Power Metal in America

[Seripha]

So, I've given this a lot of thought, and I figured I would try to elicit some opinions from fellow power metal lovers (Or, at least, I can only assume you all love power metal, given the general love of Theocracy).

The question, "Why isn't power metal more popular in America, especially among Christians?"

Now, my sampling of people could just be skewed, but I generally tend to find that people I know, Americans obviously, dislike this genre of music. Maybe I was naive, but I did not realize this was the case until a little over a year ago. I've always loved power metal. I've been an avid follower of Nightwish, Freedom Call, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, etc. for many years...

Then I discovered Christian power metal. I had no idea it even existed! I fell so deeply in love with bands such as Theocracy, Rob Rock, Impellitteri, HB, and so forth that I thought it my responsibility to inform my Christian brethren. What I was met with, in general, was disdain. I couldn't believe some of the responses I got. Not only did they not like it, but they also could not even appreciate the technical prowess required to play such an intricate genre of music. One of my female friends went so far as to call the music (specifically On Eagles' Wings) gross... Gross!

I was in shock. How could this beautiful music be so despised by so many people? Would people really rather listen to the latest drivel rolling off America's top 40? Do they really have a deep felt appreciation for those one chord, lyrically lacking, drum yawning American pop songs, and yet have the audacity to call Theocracy gross? It's mind-boggling. I have a wide range of musical tastes and social circles, but I just can't seem to figure this one out.

So, has anyone else had similar experiences, or do I just attract friends with terrible tastes in music?

Cheers,
Seripha

 

[JayArby]

I have had the exact same experience. Most people don't like power metal. But the worst part is, they do like pop...which is gross. That's the insulting part. As though pop was even comparable.

Actually, I have found that people with more musical knowledge generally are more open to power/prog metal--it's not too hard to 'get' for them. So part of it may just be that a lot of people have no decent musical education, which I believe is the case.

On the other hand, I believe many schools in Europe take musical education a lot more seriously, which possibly may help explain power/prog metal's popularity there.

Part of it also may have to do with preconceptions about 'metal'. I always hated 'metal' until I found out about power metal. I thought metal = screamo = yuck. Now I know otherwise. We have to let people know that real metal is not cookie monster metal--it's power metal!

(I apologize in advance to those who are die hard screamo fans )

 

[Child Of God]

Guys, don't think this is only the case in America !

Here in France, the music everyone likes is summer hits, crappy rap (I say crappy because good rap made by true musicians may exist ! =P), etc... and everything else is ignored, and when people listen to it they say "This is shit"... It may be because all that people see at TV and listen on the radio or from other people is that kind of music, and so, you must listen to that to be trendy or something...
Also, people here think of metal as a brutal and horrible noise, and most of metalheads listen to Black/Death metal.

I didn't listen to music until the age of 14 (3 years ago), and I looked for things I like and not things everyone likes when I started being interested in music. This may be why I discovered Power Metal, and others...

On the other hand, I believe many schools in Europe take musical education a lot more seriously, which possibly may help explain power/prog metal's popularity there.

Not really here, excepted if you are in a famous school (and there you will only listen to classical music, that's still better =P).
I remember that in music class we only listened and studied "old" music ( ~ < 1800), but we did not studied all the styles that exist nowadays... we never had full musical education !
I don't know what is done in other European countries though...

 

[Ryan M.]

I agree with this thread. I myself got into power and prog metal when I was about 14. When I started listening to it, I started listening to even MORE genres. Now I listen to a lot of different genres. It really makes you think and dig deeper. It helped me expand my horizons. It's too bad people stay away from such music. People only listen to what they are told is "good" these days. I try helping by meeting them half way. I introduce them to something in between my crazy music and their top 40 stuff. . That seems to let people see the light! Hahahaha! Many of my friends are now into Symphony X now! How did I do such a thing? I introduced them to Within Temptation and other such things. Something in between. A more mainstream answer to prog metal. After that I introduce them to something a little more risky. After that? Well... we'll see how it goes from there. Only time will tell. Slowly expose the world to different music.

A have a few friends who are now listening to: Avantasia, Within Temptation, Symphony X, Theocracy, Blind Guardian, etc.

I think the ones that had the widest appeal were Symphony X and Within Temptation... But not early Symphony X as that is a LOT less mainstream.

