The difference, by ear
Power metal shares the trained voice and the fantasy subjects at four times the tempo. Slow it to a crawl and the two genres nearly meet.
Both are sung cleanly, but power metal is much faster: 160 to 200 bpm against 60 to 100. To hear the difference, play Candlemass next to Helloween. They share a root in heavy metal and arrived in the same year.
In figures
Epic doom
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Doom metal › Epic doom
In short
Doom with operatic vocals and solemn lyrics. Candlemass set the template on their first album.
How it sounds
- Operatic vocals in the tenor or baritone range, with broad vibrato.
- Majestic riffing with long chords and guitar harmonies.
- Solemn structures and lyrics about fate, death and mythology.
Key acts
- Candlemass
- Solitude Aeturnus
- While Heaven Wept
Start here
The pickCandlemass - Solitude. First track on the first album, and all you need.
Full page →Power metal
Where it sits
In short
Galloping tempos, choral hooks and lyrics about dragons and battles. Optimistic by definition.
How it sounds
- Sustained galloping tempos with nearly continuous double kick.
- Choruses harmonised across many voices, choir style.
- Keyboards, neoclassical solos and lyrics about battles, dragons and hope.
Key acts
- Helloween
- Blind Guardian
- Gamma Ray
- DragonForce
Start here
The pickHelloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II. The closing track runs thirteen minutes and deserves them.
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