Let's talk European (or at least non-American) power metal (Or, "Can K.D. do this without sounding like a hipster?")

Power metal is an extremely misunderstood musical genre in America. Sure, anyone can go read Wikipedia's snooty article on it, or perhaps even TV Tropes' schizophrenic article. Even if they did, those articles are kind of rubbish. Wikipedia is too formal, and TV Tropes is too focused on the few more exuberant groups... despite having a sizable list of diverse power metal bands! Wiki Magic? What's that?

Here's the non-snooty, non-schizophrenic overview of power metal. (Like it or not, I'm still going to come off sounding like a hipster and probably offending somebody, so just bear with me.)

The general American metal-listening populace has only been exposed to a very limited amount of European power metal over the past few years. In early 2007, DragonForce started making big waves in American Internetspace after they released a wild, somewhat cheesy music video for Through the Fire and Flames -- cheesy because of the headbanging with waist-length hair, if nothing else. For many Americans, this was likely their first and only exposure to power metal at the time.

With Herman Li ... Sorry, with Herman Li and DragonForce being who they are, they had a "good fun" and ate up all the publicity (good and bad). Next thing you know, Through the Fire and Flames made it onto Guitar Hero III (and Audiosurf, and DrumMania, and Brutal Legend, and Rock Band 3, and...). Gee, if you didn't know any better -- and many people likely didn't -- you might make the mistake that they didn't have about 24 other songs released at the time... and several of them are quite superior to TTFAF.

For the Americans that wanted to learn more about power metal, they gravitated toward even crazier bands, such as Rhapsody, the first and foremost in power mithril. They also found Nightwish, largely ignoring the more mellow songs like Ocean Soul and Nemo, and instead becoming attached to the likes of mondegreen-laden Wishmaster or the first minute or so of Ghost Love Score.

We did at least get some Mighty Dragon Rice out of it. That stuff is delicious!

As is true in many cases (looking at you, furry fandom), the few extravagant examples of power metal were also the most largely noticed and circulated. Problem is, the types of bands that focus on Tolkien-esque fantasy lyrics and grandiose battlefields (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, DragonForce) are but a drop in the ocean compared to the huge variety that's out there. As I sometimes like to say, there's a power metal song for anything. To even mildly imply that the genre is lacking in variety is simply wrong.

All that history and background is great, but what is power metal? Let's start with the "metal" part -- it basically comes down to the instrumentation (bass guitar, electric guitar(s) and a drum set), the particular way that the guitar sounds are heavily distorted (contrast the more usual electric guitar sound used in rock), and the particularly heavy percussion (especially a frequent use of bass drum or double bass drum). Keyboards and/or two guitarists are fairly common, but not required.

The "power" part contributes a trained vocalist who actually gives an honest go at singing (as opposed to a thrash metal yell about things he hates, a death metal growl about how much he sounds like the Grim Reaper, or a black metal screech about the depressing forests of Finland). There is also a frequent focus on intricate melodies, poetic lyrics, high tempo (but not always!), highly intense guitar solos, and just being all-around epic. Power metal is sometimes generic, but it's never boring.

That sums it up. You don't need cheesy lyrics. You don't need waist-length hair. You don't need to sing about so-called "geeky" things. And you don't need to talk about bringing the One Ring to Mordor. Really.

I've prattled on for long enough by now and have probably lost all my readers, so let's wrap this up with five more examples of what power metal -- and its lyrical themes -- are, that the general American music-listening public would never tell you about.

1. Power metal is emotive, as demonstrated by Masterplan - Back for my Life. To me, one of the most interesting things about power metal is the contrast between the electric guitars' harsh buzz and the clean vocals. There are a lot of great examples, but few are as clear-cut as this one.
Honorable Mention 1: Masterplan - Falling Sparrow. Jørn Lande only plays one instrument -- the only one he needs.
Honorable Mention 2: Firewind - Tomorrow Can Wait. Being a good power metal singer is a bit like being a good actor. You need to either feel what you're singing, or at least fake it really well. You don't get a free pass in this genre just because you can shout really angrily or growl really deeply.

2. Power metal is introspective, as demonstrated by Dionysus - My Heart is Crying. Power metal doesn't do "whiny". Its lyrics don't complain about things. They state a problem, then make an effort to fix it. In this case, it's in a package that also includes some kick-tail guitar melodies.
HM 1: Nocturnal Rites - Not The Only. Most wars aren't fought on a battlefield with knights and wizards. Think about it.
HM 2: Firewind - Cold as Ice. Yes, this kind of quality (of both kinds) is fairly normal for power metal.

3. Power metal is independent and self-empowering, as demonstrated by Nocturnal Rites - Still Alive. No, not the famous song from Portal. Many power metal songs are about persevering -- about keeping on going, no matter what people say or no matter happens to you. That should never be something one should be ashamed of liking. This is an extremely common power metal theme.
HM 1: Edguy - We Don't Need a Hero. Back from when Edguy actually did power metal, of course. (Zing!)
HM 2: Nocturnal Rites - Strong Enough. Yes, I'm doubling up on Nocturnal Rites. They've done a lot of songs like this, especially in their most recent albums.

4. Power metal is spiritual, as demonstrated by Sonata Arctica - Misplaced. Aside from being a pretty rockin' song, it also happens to describe otherkin exactly. There's no way that's an accident. The songwriter did their research, and went 110% on it.
HM 1: Serenity - Derelict. Bonus points just for using the word "Derelict".
HM 2: Iron Savior - Dragons Rising. How many dragonkin songs can you get in other genres?

5. Power metal is unique, as demonstrated by Angra - Running Alone. An unconventional opening and end; the complex, intertwining melodies (especially on the "solo"); woodwind instrumentation; the speed, intensity, and emotion ... Running Alone a song that really has a little bit of everything that makes the power metal genre what it is.
HM 1: Gamma Ray - Lost in the Future. Intense, fast paced, an unconventional vocal tempo, and a little bit of "Oh! Susanna" thrown in for good measure. Because they can.
HM 2: Firewind - Deliverance. Want to have a slow tempo and an acoustic guitar in your power metal? Sure, why not?

If you don't like any of these, that's cool. I'm pretty much a one-genre dragon, so I'm the last one to preach being open-minded or somesuch in regard to music. But I hope this little primer has given you a bit more of a casual (not snooty or schizophrenic) introduction to the genre and what it has to offer. There are hundreds upon hundreds of songs out there, and this is only a taste of the super-mega-deluxe-supreme pizza that is power metal.

Enjoy, or do not, as fits your desires.