Best American Power Metal Bands
Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011. On June 22, 2012, Youngblood announced on their website that their new vocalist is the Swedish singer Tommy Karevik, who was first featured on Kamelot's album Silverthorn as main vocalist, co-songwriter and lyricist. Notable for their gothic-inspired sound and the vocals of Roy Khan.
Manowar is an American power metal band from New York City, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy and mythology.
They have been a significant influence in the history of metal, especially in genres such as power metal, symphonic metal, Viking metal, war metal, folk metal, doom metal, and death metal. They are also known for their slogan, "Death to false metal." Manowar is largely based on that nostalgia of the early 80s and they have been since that time period.
The origins and epitome of power metal. HAIL and KILL.
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal.They released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations,... read more
I wouldn't say they are a typical power metal band but they have some songs that can be called power metal. I love this band.
Known for mixing melodic power metal with the sound of 1980s thrash.
Great under rated band!
Manilla Road is an American heavy metal band from Wichita, Kansas, founded by lead guitarist Mark 'the Shark' Shelton. Arguably the first power metal band ever, this band mixes their own sound found first on Crystal Logic with other styles on each album (thrash, doom, death, gothic, etc).
A band who has albums that almost play out like operas with dynamic vocals and varied sections reminiscent of romantic classical music.
A band who has a highly underrated guitarist (Geoff Thorpe) and a great vocalist who mixed traditional power metal with thrashy belting (Carl Albert). A bit like a thrashier Savatage.
More melodic and ahead of their time than any of the other bands here that possibly influenced acts like Blind Guardian
Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia. An American progressive power metal band that sounds like a bit of a cross between Rhapsody, Dream Theater and Symphony X. Most of the music is written solely by the talented lead vocalist and guitarist, Matt Smith. Every album sounds different. Recently with Ghost Ship, they've been going in a more Thrash-inspired direction.
They make amazing (progressive) power metal songs. They need more attention.
An early band who released an amazing album called Battle Cry in 1984 which is a bit like Manowar, but with a more melodic and dynamic sound reminiscent of Kai Hansen's songwriting of Helloween and Gamma Ray.
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.Another early band who were a bit heavier than the other bands here, giving off a prototype to the darker bands of the power metal genre (Angra, Demons and Wizards, etc).
Nevermore is an American progressive metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from various styles such as power metal, modern hard rock, classic heavy metal and technical thrash metal. The band has been on hiatus since 2011, due to personal issues between ...read more.
Liege Lord is an American speed/power metal band, active in the 1980s and considered to be a pioneer of the genre.
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael Lepond.
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German metal scene to emerge in the early to mid-1980s.