Alright, as far as metal goes I generally listen to the more extreme ends of doom, black, death...

but when I was younger I got into Blind Guardian and that still stuck with me. I like everything they've done to some extent, and I think Imaginations From The Other Side... and Nightfall In Middle-Earth are INSANE records. Also the song "And Then There Was Silence" off of A Night at the Opera, and the opening and closing tracks on At The Edge of Time are brilliant.

What I'm getting at is that I love Blind Guardian. Hansi's vocals are incredibly powerful, the songs have a TON of wild energy and are quite complexly constructed, they really have a great atmosphere, and despite all the symphonics and and the cheesyness that they fuck around with, it's still aggressive and full of powerful energy. It's epic shit, there's no way around that for me. These are the qualities I'm hoping to find in some other bands out there. I'm not looking for copycats, but if anyone comes close to evoking the same kind of feelings that Blind Guardian do, help me out! I know there probably aren't many.

Some other things I like that kind of fit within these qualities:

While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose - The Furthest Shore : THIS IS GENIUS. SO HUGE. SO HEAVY. SO POWERFUL.
Savage Circus- a little too copycat feeling, but it does the job. Some great songs.
Persuader
Helloween - I like the first few records, never really checked out anything past that

I'm really not very familiar with power metal though. Throw me the best of the best kind of along these lines and see what happens? I'm okay with fucking around with cheesyness as long as it's still gnarly and is full of energy. Alright, enough is enough...

Sorry if this has been done before, the thread dedicated to this is a little overwhelming and a huge endeavor to go through...

The nerds of the Heavy/power/speed help thread are gonna help you. They'll tell you to check the USPM scene, stuff like Griffin, maybe you'll also like epic heavy metal,like Holy Martyr.

Probably because BG's former drummer played with them.

Try these:

Manticora - Danish power/thrash with a tremendous sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_X7kuNteIc

Timeless Miracle - sure, it's cheesy, but it's also unfairly catchy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlcxnLN2yJY

Orden Ogan - It's BG-ish, and it's damn good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvUGtcIVxxU

Running Wild - one of the Teutonic power metal mavens right up there with BG. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEFGzrbOQsw

Since you mentioned you haven't checked their later stuff, definitely check out Helloween's Gambling With The Devil. It's easily their most fierce album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cibM5gJxuUA

Helstar - American power/thrash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEs1AWf1eHs

Sabaton - absolutely thunderous Swedish power metal with a rather unique vocal approach. You want balls? Joakim Broden's got your balls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFO0Xo9TZ54

Glad to see someone opening up to my personal favourite metal subgenre. Hope you enjoy.

Are you familiar with any USPM? It's power metal with balls.
Have you heard Liege Lord's "Master Control", Lethal's "Programmed", Fates Warning's "Awaken the Guardian", Vicious Rumors "Digital Dictator", or Helstar's "Nosferatu"?

Wuthering Heights. Particularly the album, Salt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eblFOXlHDs

Iced Earth. Tread lightly during their 2003-2009 material.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i758tgh7J48

Shatter Messiah. Good ol' power/thrash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDZEOYoOWU

Mystic Prophecy. See above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxlRkCxm1qM

Imagika. See above again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H72q35ZYfEg

ANCIENT BARDS fits the bill, if you don't mind irony (female singer = no balls).

The Birth of Evil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpvLMyC4a8o

To The Master Of Darkness - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeszIVnvo6o

---

I also recommend FALCONER. Best singer in metal, period.

Mindtraveller - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uvO9EYrbVY

Enter the Glade - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3UmsgB70P8




Agree with this. Salt is amazing!

I find the lack of Manowar... Disturbing.

Listening to Manowar feels about the same as the wind blowing threw your newly sprouted chest hairs.
No one has bigger balls then Manowar.

Black Wind, Fire and Steel

Fast Taker

Spirit Horse of the Cherokee

Iron Savior. God I fucking love this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7c2f-P1hk

Also, Iron Mask(yeah, lotta Irons in my list)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94DLb5lQAZA

Forgot about Cryonic Temple, very melodic with a hint of OOMPH. Just, skip their latest album
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJOUtS-bBYs

Balls? Lost Horizon instantly came to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OffF0e2h4TU

Medieval Steel - One of the greatest classic uspm bands. with one of the best singers in power metal imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YRmhtgCrmI

Morgana Lefay - Great thrashy power metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rTkPS-oL4w

Glacier - another great classic uspm band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmCLfzp3 ... re=related

Artch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psw-EA1aHA4

Villain - amazing power/heavy metal band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=011JVPd9 ... re=related

Drive - great progressive/power metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u-yUb46 ... ure=relmfu

X-wild - great speed/power metal with former running wild members and "harsher" vocals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4BysTQ0 ... re=related

Check out that Swedish band Wolf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-9lA5ubxKU

Surprised to see no mention of Gamma Ray yet???? You really need to check them out if you haven't yet. Blind Guardian fans should love them. Epic speed metal with balls and a fantastic vocalist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cbnes-Q9ZE

The whole German power/speed metal scene should be right up your alley, especially since you like Persuader and of course early Helloween which began it all.

Iron Savior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbUt8fknQSU

Stormwarrior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2fEC7-EP9c

Grave Digger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPFTZA-r ... re=related

Paragon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8-ftzqpz_I

Running Wild (Very epic power/speed metal and one of the most well known bands of German metal. Can't miss them.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEFGzrbOQsw

For something with a little more cheese and not associated with German power/speed metal then check out Hibria.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRhYOGmyg0c

how is savatage not all over this thread already?

