History AwesomeMusic / PowerMetal

* Music/AxelRudiPell has released an impressive fourteen studio albums in twenty years of SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic. While the lineup has changed frequently, the band still mantains a consistent and powerful sound. And even with two decades under his belt, Axel shows no sign of slowing down, either. His band has Johnny Gioeli, as in the singer for Music/{{Crush 40}}. That's right: the guy who sings most of the songs for ''freaking VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' is in a power metal band. Does it get any more epic than that?

* Lost Horizon's [[https://youtu.be/OffF0e2h4TU "Highlander The One"]] is this all the way through, but it has several moments that are there to blow you away, for instance 'HIS SWORD, SOLE COMPANION! AALLLLWAAAAAAYYYSS THEEEEEEREEEE!!!' and, of course, that amazing vocal solo near the end. The sheer epicness of that vocal solo was parodied by PelleK/Johanson in [[https://youtu.be/u6-fG2MJHuI Nothing But Metal]] where they claim to be so skilled that they can warm up their vocal chords by singing "Highlander", as it is child's play for them, apparently. To summarize: [[https://youtu.be/6EfhAFA2yFE WHOA-OH-OH-AH-AH-AAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WHOA-OH-OH-AH-AH-AAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai6pZ8nAf40 "Revelations"]] has such an amazing chorus.
** Or ''[[VideoGame/GuitarHero Guitar Hero III]]'''s ThatOneBoss: the infamous (and awesome, of course) [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaSYvvfzYaE "Through The Fire And Flames"]], whose hyper-epic ''two minutes and five seconds long guitar solo'' is actually played on two guitars in shifts due to its length, speed and complexity being too hard for just one.
** Also, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQDw5UT8CnA "My Spirit Will Go On"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AxCRho2gc8 "Storming The Burning Fields"]]. And [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywxm6zLEjFY "Operation Ground & Pound"]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Z62kM85rc "E.P.M"]] starts off like an 8-bit song and then...PURE EPIC.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TujBOilUp8o "Disciples of Babylon"]], a magnificent drum intro, acoustic guitar solo, and as always, a very interesting set of lyrics.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg8VFMZ6_g8 "Soldiers of the Wasteland"]], [[EpicRocking their second longest song]], is 9 minutes and 47 seconds of epic.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9q_W-wHpns "Lost Souls in Endless Time"]] - utterly glorious, as is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA7uEh2jYe4 "Black Winter Night"]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhZsJeq2FfU "Heart of the Storm"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU4GXgaCFTI "Cry Thunder"]]. Welcome to the band, Marc.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRt54xjIq7w "Heroes of Our Time"]] is downright inspiring.
%%** Here's an example: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWsct3ggkLE "Scars of Yesterday"]].
%%** There's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUkZcW-HKY "Evening Star"]] too.
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUWCrCXiVpA Valley Of The Damned]]",

* Winterfell plays power metal based off of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', and it is awesome. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXnC1kJQoc Stare into the eyes of your once dead friend, THIS GAME OF THRONES HAS REACHED ITS END!]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eqmkgSeYjI "Art of Life"]] by Music/XJapan.
%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=req-oDf2ZRc Teutonic Terror]] by Music/{{Accept}}. The stuff dreams are made of.

* Nevermore's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHKqbc_9Rc8 The River Dragon Has Come"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MunUgPubLN0 "Final Product"]].
%%** "Never Purify", "Ambivalent", [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrG_vHCl3ec "Final Product"]], their version of "[[Music/SimonAndGarfunkel The Sound of Silence]]", "Inside Four Walls"...well, everything they've done, pretty much.
* German metal band Music/RunningWild have a career of over 30 years of awesome music. But one song will always stand out: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZUN6-JwwMA "Under Jolly Roger"]]. Also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTlhUfBLKlM "Riding the Storm"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwnipCkNgDw "Bad to the Bone"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RhJ2hBNerc "Conquistadores"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIlMNKY3RxI "Ballad of William Kidd"]].

