"Dark" Power Metal?

[News]

News

[Stats]

Stats

[Phoenix]

Savage Circus and Iced Earth are really lame but Shatter Messiah is great.

edit: Apparently that was not a typo and there is a band called Savage Messiah. Huh, guess I'll check them out.

It's called "Doom Metal"

Do you just post whatever the hell comes to your head?

[Joseph Allen]

I would definitely recommend Paradise Lost by Symphony X (By the by, rumors are circulating that the new album is tentatively scheduled for this summer, can't wait!  )

I have to second the Iced Earth recommendation, especially Night of the Stormrider, Burnt Offerings, and Horror Show, my personal favorites by the band. Kamelot's been getting darker, you might want to check out their stuff starting from The Black Halo, which is phenomenal!   I know I'm probably just reinforcing stuff you've already seen, but truth be told, I don't know about much "dark" power metal. I'll probably be checking this list out a lot, too.  

[Nosrac1691]

I would definitely recommend Paradise Lost by Symphony X (By the by, rumors are circulating that the new album is tentatively scheduled for this summer, can't wait!  )

I have to second the Iced Earth recommendation, especially Night of the Stormrider, Burnt Offerings, and Horror Show, my personal favorites by the band. Kamelot's been getting darker, you might want to check out their stuff starting from The Black Halo, which is phenomenal!   I know I'm probably just reinforcing stuff you've already seen, but truth be told, I don't know about much "dark" power metal. I'll probably be checking this list out a lot, too.  

Correction! Check out Kamelot stuff starting from Karma, but Epica is when the shit seriously started to go down...and then...The Black Halo 

[Bad_Bud]

I would argue that "dark" power metal is typically less symphonic and less keyboard oriented than brighter power metal, and in that regard, I would definitely not count Kamelot in this discussion.  In fact, let's make a distinction between dark and gothic. 

Also, I forgot to mention Symphorce.  I know it's Andy Franck as well, but it's still good stuff.

[Joseph Allen]

Correction! Check out Kamelot stuff starting from Karma, but Epica is when the shit seriously started to go down...and then...The Black Halo 

I actually haven't listened to Epica or Karma much, I'll have to listen to them more.

[Chris Foley]

Don't forget The Fourth Legacy, that album is the fucking shiznit. I wouldn't class them as a "dark" power metal band. I'll second Symphorce too. I'll also second Savage Circus, both their albums kick ass in particular their most recent.

Their second one a darker version of Iron Savior

I like that one!

[Joseph Allen]

Eventually, we're just gonna have every Kamelot album listed out, and not a single person saying they fit the discussion! 

 Crimson Glory- Lonely

[Baldr]

I dunno about Symphorce... from the 4 songs on their Myspace only one was OK, the other three were horrible. The reviews from here and over at MA weren't exactly glowing either and I think I can see why just from those samples.

I actually had Dreamland Manor from Savage Circus lying around ever since it was released and didn't even listen to it yet. Too much new albums each year in addition to the countless older stuff you discover... I wonder if it's even possible to have (and keep!) an comprehensive overview over the complete metal landscape. Fortunately there are opportunities like this thread to plug some holes Anyway, I will finally check out that album tomorrow.

Speaking of Iron Saviour, that's another popular band I could never get into. Can't even give a definite reason why, it just didn't click. Maybe it was the wrong album? I only listend to Unification so far. Any album by them that stands out especially?

[Chris Foley]

Condition Red and Battering Ram are two choice Iron Savior albums. I'm a bit of a Piet Sielck fan-boy though

[MetalMike]

Condition Red and Battering Ram are two choice Iron Savior albums. I'm a bit of a Piet Sielck fan-boy though

"Titans of Our Time" is one of the all time best Power Metal songs.  I would give that to anyone who wanted to know what Power Metal sounds like.

[hERICtic]

Savage Circus and Iced Earth are really lame but Shatter Messiah is great.

edit: Apparently that was not a typo and there is a band called Savage Messiah. Huh, guess I'll check them out.

Second IE to about Horrorshow is pretty good. Savage Circus is decent. Saveage Messiah is very good. And yes, Shatter Messiah is great. Well, their second album.

[Phoenix]

I can tolerate some older Iced Earth, but even that doesn't really hold up these days. Night of the Stormrider just sounds neutered when I put it up against stuff like Paradox, Jag Panzer, Liege Lord and other thrashy Power Metal bands, and Burnt Offerings I'd probably give about a 3.75 or so these days. Their problem is just that the riffing sounds like some Spinal Tap-esque caricature of the most generic, formulaic metal ever - so generic that most bands don't even attempt it.

It's a weird thing to say because Schaffer's style is distinctive, but that's just the impression I get. It's mostly the songwriting, I think. Really dull band, despite a few cool moments here and there.

Savage Circus...eh, just go read my review.

You don't like the first Shatter Messiah album?

edit: Baldr, yeah, Symphorce suck. Really stupid, shit band that I'm surprised anyone gives a crap about at all.

[hERICtic]

I can tolerate some older Iced Earth, but even that doesn't really hold up these days. Night of the Stormrider just sounds neutered when I put it up against stuff like Paradox, Jag Panzer, Liege Lord and other thrashy Power Metal bands, and Burnt Offerings I'd probably give about a 3.75 or so these days. Their problem is just that the riffing sounds like some Spinal Tap-esque caricature of the most generic, formulaic metal ever - so generic that most bands don't even attempt it.

It's a weird thing to say because Schaffer's style is distinctive, but that's just the impression I get. It's mostly the songwriting, I think. Really dull band, despite a few cool moments here and there.

Savage Circus...eh, just go read my review.

You don't like the first Shatter Messiah album?

I agree about IE. I do like them, but they are very simple. Hell, most songs do not even have a guitar solo. Many of the riffs are recycled in other songs. Burnt Offerings though, has three great songs in my opinion. First two and the epic 16 minute one (Dantes Inferno?). Stormrider with a great production would boost it quite a bit. Its like they have great ideas, but arent talented enough to make them great.

As for Shatter Messiah...something about it just didnt sit right with me. I cant remember. Maybe too much screaming, not enough singing? Not catchy enough? Their second is incredible though.

Did you listen to any samples from Savage Messiah?

[Phoenix]

The Shatter Messiah debut is very good, grew on me with a few listens. I think it'll grow on me more the more I play it.

Yeah, listening to it again now, this shit KICKS ASS. Some of the most visceral, evil stuff ever called Power Metal. A bit too long, but...still! 

Not yet, but I will.

[Bad_Bud]

Heh, well if you're going to give Symphorce a try, you should probably start by listening to Twice Second or Godspeed (try listening to the songs in the order they appear on the albums).  The music has to grow on you over time and it probably won't blow you away.  They're not a grade A band for sure, but I seem to spend more time listening to them than most of the better bands in my collection.