Being a rather successful mixture of heavy but melodic guitar sound and lyrics that differ from other metal genres in mood to a more optimistic and easier side (fantasy, fantasy, and so on), power metal appeared in the late 80s of the last century and since since then has gained extraordinary popularity, having generated a large number of subgenres and mixes.
At the source
The best of Power Metal bands that were at the very beginning of the genre, now literally turned into living legends.
Heelloween. Their album Keeper of the Seven Keys is rightfully the benchmark of power. The group came to this style of play after speed metal and heavy metal, simplifying the guitar parts and adding pathos to the lyrics. The material turned out to be quite life-affirming; later a similar mood in power came to be called happy metal. The group has existed from 1984 to the present day, replacing three vocalists and even more drummers. In particular, one of the founders of Helloween, Kai Hansen, having left the group, created a new one, Gamma Ray, which also became quite successful and famous.
Blind Guardian, like Helloween, come from Germany. The music they play is a little darker and heavier. Their early albums were rightly considered classics of speed metal, but later they nevertheless became famous precisely as one of the best Power Metal groups with texts based on the works of famous science fiction writers, folklore and especially Tolkien's books, devoting a whole concept album to The Silmarillion with 24 tracks in it.
American groups
In America, power metal also evolved from heavy metal, but there it had a heavier sound and a darker general character.
Iced Earth. This team belongs to the so-called thrash power genre. It combines the hard and fast riffs that are characteristic of trash, and the general melody and complexity of the composition inherent in power metal.
Symphony X. The group plays in the genre of prog power. It is distinguished by complex rhythmic patterns that come from a progressive style, and high technical skill of performers.
Kamelot. Surprisingly, this group, although it was founded in the United States, has a soft, melodic sound typical of European artists. In her work in large numbers there are elements of symphonic metal - orchestral and choral inserts, general pathos in the performance.
Finnish scene
In Europe itself, there is a fairly noticeable division of groups among the most famous metalist countries. The best Power Metal bands from Finland have become truly world famous.
Stratovarius - those who are considered to be the founders of the Finnish power. Their work influenced the development of many other groups of the Finnish scene and made a significant contribution to the world power metal collection. Throughout their career, the group has tried itself, adding numerous elements of other genres to the sound: symphonic metal, speed metal (high-speed) and so on.
Nightwish is rightfully considered the legend of symphonic power metal. Using the keyboards and opera soprano by Tarja Turunen, one of the most famous vocalists of the metal scene, Nightwish achieved a truly unique sound. Then the vocalists took turns, the music underwent significant metamorphoses, however, the composer's talent as the founder of the group still allows her to be one of the best Power Metal groups with female vocals.
Italian scene
The most famous Italian metal band in general is Rhapsody of Fire. Despite the fact that symphonic metal has been and remains the main focus of the group, power elements at Rhapsody are also present. This is a conceptual group: all of its albums and singles are united by a cross-cutting plot narrating the events of a fictional kingdom. For scope and pathos, the epic metal label is also often clipped to the group.
Russian power
There is power metal in Russia. The most famous bands playing it have a traditional European character. Archontes are considered to be the pioneers of the Russian power, but the Epidemic, which is considered to be one of the best Power Metal groups in Russia, has achieved the greatest success in this field. Like the Blind Guardian, she also repeatedly turned to Tolkien's works, in particular, wrote the song Feanor, beloved by many Tolkienists.