Other Power and Progressive Metal bands

[keeper of the flame]

To reply to the original question: Stratovarius is like singing happy kindergarten melodies over a double bass driven band arrangement. I hate it.

Other bands worth looking into include: Kamelot, Vanden Plas, Sun Caged.

 

[Liquid Shadow]

Statovarius used to be the best power metal out there, but lately it's all just meh.

I'd say go for Visions, Episode, or Destiny if you want some high quality power metal (and the fact that Jens Johansson happens to KICK MAJOR ASS makes it all that much better)



In reply to if anyone listens to Sonata Arctica: I do. I love them. They are the best power metal band out there currently IMO (unless you consider SX power metal, but I consider them more prog metal). Great music and great musicians all around, minus the cheesey lyrics about dragons and swords...even though dragons and swords can be cool.
My only criticism of them is that Tony Kakko strains his voice too much to reach the higher notes. His voice sounds excellent when he stays in his natural range, but it can get annoying when he's pushing himself too far (usually happens live)

 

[SevenString]

yeah, i'm with "keeper of the flame" on those recommendations.

Specifically, I'd go for "The Fourth Legacy" by Kamelot, and "Beyond Daylight" by Vanden Plas. Another one worth trying is ARK : Burn the Sun.

 

[Liquid Shadow]

Keep in mind that Sun Caged aren't power metal though. They're progressive metal, very much like SX or DT (though they don't sound like clones...they have their own sound, which is rather great I might add. Just don't listen to them expecting power metal)

 

[lunar still X]

Has anyone listened to Sonata Arctica?

yep.... love them!

 

[Meedleyx10]

yep.... love them!

sonata arctica is awesome? i love their stuff.....anybody who like sonata arctica is cool in my book

But as far as prog metal bands go....keep a look out for Outworld (Rusty Cooleys band)....i havea feeling well hear a lot from them in coming years. Hopefully more solo stuff form rusty too....hes like my fav guitarist (tied with petrucci and forte at least)

 

[RobbM]

Outworld is awesome, well, the one song I heard I liked, but I cant seem to find there CD anywhere...

 

[CarwynHywel]

Theres billions of Power Metal bands around, especially in mainland Europe....but for my vote, look at Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Kamelot, Hammerfall, Gamma Ray, Edguy, Dragonforce & Powerquest (UK!), Lost Horizon, Battlelore, Avantasia, Demons and Wizards, Iced Earth, Stratovarius.

These are probably the elite......obviously theres others though; anything with a dragon/sword/elf on the cover is probably good

 

[Meedleyx10]

Outworld is awesome, well, the one song I heard I liked, but I cant seem to find there CD anywhere...

its not out yet....i think the might have released an ep or something like that before...but the album should be out this summer if not sooner

 

[adam123]

(dream theater is obvious) so adagio ownz,
angra has some really great stuff,
kamelot got couple great song,
evergrey aswell,
Sonata Arctica latest album,
pain of salvation got some nice music aswell...

that's abou it

 

[korruption]

Balance of Power is also a kickass band. Just got "Ten More Tales of Grand Illusion" in the mail yesterday. My favourite on there are "Day Breaker" and "Savage Tears". Check er out!

 

[epicous]

Dark Moor, spanish power metal band, made an interesting album: "The Gates of Oblivion". Chromatic lines on keyboards. Vocalist was female, new singer is male.

 

[ChrisM.]

Some cool bands that are not too cheesy and write cool songs:

Sonata Arctica

Firewind

Narnia (their latest album is quite good)

 

[PRauhala]

Some cool bands that are not too cheesy and write cool songs:

Sonata Arctica

Firewind

Narnia (their latest album is quite good)

- Narnia is Gospel-metal (in new cd Malmsteens old Drummer and and in Stratovarius new cd too >> Anders Johansson)

..but Shadow Gallery and Adagio are very good stuff - i think you like it!!

 

[hammerforce]

tunnelvision

 

[epicous]

More commercial bands?

 

[EyeballKid]

More commercial bands?

Um...new Kamelot? (Not that I personally think that's a bad thing. Black Halo and Ghost Opera are quite awesome, but definitely more commercial in scope)

Also, the newest Nightwish album (Dark Passion Play).

Iced Earth, for power metal, is pretty commercial when you get right down to it. Especially song structure-wise.

 

[noble savage]

A guy I used to work with introduced me to Iced Earth. They're pretty good. Although I'm not really into power metal, I've been meaning to explore a bit further for a while now.

 

[Kenneth R.]

A thread about other bands and CDs of power and progressive metal.
A question: Is Stratovarius Elemments part II worth buying?
Thanks for recommendations.

Stratovarius anything isn't worth buying.

 

[Iced Dog]

Wow, nice thread spelunking

anything with a dragon/sword/elf on the cover is probably good

classic

fuck, that's going in the sig