Definitive band in each genre

[mel_progson]

Sorry if this has been done before in a thread...
and this is for my own curiosity...

Who do you think the CURRENT defining band is for both prog and power styles..

Interested to hear everyones opinion...and keep it to 1 band for each hehe.

 

[Kenso]

progressive metal the defining band is dream theater, i dont think they are the best, but right now they are on top publicity wise and all that.

power metal i really dont know... possibly rhapsody

over all though i think iron maiden is at the top of metal period, and rightfully so cause maiden fucking owns

 

[The Invisible Guest]

Dream Theater & Blind Guardian

 

[adaher]

Dream Theater is the unquestioned prog metal champ.

In power metal the picture is a little muddied. I'd have to say the definitive power metal brain, if not necessarily a band, is Tobias Sammet these days.

It's kinda tough though, because all of the great power metal bands had their best releases a few years back. You could once have made a case for Stratovarius, and might be able to again if their next album is a big return to form. Or Gamma Ray, but Powerplant was the last really acclaimed album by them.

 

[Ascension]

Prog = Dream Theater...they've simply owned the genre since Images & Words & currently still do.

Power = Hmmm...l dunno. Maybe Sonata Arctica or Dragonforce.

 

[kashford]

Prog is definitely Dream Theater. However, look for others like Redemption and Riverside to replace them in the coming years.
Power is to broad of a genre. Someone could say Blind Guardian, and they'd be right for the type of power metal they play. So a list would be Blind Guardian, Angra, Edguy and maybe Stratovarius will come back into the fray if their new album is any good.

 

[rms]

Dream Theater & Blind Guardian

Strange considering BG for power metal, only a few CDs are even released in the sub-genre.

Rhapsody easily for Power imo, nothing shows the cheesiness yet amazing skill in a band for the sub-genre. And prog, I would say Threshold I guess since they're my favorite, but the guitars aren't that strong...DT is a good guess I would say but they are so boring I can't enjoy 'em

 

[ALowerDeep]

Dream Theater & Blind Guardian

+1 No doubt about it

 

[YtseJammer]

Dream Theater and Helloween

 

[Heavenly Call]

Dream Theater and Helloween

+1

Honorable Mentions in Power Metal to Gamma Ray and Primal Fear (if we're not talking about people who started it, but maybe perfected it.)

 

[booB]

Dream Theater and Helloween

That's what I say, too... Savatage was (I think) the first band to be called "power metal", back in the 80s, but Helloween is the archetypical band of the genre -- that is, as long as we're talking about EURO power metal. There are other forms of power metal which sound much different, but IMO when someone says "power metal", I think of Helloween and their endless clones.

 

[Dolamite S. Biffle]

Well if you want to base it on latest album sales and things like that Dream Theater and Dragonforce win hands down. Though overall Dream Theater still wins for Prog, but I think Iced Earth is a way bigger Power band than Blind Guardian at least in the US.

 

[RiffDaemon]

... Savatage was (I think) the first band to be called "power metal", back in the 80s, but Helloween is the archetypical band of the genre -- that is, as long as we're talking about EURO power metal. There are other forms of power metal which sound much different, but IMO when someone says "power metal", I think of Helloween and their endless clones.

I read somewhere that some consider Rainbow to be the first. I had only heard maybe one or two songs by them, and I didn't really consider it "Power" at all. But one night on VH1 Classic - Metal Mania methinks - they played this Rainbow song ... something about a highway and a motorcycle in the song, can't remember the name ... and there was this instrumental break in the middle: amazing, and it soundedly like something you'd hear Kai and company doing. Strangely though, I still haven't looked into them at all

 

[booB]

I read somewhere that some consider Rainbow to be the first.

It seems like Blackmore is generally credited with bringing neoclassical guitar to rock music... however, considering Rainbow to be "metal" probably depends on who you talk to.

 

[mel_progson]

This is really interesting. Thanks for the opinions. Seems prog metal has a defining band-dream theater...whilst power metal isnt so clear cut. I would def agree with DT being the defining prog metal band. Power metal is a diff story. You could say helloween specifically for the influence in the old days, but to me they havent done anything currently that gives them the spot. Dragonforce seem very popular but to me seem very insincere...like they play without any feeling whatsoever. Iced Earth are a big force in power metal band but lineup changes and drama kinda undermine them in my book. Stratovarius? maybe. Does anyone really listen to Rhapsody (of fire) anymore? To me even Blind Guardian arent at the top of their game anymore. Nevermore still kick ass, but are they power metal really? I guess Gamma Ray and Primal Fear are big forces in power metal too.

