page_title: List of power metal bands
section_title: N
hierarchical_section_title: List of power metal bands / N
caption_attribution_description: English: Nightwish in 2009.
context_page_description: This is a list of power metal bands including notable bands that have at some point in their careers played power metal or heavily contributed to the genre's development. Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a more uplifting sound, in contrast to the heaviness and dissonance prevalent in styles such as doom metal and death metal. Power metal bands usually have anthem-like songs with fantasy-based subject matter and strong choruses, thus creating a theatrical, dramatic and emotionally "powerful" sound. Power metal has two distinct early styles, which developed in parallel. US Power Metal was developed in the mid/late 80s, pioneered by bands such as Omen characterized by harsh thrashy sound and a focus on speed and soaring operatic vocals. It was directly influenced by speed metal and NWOBHM, and had a drop in popularity in the 90s. European Power Metal was developed in the late 80s by key bands such as Helloween, and was more melodic, employing keyboards, synths and anthem-like songs.
caption: Nightwish in 2009
exif: {"Image Software": "Picasa", "Image DateTime": "2012:07:27 22:18:10", "Image Artist": "Picasa", "Image ExifOffset": "96", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "364", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "7159", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2012:07:27 22:15:48", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "566", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "345", "Interoperability InteroperabilityVersion": "[48, 49, 48, 48]", "Interoperability RelatedImageWidth": "640", "Interoperability RelatedImageLength": "426", "EXIF InteroperabilityOffset": "228", "EXIF ImageUniqueID": "989c99c7913d01fccbbd8f1aa0829446"}