Two notable rocking Power/Trad Metal from Brazil:

Hibria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKQstdpRstY

Pastore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5ukVRrH0qM

Alright, sorry for taking a while to get back to this.
I've browsed through most of this stuff now.
Things I liked...

Manticora seem really ripping and cool, I'll spend some more time with this band. Organ Ogan seem worth looking into a little more too, but god damn that cover is awful. I really wanted to like Sabaton, but I couldn't hang with the vocals.

I'm getting familiar with the USPM stuff as well, really enjoying Omen - Battle Cry, Jag Panzer, Helstar, Fate's Warning especially... Really good stuff.

I like Iron Saviour, but I find myself wanting slightly more from them maybe... I'm only going off the debut though, I'll look into it further. I liked that Cryonic Temple song as well. ChildClownOctet is pretty much on point with the rec's.

Lost Horizon is really good, I like the debut a lot.

I enjoyed those Falconer songs.

Hibria seems cool. Stormwarrior.

I know I should like Running Wild, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be doing too much for me. hm.

Thanks for the recs though, everyone. I'm slowly exploring this a little more. If you've got any more, keep em' coming.

I'm finding I prefer things a little bit on the faster side, and with a kind of classic sound to it.
What did I miss out in the early - mid 90's??

I'm liking Gamma Ray - Land of the Free and Somewhere Out In Space.

Thanks again.

CrImson Glory hasn't been recommended yet? The fuck? Start from the beginning.

Not strictly Power Metal (Power/Speed... More towards the speed side actually), but Savage Grace kick copious amounts of ass. Master of Disguise is a hell of an album, and how could it not be with that cover?

Rage is the power metal with more balls you can listen.And for me the best.

Divinefire, maybe? I haven't listened to them in a while but from what I remember they can get fairly aggressive for a power metal band.

If you find yourself wanting a slightly "darker" sound, Arch Nemesis are pretty ballsy. Of Mind and Fantasy is one of my favourite albums of all time; the debut is alright from what I remember but it's ultimately forgettable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvvSeyFl8C0

Both of those albums are really creative, but they also both severely lack in hooks and catchy moments. Still interesting enough for a look though.

If you like Blind Guardian and Savage Circus, maybe try Demons & Wizards? They're derivative B-roll stuff, but decent.

Definitely try White Skull's Public Glory, Secret Agony. It is an amazing, little-known gem.

If you liked Persuader, may I recommend Stormrider? Stormrider is basically Persuader / Iced Earth worship. Nothing novel by any means, but decent if you want more of the same. You could also try Paradox (especially Collision Course). Oh, yes, and definitely try Intense(UK)'s As Our Army Grows. Fantastic thrash-tinged power metal, really solid stuff that you might enjoy.

Since you liked Stormwarrior (me too!), you might try Rebellion.

If you like ballsy power metal, I really liked Accept's Blood of the Nations. Somehow I never was able to get into any of their earlier stuff, but Blood of the Nations is hard-hitting stuff.

For something really dark, try Brimstone's Carving a Crimson Career. I absolutely adore their sound. It is power metal, but with a dark and gritty singer and a little bit of thrash feeling.

Since you liked some USPM, I'll second the recommendation for Liege Lord's Master Control. You might also try Brainstorm; they have a lengthy catalog, and it is all decent. If you like Brainstorm, try Rival (e.g., State of Mind).

Since you said you liked Manticora and Orden Ogan, possibly try Pyramaze or Fool's Game? They're not gritty or ballsy, though.

Others I liked that might appeal to you: Attack (Destinies of War), Lonewolf.

Oh, and: do you like the Iron Maiden style sound? If you do, check out Pharaoh and Bruce Dickinson (e.g., Chemical Wedding or Scream for me Brazil). They're both top-notch well-executed stuff, but are only likely to appeal to you if you enjoy the mid-career Iron Maiden sound.

Yo, whoever reccomended Falconer, they're really great.
Liege Lord's Master Control is sticking too.
Pyramaze - The Melancholy Beast is a surprisingly really cool modern record.

Kind of all I listen to now is Fate's Warning - Awaken The Guardian though. UNPARALLELLED RECORD.

Ok Scanner cannot be forgotten. More German speed metal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFbbvecfnqE

have a try with Tröjan, a fantastic speed/heavy metal band that never got where they should have belonged:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4IlN1rIVhM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm7DA5iIETc

Fourthing Helstar's "Nosferatu", some evil sounding power metal right there.

For starters, check out Final Prophecy's demo called Beyond Reality. It's like SFB combined with USPM (yes, I'm dead serious). From there, there's plenty of USPM that fits the bill. My personal favorites include Manilla Road (Crystal Logic or Open the Gates would be a good starting point), Virgin Steele (everything from Marriage I through Atreus II), Stormbringer's Stealer of Souls, Enchanter's Defenders of the Realm, both of Cauldron Born's full-lengths...that should at least get you started.

If you like epic heavy metal, instead of checking out a shitty band like Holy Martyr, try Longings Past, both of their full-lengths are good but I prefer the debut.

Dude!

Final Prophecy!!! This fucking rips!!

Happy to convert another one to appreciating their greatness.