Looking forward to more suggestions.

 

[Cheiron]

Progressive Metal : Dream Theater
Power Metal : Helloween
Traditional Metal : A tie between Iron Maiden (who could go under power metal too) and Judas Priest
Doom : Saint Vitus
Death : Death
Black Metal : Cradle of Filth (I just have to disagree about Venom if anybody wants to say it ;p)
Tech-metal : Cynic
prog-death : Opeth
Folk-metal : Skyclad
Thrash : Slayer
neo-classical metal : Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
funk-metal : Primus
Fusion-Metal : Planet X
nu-metal : Korn
pop metal: Scorpions

 

[Kaosaur]

Progressive Metal : Dream Theater
Power Metal : Helloween
Traditional Metal : A tie between Iron Maiden (who could go under power metal too) and Judas Priest
Doom : Saint Vitus
Death : Death
Black Metal : Cradle of Filth (I just have to disagree about Venom if anybody wants to say it ;p)
Tech-metal : Cynic
prog-death : Opeth
Folk-metal : Skyclad
Thrash : Slayer
neo-classical metal : Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
funk-metal : Primus
Fusion-Metal : Planet X
nu-metal : Korn
pop metal: Scorpions

Cynic over Meshuggah? Say it ain't so. ;_; hehe. And for Folk-Metal I would probably go with Subway to Sally, but that's just my personal taste talking. Otherwise we're pretty much in agreement...(Although I'd say BG over Helloween but that's a tough debate)

I look at lists like these and I find there's a common thread. Typically these bands are uninitiated peoples' gateways into a genre. I think that should definitely be a criteria when thinking about such bands (or at least that those of us who listen still put the bands that got us into it above all others).

 

[Kenso]

Progressive Metal : Dream Theater
Power Metal : Helloween
Traditional Metal : A tie between Iron Maiden (who could go under power metal too) and Judas Priest
Doom : Saint Vitus
Death : Death
Black Metal : Cradle of Filth (I just have to disagree about Venom if anybody wants to say it ;p)
Tech-metal : Cynic
prog-death : Opeth
Folk-metal : Skyclad
Thrash : Slayer
neo-classical metal : Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
funk-metal : Primus
Fusion-Metal : Planet X
nu-metal : Korn
pop metal: Scorpions

Progressive Metal : Dream Theater > agree

Power Metal : Helloween > good pick, ill go with that

Traditional Metal : A tie between Iron Maiden (who could go under power metal too) and Judas Priest > i fucking love priest, but Iron maiden gotta take this one

Black Metal : Cradle of Filth (I just have to disagree about Venom if anybody wants to say it ;p) > what about dimmu borgir? i dont keep up with black metal so i was curious

prog-death : Opeth > agreed

Thrash : Slayer > ive got to go with megadeth here

neo-classical metal : Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force > ill agree, although i think there are better bands out there

Fusion-Metal : Planet X > good man

nu-metal : Korn > who cares?

pop metal: Scorpions > good pick

 

[Jasonic]

That's what I say, too... Savatage was (I think) the first band to be called "power metal", back in the 80s,

Metallica were the first band to coin the term, with a demo of the same name.
Pantera a few years later titled an album "POWER METAL"

Though, obviously, neither band fits the mold of what most people today would consider to be power metal.

By today's definition of power metal, I would think early nods would have to go to Jag Panzer, and maybe even Grave Digger.

Helloween were speed before power (once again, that is power by "today's" definition).

Savatage in the 80's were, like many bands, a bit lost in the mix.
They were too light for the die hard thrash scene, and too heavy for the glam scene. I dunno, I always just thought of them then as a more technical thrash band, though obviously their sound has evolved a lot since Sirens, Hall, etc, etc..... Never considered them to be a power metal band though.

 

[Jasonic]

Black Metal : Cradle of Filth (I just have to disagree about Venom if anybody wants to say it ;p) > what about dimmu borgir? i dont keep up with black metal so i was curious

Nothing black at all about Cradle.
They are barely mallgoth these days.

Lyrically and musically, I don't think many can top the mighty IMMORTAL.