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3OaO_aeQNM Let your voice speak for the revolution, all join forces with all the powers that you feel; Let your heart beat for the revolution, led by the Templars of Steel!]]
** And their cover of Music/{{Helloween}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eNEBI5U3q4 "I Want Out"]]. How to do it in an awesome way? With Kai Hansen himself as guest.
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5oKUIxcBbo RIDERS!!! OF-THE-STORM!!! One with the wind, defenders of creation!]]
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7HiZYwPfA The sound of our cause, the meaning of life. Beyond stars and skies, now raise your hands and let it all come out! BRING THE HAMMER DOWN!!! SLAM IT DOWN TO THE GROUND!!! ONE FLAG, ONE WORLD UNITED!!!]]
* Music/BlindGuardian. There is a reason they're one of the most successful and influential bands in a [[PowerMetal genre that's practically devoted to producing [=CMOA=] music]]. One particularly notable song is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aB6CPyO0Ww "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)"]], which is [=CMOA=] music about a literary [=CMOA=]: when Fingolfin challenges Morgoth to a duel. "And Then There Was Silence" (both the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKuWaM87_Ew studio]] and the [[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4317318224185210852 live]] versions) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3YcxHl4nU "Mirror Mirror"]] must also be mentioned. There are way too many. [[FanNickname The Bards]] have ''mastered'' epic.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVQ6JZiPc9w VALHALLA, DELIVERANCE. WHY'VE YOU EVER FORGOTTEN ME!!!]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aB6CPyO0Ww "The fate of us all lies deep in the dark, WHEN TIME STANDS STILL AT THE IRON HILL!"]] ...It's that awesome. Hell, might as well call ''Nightfall In Middle-Earth'' an ''Album'' of Awesome. "Caught in the afterlife, I've gone too far/when sorrow sang softly and sweet..."
** '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6oNE2lT8R4 STOP!]]''' Be quiet now!
** "Theatre of Pain" deserves a mention. The version [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpAkE6wR3A with words]] is pretty neat, but the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuWr_2fIyBY the instrumental one]] is made of pure awsome. Also from the ''Somewhere Far Beyond'' album, the song [[Franchise/TheDarkTower "Somewhere Far Beyond"]]. "Look around and see, the world is turning fast, faster day by day!" and the great bagpipe solo in the middle are awesome.
** ''At the Edge of Time'' consists of nothing but pure musical awesomeness. Start off with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFZ_Uyqbr4k "Sacred Worlds"]]. Now wash it down with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNnhhejBkW8 "Wheel of Time"]].
** In 2015 they returned with their ''Beyond the Red Mirror'' album. While it can be said that it is made of awesome as a whole, the final song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQPriWuIgRs Grand Parade]] is a nine-and-half [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin pure epicness]] from start to finish, even by Blind Guardian standards. And it's even ''better'' live.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2SGIzjgXzI "Don't Say A Word"]] by Music/SonataArctica. [[LyricalDissonance Pity about the lyrics.]]
** Hell, let's just say their whole discography is made of awesomeness concentrate and leave it at that. Or maybe not. For your consideration, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usU0I8rfTFo "Black Sheep"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uGKPuVIwwM "Flag In The Ground"]] and, damn, freaking [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkR9ELR6cpM "Letter To Dana"]].
** The 9-minute epic [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHxuOGBIebY "White Pearl Black Oceans"]] deserves a mention too.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob9izeo-CU "Caleb"]], the prequel song to "Don't Say a Word" and "The End of This Chapter", is a goddamn masterpiece.
%%** Try [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkMhacy5Rwo "Replica"]] on for size.
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTXWGS1M7kc "My Selene"]].
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBeOtvpovYU "The Cage"]].
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6qrREJizY8 "Deathaura"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTqX4hY74KA "Fullmoon"]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwgDIX63Obw "Fly With the Black Swan"]].
* Music/IronSavior's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy948CGua5g "Deadly Sleep"]]. Starts out with perhaps the greatest guitar solo known to mankind and only gets better. Iron Savior, a band that truly puts the '''power''' in power metal, also has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwdNWUP2Q-Y "Wings of Deliverance"]], which is equally awesome. Also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2uW6zqAnFY "Titans Of Our Time"]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpovE6oBU5U "Tales Of The Bold"]], because, respectively, a character piece from the perspective of a MadScientist and a song about glorifying adventurers are awesome. But then it was written by [[Music/{{Helloween}} Kai]] [[Music/GammaRay Hansen]]!

%%** What can top [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehx1pUPw59s this cover?]] Why, the answer is short and simple. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSpuVsLnl1k Master! Of Puppets!]]
%%** That's the way how covering by van Canto works: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C2K889u_90 you take an epic and awesome rock'n'roll song]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7n35jz3As0 crack awesomity up to eleven hundred]].
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNd66JhaydY Once! We have been told a secret...]]
%%** Not only are they playing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxCl2TJNnQ covers of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mds-zH7pZ7I already awesome]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgR88G-bHcM songs]] in an absolutely over the top kind of way. Their own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F9aJuHJE80 songs]] sound even more awesome.

