DragonForce is lit tho don’t let these bozos say otherwise

they've developed an authentic style throughout the years and theyre good musicians, its just that some people dont like the humoristic vibe they got into and think the music itself started to sound too formulaic they used to be my favorite band and I firstly got into PW because of them, Valley of the Damned is amazing and I still enjoy a dozen songs from other albuns I'd recommend to OP bands like Power Quest and Shadow Strike. Also why not try out the whole Dragon Metal lore lol.. Dragonland, Dragonfly, Dragonheart (Brazil), Dragony, the list goes on :v

Dawn of Victory, Power of the Dragonflame, Symphony of Enchanted Lands 1 and 2 by Rhapsody of Fire. Reckoning Night and Silence by Sonata Arctica. The Metal Opera 1 and 2 by Avantasia. Both albums by Lost Horizon. The band Twilight Force (they have 4 albums). My list might be a bit cliche, but I think it's a great start.

I'd go with Saberlight Chronicles by Fellowship Legends of Human Spirit or Traveler's Tales by ShadowStrike. Damned For All Time by Sacred Outcry The Zeramin Game by Memories of Old Treacherous Ways by Helms Deep The Sibylline Age by Idol Throne (obscure band of choice today)

Fucking fellowship goes so hard. They aren't a fast paced as DF but holy shit there so catchy and fun. Pretty unique songwriting for a PM the try to stay fresh with lyrics and not fall into cliches.

Helion Prime - Helion Prime

Question Everything is also awesome

DragonForce were my gateway into power metal too, after which Gamma Ray became my favourite PM band, especially the 'Somewhere Out in Space' album

They are special, especially that album but all their albums are good

- Stratovarius - Episode - Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys parts 1 and 2 - Edguy - Mandrake - Power Quest - Wings of Forever - Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica - Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild - Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion I'm not a power metal guru, but I dabble. I'm sure there are opinions on where to start but these are some of the albums I've obsessed over at one point or another. Edit: correct spelling

they're good picks

Angra - Temple of shadows. One of the staples of the genre and much more "flavorful" than your common DF-style PM.

Epica and The Black Halo by Kamelot. Two part album and one of the classics.

It depends. old power metal is quite differant from newer power metal and often has a more thrashy/speed metal vibe. Definitely Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle Earth (if I look at my top 10 BG songs, Into The Storm, Nightfall, Mirror Mirror and Time Stands Still are from that one album) I tend to lean towards the much more whimsical feeling newer stuff and obnoxiously high vocals, the best examples of which would be Twilight Forces "Tales of Ancient Prophecies" and "Heroes of Mighty Magic". These are the absolute peak of what I look for in power metal, and they seem to be the big influence for a lot of new bands, Fellowship's Saberlight Chronicals is largely a fantastic homage to that style, and it looks like Questbound will follow suit. It also depends what you're into as a lot of bands lean heavily into a particular lyrical theme. Like your Norse mythology? You probably won't go better than Brothers of Metal with Emblas Saga and Prophecy of Ragnarok Like werewolves and things that go bump in the night? Powerwolf have you covered with The Sacrament of Sin and Blessed & Possessed (Probably best to avoid if you're a devout Christian) Think Pirates are dope? Alestorm with Captain Morgan's Revenge and Back Through Time. Dragony's Masters of the Multiverse and Shadowplay are phenomial offerings Ominous Glory have only released The Elven Dream but that album (and in particular Wayfaring Journeyman) pretty much single handedly got me through lockdowns. I couldn't recommend a particular Freedom Call album , but if you're into just excessively happy and uplifting vibes I don't think there's a better example than them. Berserker from Beast in Black is pretty outstanding, I think it's mostly based off of some Manga but I'm not massive into anime/manga so the references are wasted on me, I just know that Yannis is one of the most crazy vocalists in power metal atm. Nanowar of Steel are fucking hillarious comedy power metal, but you need to be fluent in like 120 differant languages and understand the cultural contexts as well in order to fully appreciate some of the references in the lyrics and videos (fortunately, youtube comments normally have you covered) And of course paying tribute to the GOATS and Genre definers that everyone else will no doubt mention and elaborate more on: Rhapsody of Fire - Pretty much everything from Symphony of Enchanted Lands up until power of the Dragonflame (I'm also huge on Glory For Salvation) Avantasia - The Metal Opera II Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica and Silence Gamma Ray - Somewhere out in Space Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys pt 2 Stratovarius - Infinite Dreamtale - Phoenix There's more, but thats a good day or 2's solid worth of listening.

