Editing Power metal (section)

==Musical characteristics==
Power metal "bears all the hallmarks of traditional metal" is today associated with fast guitar riffs and drumming, twin melodies, operatic singing. The sound is tempered by characteristics of [[speed metal]], power metal's musical forerunner.<ref name="DiVita">{{Cite web |last=DiVita |first=Joe|date=2020-07-02 |title=Who Really Invented Power Metal? |url=https://loudwire.com/who-invented-power-metal/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>

===Vocals===
Power metal is highly focused on the vocalist, with "clean" vocals being much more prevalent than the growling vocals often associated with [[extreme metal]]. Inspired by [[Ronnie James Dio]], [[Bruce Dickinson]], [[Rob Halford]], [[Geoff Tate]], and other [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] vocalists, power metal vocals are often in a high register, and the singer's vocal range is usually wide.<ref>[http://heavymetal.about.com/od/heavymetal101/p/powermetal.htm What Is Power Metal?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425112002/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/heavymetal101/p/powermetal.htm |date=25 April 2009 }} (about.com)</ref> The majority of the genre's vocalists sing in the [[tenor]] range and are capable of hitting very high notes, for example [[Timo Kotipelto]] of [[Stratovarius]], [[Tony Kakko]] of [[Sonata Arctica]], [[Michael Kiske]] ([[Helloween]]) and [[Andre Matos]] (ex-[[Angra (band)|Angra]]). There are many exceptions who sing in either [[baritone]] or [[Bass (vocal range)|bass]] range, like [[Joakim Brodén]] of [[Sabaton (band)|Sabaton]]. Some vocalists sing in a harsh, [[thrash metal]] style, including [[Chris Boltendahl]] of [[Grave Digger (band)|Grave Digger]], [[Kai Hansen]] of [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], [[Peavy Wagner]] of [[Rage (German band)|Rage]], and [[Wintersun]]'s [[Jari Mäenpää]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Stagno, Mike |title=''Wintersun'' review |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/10945/Wintersun-Wintersun |publisher=Sputnik Music |access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> Many power metal vocalists record multi-layered vocals, creating a choral effect.<ref>[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9892 Helloween cover Queen's song 'Sheer Heart Attack'] (Blabbermouth net)</ref>

===Lyrical themes===
[[File:20160515 Gelsenkirchen RockHard Festival Blind Guardian 0204.jpg|thumb|250px|Most songs of German band [[Blind Guardian]] are based on fantasy, mythology and science fiction, and their live shows often feature fantasy decorations.]]

Themes that frequently feature throughout other metal subgenres, such as religion and politics, are comparatively rare in power metal - albeit not unheard of. Power metal's lyrical themes often focus on [[fantasy]] and [[mythology]],<ref name="DiVita"/> [[camaraderie]] and hope, personal struggles and emotions, war and death, or combinations of the aforementioned. For example, Finnish band [[Sonata Arctica]] have been known for focusing their lyrics of their songs on fantasy but also have many songs based on reality, love and relationships.

Many power metal bands based their [[concept albums]] on fantasy books and [[national epic]]s; [[Blind Guardian]] based ''[[Nightfall in Middle-Earth]]'' on [[J.R.R Tolkien|Tolkien's]] ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', while [[Kamelot]] based ''[[Epica (Kamelot album)|Epica]]'' and ''[[The Black Halo]]'' on [[Goethe's Faust]]. Some bands have even written their own imaginary stories, like [[Rhapsody of Fire]]'s ''[[Emerald Sword Saga]]'' and ''[[The Dark Secret Saga]]'', [[Iced Earth]]'s ''[[Something Wicked Saga]]'', or ''[[Avantasia]]'' by [[Edguy]]'s [[Tobias Sammet]].

Historical themes have also seen usage in the works of bands, most famously [[Sabaton (band)|Sabaton]], whose lyrics extensively focus on historical wars, battles, and individuals that received notable recognition for their wartime accomplishments. Examples include [[World War I]], [[World War II]], [[Vikings]], [[Samurai]], and much more from around the world including the [[United States Armed Forces|American]], [[Swedish Armed Forces|Swedish]] and [[Military of Germany (disambiguation)|German militaries]]. [[Serenity (band)|Serenity]], an Austrian (symphonic) power metal band, focuses mainly on historical figures and events, including [[Francis Drake|Sir Francis Drake]], [[Marco Polo]], [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]], [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]], and [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon]].

Contrary to traditional power metal music, [[Powerwolf]] focuses on [[Transylvania]]n werewolf and [[Vampires|vampire]] legends and dark [[myth]]s. The lyrics of the band are characterized by the treatment of Christianity and ancient Romanian legends. Powerwolf, however, do not consider themselves a religious band, but rather call themselves spiritual.

===Instrumentation===
{{Listen|filename=Helloween_halloween.ogg|title=Helloween - Halloween (sample)|description=A brief sample of the track ''Halloween'' from ''[[Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I]]'', the second album of [[Helloween]], and one of the first albums to represent the European Power Metal style.}}
Power metal guitarists and bassists generally play rapid streams of notes,<ref name="DiVita"/> but change [[chord (music)|chords]] comparatively slowly, with a [[harmonic tempo]] of once per measure or slower. Fast and technically demanding guitar solos, however, are almost guaranteed.<ref name=Sharpe>{{Cite book|last1=Sharpe-Young|first1= Garry|author-link1= MusicMight|title= A–Z of Power Metal|series= Rockdetector Series|year= 2003|publisher= Cherry Red Books|isbn= 978-1-901447-13-2}}</ref> The slow changing of chords is significant in defining power metal just as the fast rapid chord changes often define traditional [[thrash metal]]. Power metal often makes use of Major chord progressions as well as circle progressions. Some of the most influential and acclaimed power metal guitarists are [[Kai Hansen]] of [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], [[Michael Weikath]] of [[Helloween]], and [[Timo Tolkki]] formerly of Stratovarius. It is a common trait in power metal for the bass guitar to take a back seat, so to speak; often simply providing the chord root notes and being drowned out by the more prevalent rhythm guitars. However, some power metal bands incorporate bass that is more audible with colorful patterns distinct from the rhythm guitars, such as Helloween, [[Hibria]], and [[Symphony X]].

Many power metal drummers play double bass patterns with either two [[bass drum]]s, or utilize a [[double bass pedal]]; using them to play a constant stream of [[Sixteenth note|sixteenth notes (semiquavers)]] with snare drum accents on the beat, a style not restricted to, but most often associated with, power metal. The style was used by drummer [[Ingo Schwichtenberg]] of [[Helloween]], setting a blueprint for many other drummers to follow. Others, such as the drummers of [[Blind Guardian]] and [[Iced Earth]], use a more thrash metal style of drumming with rapid bursts of double bass that involve three to six beats with the double kick.

Power metal bands often incorporate keyboards into their musical arrangements,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 7 Mind-Blowing Metal Keyboard Solos |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/top_7_mind-blowing_metal_keyboard_solos-115025 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref> something popularized by [[Jens Johansson]] of Stratovarius (though their prominence varies). Some power metal bands also record with symphonic elements, and as such, they utilize a full orchestra to fill the role usually played by the keyboardist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Jordan|date=2024-03-13 |title=The 10 Best Prog Metal Guitar + Keyboard Duos |url=https://loudwire.com/best-prog-metal-guitar-keyboard-duos/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>