Soul Vigilant Tribute : United States Power Metal (Part 1)

                                       Prologue

 Despite of its unfortunate decline in the early 80's the New Wave of British Heavy Metal had a very large influence on the American metal scene.Bands in US started to blend certain aspects of the NWOBHM with elements of hard rock and power pop adding catchy riffs and guitar hooks,creating glam metal while others combined the sound of the movement with hardcore punk giving it much more speed and aggression and thus thrash metal was born.But there were some bands that stayed true to the original heavy metal sound pioneered by all the bands in the UK.The uplifting sound, melodic solos, strong choruses and the prominent use of fantasy in the NWOBHM gave birth to the genre, or rather scene that we're going to examine.The United States Power Metal.This is the first part of the 3 part tribute that I'm going to make about the USPM.Each part will contain 5 bands that are fine examples of what the USPM sounds like.Feel free to suggest any bands for future parts, or even ideas for future tributes!

•  Cirith Ungol

 Well, the blog has reviewed 2 records of the band so far, so I deem it right to begin with them.These guys predate even the New Wave of British Heavy Metal being formed in 1972 in Ventura, California. They weren't so lucky though, as they had to wait 8 years to release their first record, the magnificent album called Frost and Fire.Even though it was a great album their style was defined in the one that followed (King of the Dead).Despite following the archetype of the NWOBHM with thick riffs and melodic solos (and a great bass of course) their music and lyrics are darker than the other bands of the movement, making them one of the pioneers of doom metal as well.Another unique characteristic of the band is Tim Baker's vocal performance.That guy's shouts still send chills down my spine!Unfortunately the band was disbanded in 1992.They were a great piece of heavy metal history and one of my favorite bands of all time.

 

Standout Records : Frost and Fire, King of the Dead

•  Omen

 Omen...a legendary band revered by any metalhead who respects the traditional sound.They were formed by guitarist Kenny Powell after he left Savage Grace in 1983 in L.A California.After a year they released the heavy metal landmark Battle Cry (Best debut album ever IMO) and after that, they proceeded releasing other classics like Warning of Danger and the Curse.Anything that they released after those just didn't feel the same.None of the later albums could capture the epic feeling, the savage riffs and intensity of the first holy trinity.Vocalist J.D Kimball's (R.I.P 2003) departure from the band is something that clearly affected them negatively as none of the other vocalists could even come close to J.D's savage, yet magnificent performance.The band is still active but with most of the original lineup gone, it's hardly the same band at all.

             Standout Records : Battle Cry, Warning of Danger, The Curse, Nightmares EP

• Warlord

Another greatly respected band of the movement especially here in Greece as the group's guitarist and mastermind, William J. ''Bill'' Tsamis has Greek roots.They were formed by Tsamis and Mark Zonder (both of who have stayed in the band from its beginning until even today) in 1980 in L.A, California.They released their first EP titled Deliver Us in 1983 and later re-recorded most of the EP's material with a different singer, releasing their phenomenal debut LP ...And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun in 1984.They disbanded in 1986 and they were brought back together with Hammerfall's Joacim Cans on the mic in 2001 before disbanding again one year later, having delivered us a most satisfying album called Rising out of the Ashes.They reunited again 2 years ago and are still active.A month ago, they released their latest album, The Holy Empire, and I have to say that it is really well done.Tsamis' mindblowing guitar solos and Zonder's drumming which sounds like a tank battalion firing up all its payload never seem to get old.

Standout Records : Deliver us EP, ..And the Cannons of Destruction have begun, the Holy Empire

• Jag Panzer

This band was formed under the name Tyrant (which was adopted again later by vocalist Harry Conklin as his pseudonym) in 1981 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.They changed their name to Jag Panzer soon afterwards and released their first EP called Tyrants in 1983 which was followed by their chaotic and intense debut album, Ample Destruction.They disbanded in 1988 and reformed in 1994 with vocalist Daniel Conca (R.I.P 2004) and delivered us their weakest album Dissident Alliance, a record which did not sound like Jag Panzer at all.Fortunately Harry Conklin came back to the band that same year and they only delivered us great albums until their permanent disbandment in 2011.Guitarist Mark Briody's fast and melodic playing which has influenced the European Power Metal scene and Harry Conklin's Immortal voice, which hasn't changed a bit since 1983 will be missed.

 Standout Records : Ample Destruction, Thane to the Throne, A Scourge of the Light

• Fates Warning

Fates Warning started as Misfit in 1982 and changed their name to the one we all know two years later.Their first official release named Night on Brocken (1984) was entertaining, but showed a band that did not have its own unique style and were trying to be a carbon copy of Iron Maiden, but by the time their next record, The Spectre Within was released, the band had developed its own original style with complex guitar riffing and soloing intertwined between mastermind and main songwriter Jim Matheos and Victor Aldruini (and the magnificent Frank Aresti who joined the band after the latter's departure), intense drumming, John Arch's signature vocal performance and frequent changes in the tempo. Fates Warning was surely one of the pioneering bands of the progressive metal genre.Ray Adler joined the band after former vocalist's John Arch's departure and although the albums aren't as good with him as they were with Arch on the mic, it still seems that the band hasn't lost its form.They are still active and are delivering us really satisfying albums.Jim Matheos' side project with John Arch on vocals (Arch/Matheos) is definitely worth checking out too.

Standout Records : The Spectre Within, Awaken the Guardian

That's all for now folks! Keep checking the Vigilant for part 2!