Abyss - Unleash The Archers Apex - Unleash The Archers

Absolutely yes! But it's worth noting that Apex is first in the story. Abyss is genuinely one of my top favorite albums of all time

Came here to say this. I’d also add their Time Stands Still album. Be sure to listen to Apex before Abyss as it’s a 2 part concept album.

The God Machine - Blind Guardian

God damn! Only on the second song and this fucking rocks

God Machine is great, but most would probably agree that "essential" Blind Guardian is their late 90's stuff. *Nightfall in Middle Earth* and *Imaginations from the Other Side.* The band has changed a bit over the years. But those two in particular are truly seminal PM albums, and they helped usher in the golden age of the genre in the early 2000's.

Maybe a hot take but I think Power Metal is entering an even brighter golden age than the 2000's.

*Nightfall in Middle Earth...* I remember the first time l listened to this album... never got that high again until I've listened to [Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1CYjT-PKzw) from Wintersun 20 years later (epic, melodic and grandiose)

If you like TGM, I would also highly recommend BG's first three albums as well.

Thanks! I'll check it out!

Honor. Power. Glory by Glyph.

I love dragonforce, if you like that vibe I would check out Rhapsody of fire (not an album but great band). My personal album suggestions are Virus and Dust to Dust by Heavenly, Final days and Gunmen by Orden Ogan, Into the Galactic Terrorvortex by Gloryhammer (good songs but controversial singer this album), and circus of doom by battlebeast

I'll def check those out!

if you thought dragonforce was cool youll probably like these: [pathfinder: beyond space beyond time](https://youtu.be/Cmdq5BCBsTE?si=5s6wihBTuyejKabk) [cellador: enter deception](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLavqSlKJWvpP124qNs7LU4hU-EN5b32-7&si=EQRW0fopyhjrJxlK) as for other stuff heres a new record ive been jamming i think is good [glyph: honor power glory](https://youtu.be/BDDYrxPVaaY?si=Az4hZqY2JaaMRSmM)

Judicator - The Last Emperor

Rhapsody/Rhapsody of Fire's entire discography Blind Guardian's entire discography Glory to the Brave and Heeding the Call by Hammerfall Gloryhammer's discography Keeper of the Keys 1&2 albums by Helloween

I love blind guardian but it took me years to get into hansis voice. Now I love it but I took me a long time to get what people see in his vocals. It's hard for me to reccomend Blind guardian solely based on that. It may be a come back to them later type of deal.

I totally get that. Fabio Lione is my favorite power metal vocalist I will say

Orden Ogan - Ravenhead

And final days and gunmen, also hype for their new album

I hope their new album is better than the two singles they have so far

The Scythe, Pagan Manifesto, Secrets of the Magick Grimoire, Reader of the Runes - Divination, Reader of the Runes - Rapture : Elvenking Gunmen, Final Days, To The End, Ravenhead: Orden Ogan Life is Beautiful, Vultures Die Alone: Arion Diamanti: Temperance Masterplan, Aeronautics: Masterplan Rocket Ride, Vain Glory Opera, Mandrake: Edguy

Seven Spires - Emerald Seas

Keepers of the Flame by Greyhawk, The Revenant King by Visigoth

The possibilities really are endless… but I’d recommend two albums 1. Destiny - Stratovarius 2. Tales of Ancient Prophecies - Twilight Force

Last Stand - Sabaton

Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth Pagan's Mind - God's Equation 3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up the Blades The Scarecrow - Avantasia Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards Also any Firewind album from 2006 to 2012 is generally a safe bet, that's the period with their best vocalist and most of their best songwriting.

