Fates Warning is good but Symphony X is better. Symphony X's latest album "The Odyssey" is in my favorites of all time and it is the perfect blend of power and prog. This band really delivers live as I have seen them three times the latest opening for Queensryche. As far as Fates Warning they were a great band turned to an ok band. I like some of their today stuff but it does get boring and I really have to be in a certain mood to listen to A Pleasant Shade of Gray or Disconnected. I also own Parallels which is ok but a bit too Queensryche. Aside from those three I own the first two albums which just fucking kill and everyone should own them.
Edguy is a great band and one of my favorites in power metal. They get cheesy but they also make some killer stuff and they are all about having a good time. Mandrake is a phenomenal album but their latest effort Hellfire Club is my favorite and probably my number one of this year so far. Some of the stuff they come up with is just so brilliant and you don't have to take it all seriously. Listen to "King Of Fools". Delievers a great message but its a fun song. Even more fun listen to "Lavatory Love Machine" rather than being a typical power metal band and making a cheesy songa bout having sex with dragons and holding the almighty sword of steel they are talking about an airplane going down and fucking the living shit out of the stewardist before they die... now thats metal.
Tad Morose - fucking killer. I was turned on to them with their latest album Modus Vivendi. They are original and have elements of Queensryche, Savatage, and WASP in them. The only thing from WASP is that lead singer Urban Breed has some similair vocals to Blackie Lawless. The music kicks ass, the vocals arent high pitch or cheesy more aggressive. Get the new album and listen to songs like "No Mercy", "Clearly Insane", "Take On The World", and "Life In A Lonley Grave" and tell me this band isnt good.
Edguy and Tad Morose are doing a one off show together at BB Kings in New York City September 15. I can't fucking wait.
Grave Digger - Possibly my number 1 favorite power metal band. I flew from New Jersey to Cleveland, Ohio in June to see them perform at the Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles Festival which marked their first ever show in America. The vocals are rough, the music kicks ass, you can't ask for more. Their only weak album which is still close to above average is War Games. You can't go wrong with anything by them though especially The Reaper, Heart Of Darkness, and The Grave Digger.
Running Wild - This band falls right behind Grave Digger for me. Yo ucan't make cheesier topics than pirate ship and hidden treasure but you can't make more kick ass music than this band. They are very good and long overdue to come to America. Their a perfect blend of speed and power. Under Jolly Roger is essential "Raise Your Fist" is a metal anthem.
Stratovarius - Was a great band, what they are now? God only knows. Very positive messages in music really some of the greatest stuff I have ever heard comes from Visions, Destiny, and Episode. Three amazing albums. "I Walk To My Own Song" off their latest album Elements 2 is one of the most uplifting motivational songs I have ever listened to. While Elements 1 and 2 werent the greatest they have their moments. Get their mid to late 90's stuff.
Rage - Killer band. One of the German power metal pioneers with Helloween, Sinner, Grave Digger, and Running Wild. Thrashy at times, speedy at times, never a dull moment with this band. Listen to Execution Guaranteed and you will be floored.
Brainstorm - I can't say enough good shit about this band. Their latest album Soul Temptation was among my top three for 2003 and it just fucking kills. The vocals are aggressive and the song topics are not your traditional stuff. They do get epic and they totally deliver when they do. Listen to the first three songs off the latest album "Highs Without Lows", "Doorway To Survive", and "The Leading" it doesn't get much better than that. Saw them do their first American show at the BWBK 6 Pack Weekend and was blown away, stood front row for them.
There are many other great power metal bands such as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Metal Church, Attacker, Zandelle, Sonata Arctica, Jag Panzer, Helstar, Savatage, Seven Witches, Rhapsody and Hammerfall (yeah Hammerfall and Rhapsody are rather cheesy but they do kick ass and when im working out in the gym their music can really give me a rush to keep going and finish my set).