** They also have their own version of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZvtFf0t9KA "The Imperial]] [[Franchise/StarWars March"]]. ''The entire Jedi Order'' would have sworn allegiance to the Emperor after hearing this.
** They took EpicRocking to another level with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5vglIKZOfk "Kingdom Of Heaven"]].

** The band itself is already epic, but they have taken a step further [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFduC2FjM-o by]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmoXoeTtZ2Y covering]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cote48l-dm0 the]] the theme songs to ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''!

* Hibria's entire ''Defying the Rules'' album, especially [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWONTckuN7w#t=26m36s the title track]].

** Special note goes to ''Angel of Babylon''[='=]s VillainSong, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH3owQnIdAs Death is Just a Feeling]]: majestic, theatrical, and maybe even a touch mournful, all sewn perfectly together by the soaring, ferocious growl of Jon Oliva's vocals.

%%* '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgBnDQ80IWY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING TAKE ME HOME]]'''''

** "Unchain the Rain": [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYf2CSXmCDk We´ll drown our sorrow to this endless sea. Together we´ll unchain the rain.]]
** "Valley of Rainbows": [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwgo_tLOl0 Fallen angel, out of danger give me a sign.]]
* Music/{{Stratovarius}}. For a start, check out [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn58-Nl9NYw "Black Diamond"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2l8KtdQ7Ek "Hunting High and Low"]]. If you're looking for faster material, listen to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEHu-wxEyU "Find Your Own Voice"]]. Needless to say, after over 20 years, the band still makes awesome material, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6zqPZIXL6w "Darkest Hours"]] from their 2011 album ''Elysium''. Add to that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clh6JyPrltE "Twilight Symphony"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxegqv87JhA "Father Time"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnH46jE5odo "Eternity"]], the "Strato"-instrumental trilogy ("Stratovarius", if you can find it; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPZ47_qMqYA "Stratosphere"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-i-LhRudP4 "Stratofortress"]]) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDS1TBAElo "Elysium"]], the last of which is a particularly good example of this, EpicRiff ''and'' EpicRocking.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGR9EfMun4 "Horn of Fate"]], which is [[HeavyMithril about]] Literature/TheElricSaga. On the subject of Domine, there are many other awesome songs: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi2qFUm3Kkk "The Mass of Chaos"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6JnpoER_P8 "Dark Emperor"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wawcgxA2jeM "The Eternal Champion"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BkYsL6jr0c "True Leader of Men"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KnTKnN4LxA "The Fall of the Spiral Tower"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puCD8jRGlrM "Battle Gods"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2X4PLNoV8k "the Aquilonia Suite"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Y0TBCEZao "The Sun of the New Season"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXAPVanRQSs "Tempest Calling"]]...

* Music/GammaRay as a whole, especially their ''No World Order'' album, with pieces like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAaz5Nw5qyA "New World Order"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4YZOKuPKfQ "Follow Me"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67iUyQDvXBQ "Lake of Tears"]] in particular.
** Then there's the jaw-dropping awesomeness of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l_nHcIa9OY "Lust for Life"]].
** And from ''Majestic'', how about [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP_hQSi4dkQ "Blood Religion"]]?
%%** '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJVztkKHUW0 IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT, AND IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUUUUUN]]'''
* Sanctuary's debut is one 40-minute celebration of the MetalScream. And it is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvSY-qaGSyM AWESOME]].
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n6jA4pVgDc "BATTLE ANGELS"]].
* Katra's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywvP6YlPfbs "One Wish Away"]]. Bonus points for awesome video. Most of her songs deserve mention here, especially [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrv3NkFmpk "Tietaja"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAfOuwM-Hd4 "Beast Within"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcY0El-xqcI "Grail of Sahara"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3JK7iuJoo "Out of the Ashes"]].
* Lost Horizon's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OffF0e2h4TU "Highlander The One"]] is this all the way through, but it has several moments that are there to blow you away, for instance 'HIS SWORD, SOLE COMPANION! AALLLLWAAAAAAYYYSS THEEEEEEREEEE!!!' and, of course, that amazing vocal solo near the end. The sheer epicness of that vocal solo was parodied by PelleK/Johanson in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6-fG2MJHuI Nothing But Metal]] where they claim to be so skilled that they can warm up their vocal chords by singing "Highlander", as it is child's play for them, apparently. To summarize: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EfhAFA2yFE WHOA-OH-OH-AH-AH-AAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WHOA-OH-OH-AH-AH-AAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]]

