I'd have to say with, since Rhapsody have them. But on the other hand, I like bands without too.

I'm torn, because some bands like Lost Horizon could do just as well without keyboards, but others like Rhapsody would be less enjoyable, to my mind, at least.

It depends on how keyboards are used. If they are used right, and enhance the atmosphere tenfold, then keep them. If they are just there for no good reason, chuck them.

As for leads, unless they're extraordinarily good, get rid of them. Adagio comes to mind as a "power metal" band with an unbelievable keyboardist.

I guess I'm just old school and the two words "power metal" mean guitar to me. When a song is keyboard dominated then it loses the "power" and the songs have to be guitar-riff driven to be "metal" in my book. I agree that some bands use keyboards to create atmosphere and they definitely can be used to give a song a lot more depth. There just seem to be a lot of bands that have a keyboardist when they could have a 2nd guitarist playing very similar parts instead and the songs would sound a lot more powerful...and a lot more METAL :)

I agree there, although there are plenty of bands who have 2 guitarists and don't know how to use them.

I'd rather have a good keyboardist than a second guitarist who just mimics the first. Not many bands that can pull that off succesfully. Be succesfully I mean like Judas Priest successful.

So, I must check out Lost Horizon, Running Wild and Wuthering Heights. Just though I'de mention that.

I'm not the biggest fan of...well 'traditional' metal. I like my power metal to be like...I'm thinking of Galloglass right now. I like it less when they go too much into traditional metal. Winters Bane are an exception though.

I'm not too sure if that was really voicing my thoughts. I'll be back later to fix that up :)

I've actually never heard any Galloglass or Running Wild.

/hides from Riva

/tracks down and kills

Hrm... what's your favourite Power Metal band, Tyr?

Oh, I'd probably say Rhapsody or Gamma Ray.

Alright, Galloglass' first album [I]Legends From Now And Nevermore[/I] might be more to your liking, because on [I]Heavenseeker[/I] they went into a more thrashy mood.

As for Running Wild, you cannot go past either [I]Port Royal[/I] or [I]Black hand Inn[/I], especially if you like Gamma Ray.

I'll check those out.

Legends From Now and Nevemore is such a good album. Galloglass are definitely up there in my favorite power metal bands.

And that's why you're cool, Jammie. Much cooler than the rest of these "power metal" fans. :p

Okay, so I'm listening to Galloglass, and I have to say that it's pretty good.

LFNAN > Heavenseeker. It doesn't suffer from the massive overproduction issues that the latter has.

[QUOTE=Riva;13643488]And that's why you're cool, Jammie. Much cooler than the rest of these "power metal" fans. :p[/QUOTE]

:cool: <3

You guys put me int eh mood of some power metal. I need to get some more albums.

okay, im just getting into power metal, and the only bands i know of are Stratovarius, Savatage (if they count), Dragonforce, and Dream Theater (again, if they count)
suggest some other good power metal bands

Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian and Gamma Ray.

Dream Theater are definitely not, but Savatage in the '90s were definitely power metal. I'd suggest going onto Galloglass, Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Dungeon. I know you already like Running Wild, so you should be fine with Galloglass.

Sabaton
Blind Guardian (highly recommended)
Sonata Arctica
Nightwish (highly recommended)
Galloglass
Running Wild
Lost Horizon
Symphony X (a bit proggier than the rest, but still unbelievable)
Adagio (again, like Symphony X)
Dream Evil
Dungeon
Edguy
Therion
Iced Earth
Kamelot (highly recommended)
Rhapsody

That should be good for starters. :thumb:

Well, if we're doing the lists:

Bolded are my favourite ones, the rest range from average to good power metal.

Adagio
Andromeda
Angra
[B]Blind Guardian[/B]
Children Of Bodom
Circus Maximus
Crimson Glory
Cryonic Temple
Dark Moor
Demons & Wizards
DivineFire
Dragonland
[B]Dream Evil[/B]
Dream Quest
[B]Dungeon
Edguy
Falconer
Firewind
Galloglass[/B]
Galneryus
Gamma Ray
Gun Barrell
HammerFall
Helloween
Human Fortress
Iced Earth
Jag Panzer
Kalmah
Kamelot
Kiuas
[B]The Lord Weird Slough Feg[/B]
[B]Lost Horizon[/B]
Luca Turilli
Manowar
Olympos Mons
Onmyouza
Orphaned Land
Pagan's Mind
Persuader
Running Wild
[B]Sabaton[/B]
Sonata Arctica
Stratovarius
Tad Morose
[B]Tarot[/B]
[B]Therion[/B]
Thunderstone
Valkiria

No Edguy for Riva ?

Damn, I need to get an Angra album, Therion album, the Firewind album, and the Dungeon album. Yeah...

A lot of stuff, Riva :p

Oops, forgot Edguy.

Edguy is awesome.

The Avantasia albums were sweet too.



NP: Artillery - The Challenge

Artillery \m/

Yeah, they slay. I actually just recently got into them. I need more thrash.

I don't Avantasia as much as Edguy stuff.

[QUOTE=cjborton;13644499]The Avantasia albums were sweet too.[/QUOTE]

True, I forgot about those.
[QUOTE=pate]I don't Avantasia as much as Edguy stuff.[/QUOTE]
I'm the other way around. I like Edguy, but Avantasia is something special.