Just a rambling update mostly about power metal since I feel like writing something that isn't another review right!
One genre I've really been listening to a lot of this past year is power metal. I've always liked classic power metal ever since I saw Iced Earth opening for Heaven and Hell (really just Sabbath with Dio) in 2007, but it's probably a top 5 metal subgenre for me these days. Anyway, the past couple of years I've added a fair chunk of power metal CDs to my collection, and have been listening to a lot of them lately. Of course, I've reviewed the entire Blind Guardian and Grave Digger discographies this year too, so please check those pages out if you can.
Anyhow, I literally just got home from work about an hour ago, and I listened to Sabaton's Coat of Arms in the car on the way there and back. I hadn't listened to this album for many, many years. In fact, I bought this as a new release way back in 2010, and even though I liked it at the time, it didn't make me go out and buy more of their albums. In fact, 15 years have now passed and it's still the only Sabaton album in my collection. But like I said, I heard it again today and I honestly enjoyed it for the most part. Not bad at all. I think my problem with Sabaton is that their brand of power metal isn't riffy enough to make me want to buy all their stuff. I like their historical war-themed lyrics, but their music is pretty samey overall. There's nothing wrong this - there's plenty of other bands I love that don't exactly change up their sound much, but I still go out and buy every new album because I love that particular sound (Saxon, Grave Digger... I'm looking at you!). I don't love Sabaton's particular sound enough to feel the need to buy all their records. But you know what, in small doses they're fine. And I even saw them live when they headlined the Friday night at Bloodstock in 2019.
The same can be said of Powerwolf (who literally played the main stage slot before Sabaton at Bloodstock the same year, but I didn't watch them). This is a band I've been well aware of for many years, but never actually picked up any of their CDs until recently. I decided to give them a shot and bought their 2015 album Blessed & Possessed. Again, I do somewhat like Powerwolf's one-trick-pony approach to power metal - like Sabaton, they have a specific sound and image and rarely ever stray away from it. I actually find their music to be similar to Sabaton's, only werewolf/horror focused instead! But also like Sabaton, I've decided I don't need to own all their albums after hearing this one. I've listened to it a few times going to and from work these past few weeks, and it hasn't made me want to buy more of their stuff. Either way, I still quite enjoy Blessed & Possessed, even if it hasn't elevated me beyond 'casual Powerwolf listener'. If they Bloodstock again however, I'll definitely be watching.
One album I've picked up recently is Power Quest's 2002 album NeverWorld. And these guys are extremely cheesy, but I've been thoroughly enjoying this CD! The vocal melodies and arrangements are just fantastic, and the music really takes me to a mythical fantasy land! And while the keyboard synths play a huge part in the songwriting, the guitar playing is equally as important - and for me, that's a good thing. Also, I actually get arena rock/AOR flavours from a couple of the tracks rather than power metal. 'Edge of Time' and possibly 'For Evermore' honestly sound like '80s arena rock songs to me - and really good '80s arena rock at that! Ridiculously hooky, melodic rock within what is primarily a melodic power metal album! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out on Ebay for more Power Quest albums. I had no interest in them until the last couple of years despite knowing of them for a very long time (they played Bloodstock in both 2011 and 2013, but didn't watch them). They're no longer together these days sadly.
Another band I've finally gotten 'round to hearing is Elvenking. Well, these guys within folk metal as well as power metal. My best mate (who now lives in the States) saw them supporting Alestorm in Cincinnati last year and said they were cool, so I finally decided to scour Ebay for some cheap pickups. I ended up getting The Winter Wake (2006) and Secrets of the Magick Grimoire (2017), and have only listened to the latter so far. But I like it! Solid melodic power metal with some folk influence thrown in for good measure. Great vocals too.
I've also very recently gotten hold of the new Rage album - A New World Rising - as well as Primal Fear's latest, Domination. Both old-school power metal bands that I've enjoyed for a number of years, yet don't actually own a ton of their material. In fact, I must've been in my teens when I first got into Rage - I saw them in Bloodstock 2010, and it was around that time I bought a CD twin-pack of their albums Unity (2002) and Soundchaser (2003). I loved both those albums even when I first heard them, yet Rage are one of those bands that I just never got around to really collecting many of their CDs. Anyway, I wanted some more 2025 releases so I've decided to pick up A New World Rising. I haven't gotten around to hearing it yet, but I'm looking forward to listening to it. Same with Domination - this one only showed up in the post yesterday so again, I haven't heard it yet. But I've always loved Primal Fear's debut and I might go and buy more of their stuff in the future. I'll be talking in detail about these releases in my 2025 wrap-up, which I'll be doing in December or maybe January depending on how busy I am.
I also had Firewind's 2008 album The Premonition blaring in my car for a few days too. It's the only Firewind album I ever bought, and I've had it many years. But I hadn't listened to it for a very long time, and I honestly don't know why. Great album! Gus G.'s guitar work on it is stellar throughout, from the riffs and melodies to the solos. Other than the silly cover of Michael Sembello's 'Maniac' (which is still somewhat fun anyway), I forgot just how enjoyable this record is from start to finish. The vocals too from Apollo Papathanasio (good luck pronouncing that name), are fantastic - but the problem with Firewind is the crazy number of vocalists they've had... it works out to be nearly a new singer on every album!! Whatever, I'll keep my eyes peeled for more Firewind CDs I think.
So yeah, I've been on a bit of power metal deep-dive recently, although I'm actually listening to Blue Oyster Cult's Imaginos right now as I type this! Anyway, I still have some music-related stuff left this year. I'm seeing Saxon again next month (14th November) at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton. They're playing Wheels of Steel in full, plus more - so I'm looking forward to that. I just hope Biff isn't overdoing it given his recent chemotherapy treatment. I'm also thinking of picking up Testament's new album, Para Bellum. Seems to be doing really well critically, so I've added it to my Xmas wishlist. I literally saw Testament with Obituary and Destruction a couple weeks ago, a few days before Para Bellum dropped too (again, I'll be talking more about the concerts I attended in the 2025 wrap-up). I was hoping we'd finally get the upcoming Anthrax album this year too, but that doesn't seem likely now. It's been 9 years since they released their last full-length, For All Kings!
Not much else to say. Just a ramble about power metal!
