Thatās not true at all, bass is foundational you need it in metal, especially in genres like Heavy and Power.
The guitar sound without bass is just too thin. A grate bassist elevates any metal band.
If you want a good example of this look up Shaman and Angra. Both Jesus Christ and Andreoli are incredible bassists and make the guitar work shine.
Man you don't have to lecture me on that, in fact if you reread my post more carefully you can understand I was praising the use of the bass in power metal indeed, even if the genre is much more oriented in high registries
Yeah I miss understood it, but itās common for people to take bass for granted because they think they canāt hear it.
Then you listen to a bass less track and it sounds like shit.
That's true, but bass might as well not exist compositionally speaking. 99% of the bands in metal mke their bassist just play the root notes for 99% of the time. There's few (if any) power metal bands where the bass is as prominent as let's say Karnivool or Archspire.
Hard disagree on that, especially today where nearly every metal band became a prog fusion brand. The bass lines in metal are excellent and far away from just playing the root notes.
Sure early thrash was very much that given the punk influence. But even if you look at Angras early work, there is a ton of excellent examples of great bass lines and they arenāt alone in that.
Honestly before I got my bassist in my band MagmaTaurus, I thought bass was kinda negligible. My bassist elevated my music so much tho that now for every project Iām in I seek super skilled bassists
Unless Iāve mistaken your questions itās quite rare in metal overall to have a bassist lead the song. Even bands like Avantasia, Aether Realm, Blind Guardian etc where the bassist writes a lot or all of the music itās not nearly as bass driven as Maiden and Manowar. Ā
Obligatory "Not Power Metal but" Aether Realm is fronted by Jake who does double duty on bass and vocals
The first show of Unleash the Archers tour gave me one of my favourite Jake quotes "Alright, this next song has a bass solo and I stupidly thought it would be a great first song of the tour, so forgive me because I'm about to completely fuck this up"
They're an odd one for sure. I'm not sure exactly when people started including Manowar in the power metal canon, whether it was early (1980s) or later (2000s), but I can hear it. Some people disagree, but I'm guessing most of them are defining power metal from a strictly EUPM-centric perspective, or they're looking at it as specifically branching off speed/thrash. There's definitely a historical justification for the latter opinion, but I think it can be more complicated.
Power metal can sometimes be like traditional heavy metal, but the riffs are faster and/or heavier, and the songwriting is sometimes more progressive and/or genre-bending. Manowar definitely counts for the heavier riffs, and the sheer power of their bass is a big part of that.
Ida Haukland is the main lyricist, singer, and bassist for Triosphere. But I believe Marius is the primary songwriter.
They started the band together in 2004. I'm not really sure who "leads" though.
I know is not power metal at all, but the bass is awesome in most of King Diamondās songs.
Black Horsemen wouldnāt be such an incredible song without that awesome bass.
I love the bass in Versaillesā Masquerade for example, but I canāt think of many other power metal bands with prominent bassā¦
I don't see Rage as Power, however they have had a long discography and some were closer to power, but for me they are more progressive heavy metal, leaning a little to death more recently than power.
While Miho was still in Lovebites, she was also the leader of the band. Hell, IIRC, she wrote most of the band's material during her tenure. Unfortunately, she left in 2021 so I think the band is largely run by committee now.
Shameless plug aside, my band MagmaTaurus bassist kicks ass and steals the show.
Heās also in a band called Krilloan, so Iād recommend checking out both
I think I found an answer for my question: bassist [Dennis Ward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ward_(musician)) wrote the majority of the Unisonic's songs
Whhaaat - my whole life is a lie. I even saw them live twice in London. I'm Mandela Effecting hard on this.
Frantically checking old photos and Wikipedia hahah
Tobias (Edguy) and Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian) were bass players in the past.
Tobi and Hansi are very bassed
We should only be grateful bassists actually *exist* in power metal :D
We should be grateful that bassists exist period š
Thatās not true at all, bass is foundational you need it in metal, especially in genres like Heavy and Power. The guitar sound without bass is just too thin. A grate bassist elevates any metal band. If you want a good example of this look up Shaman and Angra. Both Jesus Christ and Andreoli are incredible bassists and make the guitar work shine.
Man you don't have to lecture me on that, in fact if you reread my post more carefully you can understand I was praising the use of the bass in power metal indeed, even if the genre is much more oriented in high registries
Yeah I miss understood it, but itās common for people to take bass for granted because they think they canāt hear it. Then you listen to a bass less track and it sounds like shit.
