FIREWIND - WORLD ON FIRE (Oh hell yeah!!)

[TribunalRecords]

i like Iced Earth, but from interviews i have read he acts as if he "created the wheel" and Iced Earth isn't original even in the slightest. Were they one of the only US bands championing power metal back then? sure thing and i respect that. Again, i like Iced Earth, but he pushes the true level of their importance and influence sometimes.

 

[AngraRULES]

well personally for me NR are far superior to a band like Sonata Arctica in my book. i like SA, but i don't think they are that great overall. but again, just my opinion naturally.

Don't get me wrong, I love NR. The music is great. I do like SA too, although haven't been a fan of the past few releases.

also would "dark" power metal be a different list? because i notice Evergrey isn't in your second tier and should be.

Maybe because for some reason I still keep Evergrey (and Symphony X, I don't think I listed them either) in the Prog Metal category. If I were to add them, then Evergrey would totally be in the second tier while SX would be placed in the more recent entries to top.

 

[tenebre]

i like Iced Earth, but from interviews i have read he acts as if he "created the wheel" and Iced Earth isn't original even in the slightest. Were they one of the only US bands championing power metal back then? sure thing and i respect that. Again, i like Iced Earth, but he pushes the true level of their importance and influence sometimes.

i think you got the wrong impression. From the few times I have met and spoke with him, he comes off as humble and thankful. I think media interviews often come off different than they should, and not just with Jon, but many other artists.

 

[TribunalRecords]

i think you got the wrong impression. From the few times I have met and spoke with him, he comes off as humble and thankful. I think media interviews often come off different than they should, and not just with Jon, but many other artists.

regardless, i do not have to love the man to love the band. i still own the iced earth catalog (now in duplicate thanks to CM's mini LP series!)

 

[Fire breath]

World On Fuckin' Fire people! Actually not be a complete fanboy, the verses are a touch flat and boring but the chorus kills and the guit/keys duel towards the end is awesome and the heavy riffs crush at the end. This track reminds me of Brainstorm for some reason. I can imagine Andy Franck belting this one out.

 

[Diamond45]

Major thread bump!

Now how the fuck did I miss this thread?? Firewind is one of my favorite power metal bands!!

Can't wait for the rest of this album!

 

[Metaldrumz]

Diamond45 was great to have you in chat! For all upcoming show reminders and news please sign up here!

http://www.themetalmadman.com/newsletter.html

 

[DuchessOfDork]

Now how the fuck did I miss this thread?? Firewind is one of my favorite power metal bands!!

I take it you will be seeing them when they come to Jaxx then, yes?

'cuz I kinda have some tickets I need to sell for that show...

 

[Diamond45]

I take it you will be seeing them when they come to Jaxx then, yes?

'cuz I kinda have some tickets I need to sell for that show...

And why are you selling tickets? Cuz you're not going? Or are you with one of the opening bands and selling through them?

And yes, I'll be at the Jaxx show. It's only an hour's drive north of where I live. (when the traffic is half way decent)

Edit: Now if I actually looked at your sig Gotcha! I'll ask my friend who'll probably be going with me if he needs one too.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

Awesome! Lemme know. We use PayPal to get tickets to people, so you don't have to worry about meeting up with us beforehand and stuff.

 

[AngraRULES]

Can't wait to see them on Nov. 6th!! \m/

 

[KingsGene]

Get a free download of "Ark of Lies" from the new CD by sharing this page on Facebook or Twitter:
http://www.centurymedia.com/specials/firewind/

 

[DTJeff]

On the subject of "top" power metal bands, I find the genre to be pretty lopsided these days, and most of the "big" bands aren't half as good as some of the newer (meaning come about since the late 90s) bands:

-Primal Fear
-Nocturnal Rites
-Firewind
-Dungeon (will sing this band's praises forever. 4 of my favorite power metal albums, period.)
-Labyrinth (fell off for a bit, but the new album is as strong as anything they've done)


Of the old bands I think Blind Guardian still holds up by far the best, as "The Edge of Time" has actually become one of my favorite records by them, but most of the other stand-bys of the genre have trouble releasing anything I care too much about anymore. I respected Strato's "Polaris" a lot for what they came back from to make it, but it still doesn't ever get spun anymore. Edguy have moved in a more hard rock direction but I still genuinely like what they're doing. Gamma Ray had an amazing 5 album/10 year run, but I think LOTF II was a step down and the new one a step further down. I think Kai has just about written everything worthwhile at this point, it's just burnout. Helloween aren't doing too bad, "Gambling with the Devil" was their best in years I think. Kamelot isn't even power metal enough for me to think of them as power metal anymore, but even still, their last two were a bit of a step down from The Fourth Legacy through The Black Halo in my eyes. Sonata Arctica are crap anymore in my opinion, and the existence of Hammerfall and Iced Earth anymore is just unnecessary in my opinion. Loved them when I was first getting into the genre years ago, but I can't tell you the last time I genuinely wanted to listen to anything they've put out since 2005-ish (save for Iced Earth's Ten Thousand Strong). Angra's last album didn't do too much for me, and thus far I'm not blown away by the new one, though I'm sensing it may grow on me, so I don't wanna call it now.

...And I think that just about covers my thoughts on the core of the power metal genre. I'm sure there's something here for everyone to find and bitch about.