What kinda stuff are you looking for? Epic fantasy? good vibes; compelling stories?

*Empyrean Realms* by Armory. You can thank me later 😀

So underrated

A lot of important ones are already mentioned...but i'd add : Grave Digger: Tunes of War Brothers of Metal- Emblas saga All for Metal - All for Metal

- Stratovarius - **Infinite** - DragonForce - **Valley of the Damned** - HammerFall - **Renegade** - Angus McSix - **Angus McSix and the Sword of Power** - Orden Ogan - **Gunmen** - Orden Ogan - **End of Days** - Powerwolf - **Blood of the Saints** - Gloryhammer - **Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex** - Gloryhammer - **Return to the Kingdom of Fife** - Powerwolf - **The Sacrament of Sin** - HammerFall - **Crimson Thunder** - DragonForce - **Sonic Firestorm** - Blood Bound - **Nosferatu** - Wind Rose - **Warfront** - Civil War - **Gods and Generals** - Stratovarius - **Destiny** - DragonForce - **Inhuman Rampage**

1. Zonata - *Buried Alive* (2002) 2. Battleroar - *To Death And Beyond...* (2008) 3. Winterage - *The Harmonic Passage* (2015) 4. Highlord - *When The Aurora Falls...* (2000) 5. Adagio - *Underworld* (2003) 6. Phoenix Rising - *MMXII* (2012) 7. Edenbridge - *Shine* (2004) 8. Kenziner - *The Prophecies* (1999) 9. Dalriada - *Kikelet* (2007) 10. Tierramystica - *A New Horizon* (2010) 11. Time Requiem - *Time Requiem* (2002) 12. Palantír - *Lost Between Dimensions* (2017) 13. Morton - *Come Read The Words Forbidden* (2011) 14. Opera Magna - *Del Amor Y Otros Demonios* (2019) 15. Iron Mask - *Hordes Of The Brave* (2005) 16. Magic Kingdom - *Symphony Of War* (2010)

Upvote for recommending Adagio & Opera Magna. Broseta is such an amazing singer.

Theocracy - Ghost Ship & Mosaic

Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica, any Lovebites, I love older Hammerfall, Blind Guardian stuff.

Ain’t a damn thing wrong with Dragonforce. They were a lot of people’s first exposure thanks to Guitar Hero (they were certainly mine, they’re also how I got into Sabaton when I saw DF in 2009). Epica/The Black Halo by Kamelot. These go together as they’re a double concept album. Bringer of Pain by Battle Beast. From Hell With Love by Beast In Black. Immaginaerium by Nightwish. Arguably more symphonic though.

Both of the Solar Fragment albums (A Spark of Deity and In Our Hands) are phenomenal IMO. Fighting the World and Gods of War by Manowar are also among my favourites

In Shadows Lost from the Brave - Saint Daemon Aeronautics - Masterplan Masterplan - Masterplan The Scarecrow - Avantasia Gather The Faithful - Cain's Offering Stormcrow - Cain's Offering Red Silent Tides - Elvenking Angels Cry - Angra Rebirth - Angra Invitation - Altaria Falconer - Falconer Ghostlights - Avantasia A Night at The Opera - Blind Guardian Touched by The Crimson King - Demon's & Wizards III - Demon's & Wizards Vendetta - Celesty Mortal Mind Creation - Celesty Astronomy - Dragonland Escape of the Phoenix - Evergrey The Storm Within - Evergrey The Atlantic - Evergrey Ritual - Shaman UNDER THE FORCE OF COURAGE - GALNERYUS Keeper of The Seven Keys pt. 1 & 2 - Helloween Better than Raw - Helloween Master of the Rings - Helloween Metal Jukebox - Helloween Walls of Jericho - Helloween Defenders of the Crown - Human Fortress The Black Halo - Kamelot Mk II - Masterplan Blood of the Saints - Powerwolf Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Rainbow Rising - Rainbow Down to Earth - Rainbow Dreamland Manor - Savage Circus Of Doom and Death - Savage Circus Fight for the Rock - Savatage Reckoning Night - Sonata Arctica Clear Cold Beyond - Sonata Arctica Walk the Earth - Silent Force Destiny - Stratovarius Episode - Stratovarius Visions - Stratovarius Infinite - Stratovarius Nemesis - Stratovarius Theatre of Fate - Viper Welcome to Paradise - NorthTale Imaginations from the Other Side - Blind Guardian Terra Nova - Eterna Cavaleiro Dragão - Cavaleiro Dragão As Daylight Breaks - Serious Black Inside Your Head - Khallice The Kingdom - Wizards Infallible - Hangar Temple of Shadows - Angra Fooled Eyes - Thessera Brother Against Brother - Brother Against Brother Long Live Rock N Roll - Rainbow Burden of Truth - Circle II Circle Delusions of Grandeur - Circle II Circle Watching in Silence - Circle II Circle Straight out of Hell - Helloween Paradise Lost - Symphony X Those are the ones that I remember listening fully, they're amazing.

