Happy metal or power/hard rock

[glaman5266]

Anyone like "happy" metal? Stuff that's not so full of overly-heavy tones of remorse, dread, death, and general... I dunno, un-happiness? Lol. I heard Guilty of Love from Whitesnake on the radio on the way home from work tonight & remembered there was a thread on MCB 2.0 about this topic, so I thought I'd post a new one.

I like a lot of '80s metal/power rock/hard rock. Loud & proud, head-bangin' music. High-flyin' guitars & synth with lot of happy, energetic tones. There's a lot to pick from there. Not sure about anything newer (post-2000), though I do like the Inhuman Rampage album from Dragonforce.

What do you guys like?

[Magoo]

Devin Townsend explores a lot of different emotions, and he's got a lot of happy metal. Especially on his newest record "Empath." It is prog, through, so it's hard to get into if you're not already into that type of music.

[glaman5266]

I'll have to have a listen. Thanks.

[Jonnydread]

Inhuman rampage is such a fun album. Even people who don’t really like metal like Dragonforce haha

[glaman5266]

Yeah, it's kinda like Volbeat IMO. Not your typical hard rock or whatever, but a lot of people seem to really like it.

[SignOfZeta]

I’m a huge fan of power metal, which is basically built on the foundations made by Iron Maiden and Helloween. Broadly I would describe this as a “positive” genre of music for many reasons. The songs are long, super technical, lots of solos and keyboards and grand themes like lost cities and failed British airships. Sometimes the theme is just “let’s not play so many video games” or even “let’s not be dicks”. Check out Stratovarious, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian and of course Maiden and Helloween. Dragonforce also fits in this genre but it’s sort of monotonous and dumb almost to the point of parody...don’t get me wrong, I have all their albums and have seen them live at least twice, but they are a very specific thing, like the Andrew WK of power metal.

Whitesnake...White Lion, White Cross...this isn’t metal, sorry, it’s 80s cock rock and it’s some of the worst music on Earth. I know we’re supposed to all get along here but...that whole genre was basically invented by MTV and the LA rock club scene, it died with them, and good riddance. Same with Warrant, Motley Crue, Bullet Boys, Ratt, Poison, LA Guns, etc. Total crap, sorry!

[glaman5266]

Haven't listened to much Stratovarius, but what I've heard I really like. I'll try the others. Thanks.

I know those other bands aren't "metal", which is why I included power/hard rock in this thread. There are so many variations/definitions of the term "metal" that it's hard to define & can really irritate the super hardcore metalheads. "That's not metal, blah, blah, blah...", but all of it's good IMO. I tend to lump a lot of it together for simplicity's sake. The only "genres" of metal I really dislike are doom and death metal & thrash. Any time Metallica comes on the radio I change it, lol.

[chrislognshot]

so many bands take pick from these list. i would say iced earth but what founding member did might be turn off. i still listen to band because of other band members. since he was not singer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_metal_bands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassical_metal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_metal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphonic_metal

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Idk if you call it happy but i think Black Sabbath has tons of happy fun songs. Bill wards song all right on technical ecstasy is great. Thrill of it all on sabotage is great too.

[glaman5266]

Replied in comments.

What got me thinking about it was listening to the local classic rock station on the way home last night. Every Friday they have a "classic metal" show where they play late '70s through early '90s metal, hard and power rock. Metal Church, Armored Saint, Judas Priest, early Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc., along with harder stuff from Dream Theater, Queensryche, Whitesnake, Europe, Ratt, L.A. Guns, etc. Pretty good show most weeks. Last night they played a bunch of faster, more upbeat stuff, which I really liked.

[SignOfZeta]

I cannot forsake Europe for some reason, as goofy as they can be sometimes. The most recent thing I have from them is from 2009 I think. They’re really hard rock/cock rock but often with real metal themes...Ninja, Danger on the Track, and Cherokee would work well with double bass kicks and faster tempo, more length. Dream Theater and Queensryche are both very good, I think they are considered progressive metal, sort of like ELP crossed with Sabbath, more likely to be talked about in Prog than Kerrang Magazine.

