5 Power Metal Albums You Should Own

Welcome to the final day of Power Metal Pandemonium fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Yes everybody, this is it. The final day where we celebrate the most over the top metal sub-genre ever created. This doesn’t mean I’ll stop looking at Power Metal releases. It just means I’ll be taking a little break from this sub-genre, and focusing on others instead. In the meantime, like the Summer of Thrash from last year & Proguary from earlier this year, I thought that one last offering to the altar of Power Metal was appropriate. Specifically, I wanted to show off what I consider to be some Power Metal records that you need in your library of albums. I won’t talk any further, so here are 5 Power Metal albums that are essential for a metal collection. Enjoy.

1) Nightwish - Oceanborn (Sample Song)

Alright. One last bit of my feminine side coming out.

To be honest, I was a little tempted to have both Nightwish & Battle Beast tied for here. What ultimately changed my mind was the fact that one band’s legacy is a little stronger than the other. Battle Beast kick ass, there’s no doubt! However, Nightwish in my belief laid the foundation for women to enter the realm of Power Metal, and I think that gives the group a little more weight. While it’s 90s coating is still apparent, it’s that same coating that gives Oceanborn it’s charm. Tarja’s voice has just as much weight then as it does nearly 20 years later, and everything else sounds great as well. If you like your metal with a touch of femininity, Oceanborn might be what you’re looking for.

2) Iron Maiden - Powerslave (Sample Song)/Rising Force - Odyssey (Sample Song)/Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys I (Sample Song) & II (Sample Song)

To be honest, you could easily choose one of these albums to put here, and you’d be able to get away with it. However, you’d only be putting one part of the origin story of Power Metal, and thus you wouldn’t get the whole picture. In the past I usually put up one of the “origin” bands of a genre on these lists, but for this one time I had to put all of them here, as they’re all incredibly important. I can’t explain all of them here, as it would take up too much time. Suffice it to say, each of these bands contributed to Power Metal, and they all deserve a spot here on this list.

3) Sabaton - Primo Victoria (Sample Song)

I honestly didn’t know which of Sabaton’s albums to put here. I was tempted to put The Last Stand here, since it was the first release of the band I actually physically owned. However, in all good faith I had to put their first official album here. I stated back in my review that it does show a little amateur-ish quality, but that one flaw does not diminish how incredible Primo Victoria is. To most if not all fans of Sabation, this CD is considered sacred, and for very good reason. Though the band is very rooted in Power Metal, it was their focus on historical warfare & some of the figures within that really set them apart from most other bands of the sub-genre. I cannot recommend Primo Victoria enough, so I simply suggest you go out, grab it, and enjoy it.

4) Stryper - Fallen (Sample Song)

I kind of alluded the fact back in my overview of this band that they helped create part of the basis for what would become Power Metal, and I wasn’t wrong. It wouldn’t be until 2015 that they finally put out a full-blown Power Metal album. Apart from one song that gets my blood boiling, Fallen is a fun record. Though still rooted firmly in their Christian beliefs, Stryper go all out with Power Metal. The opening track is mind-blowing, and acts as a great gateway into the rest of the album. All of the band members are on point, and even if you’re not someone of belief, you can’t deny that Stryper might be onto something.

5) Judas Priest - Nostradamus (Sample Song)

Right away, I’ve indirectly caused some of you to have a brain aneurysm. In the eyes of many Judas Priest fans, their 2008 release is considered pure blasphemy. Ironic, given that fans of the band were warned ahead of time that they were going to do a Power Metal album, and they complained anyway. Those people are missing out, as Nostradamus is actually a really good album. It does come across as a little hokey at times, but for the most part the band produced a well-structured & very polished release. Some of that old Judas Priest sound shines through from time to time, but the soul & essence of Nostradamus is 100% Power Metal. Don’t believe the critics. This album is needed, whether you’re a Priest fan or just an average fan of Power Metal!

So these are 5 Power Metal albums that are mandatory for your collection. 5 records of some of the most ridiculous yet awesome music your ears have ever heard! Even if you only listen to & buy one of these CDs, you’re definitely going down the right path. With that, we leave the fantasy wildness behind, and get ready for this blog’s 3-year anniversary. Let’s party!