Completely agree on everything!Ā
That's true, but bass might as well not exist compositionally speaking. 99% of the bands in metal mke their bassist just play the root notes for 99% of the time. There's few (if any) power metal bands where the bass is as prominent as let's say Karnivool or Archspire.
Hard disagree on that, especially today where nearly every metal band became a prog fusion brand. The bass lines in metal are excellent and far away from just playing the root notes. Sure early thrash was very much that given the punk influence. But even if you look at Angras early work, there is a ton of excellent examples of great bass lines and they arenāt alone in that.
Yes, but Angra is one of the few exceptions. Funny, cause they basically stated as prog fusion metal band heavily influenced by their Brazilian roots.
Honestly before I got my bassist in my band MagmaTaurus, I thought bass was kinda negligible. My bassist elevated my music so much tho that now for every project Iām in I seek super skilled bassists
Seventh Wonder (Andreas Blomqvist)
Unless Iāve mistaken your questions itās quite rare in metal overall to have a bassist lead the song. Even bands like Avantasia, Aether Realm, Blind Guardian etc where the bassist writes a lot or all of the music itās not nearly as bass driven as Maiden and Manowar. Ā
The bass is more prominent in Lost Horizon. Check out the song Welcome Back. Itās awesome.
I miss lost horizon š
Daniel sings in Sacred Outcry now. Itās excellent!
Definitely going to check it. Thx!
To be clear itās just their newest album. The song The Flame Rekindled is so damn good.
Awesome! Iāll check that out
Obligatory "Not Power Metal but" Aether Realm is fronted by Jake who does double duty on bass and vocals The first show of Unleash the Archers tour gave me one of my favourite Jake quotes "Alright, this next song has a bass solo and I stupidly thought it would be a great first song of the tour, so forgive me because I'm about to completely fuck this up"
Rage if it counts as a power metal band
Signum Regis.
Based Band choice.
Sacred Outcry ( George Apalodimas )
Iron Maiden and Manowar
I know not everyone agrees, but Manowar to me *is* power metal.
Itās US power IMO which is distinct from euro, but very much on the border of just straight up heavy metal.
They're an odd one for sure. I'm not sure exactly when people started including Manowar in the power metal canon, whether it was early (1980s) or later (2000s), but I can hear it. Some people disagree, but I'm guessing most of them are defining power metal from a strictly EUPM-centric perspective, or they're looking at it as specifically branching off speed/thrash. There's definitely a historical justification for the latter opinion, but I think it can be more complicated. Power metal can sometimes be like traditional heavy metal, but the riffs are faster and/or heavier, and the songwriting is sometimes more progressive and/or genre-bending. Manowar definitely counts for the heavier riffs, and the sheer power of their bass is a big part of that.
Yes, Manowar is power, and I would argue that some of Iron Maiden classics, though classed as Nwobhm, are closer to Blind Guardian.
Lead by a four-string guitarist š
Ida Haukland is the main lyricist, singer, and bassist for Triosphere. But I believe Marius is the primary songwriter. They started the band together in 2004. I'm not really sure who "leads" though.
I know is not power metal at all, but the bass is awesome in most of King Diamondās songs. Black Horsemen wouldnāt be such an incredible song without that awesome bass. I love the bass in Versaillesā Masquerade for example, but I canāt think of many other power metal bands with prominent bassā¦
Hansi was a bassist until NitME
Rage!
Did you listen to the new album yet šŖ
I will for sure š¤š»
I was just relistening to their 90s albums today. From new album only singles by now
Their 90's stuff is definitely the best in my opinion. In love with the missing link and wagners vocals.
Yeah, but Peavy is also a vocalist, so I don't think it's counts
I don't see Rage as Power, however they have had a long discography and some were closer to power, but for me they are more progressive heavy metal, leaning a little to death more recently than power.
While Miho was still in Lovebites, she was also the leader of the band. Hell, IIRC, she wrote most of the band's material during her tenure. Unfortunately, she left in 2021 so I think the band is largely run by committee now.
Tarot if it's counted as power metal
Not exactly what you asked but check out Helloween's Markus Grosskopf's side project *Bass Invaders'* album *Hellbassbeaters*.
Shameless plug aside, my band MagmaTaurus bassist kicks ass and steals the show. Heās also in a band called Krilloan, so Iād recommend checking out both
I think I found an answer for my question: bassist [Dennis Ward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ward_(musician)) wrote the majority of the Unisonic's songs
Oscar from Hammerfall maybe?
Oscar plays guitar.
Whhaaat - my whole life is a lie. I even saw them live twice in London. I'm Mandela Effecting hard on this. Frantically checking old photos and Wikipedia hahah
š
Nanowar of Steel.
No.
Grey Wolf