* Music/{{Queensryche}} - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0_THrxYs1w "Queen Of The Reich"]], Tate's performance on this track makes even Halford and Dickinson at their prime blush.
* Freedom Call, another German band, has some pretty awesome music, too. Take [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjazT09P2Ec "Warriors of Light"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzir1B43I3E "Warriors"]] as examples, especially when the guitar solos come in. PURE AWESOME.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuxbVrpWO8 Starlight]], which takes a love song and enhances it with the PowerOfRock.
** But perhaps king of them all is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy4CQOyQ-0k Metal is for Everyone]]", a song that is basically one long BadassBoast for every PowerMetal song out there.

%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rGzYDDv44c Land of Light.]]
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqN2WI4vKyA The Eternal Flame.]]
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwfrniZYyE Paladin.]]
* Music/{{Versailles}} has many great songs, but of note is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl_ZgBcL_RQ "Faith & Decision"]], which, as ''sixteen-and-a-half minutes'' of ''pure awesome'', is an EpicRocking song that truly lives up to the trope name.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vjr9Cy4k74 "The Voyage"]], by Timeless Miracle. How a [[EpicRocking 14-minute song]] manages to be this catchy defies description. All of their other music is similarly epic.

* Music/{{Theocracy}} makes christian music that is actually good. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3TsVaFR870 "I AM"]] is eleven minutes of poetic epicness. Other amazing tracks are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aManeks8Vf8 "Mirror of Souls"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2Mo1vM2zE "Tower of Ashes"]].

** High fantasy concept albums? Their first album tells the story of Scottish warrior Angus [=McFife=] and his quest to find the Hammer of Glory and the Amulet of Justice, and use them to defeat the evil wizard Zargothrax and his army of undead unicorns. Ridiculous song titles? The first song on their first album is called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlhQZFTvAn4 "The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee"]], and the last is called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoBzf5_rS7Q "The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder"]]. Yes, they are admittedly basically a parody of Power Metal, but it's a very [[AffectionateParody silly, tongue-in-cheek, "yeah we know it's stupid, but we love it so we're gonna indulge in it" kind of parody]]. Not to mention, their music is genuinely very awesome, once you get into the swing of how ridiculous it all is. They deserve extra points for not only being so [[NarmCharm absurdly ridiculous, that they're actually awesome]], but also for being one of the few Power Metal bands to actually create a complete, comprehensive and compelling story and telling the whole story in one album.

%%** '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTW30Q4B3Go HE IS THE PRINCE OF THE LAND OF FIFE! NOBLE AND TRUE WITH A HEART OF STEEL! NOW IT IS LOST, VENGEANCE SHALL BE HIS! ANGUS McFIFE IS HIS NAAAAME!]]'''''

