The Best Power Metal Bands

Known as a wildly popular subgenre of heavy metal, power metal mixes elements of traditional metal with speed metal and symphonic metal. Other metal subgenres may focus on doom and gloom, but power metal bands write relatively catchy, anthemic songs where the lyrical content focuses on the theatrical, and even fantasy-based. But above all, power metal bands are very melodic and some of the most memorable bands in metal.

So, what are the best power metal bands? You'd be foolish to leave the names of Rainbow, Symphony X, Helloween, Queensrÿche and Rhapsody of Fire off of this list. Power metal bands have followings across the globe, which have led to different types of power metal in the U.S. and Europe. But no matter how you cut it, power metal artists, at least the best power metal bands, have the ability to unite the different fans who will sing along to their catchy songs and headbang to their crunchy solos.

That said, it's up to you to determine what the best power metal groups are. This list answers the questions "who are the best power metal bands of all time?" and "who is the greatest power metal musician ever?" If you know enough about the genre, please vote based on the quality of the band's music (albums and songs) instead of just voting for the most popular power metal bands that you might've heard of.