Post №10

Переводить сей пост, который я написал для www.metal-archives.com мне лень, так что придёться вам читать его на английском, самое главное что можно понять где ссылки.

USA Power Metal is hard to define. I will try to describe it. In its core, the music which is labeled as Power Metal, consists of Heavy Metal. There may arise a legitimate question : Why should one use this term instead of "Heavy Metal" ? As I said the "core" consists of Heavy Metal, this implies that there is a "shell". This "shell" consist of Thrash Metal elements and some elements that make the music sound epic, pompous. The resulting fusion sounds like a more aggressive, faster heavy metal with the epic touch.

There may arise another question "In what way is Power Metal different from Speed Metal ? Both are described as faster and more aggressive kind of Heavy Metal". Indeed Speed Metal and Power Metal often overlap; borderline bands are not something unusual. The main differences are in this mysterious "epic touch" and the attitude. Speed Metal in most cases is much closer to Thrash Metal than Power Metal.

For all the text above to make more sense I uploaded what I consider to be genre defining albums. I did not choose the best albums, I chose those albums that would sound typical wthin the borders of this genre.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50909772/Jag_Panzer__1984__-_Ample_Destruction__VBR_.rar

One of the first albums and most influential albums in this genre.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50774165/Deadly_Blessing__1988__-_Ascend_From_The_Cauldron__192_Kbps_.rar

This album showcases the epic touch.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50776200/Brocas_Helm__1984__-_Into_Battle__192_Kbps_.rar

This album steps a bit into the territory of the folk music and features noticeable Iron Maiden influence.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50777688/Commandment__1988__-_Engraved_In_Stone__VBR_AVG_237_Kbps_.rar

This album is quite close to the average Heavy Metal, but still it has its nuances.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50814168/Helstar__1988__-_A_Distant_Thunder.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/50908038/Fates_Warning__1985__-_The_Spectre_Within__VBR_.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/51999443/Sanctuary__1988__-_Refuge_Denied__128_.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/52000851/Hexx__1986__-_Under_The_Spell__VBR_.rar

These albums represent a thrashier side of the genre. Despite being very close to Thrash Metal at times, they still retain the Heavy Metal and the special vibe typical of this genre.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50808555/Power_Lord__1986__-_The_Awakening__192_Kbps_.rar

This is one of the thrashiest albums in this genre. Instead of sounding epic the album sounds ominous and mysterious.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50815760/Satan_s_Host__1986__-_Metal_From_Hell__320_Kbps_.rar

One of the most weird albums in this genre, as it manages to be both epic, ominous and thrashy. Features the singer of Jag Panzer — Harry Conklin. For more details read my review of this album.

http://rapidshare.com/files/50906609/Slauter_Xstroyes__1985__-_Winter_Kill__192_Kbps_.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/51999119/Liege_Lord__1987__-_Burn_To_My_Touch__192_.rar

These two albums feature a lot of so-called progressive elements and are full of experiments.

The list of key albums and text of this post are made with the help of Shutdown from Metal-Arcives.