 

[Seripha]

Indeed, Within Temptation is a great segue into the eurometal genres, especially their latest album. I feel like it was a great departure from their symphonic/gothic roots into the more mainstream rock scene, but I actually liked it quite a bit. Perhaps, as you implied, it will serve as the greatest bait into the power metal scene.

 

[Ryan M.]

For sure. I'm listening to them right now! Love them!

 

[BM]

Speaking for myself, I'm a way to intense music listener to appreciate simple music. I like stuff that you can put on repeat without getting bored (I've managed 80 times in a row for one of Theocracy's songs, almost every time 'finding' new gems in the music, can't remember which one though...). But this only explains why I can't stand pop music.

So, why do others not like metal? I don't know... Could one appreciate metal as background music? I can imagine it's more distracting than other music when used as background music. So if you're not an intense music listener, I can imagine that you'd prefer more simple music. Some metal is also more easy-listening than other metal and so far these songs seem (at least to me) to be more poppy than the less easy-listening metal.

Do others have to be converted? Well, are they your roommates, colleagues, friends you visit a lot? I like the approach of spreading some easy-listening metal that still has the quality appreciated by intense music listeners. They might get into it.

Totally unexplained: people who listen to pop music intensely...

 

[Ryan M.]

Totally unexplained: people who listen to pop music intensely...

Hahahahaha!

 

[JayArby]

Totally unexplained: people who listen to pop music intensely...

Those are just the people with no hope for a good life.

 

[BM]

On the outside they look happy though.

 

[SeaStorm]

OP, when you talk about Americans generally disliking "this genre of music", it's not power metal per se. Most Americans dislike metal in general. It's not a popular form of music (relative to other types). The main reason is that it's simply too heavy for most people (especially Christians). I'm not surprised at all that a female friend of yours called it gross. It's even less popular amongst women.

Now, if you're talking about metal fans not liking power metal, then it's the opposite reason: it's not heavy enough: too many keyboards, too much orchestration, male vocals too high.

Being a metaller in America already puts you in a minority and being a power metaller puts you in a tiny niche. This is why our favorite band cannot tour the US, but can tour Europe

Fear not, we may be few in numbers, but we are a brotherhood! (and sisterhood, when the rare female does come around)

 

[Aish!]

I don't mind a bit of pop now and then, but unlike so many plebs, I have ears, a brain, and an extensive music education.
I believe that the three greatest musicians who have ever lived are Mozart, Händel and Matt Smith.
I wish more people had enough sense to realise this too, but at least we here know and love Theocracy!
We are indeed a blessed brotherhood!

 

[Killerah]

Most people I show power metal to associate it with the 80s. For those who are able to get past that, and who can appreciate a little cheesiness (one of the key ingredients to many, not all, great power metal bands), or nerdiness (I'm looking at you Nightfall in Middle Earth) can really enjoy it. I really love power metal, the genre is home to some of the most talented artists around and it's just one of the most enjoyable styles to listen to in my opinion.

So if someone genuinely likes Lady Gaga or Ke$ha, you're going to have a hard time converting them to power metal devotees. But if someone is open minded enough to appreciate a variety of musical styles and doesn't take themselves so seriously that they're afraid to listen to music that most of their friends would consider uncool, they'd probably be open to power metal. I fall into the latter category, thus I love the stuff!

 

[Verbum Lux]

I can understand that a lot of people don't appreciate metal, but On Eagles Wings ..... "gross?" What a bizarre word for that song. Maybe if it was death metal or metalcore or something, but On Eagles Wings is melodic, upbeat, and super-catchy. Eh, whatever.

But yeah, I think most Americans have bad tastes in music in general and metal in particular. I'm sure most people in Europe have what I consider to be bad tastes too, but it seems less prevalent. Sadly I don't see things getting better over here.

 

[Rob Taylor]

I, too, have always wondered why more Americans are not drawn to power metal. I listen to albums like Mirror Of Souls, Royal Hunt's Paradox, anything by Sonata Arctica, etc. and wonder how could anyone think this is not beautiful music. However, I generally don't try to convert people to my musical tastes and just assume that my friends are not going to like prog or power metal (my two favorite genres). I seldom discuss music with anyone besides my brother (the only other metal fan I know on any sort of personal level) or wife (whose musical tastes are more along the lines of Michael W. Smith, but she tolerates what I listen to and supports my music addiction ).

