What is Power metal?
{{Infobox Music genre |name = Power metal | color = crimson | bgcolor = white |stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[[New Wave of British Heavy Metal|NWOBHM]]|[[Speed metal]]|[[Hard rock]]|[[Classical music]]}} |cultural_origins = 1984 in [[Germany]] and [[Finland]] as well as other parts of [[Europe]] |instruments = {{hlist|[[Singer|Vocals]]|[[Electric guitar]]|[[Bass guitar|Bass]]|[[Drum kit|Drums]]|[[Keyboard instrument#Electrophones|Keyboards]]}} |popularity = Popular in [[Europe]], [[Japan]] and [[South America]], low but increasing popularity in [[North America]] |subgenres = |fusiongenres = {{hlist|[[Symphonic metal]]|[[Progressive metal]]|[[Folk metal]]|[[Neo-classical metal]]}} |regional_scenes = {{hlist|[[#American power metal|American power metal]]|[[#European/melodic power metal|European power metal]]}} |other_topics = }} '''Power metal''' is a type of [[heavy metal music]] that mixes [[traditional heavy metal|traditional metal]] with [[thrash metal]] or [[speed metal]]. There are two types of power metal. One comes from [[North America]] that sounds more like [[speed metal]], and a more popular one from [[Europe]] (especially [[Finland]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Scandinavia]]) and [[Japan]] that usually sounds happier and usually uses [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]. It is usually characterized by high, clean, melodic vocals, fantasy based lyrics as well as complex and fast lead guitar solos. Some of the most popular European style bands include: * [[Helloween]] (1984-Present) from Germany is one of the first, and most influential power metal bands. * [[Gamma Ray]] from Germany * [[Stratovarius]] from Finland * [[Sonata Arctica]] from Finland * [[Blind Guardian]] from Germany * [[Edguy]]/[[Avantasia]] from Germany * [[Kamelot]] from the U.S.A. but they are of a European style * [[HammerFall]] from Sweden * [[DragonForce]] from England * [[Power Quest]] from England, frequent use of keyboards {{music-stub}} [[Category:Power metal]]