out my power metal collection in hopes that all the black, thrash, and death metal hadn’t lessened my love for Tolkien-based nonsense and eight-album concepts about the mighty Metalians.” Cheeses H. Christ, the Doctor is such a Helloweenie!

Sinbreed – Master Creator Review

By Steel Druhm on February 23, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 30 comments

“Germanic power metal has really become its own little thing over the years, making it a reliably punchy alternative to the overly pompous, fancy-pantsy, chaos wizardy sounds of traditional Euro-power. One of the better purveyors of this muscular brand of Teutonic terror is Sinbreed.” Manly power metal for manly men (and women).

Serenity – Codex Atlanticus Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 27, 2016 in 2016, Austrian Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 48 comments

Serenity is an Austrian symphonic power metal that I’ve just recently learned our very own Steel Druhm has been fawning over, thus once again sullying my hard-earned reputation by rubber-stamping anything that reminds him of his wasted youth. In an effort to put a stop to this travesty, I decided to review Codex Antlanticus myself. Having never heard the band—certainly the facts pursuant to Druhm‘s overzealous ratings aren’t necessary in order to feel offended—I immersed myself in Serenity’s 5th full length release bracing only for the worst. Hilarity, as one might expect, ensued.

Avantasia – Ghostlights Review

By Steel Druhm on January 19, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 68 comments

“If there was ever a “Yacht Metal” band, Tobias Sammet’s aspirational ego project Avantasia is it. Perpetually over-sized, ostentatious, crowded with celebrities and in danger of sinking under the weight of its own pretentious pomposity, the entire catalog is a monument to the man’s inherent lack of restraint.” But is that ship still seaworthy and can they see the Ghostlights from the distant shore?

Rhapsody of Fire – Into the Legend Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 13, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, Italian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 42 comments

“It’s sometimes hard to keep up with the entity we call [Luca Turilli’s] Rhapsody [of Fire]. Starting in the late ’90s, these Italian cheese-mongers took the power metal world by storm with their bombastic, orchestral power metal. The young, bright-eyed Italian maestros reeled off four albums that added an epic, operatic flair to the neoclassical metal of the 1980s they’d grown up on. While the band’s near-demise is one of the greatest scares of my adult fandom, Rhapsody of Fire’s return from the near annihilation was celebrated with two excellent records and an EP in short succession. Then tragedy struck. Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli would each get their own version of the band—with Turilli’s staying on Nuclear Blast, and Staropoli’s moving on to AFM.” What became of these poor, Italian maestros in the big, cold, dark world? Click to find out!

Signum Regis – Chapter IV: The Reckoning Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 24, 2015 in 2015, Power Metal, Reviews, Ulterium Records, Power Metal, 33 comments

“Being the black metal fan I am, I’ve scared many a girlfriend with my devil-worshiping, goat-sacrificing practices; which – according to these people – are not the result of the music but because that’s who I am and why I listen to metal music. All people have opinions and metal fans are no different. Many were recently offended because of the semi-regular appearance of the Christian deity in this year’s releases. As you can probably surmise, Signum Regis is here to continue this God-fearing trend.” We’re reviewing so much godly music lately that we may qualify for tax exempt status!

Diviner – Fallen Empires Review

By Steel Druhm on November 20, 2015 in 2015, Greek Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Ulterium Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 44 comments

“Greece loves heavy metal. This is known. From symphonic blackness to cheese-coated dragon and sandal power silliness, they’re well represented as fans and performers alike. Now Diviner joins the eternal fight to defend the faith with their Fallen Empires debut, weaponizing a kind of traditional metal with deep roots in the mid-80s American scene.” Enter the No Dragon Zone!