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiKAdVbhtEY "Inside the Circle"]], by Solar Fragment. Franchise/StarWars metal, featuring [[Music/BlindGuardian Hansi Kürsch]] as the voice of Emperor Palpatine.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9NyAFqi7x8 "A Gift to Remember"]] from their first album, ''Outshine the Sun''. That chorus is impossible not to sing along to.
** Also from ''Outshine the Sun'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGIWszVeUv0 "Ship With no Sails"]]. Especially the bit from 4:03 to 4:23.
** From their second album (''Strangers in Paradise''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYiCTRsoTuQ "Whispered Dreams"]]. "FIRE! FIRE! I'LL BE WAITING BY YOUR FUNERAL PYRE!"
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmiMP8zwyKs "Heart of the Sun"]], also from ''Strangers in Paradise''. It's about - of all things - a 16th-century Spanish conquistador called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lope_de_Aguirre Lope de Aguirre]]. The [[BadassBoast 'we're the wrath of god']] line even comes from something he supposedly once said, as does the 'princes of freedom' line.
* Music/{{Powerwolf}} is a PowerMetal band whose music is about Transylvanian Catholic werewolf warrior priests who come to life at night to battle the forces of Hell. If that sounds like the single most metal thing you've ever read, here's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qB0Hwd5NDw "Army Of The Night"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ai2uJ2JGyU "Blessed & Possessed"]] to get you started.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFbmMPQooO8 "Necropolis"]] from ''Crystal Logic'' (one of the albums that comprised the genesis of power metal as a whole) is probably Manilla Road's most famous song, and it's no wonder why it has such staying power as an absolute classic of the whole genre. From the driving, almost thrashy rhythm section practically made for headbanging to the masterful retelling of ''[[Literature/{{Kull}} The Shadow Kingdom]]'' delivered through Mark Shelton's quirky but inspiringly energetic [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 Skeletor]]-esque vocals ("Lost in Necroooooopolis! [[MetalScream LOST IN NECROOOOOPOLIS!]]"), you can't help feeling like the king of Valusia yourself after listening.
** The following album, ''Open the Gates'', gives us [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LDWUWYBqHI METALSTRÖM!]] Everything that was already so glorious about "Necropolis" is taken to the extreme in a short but magnificent tapestry equal parts thrashy, epic, and melodic. Mark's vocals on both this song and the album as a whole have matured into stunning baritone roars that suit the more aggressive edge perfectly, a trend that only heightens in the coming albums.
* Music/{{Axxis}} is a lesser known band with a very distinct sound and powerful sound with fantastic songs such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinOB3V_XYA "Utopia"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5ScFCvieQ "Blood Angel"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF-Ga_0teQM "Talisman"]] to name just a few that can leave one banging their head uncontrollably. The aptly named [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1O6N96_Jbw "Rock is My Religion"]] is somewhat softer than their usual fare but acts as a giant BadassBoast for the metal genre itself.
* Unicorn's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LddRDkeaBM "Vampyrial"]] acts a three course meal, starting itself with a slow and steady buildup acting as the appetizer before exploding into pure power metal goodness in the middle as the main course and then finally settling down with a slower segment as the dessert to bring the song to a close.

* Music/PrimalFear's 'Soar' has got to have one of the best opening riffs in power metal history.

* Music/{{Axxis}} is a lesser known band with a very distinct sound and powerful sound with fantastic songs such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinOB3V_XYA "Utopia"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5ScFCvieQ "Blood Angel"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF-Ga_0teQM "Talisman"]] to name just a few that can leave one banging their head uncontrollably. %% The aptly named [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1O6N96_Jbw "Rock is My Religion"]] speaks for itself.
%%No example "speaks for itself". What's awesome about it?
* Unicorn's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LddRDkeaBM "Vampyrial"]] is a three course meal, starting with a slow and steady buildup before exploding into pure power metal goodness in the middle and then finally settling down with a slower segment to bring the song to a close.

* ''Music/{{Axxis}}'' is a lesser known band with a very distinct sound and powerful sound with fantastic songs such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinOB3V_XYA "Utopia"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5ScFCvieQ "Blood Angel"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF-Ga_0teQM "Talisman"]] to name just a few that can leave one banging their head uncontrollably. Then there is the apply named [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1O6N96_Jbw "Rock is My Religion"]] which pretty much speaks for itself.
* ''Unicorn'' with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LddRDkeaBM "Vampyrial"]] is basically a three meals course with it starting with a slow and steady buildup before exploding into pure power metal goodness in the middle and then finally settling down with a slower segment to bring the song to a close.

** "The Story Ain't Over" is ostensibly a BreakupSong, but [[WebAnimation/MetalFamily it's also perfect for falling in]] LovetAtFirstSight with a BadassBiker.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFbmMPQooO8 "Necropolis"]] from ''Crystal Logic'' (one of the albums that comprised the genesis of power metal as a whole) is probably Manilla Road's most famous song, and it's no wonder why it has such staying power as an absolute classic of the whole genre. From the driving, almost thrashy rhythm section practically made for headbanging to the masterful retelling of [[Literature/{{Kull}} ''The Shadow Kingdom'']] delivered through Mark Shelton's quirky but inspiringly energetic [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 Skeletor]]-esque vocals ("Lost in Necroooooopolis! [[MetalScream LOST IN NECROOOOOPOLIS!]]"), you can't help but feel like the king of Valusia yourself after listening.
** The following album, ''Open the Gates'', gives us none other than [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LDWUWYBqHI METALSTRÖM!]] Pretty much everything that was already so glorious about "Necropolis" is taken to the extreme in a short but absolutely magnificent tapestry equal parts thrashy, epic, and melodic. Mark's vocals on both this song and the album as a whole have matured into stunning baritone roars that suit the more aggressive edge perfectly, a trend that only heightens in the coming albums.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFbmMPQooO8 "Necropolis"]] from ''Crystal Logic'' (one of the albums that comprised the genesis of power metal as a whole) is probably Manilla Road's most famous song, and it's no wonder why it has such staying power as an absolute classic of the whole genre. From the driving, almost thrashy rhythm section practically made for headbanging to the masterful retelling of [[Literature/{{Kull}} ''The Shadow Kingdom'']] delivered through Mark Shelton's quirky but inspiringly energetic [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 Skeletor]]-esque vocals, you can't help but feel like the king of Valusia yourself after listening.

