Power metal

Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a more uplifting sound, in contrast to the heaviness and dissonance prevalent in styles such as doom metal and death metal. Power metal bands usually have anthem-like songs with fantasy-based subject matter and strong choruses, thus creating a theatrical, dramatic and emotionally "powerful" sound. The term was first used in the middle of the '80s and refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a later more widespread and popular style based in Europe (especially Scandinavia, Germany, Greece and Italy),South America (especially Brazil and Argentina) and Japan, with a lighter, more melodic sound and frequent use of keyboards.

Origins

Power Metal (album)

Power Metal is the fourth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera, released in May 1988 through Metal Magic Records. It is the first Pantera album to feature Phil Anselmo on vocals, as part of a line-up which would last until the band's official split in 2003.

Overview

The album showcases a more aggressive style which sounds, at times, closer to thrash metal (particularly on "Down Below" and "Death Trap") rather than the glam metal style heard on the band's earlier albums; however, traces of glam are still clearly present. Notably, Phil Anselmo makes his first appearance on vocals, having replaced original singer Terry Glaze. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell (then credited as "Diamond Darrell") also performs vocals on "P*S*T*88".

"Proud to Be Loud" was written and produced by Keel guitarist Marc Ferrari and was originally intended to appear on their 1987 self-titled album; however, Keel would not record their own version until Keel VI: Back in Action in 1998. Pantera's version was used as the party song in the theatrical cut of the 2001 film Donnie Darko, credited to "The Dead Green Mummies". The song also appears on "Trail to Doomsday", a MacGyver TV movie from 1994, as well as the film The Mighty Ducks 2 from the same year. Terry Glaze co-wrote "Down Below", with an earlier recording of the song appearing on Pantera's third album I Am the Night (1985).

List of Metallica demos

The American heavy metal band Metallica recorded several demos throughout their career.

Whiskey Audition Tape

These two cover songs were recorded in then bassist Ron McGovney’s garage, during rehearsals that took place in March of 1982. On the strength of this demo tape Metallica were booked to open for NWOBHM band Saxon on March 27, 1982 at the Los Angeles club Whisky A Go-Go.

Ron McGovney's '82 Garage demo

This demo tape was also recorded in McGovney's garage during March 1982. Although the demo has never been officially released, it has been in wide circulation in various bootleg versions. Apart from the songs listed below, two other tracks recorded during different sessions, consisting of songwriting ideas and various unreleased riffs, have also been widely bootlegged. One track consist of riffs and ideas that would later go on to become both Metallica and Megadeth songs, it is commonly titled as "Jam". While the other track is a melodic piece played by James and Ron, widely known on YouTube as, "Unreleased Kill 'Em All song". The validity of these two tracks was confirmed by McGovney, during a 1996 interview with Shock Waves and also via the Metallicabb forum.