I really have to suggest albums and not radio of any kind for the real stuff though. You can’t fit 7-20 minute songs in with ads and blowhard DJs giving away bumper stickers. There is a reason Metallica turned to crap: to get on the radio/MTV. The exception would be if you happen to know of any decent student run stations with metal shows in which case they could play whatever they want. I was a rotating DJ on a show called Odin’s Dance Party on WCBN. We only have to ID the station once an hour and that’s it. I could fill the entire hour with three 20 minute Dream Theater songs if I wanted. That’s not possible on the ol’ K Rock or whatever. They don’t even have CD players and turntables at those stations anymore. It’s just one guy playing MP3s out of a selection approved by Clearchanel central.

[glaman5266]

SignOfZeta Queensryche is one of my absolute favorites. I listened to a demo track from a cd in a random Sam Goody in a mall one day maybe 20 years ago. I immediately said "I AM BUYING IT!" lol

The DJ that runs the Friday night show is actually pretty good about it. He will run 5-7 songs, throw out a fact or two, have a 30sec commercial, then 5-7 more. Lots of music time. Not college radio, but I'm not gonna complain.
Our local college radio station is... interesting. I don't even know if they have anything "regular" or if it's flying by the seat of their pants. It's not a bad station, but it's a VERY mixed bag in terms of what they play.

[Nofxkid2005]

Might be worth looking into some Symphonic metal as well. They're usually more focused on vocals, but still some amazing soundscapes. Check out Nightwish and Kamelot to start. The former being a favorite, especially the stuff with Floor Jansen.

Unleash the Archers might also pique your interest. Their last two albums Apex and Abyss are really strong.

[glaman5266]

Might be worth looking into some Symphonic metal as well. They're usually more focused on vocals, but still some amazing soundscapes. Check out Nightwish and Kamelot to start. The former being a favorite, especially the stuff with Floor Jansen.

Unleash the Archers might also pique your interest. Their last two albums Apex and Abyss are really strong.

I like symphonic stuff, but I need to be in a mood. I discovered Nightwish when I went to Finland in 2006. Super good. I'll try the others. Thanks.

[Jonnydread]

they are a very specific thing, like the Andrew WK of power metal.

This is honestly the most accurate description of Dragonforce that I have ever come across.

[OpusX]

Get into some "themed" metal such as Viking Metal, Pirate Metal, Fantasy Metal. Personal preferences include Týr, Alestorm and Gloryhammer. They were all great live. Good stuff to listen too on the way to the field.

[glaman5266]

I've heard of a couple of those. I have Alestorm's Black Sails at Midnight album & I listen to Korpiklaani on occasion. Heard of Tyr, haven't listened to it. It's a bit basic, but I liked the overall sound from that Gloryhammer video. I'll check them out some more. Thanks for the suggestions.

[cellophane]

Manowar - The Triumph of Steel.

[SignOfZeta]

Manowar - The Triumph of Steel.

Man O War occasionally RULE, mainly on Kings of Metal. They do in fact glorify war which is morally repugnant but they are so dumb about it that it’s hard to be offended. They also glorify giant dumb motorcycles (Wheels of Fire) but somehow that turns out OK too. They are basically D&D nerds who can shred. They are American, which is amazing, because American metal usually sucks. Sting of the Bumblebee is otherworldly. That guy’s bass is just...weird though. I think it has a soul of orphan child powering it or something. I don’t listen to them much anymore but they were foundational for me. They made me discover bands like Stratovarious.

[chrislognshot]

let me say this we have to many sub types aka genres. i could all most 76 genres of metal. we can all give you list of bands to listen to. but up to you find style you like and want to listen too. i list to all types. but if can hear what singer saying will not listen to that band. some bands i look other way for rifts and melodies so great i will over look sing part of band

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_genres