* Music/{{Gloryhammer}} (including Christopher Bowes of Alestorm on keyboards) basically take every power metal trope and turn it UpToEleven. Fast paced drums? Check. Fake-orchestral keyboards? Check. Vocals that range from low growls to high pitch wails? Check. Ridiculous costumes? Oh so very much check (the lead singer wears GREEN LEATHER PLATE ARMOUR! In the second album he is pretty much dressed as Iron Lantern).

* AwesomeMusic/{{Nightwish}}

** They also have their own version of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZvtFf0t9KA "The Imperial]] [[StarWars March"]]. ''The entire Jedi Order'' would have sworn allegiance to the Emperor after hearing this.

AwesomeMusic/{{Helloween}}, AwesomeMusic/{{Kamelot}}, AwesomeMusic/{{Sabaton}}, AwesomeMusic/{{Nightwish}}, AwesomeMusic/RhapsodyOfFire and AwesomeMusic/{{Therion}} have their own pages.

AwesomeMusic/{{Helloween}}, AwesomeMusic/{{Kamelot}}, AwesomeMusic/{{Nightwish}}, AwesomeMusic/RhapsodyOfFire and AwesomeMusic/{{Therion}} have their own pages.

%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=req-oDf2ZRc This song]] by Music/{{Accept}}. The stuff dreams are made of.

* Music/{{Sabaton}}. Singing about real life wars would be noble enough, but the fact that every song practically begs to be played at full blast makes it entirely awesome. "Primo Victoria", "Attero Dominatus", and "40:1" spring to mind.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmVOF1QK0KM "Panzerkampf"]] comes to mind. O MOTHER RUSSIA, UNION OF LANDS...
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7tTavUcwFg Reign of Terror]]. "[[UsefulNotes/GulfWar Nighttime Prime Time]]" indeed.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96HtY9XJSMA "The Final Solution"]]: The main reason why they stopped performing it was because the audience ignored the LyricalDissonance and cheered a song about the Holocaust.
** The lyrics of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4blscB-zsQ "Metal Crue"]] are composed of the names of various Metal and Rock bands. Yes, it's as awesome as you think it is.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvRZxn7e3hc "Metal Machine"]] is composed of the names of a number of various Rock and Metal ''songs'' (and finished with a callback to their own song Masters of the World, the finisher from their first album), and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNVraMtNes Metal Ripper]] is composed of ''lyrics'' of other bands' songs.
** Special mention goes to any song played live in a country praised in that song (''Uprising'' and ''40:1'' in Poland, ''Far from the Fame'' and ''Aces in Exile'' in Czech Republic or ''Panzerkampf'' in Russia, just to name a few). While their live shows are usually [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome]] as a whole, these songs take the crowd's ecstasy UpToEleven and through the roof.
%%** Also "Uprising".
%%** "Panzer Battalion" has to be one of the best.

* ''Music/VanCanto''. One Band. One drummer. ''Five singers''. The only Band playing Hero Metal a capella. And doing so awesome. Not only are they playing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxCl2TJNnQ covers of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mds-zH7pZ7I already awesome]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgR88G-bHcM songs]] in an absolutely over the top kind of way. Their own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F9aJuHJE80 songs]] sound even more awesome.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNd66JhaydY Once! We have been told a secret...]]
** What can top [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehx1pUPw59s this cover?]] Why, the answer is short and simple. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSpuVsLnl1k Master! Of Puppets!]]
** That's the way how covering by van Canto works: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C2K889u_90 you take an epic and awesome rock'n'roll song]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7n35jz3As0 crack awesomity up to eleven hundred]].

* ''[[Music/VanCanto]]''. One Band. One drummer. ''Five singers''. The only Band playing Hero Metal a capella. And doing so awesome. Not only are they playing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxCl2TJNnQ covers of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mds-zH7pZ7I already awesome]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgR88G-bHcM songs]] in an absolutely over the top kind of way. Their own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F9aJuHJE80 songs]] sound even more awesome.