Power Metal catch up tips?

I've spent the last 3-4 years collecting everything from my youth that's guitar rock on CD (right down to the Osmonds!), and I think I've got it covered.
Unfortunately I've lost touch somewhat with my beloved Euro Power/melodic/prog/doom in the meanwhile. Now that the mists of November are settling over the northland here, I'm gonna try and do a little catch-up for my winter listening. But I'd appreciate some (any) advice or help. Here's what I plan on buying so far...

Amorphis- Eclipse (or Silent Waters)
Candlemass- King of Grey Islands
Veni Domine- 23:59
Silent Fart- Walk the Earth

those are all no brainers for me, but also wondering about...

Cornerstone- Two Tales of One Tomorrow
Tarot- Crows Fly Back
Alan Lande- Revenge
& one of the recent Morgana LeFays?

If you know a great power/prog metal album from the last couple of years, please tell me about it, thanks.

Here are som of my favorites of the past couple of years if it helps: Cryonic Temple-In Thy Power, Firewind-Forged By Fire, Gothic Knights-Up From The Ashes, Galloglass-Legends From Now And Nevermore, Nocturnal Rites-Grand Illusion, Rob Rock-Holy Hell (actually all of his solo albums are great), Tribuzy-Execution, Masterplan-Aeronautics, Pyramaze-Legend Of The Bone Carver, Thunderstone-Tools Of Destruction, and Vision Divine-Perfect Machine (there are many more I could recommend but these are the less symphonic of them).

Taror and Allen/Lande are must haves. Some recent new power metal essentials are (in my opinion):

Cellador - Enter Deception (sample)
Core Device(sample)
ShadowDivine (sample)
Serenity (sample)

Cellador is similar to early Helloween. Core Device is like Nevermore. ShadowDivine is like Rage. Serenity is like Sonata Arctica. These similarities have a lot to do with the vocals, some are dead ringers, but all are killer!

DallasBlack's suggestions are all top notch! Buy them, and the Allen/Lande discs, are you will be fine for a while. Then you must hunt down some Brainstorm, Symphorce and Hollow

Listen to me for ones in your life and buy the new NIGHTMARE, MYSTIC PROPHECY, WIZARD and METALIUM albums. All increible great albums released this year.

Tribuzy's Execution is a great suggestion. I am a huge fan of Heavenly's Dust to Dust, regarding it as one of the best power metal albums ever Generally all the suggestions above are safe bets.

I would pick up Morgana Lefay's Grand Materia and all the albums they produced under the name "Lefay". SOS, The Seventh Seal and the re-recorded Symphony of the Damned.

In addition to the great suggestions above (let me especiallly second the Masterplan, Silent Force, Nocturnal Rites, Firewind, Rob Rock, Brainstorm, suggestions):


Falconer - All of them!

Elvenking - (Their last three Wyrd, The Winter Wake, adn The Scythe - If you like/want a little folkishness. This is powermetal, but with a twist....

Wuthering Heights - Their last two are simply mind blowing (IMO) folkish powermetal. The vocalist from Astral Doors is in this band....

Dark Moor - All but the first

Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle Earth - if no other one this is a must........a must!

Persuader - All of them (Very much a Blind Guardian sound alike...earlier BG that is...)

Savage Circus - Dreamland Manor (Ditto above comment...maybe even more so - but it's amazing stuff)

Symphorce-Become Death
Cellador-Enter Deception
Edguy-Hellfire Club
Rob Rock-anything
Brainstorm-Liquid Monster

I feel silly for not mentioning Elvenking and Wuthering Heights. Good calls, scott. Also, you can't go wrong with a bit of Freedom Call.

I am also a DRAKKAR fan from Italy. They made some cool albums back in the late 90s beginning of 00. SHADOWS OF STEEL and SKYLARK are two other fave of mine from the late 90s. Check them out please.
You know of course you can find all the info on:
http://www.metal-archives.com/

Lots of good suggestions here!
That Cornerstone- Two tales of one tomorrow is GREAT! On my top ten this year!
Everyone seems to be on a Thrash Metal kick these days (me to).
But it`s always good to hear some quality trad hard rock and power metal!
Doogie White is an AWESOME singer!!!

Thanks for the input. Awesome! Luckily I do have several of the Cd 's mentioned (a few), so it looks like this is only gonna cost me about $300 bucks (or, more appropriately, 200 euro). Now I'm actually looking forward to winter! Nothing like listening to this stuff while driving through a snowstorm..."Riding the cold, cold winds of Valhalla".

in addition to the others I would suggest:


Black Hawk Dragonride

Bloodbound Nosferatu

Bloodbound Book of the Dead

Burning in Hell Burning in Hell

Burning in Hell Believe

Cypher Seer Awakening Day

Destynation Rising Up

Dragonforce Inhuman Rampage

Eterna Epiphany

Firewind Allegiance

Freedom Call Dimensions

Galloglass Heavenseeker

Grand Lux Carved in Stone

Guardians of Time Machines of Mental Design

Keldian Heavens Gate

Lorien Secrets of the Elder

Olympus Mons Conquistador

Ride the Sky New Protection

Steel Assassin War of the Eight Saints

Unicorn The 13th Sign

Alex

Get some:

Redkey
Sinner
Godiva
Dungeon
Ilium


Wargod48

I'm getting really psyched about this...gonna be the best Christmas in years. Don't leave anything out because you think it's too symphonic, and keyboards are always a plus for me...thanks again!

Here's some links to reviews I did at MetalReviews.com that I think you'll dig:

Helltown - Lead To Hell
Assailant - Nemesis Within
Evergrace - Evergrace (band now called Incrave, album called The Escape)
Time Symmetry - Fate In Gray
Galloglass - Heavenseeker
Casus Belli - In The Name Of Rose
Dreamcatcher - Wanderer Of The Ocean (EP)

Most of my reviews have links to samples at the end. If you want any more info on these bands, let me know.

Just listened to them again last night and you should seek out Rising Faith-The Arrival, truely a power metal gem. On the symphonic side I would suggest anything by these bands: Mob Rules, Nightwish, Rhapsody, Avantasia, Human Fortress, Jacob's Dream, Kamelot, Balance Of Power, Luca Turilli (1st two), and if Christian lyrics aren't a problem for you; Theocracy.