Editing Power metal (section)

==Stylistic origins==
[[Image:Kai Hansen.jpg|180px|thumb|[[Kai Hansen]] of [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]] during a show in Barcelona. Hansen is regarded as one of the biggest influences in the early development of power metal.]]

Anthropologist [[Sam Dunn]] traced the origins of power metal back to the late 1970s, when the groundwork for power metal lyrical style was laid down by [[Ronnie James Dio]]. The fantasy-oriented lyrics he wrote for [[Rainbow (English band)|Rainbow]], concentrated around medieval, renaissance, folk, and science fiction themes, directly influenced modern power metal bands.<ref>''Metal – A Headbanger's Journey'', DVD, ASIN B000FS9OZY (2005).</ref> According to Dunn, the songs "Stargazer" and "A Light in the Black" from the 1976 album ''[[Rising (Rainbow album)|Rising]]'', as well as "Kill the King" and "Lady of the Lake" from the 1978 album ''[[Long Live Rock 'n' Roll]]'', might be among the earliest examples of power metal. In his 2011 documentary series ''[[Metal Evolution]]'',<ref>{{cite web |author=Dunn, Sam |title=Metal Evolution, Episode 110: Power metal |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/metal_evolution/episode.jhtml?episodeID=181795 |publisher=[[VH1]] |access-date=2 July 2012 |archive-date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920101210/http://www.vh1.com/shows/metal_evolution/episode.jhtml?episodeID=181795 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dunn further explained how [[Rob Halford]] of [[Judas Priest]] created a blueprint for power metal vocal delivery. His almost constant high-pitched singing became one of the main characteristics of power metal. The twin-guitar sound promoted by Judas Priest's duo of [[K. K. Downing]] and [[Glenn Tipton]] also highly influenced this subgenre.

Another British band, [[Iron Maiden]], brought epic and melodic sensibility to metal, creating anthemic, singalong music, an approach widely embraced by modern power metal musicians. Referred to as the "main prototype" of the power metal genre, Iron Maiden was heavily influenced by ''[[Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)|Heaven and Hell]]'' and ''[[Mob Rules (album)|Mob Rules]]'' (the first two albums of [[Black Sabbath]]'s [[Ronnie James Dio#Black Sabbath|Dio-era]]), which would also go on to influence modern power metal.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Irwin |first1=William |editor1-last=Irwin |editor1-first=William |title=Black Sabbath & Philosophy: Master of Reality |date=2013 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |page=83 |quote="Power metal may in general have Iron Maiden as its main prototype, but actually the first two releases from Black Sabbath's Dio-era Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules, were an influence on Iron Maiden, and remain important references for today's power metal bands.}}</ref>

The emergence of the early German power metal scene in particular was made possible by [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] and [[Accept (band)|Accept]]. Swedish guitarist [[Yngwie Malmsteen]] made a significant impact on many future power metal guitarists, with his accurate and fast [[Neo-classical metal|neo-classical]] style. His bandmate [[Jens Johansson]] modernized the keyboard sound of [[Deep Purple]]'s [[Jon Lord]], which was further incorporated into the genre. [[Manowar]]'s mythological [[sword and sorcery]] lyrics influenced a number of power metal bands.

Throughout the early 1980s (especially during 1982 and 1983), the US power metal style first emerged from traditional heavy metal, the [[new wave of British heavy metal]] (NWOBHM), and [[thrash metal|thrash]]/[[speed metal]] backgrounds. Although the genre's precise stylistic origins are often contested, acts such as [[Cirith Ungol (band)|Cirith Ungol]], [[Jag Panzer]], [[Manilla Road]], [[Omen (band)|Omen]], [[Riot V|Riot]], [[Savatage]], and [[Warlord (California band)|Warlord]] are generally believed to have influenced the earliest development of the style.<ref>{{cite web |author=Marco |title=Marco's Guide to USPM Part 1 |url=https://rideintoglory.com/marcos-guide-to-uspm/ |publisher=Ride Into Glory |access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |date=2007 |title=Metal: The Definitive Guide : Heavy, NWOBH, Progressive, Thrash, Death, Black, Gothic, Doom, Nu |publisher=Jawbone Press |location=[[London|London, England]] |page=262 |isbn=978-1-906002-87-9 }}</ref>

More concretely, in 1987 German band [[Helloween]] released their second album, ''[[Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I]]'', cited by [[AllMusic]] as "a landmark recording that remains arguably the single most influential power metal album to date. Its volatile combination of power and melody would inspire an entire generation of metal bands".<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/helloween-mn0000957340/biography Helloween – Biography]</ref> This release influenced a European power metal style to evolve, which proliferated throughout the globe and since the start of the 1990s is still the most commonly heard style of power metal.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}