USPM: Why is it so vastly underrepresented here?

Tehom · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:08 am

In scouring the vast amounts of reviews on this site, I came across a very startling gap in terms of the heavy metal/power metal represented from the old guard of the 80's. Obviously the term USPM means different things from speed metal bands to Savage Grace and Exciter, to more power and prog oriented bands such as Crimson Glory, Sanctuary, and Queensryche- but more subterranean acts such as Agent Steel, Warlord, Liege Lord, Helstar, Griffin, Vicious Rumors, Cauldron Born, Destiny's end and the abundance of power/speed metal bands seem to have been massively ignored in favor of Power metal of the European variety. Granted, the fact that these bands may not have such sprawling discographies as say Iced Earth, Manowar, or even Queesnryche may have implications for reviewing them, but the influence that these albums had especially on the European scene cannot be understated even in the face of the more renowned acts from Europe.

Apart from this, what are some of your favorite power metal/heavy metal from the massively forgotten time in heavy metal, and how do you see this type of music stacking up against our European contemporaries?

The Annoying Frenchman · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:01 am

for shame! you haven't mentioned Omen!

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:02 am

Adding to your list:

Fates Warning
Titan Force
Jag Panzer
Omen
Virgin Steele

It would be nice to have some of this material reviewed. I'm with Steve on this one.

My favorites are:

Crimson Glory (perfection)
Fates Warning (first 4)
Queensryche (first 3)
Titan Force
Virgin Steele

In a lesser extent:

Vicious Rumors
Agent Steel
Savage Grace

Tehom · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:06 am

The Annoying Frenchman wrote:

for shame! you haven't mentioned Omen!

They rated Omen's Battle Cry well enough, but you make a good point that they should've done more with their stuff. Omen are a big one and Titan Force is another one they forgot they are soo much better than all of Jag Panzer post-Ample Destruction.

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:08 am

Tehom wrote:

The Annoying Frenchman wrote:

for shame! you haven't mentioned Omen!

They rated Omen's Battle Cry well enough, but you make a good point that they should've done more with their stuff. Omen are a big one and Titan Force is another one they forgot they are soo much better than all of Jag Panzer post-Ample Destruction.

They?

Tehom · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:12 am

Whomever did the review for Battle Cry.

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:21 am

Tehom wrote:

Titan Force is so much better than all of Jag Panzer post-Ample Destruction.

Couldn't agree more, especially the self-titled. Chase your Dreams and New Age Rebels are pure jewels of USPM.

Bruce_Bitenfils · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:12 am

@Alex: For the record, I intend (in the months to come) to review the 5 missing Virgin Steele albums (Noble Savage, Life Among Ruins, both Marriage albums, House of Atreus Part I). I'm a fanboy of these guys (but I'll be reasonable with the ratings. Promise.)

Other than that, I admit I'm not huge on USPM. I enjoy from time to time the aforementioned bands, but they don't have the appeal (to me) of the EuroPM scene. I'll try to attend to that, though.

Tehom · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:16 am

I think Age of Consent is definitely one of there strongest in terms of being thematically lacking, considering the band had one of the best creative runs for any power metal band if not the greatest aside from Iron Maiden. I don't need to mention how magnificent the House of Atreus albums are (some dislike the constant instrumentals, I think without them the album wouldn't be the same) incredible. I have only heard bits and pieces of The Heaven and Hell saga and they are no less breathtaking, and Invictus is one of my favorite metal albums of all time. I'd take it over most epic black metal output anyday of the week. I don't really care to much for the band's hard rock material though, I'd pay any toll to sing like Defeis.

Nothing beats this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icmZXmApJpc

Wivian · **Joined:** Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:50 pm **Posts:** 613

Looking forward to Virgin Steele reviews. Marriage Of Heaven & Hell albums are metal perfection.

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:51 pm

Bruce_Bitenfils wrote:

@Alex: For the record, I intend (in the months to come) to review the 5 missing Virgin Steele albums (Noble Savage, Life Among Ruins, both Marriage albums, House of Atreus Part I). I'm a fanboy of these guys (but I'll be reasonable with the ratings. Promise.)

Other than that, I admit I'm not huge on USPM. I enjoy from time to time the aforementioned bands, but they don't have the appeal (to me) of the EuroPM scene. I'll try to attend to that, though.

