In the 21st century, the power metal scene isn't just veteran headbangers like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Queensrÿche, it's also power metal revival bands such as Symphony X, Iron Savior, Morifade, DragonForce, and Rhapsody. The difference between the older power metallers and the younger power metal revival acts is not a stylistic difference but rather, a matter of when a band came along; stylistically, the power metal revival combos that were formed in the '90s or 2000s are consistently mindful of the power metal artists who started recording in the late '70s or '80s. That is certainly true of the Sweden-based vocalist of Hammerfall, Joacim Cans, who maintains his devotion to old-school power metal throughout his solo project Beyond the Gates…
The Alpha Wolves of the Heavy Metal project WOLFPAKK - Michael Voss (Ex: Casanova, Mad Max) and Mark Sweeney (Ex: Crystal Ball) – return with their second album. Again they were able to gather some of the best musicians in Heavy Metal & Hard Rock for this record.
KAI HANSEN, earMUSIC and WACKEN Foundation are happy to announce the release of "XXX", the first "solo project" album by Kai Hansen, one of the most influential guitarists and singers to emerge from Germany during the first part of the 80s. First with ground-breaking band HELLOWEEN (of which Hansen is one of the founding members) and later with GAMMA RAY, one of the bands that contributed to define the genre power metal, bringing it to generation of devoted fans worldwide since its first album.
The 4th release of the successful sampler series - once again featuring only the best Metal has to offer! From big names like MINISTRY, FEAR FACTORY and U.D.O. to promising newcomers, this release nicely gathers carefully handpicked gems from the renowned label AFM Records.
Kai Hansen formed Helloween in 1984, playing guitar and singing on the speed metal band's first four albums. He left in early 1989, however, and founded Gamma Ray with vocalist Ralf Scheepers (formerly with Tyran Pace). The duo intended to record a one-off project that Hansen originated while in Helloween, so they recruited bassist Uwe Wessel, drummer Matthias Burchardt, and several other musicians…
To state that the mid-2000s were a time of transition for the European power metal scene would be stating the obvious, but it was a particularly turbulent point for one of its most prolific and conservative affiliates Crystal Ball…
The long-awaited album of the classics of European disco. In the best traditions of the 80s.