I do think metal has made a little bit more of an entrance into the mainstream in the US, especially with the younger crowd. I walked into a Borders a couple months ago and the teen clerks were playing Dragonfoorce over the speakers. I've also heard a local ice cream shop playing Nightwish before. I never heard power metal getting any such exposure when I first started getting into it in 1997. I think some of that is thanks to Guitar Hero III's inclusion of Dragonforce!

 

[SeaStorm]

I do think metal has made a little bit more of an entrance into the mainstream in the US, especially with the younger crowd. I walked into a Borders a couple months ago and the teen clerks were playing Dragonfoorce over the speakers. I've also heard a local ice cream shop playing Nightwish before. I never heard power metal getting any such exposure when I first started getting into it in 1997. I think some of that is thanks to Guitar Hero III's inclusion of Dragonforce!

There has definitely been a huge change in power metal's popularity in the US from 1997 to now. Even 10 years ago, no power metal band could tour the US and ProgPower in Atlanta each fall was the only way to see power metal bands live (just about all of the major bands made their US debuts at ProgPower). Now, all the major bands can tour the US and make ProgPower just one stop on a US tour.

I'm not saying it's become popular, only that there has gotten to be enough of a fanbase to support tours by the top tier bands (Strato, Sonata, Kamelot, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian, etc). In St. Paul/Minneapolis (3.5 million people), we have a loyal fanbase of about 300 people that will come out to see most power metal shows. 10 years ago, I doubt there were 50 people. So it is getting better in the US, especially with the kiddos!

 

[guitr4God]

I agree with this thread completely and i feel your pain Seripha. I have the same problem with a lot of my friends. I think a big part of the problem in America is that a lot of us (not me of course, but Americans in general) are confused about what metal really is. For example, I had a friend tell me they weren't into metal, excpet for Skillet. I think there are a lot of people who think bands like Skillet, Nickelback, Papa Roach, and Three Days Grace are "metal" When a true metal fan shows them a real metal song, and they think that the music they already listen too is metal, they instantly reject it becuase they think of it as a different part of the same genre that they don't like. I do agree that part of it has to do with education too. A few of my friends don't really listen to music excpet for working out and they love pop music for that (which i guess is understandable, but i think Symphony X and Theocracy work for that too ) So, without offending your friends it might be helpful for you to explain to them what metal really is and maybe they'll be more receptive. One more thing about americans is that we're pretty close-minded a lot of the time and because pop and alternative type music is what's played on the radio and focused on by the media, americans just excpet is as the only thing that can possibly be good.

Just my thoughts on the subject

 

[Verbum Lux]

There has definitely been a huge change in power metal's popularity in the US from 1997 to now. Even 10 years ago, no power metal band could tour the US and ProgPower in Atlanta each fall was the only way to see power metal bands live (just about all of the major bands made their US debuts at ProgPower). Now, all the major bands can tour the US and make ProgPower just one stop on a US tour.

I'm not saying it's become popular, only that there has gotten to be enough of a fanbase to support tours by the top tier bands (Strato, Sonata, Kamelot, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian, etc). In St. Paul/Minneapolis (3.5 million people), we have a loyal fanbase of about 300 people that will come out to see most power metal shows. 10 years ago, I doubt there were 50 people. So it is getting better in the US, especially with the kiddos!

Well, that's encouraging to hear.

Interesting that people are bringing up Symphony X here, as that's the band that really got me into metal. I was never anti-metal or anything, but for most of my life I didn't have any real interest in it. Then about eight years or so ago, I listened mostly to classic rock and indie stuff. Then one day a metalhead friend of mine at work gave me a couple of Symphony X albums to listen to - The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite. I was blown away. Since then, it's slowly become my favorite genre.

You never know what will reach someone though. My wife for example, whose tastes are about as non-metal as it gets, likes Alestorm. Go figure.

 

[Ryan M.]

Symphony X is just great! Funny thing is though... Theocracy is really what got me into metal.

 

[I Rock 4 God]

I have had the exact same experience. Most people don't like power metal. But the worst part is, they do like pop...which is gross. That's the insulting part. As though pop was even comparable.
(I apologize in advance to those who are die hard screamo fans )

I agree COMPLETELY!!!!!! except for the screamo part.

anyway, all pop is, is someone, (usually lady) who can't sing, singing really high, and a terrible drummer doing absolutely nothing.....

... = yuck

:zombie: 'you call that moosik??'