You are going to be blown away by the House of Atreus. The opener Kingdom of the Fearless is one of the best epic songs in the history of Metal. In my opinion, HoA is on par with Invictus. If you score it lower than 95 I'll kill you

Edit: In fact, IIRC, Kingdom of the Fearless was the first song I heard from VS. Instant love.

Bruce_Bitenfils · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 5:24 pm

AlexandeR wrote:

Bruce_Bitenfils wrote:

@Alex: For the record, I intend (in the months to come) to review the 5 missing Virgin Steele albums (Noble Savage, Life Among Ruins, both Marriage albums, House of Atreus Part I). I'm a fanboy of these guys (but I'll be reasonable with the ratings. Promise.)

Other than that, I admit I'm not huge on USPM. I enjoy from time to time the aforementioned bands, but they don't have the appeal (to me) of the EuroPM scene. I'll try to attend to that, though.

You are going to be blown away by the House of Atreus. The opener Kingdom of the Fearless is one of the best epic songs in the history of Metal. In my opinion, HoA is on par with Invictus. If you score it lower than 95 I'll kill you

Edit: In fact, IIRC, Kingdom of the Fearless was the first song I heard from VS. Instant love.

Err... You're saying this like I don't know the album already?

I of course own every Virgin Steele album! Maybe I misunderstood you.

And to me, Invictus > both House of Atreus. As for the scores, and the killing thing err... we'll see about that

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 5:28 pm

Bruce_Bitenfils wrote:

AlexandeR wrote:

Bruce_Bitenfils wrote:

@Alex: For the record, I intend (in the months to come) to review the 5 missing Virgin Steele albums (Noble Savage, Life Among Ruins, both Marriage albums, House of Atreus Part I). I'm a fanboy of these guys (but I'll be reasonable with the ratings. Promise.)

Other than that, I admit I'm not huge on USPM. I enjoy from time to time the aforementioned bands, but they don't have the appeal (to me) of the EuroPM scene. I'll try to attend to that, though.

You are going to be blown away by the House of Atreus. The opener Kingdom of the Fearless is one of the best epic songs in the history of Metal. In my opinion, HoA is on par with Invictus. If you score it lower than 95 I'll kill you

Seems I read it wrong. Sorry.

Edit: In fact, IIRC, Kingdom of the Fearless was the first song I heard from VS. Instant love.

Err... You're saying this like I don't know the album already?

I of course own every Virgin Steele album! Maybe I misunderstood you.

And to me, Invictus > both House of Atreus. As for the scores, and the killing thing err... we'll see about that

Seems I read it wrong. I was sleepy :unsure:

Wivian · **Joined:** Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:50 pm **Posts:** 613

Heaven & Hell & Invictus > Atreus. Not that HOA albums aren't excellent. Greatest trilogy of albums that any metal band has ever conceived. :wub:

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:43 am

Another one to the list:

Steel Prophet. I just love the Messiah album.

The Silent Man · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:06 am

AlexandeR wrote:

Another one to the list:

Steel Prophet. I just love the Messiah album.

Great album. Oddly though I've never been able to get into anything else by them.

The Annoying Frenchman · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:16 am

Not enough love for Fifth Angel. A damn fine band which released two commandable albums before splitting. They got back together in 2009 (albeit with a renewed album) but have yet to release anything.

Their 1986's self-titled is the place to start.

The Silent Man · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:38 am

Discovered this little gem not too long ago and love it.

Lords of the Crimson Alliance - Clone of the Wolf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG4Z4Rjn9-0

Overlorde - Return of the Snow Giant is not a bad album either.

Overlorde - Snow Giant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrTAcqzQRIU

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:48 am

The Annoying Frenchman wrote:

Not enough love for Fifth Angel. A damn fine band which released two commandable albums before splitting. They got back together in 2009 (albeit with a renewed album) but have yet to release anything.

Their 1986's self-titled is the place to start.

Well, I do like them, but didn't mention the band because the thread is about USPM, and Fifth Angel is more Hard Rock oriented. Anyway, it's a great band. I discovered them thanks to MuscleMike years ago.

AlexandeR · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:51 am

The Silent Man wrote:

AlexandeR wrote:

Another one to the list:

Steel Prophet. I just love the Messiah album.

Great album. Oddly though I've never been able to get into anything else by them.

I haven't heard the whole discography either. Only Dark Hallucinations, Messiah and Book of the Dead. My favorite is (as you can guess) Messiah. It's just one killer song after another in that album.

Metal Reviews

USPM: Why is it so vastly underrepresented here?

Who is online