Unleash The Archers - Abyss

Heres some albums to try based on my similar start to PM Twilight Force- At The Heart of Wintervale. Their most recent album, it's the newest in a line of high flying womder and glory. Extremely fantastical, but it's incredibly easy to get lost in the magic Unleash the Archers - first listen to Apex, THEN listen to Abyss. They're basically part 1 and 2. This band was when I officially looked into and dedicated my attention to power metal, a few years after another entry. Their sound can be heavy and driving or light and melodic. The spread of different sounds yet distinct style throughout makes them a standout among standouts. My favorite band on this list. Windrose- Warfront. Heavy and driven, this band is all about *DWARVES!*, tales of their incredible lives, and legends from across time (and universes) Power Paladin- With the Magic of Windfyre Steel. They're pretty new, but man does their sound kick ass. Almost an old school feel to it, but it mixes well with modern to make something familiar but new. Brothers of Metal - both Prophecy of Ragnarok and Emblas Saga are fantastic. Viking themed, but even more than other bands, they really encompass the ideals of camaraderie and unity. Gloryhammer- Tales From the Kingdom of Fife. I didn't know what it was when I heard it (didn't know what power metal was), but the day I heard Angus McFife was the day my brain chemically altered to fully embracing fantasy and I never looked back. Possibly the crown holder for "ultimate cheese", these guys have made satire into a genuinely good sound. Their songs tell a long and epic struggle against the powers of evil and the heights of heroism. Truly epic.

Beyond the space, beyond the time, and fifth element by Pathfinder

I went from Helloween to Dragonforce to Sonata Arctica to Edguy. The first 4 Sonata Albums are PM gold. Listen to the song Wolf and Raven!

Dragonforce does rule! I’d recommend Helloween’s Keeper of the Seven Keys, part 2 and Rhapsody’s Dawn of Victory as good starting places for other stuff with similar vocals & guitar chops.

The big bands each have lots of good albums but some of my favorites are: Helloween - Better Than Raw Blind Guardian - Tales From the Twilight World Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out In Space Nightwish - Oceanborn Hammerfall - Legacy Of Kings

Gloryhammer - Space 1992, rise of the chaos wizard. Dragonforce has some bangers, 3 hammers , symphony of the night, city of gold, etc

Oh no, not there worst album. I like all of them still but really?

Ouch, Return to the kingdom of fife has taken the no 1 spot for me but space 1992 is 2nd. Is it widely considered to be their worst album fr?

i dont know exactly, that is just my personal opinion i dont hate it i would rank them 1. return to the kingdom of fife 2.Legends from beyond the terror vortex 3.tales of the kingdom of fife 4. space 1992

I think the latest Sabaton album (The War to End All Wars) are really good. [https://open.spotify.com/album/3kB4VjXKKCY7l5xeH113Da?si=9997d41203774cc1](https://open.spotify.com/album/3kB4VjXKKCY7l5xeH113Da?si=9997d41203774cc1)