Hi Neo...how are you? I promised to stop by....so here I am.


One thing I always wondered about. When I see references to neo-classical bands I also see a lot of Power Metal.

What I don't understand is: where does the classical influence that these bands supposedly have get expression in the music. In my opinion many of them seem more inspired by pop/euro-techno :blink: due to their use of drums...

So, are they put in the wrong category, or is it just me who don't understand?

Good topic. I think there are a lot of power metal bands that are neo-classical but I think there are a lot that aren't as well. Kind of 50/50 imo. Dragonforce and Blind Guardian I don't consider neo-classical while Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius I do. It comes down to what scales are they using for the majority of their power metal and if they use symphonic stuff. I'd like to hear other peoples opinions on this.

I could be I'm too focused on the drums because using them like a "drum machine" turns me off. No really...some of these bands could do just fine with 1 guitar and a synthesizer and no one (except experts) would notice the difference.

OK, I will try to listen closer to the other instruments next time I hear some Sonata Arctica.

Hi all,

I'd have to differ from "some" of what you guys say ;)

When I hear Dragonforce (and not saying I'm a big fan), I do hear, in alot of
their melody lines, Classical melodies that they build around. As I have often
heard in MANY Powermetal acts. Very much like the Swede bands from the
"Gothenburg Sound", that rely on a "melody" to be the focal point as the
heavier Death Metal/Thrash structure inhances it.

As far as drums, Powermetal can be identified by the driving Double Bass
rythms that litteraly keep the time of each song. Since its "constant", it is
one of the main reasons I don't like many of the genre's bands . . . the songs
begin to blend.
Where as the Gothenburg bands "change it up" from time to time musically,
vocally and subject matter.
Powermetal is jibbed as "Happy Feet" music, (haha) I like them song to song
but I can get worn out by an album.

Powermetal has changed meanings, I know, I was witnessed to its birth.
At first it was monikered for bands like: Pantera, Soulquake, Dearly Beheaded,
Machinehead, Pro Pain, and others. Then that turned into the term "Aggro",
which is more be-fitting.
Then you had the forefathers like: TNT, Helloween, Lizzy Borden, Man O War,
Crimson Glory, Mercilful Fate, and more. But each one had their "uniqueness".
But you can thank: Judas Priest, Queensryche, Rainbow, Post Ozzy Black
Sabbath, Dio, Uli era Scorpions, and Yngwie for their birth, as well as to Prog
Metal.

Now Powermetal has its "sub-catergories" and border the technical and the
traditional: from Nevermore to Rhapsody to Adagio, with TONS of bands in
between. But the running thread I "hear" are classical embelishments as well
as other sources. (Nevermore is one of those bands that has been put in the
genre's, Tech, Power, and Thrash Metal from depending on what point of
view).

Metal in general has always used the combo of Blues, Jazz and Classical as
the roots and grew anew. Sometimes the "Barroque" and Mideaval embelish-
ments get overlooked as classical. As Blind Guardian for example, many of
their songs (especially the older) are trying to make a "setting" with their
music, and Vocals, as a Choir or Harmonized to tell a "Fantasy" story, so the
tone is very Medieval, so what music conveys that mood? . . .

Again, they don't use straight sourced Classical structures, but use it as an
inhancement.

. . . thats how I hear it anyway :unsure:

Wiki Pages:

Powermetal and its Sub-Genre's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powermetal

Melodic Death Metal, the Gothenburg Sound:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodic_death_metal

Neo-classical metal is not a complete sub-genre in itself... it is a branch that other subgenres can be a part of... there are neo-classical death metal bands (Massacra), there are neo-classical classic metal bands (Deep Purple, Scorpions), etc... so genres that contain classical elements can be considered neo-classical. Power metal seems to be the most common form to contain neo-classical elements... Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Macalpine, Warmen, etc...

Some Power Metal bands are. Some are not.

Just depends on the band.


For a total off-take band of Malmsteen: Look up a band from Germany called Magic Kingdom. Even the guitarist of the band even looks like Malmsteen, and also plays very similar to him too.

A lot of Magic Kingdom's music is Classical based. Especially the song "Flying Pyramids" on the "Metallic Tragedy" CD from them.

Bands like Stratovarius, some songs from SonatAArcticA, Rhapsody, Heavenly, and some songs from Blind_GuardiaN are definitely Classical based.

Bands like Accept, primaL feaR, Cellador, DragonForce, and many others are not in the slightest bit Classical based.

well that German band you metioned, the guitarist might be one of those Yngwie attempted copies, but in the end you can't say any metal has no classical background, so all and all neo-classical just brings the classical out a little more.