The Big 4/5... of US Power Metal

This is something I have thought about for a while!
I really dig US Power Metal from the 80s, and I consider it a stand alone subgenre of Metal...
So it seems fair to give this genre its own "THE BIG" 4,5 or what ever.
So what do you think?
Please don't list your bands that you like over bands that actually made an influence... what we should have is a short list of bands "Made" tha genre as much as the big for of Thrash.
And Guys, don't rule any band out for later mistakes... What I mean is that Metallica may have sold out, but they still own a place amongst the big 4 of Thrash.

Here are a few bands I would consider:

Omen,
Vicious Rumors,
Jag Panzer,
Helstar,
Metal Church,

Maybe Riot, but I wouldn't really classify them as US Power Metal

Well, let me see what u come up with!

/WH

Armored Saint
Hellion

I don't really like the term though as a lot of these bands were just metal bands, I don't see what was so different about it that it needs yet another bloody genre.

well, Queensrÿche on their EP alone had more influence in ALL types of power metal than a couple of those named bands combined if you really want to get down to it. So that pretty much needs to be on there.

Armored Saint is a good choice, and then Helstar, Metal Church, Jag Panzer.

US Power Metal never even had a big "one", so what's with 4 all of a sudden?

I'd say the best bands would include stuff like Armored Saint, Jag Panzer, Metal Church and how about Savatage, but none of them really broke through to the mainstream like thrash bands did.

Metal Church defines it and vies to be my favorite band
Armored Saint
Vicious Rumors
And Iced Earth as a late entry.

Forgive me, and I've only heard them up to Human Factor, but I always considered Metal Church a thrash band with a thick power slant. Same with Vicious Rumors. Don't hate me...

I would say:

Helloween (not a fan but they are elemental)
Iced Earth
Hammerfall
Armored Saint
Rhapsody? I honestly can't stand what little I've heard of them but they are massive amongst power metal fans.

Jag Panzer is also a f*cking sweet band to add...

corplhicks wrote:

Forgive me, and I've only heard them up to Human Factor, but I always considered Metal Church a thrash band with a thick power slant. Same with Vicious Rumors. Don't hate me...

I would say:

Helloween (not a fan but they are elemental)
Iced Earth
Hammerfall
Armored Saint
Rhapsody? I honestly can't stand what little I've heard of them but they are massive amongst power metal fans.

Jag Panzer is also a f*cking sweet band to add...

Think that you may have missed the part about U.S power metal.

I was a big thrash fan in the 80's, I was also a Metal Church fan, but I can honestly say that I never thought of them as thrash. Helloween, maybe but not MC

Boris2008 wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Forgive me, and I've only heard them up to Human Factor, but I always considered Metal Church a thrash band with a thick power slant. Same with Vicious Rumors. Don't hate me...

I would say:

Helloween (not a fan but they are elemental)
Iced Earth
Hammerfall
Armored Saint
Rhapsody? I honestly can't stand what little I've heard of them but they are massive amongst power metal fans.

Jag Panzer is also a f*cking sweet band to add...

Think that you may have missed the part about U.S power metal.

I was a big thrash fan in the 80's, I was also a Metal Church fan, but I can honestly say that I never thought of them as thrash. Helloween, maybe but not MC

Yeah, I f*cked up and missed the US bit.

METAL CHURCH
QUEENSRYCHE
FATES WARNING
SAVATAGE
HELSTAR

Honorable Mention: WARLORD

Savatage would be a number 5 for me.

Boris2008 wrote:

I don't really like the term though as a lot of these bands were just metal bands, I don't see what was so different about it that it needs yet another bloody genre.

I agree.

Metal Church
Jag Panzer
Vicious Rumors
Fifth Angel
Leatherwolf

Leatherwolf. Good one.

So here's a corrected list:

Iced Earth
Armored Saint
Savatage
Jag Panzer
Leatherwolf (thank you witchfinder)

How about Manowar?

Based on sales and popularity in Europe, they would probably be one of the biggest power metal bands from the US. Or do you not consider them power metal?

This really is a confusing genre.

For me, definitely Manowar, Jag Panzer, Metal Church, Armored Saint, & Savatage. Meliah Rage would be another good candidate.

Hard to pick 4 or 5 that had a huge impact but I'll play along

Helstar
Metal Church
Armored Saint
Fates Warning

Metal Church
Iced Earth

If I'm just picking favorites:

Rob Rock
Theocracy

Manowar
Savatage
Fates Warning
Queensryche

Considering the last three changed from USPM to more progressive music, possible replacements would be:

Metal Church
Manilla Road
Armored Saint
Vicious Rumors
Omen

Temple of Blood wrote:

METAL CHURCH
QUEENSRYCHE
FATES WARNING
SAVATAGE
HELSTAR

Honorable Mention: WARLORD

That would basically be my list as well, though in no particular order (outside of Metal Church being tops). Vicious Rumors would be nudging to get into the best 5 for me.

Corplhicks, I can understand your confusion to an extent. Metal Church, Helstar and Vicious Rumors all had songs that bordered on thrash metal at times. However, those songs didn't define their sound, only enhanced it. You couldn't point to any of their albums on the whole and say "that was thrash metal".

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

If I'm just picking favorites:

Theocracy

If I was picking favorites they would definitely make my list

Temple of Blood wrote:

METAL CHURCH
QUEENSRYCHE
FATES WARNING
SAVATAGE
HELSTAR

Replace Fates Warning w/Armored Saint and you've got my picks.

It is confusing. I think of Theocracy and Rob Rock as more european pm. Meh, no biggie.

I hope nobody calls us USPM, just to piss off all the elitists.

SideShowDisaSter wrote:

Corplhicks, I can understand your confusion to an extent. Metal Church, Helstar and Vicious Rumors all had songs that bordered on thrash metal at times. However, those songs didn't define their sound, only enhanced it. You couldn't point to any of their albums on the whole and say "that was thrash metal".

I'm certainly not saying this is wrong in any way it's just the perception I grew up with, call it either a misconception or subjective claim. I Googled Metal Church and thrash and learned that I'm alone in my assessment but it's a small circle. Obviously their first album was a major influence for thrash metal, but to me it never changed, even when they delivered more melody and slowed things down. To me, they always had speed, aggression, technical precision, and a certain 'bite' that fit in with other bands of the genre. HOWEVER. I'm guessing their lack of punk attitude may lend it self toward a case for power metal status. Either way, they're a kickass band.