I am riding my blackened steed. No wait, that sounds too gay. Ummmm, I am grinding my axe in your face. Nah, too death metal. How do I sum up an entire genre with just one pithy yet cheesy yet bombastic yet ironic remark and/or paragraph? Demon Scourge is the power metal guy around here! So here we go.......let's get some real life manna points, fan boys, and let's listen to the ORIGINATORS OF POWER METAL!!!!!!!!
Blind Guardian's first album, 1988's Battalions of Fear, is the point A for power metal as we know it. An update of speed metal via Agent Steel and something quite new for the time, with more varied mood and textures, featuring a fair amount of acoustic guitar. Blind Guardian has always had a unique sound, and all the typical blind Guardian elements are there: furious thrash riffing, happy Germanic choruses, medieval interludes, Hansi Kursch's raspy opera singing, and epic songwriting. The main thing dragging this album down is the emphasis on slower, quieter songs, a kind of slight Led Zeppelin influence that would fade away on the next album. Great start, though.
Adventure in Samur Part 5.1 - Forgotten
Heroes
Lars the Berserker sat before us, his
long beard still glistening with melting snow. We had come here to
the land of Narn with Mistress Crowbastard, who had disappeared after
we transported to this land from the gateway atop the Kradiken Socrat
in northern Samur. The bold human that sat across from us at this
roughly hewn table of sourwood was the one who we had come to see.
Lars the Berserker was, with ourselves and Crowbastard, one of the
keepers of the denim and leather armor. We needed
him to accompany us
through to the world of Dantor to defeat Headron, who was planning to
sell our beloved Centon to intergalactic developers. We have settled
in to our seats, and our host begins to speak, "I know of what
you seek Bloodmace and Demon Scourge." The cold winds are
howling across the vast spirit lake outside, blasting the walls of
the stone hut. "It is possible to defeat Headron with our denim
and leather, but it will be dangerous. The gate to his world is
located upon Va, an island that will be several days journey from
here by boat. This village is the last stronghold of your people, the
Huisketel. We have shed our flesh to live here in the frozen spirit
world, where the problems of the mortals cannot touch us. With the
coming of Headron, however, this is no longer true. If mortal powers
are allowed to control the flow of magic and spirituality in he world
below, terrible changes will happen to both worlds. We shall find
Parthon the Elder, father to the one you call Iron Dan. He guards the
gate on Va with Jarkon the Inflamer. They will reveal the final
secrets of the armor to you. For now, steel yourself for a cold
journey through a fearsome land." Just then, through the
whipping of the wind another sound rises, a terrible screeching
followed by a sickening thud. Our curious trio scurries up the stairs
to the door and into the gray afternoon gloom.
Helloween's best album of the 90's, Better Than Raw, was a full return to form after their weak alternative rock experiments from the early 90's and a couple of weaker power metal albums. Similar to Blind Guardian in approach, they are less interested in epic fantasy based landscapes (despite the awesome album cover) than being Iron Maiden with double bass drums and thrashier guitars. Catchy as fuck, inspiring, positive, power metal made for heros and mighty men of yore.
Adventure in Samur Part 5.2 -
Nightstalker
The wind has picked up since
we went inside the lair of Lars the Berserker a few moments ago and
it lashes us with an unwholsome force. Upon the howling fury floats a
storm of fluffy snowflakes,
creating a gauzy mist. Looking in the
direction of the terrible scream, we behold an awful sight. From the
depths of the vast spirit lake, a beast has arisen. Vaguely arachnid
in form, it towers threateningly above us, a single leg still thrust
through one of the hovels in Lars' settlement. The creature looks to
be covered in barnacles green and gray, giving it the appearance of
living rock. The head, however is shiny black, with luminous eyes
glowing blue in the pale midday light. Lars the Berserker brandishes
his battle ax and shouts out, "It's Headron! He has sent his
minion for us! Use the Destruction patch!" With that he rushes
into battle. Bloodmace grabs the Infernal Overkill patch on the front
panel of his denim and a wave of energy bursts fourth, more than
either of us expected. The giant sea spider stumbles momentarily,
giving the fur clad warrior his chance. With an evil cry, Lars
launches himself straight at his adversary. A venomous pincer glances
off his ax as he darts beneath the titanic foe. With a single blow
from the enchanted weapon, the end of a leg falls out from under this
demon of the sea. There is an earth shaking crash the spider falls to
the ground. Scaling it's back with incredible speed, the dark warrior
plunges the flaming hatchet into the skull of the fearsome devil with
a wild screech. A geyser of blood explodes form the gaping wound,
freezing in midair, ruby crystals that rain down upon the snow
covered ground. The thing's body heaves terribly as life is yanked
out of it, throwing the warrior to the ground like a rag doll. The
craggy monster topples, one of its legs landing atop Lars the
Berserker. Bloodmace and I rush over to help. Pulling the huge leg
away, we find this heathen from the north bloodied and bruised.
Without a word, he rises and walks in the direction of his home. With
a faraway voice, he speaks to us, "You will stay in the hut
while I mourn my fallen, then we will leave."
But indeed, if you want to seek the true origin of modern power metal, seek no further than this album, Judas Priest's 1990 reboot, Painkiller. This album still fucking kills. Priest had not been this focused since 1980 and British. New drummer Scott Travis's thrash influenced drumming really inspired the other members to top themselves performance wise. The lyrics are pure fantasy cheese, but it's the steroid enhanced performance of this album that pushes what might have been just another Priest album (like Ram It Down was) to classic status. White hot steel for rivet heads with battle jackets and leather. Winner of the night!
Words of the Elders
Stare not into the lightless
void, dear traveler, for the ways of the multiverse were not meant
for you to behold. Forces from beyond the reaches of time grasp at
this world already and the gaze of humans only sharpens their hunger.
Like a dagger from space, these forces will rend apart this strange
world of magic and super science. Beware Demon Scourge and Bloodmace,
the greatest dangers are yet to come!
Until next week, Battalions
of Fear,
Horns
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