There are 2 forms of metal known as power metal, which have been divided into 2 sub-genres known as American Power Metal and European Power Metal, due to the prevalence of the style in the respective areas (there are Euro Power bands from the US, and Amer. Power bands in Europe, though). I personally think the whole "power metal" genre should be dropped, and Euro power metal should be known as "Cheesy, repetitive metal" (j/k, but there should be 2 separate genre names because the 2 genres are not very similar). American power metal is bands like Sanctuary, old Fates Warning, and early Nevermore. Nevermore has become more of a thrash band over the years, though, fitting in very nicely with bay area thrash bands like Forbidden. Euro power metal is stuff like Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Stratovarius, etc, and sounds pretty much nothing like American power metal.
Really American power metal should just be "power metal" since it focuses on a more powerful sound, and Euro should be "epic metal" or something like that (though some contend there is an "epic metal" genre which is different from Euro power metal, though I haven't been able to hear the difference).
... but what (stupid?) person would say that? 
