Heavy Metal Question

[pistonengine08]

What is the difference between power metal and death metal?

To make my confusion clearer:
I'm just getting into heavy metal and have a rather thin collection of metal albums (Prolly less than 20). One of my favorites (and most recent addition) has been Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side. I initially thought that the album was power metal until I saw it referred to as death metal. I instantly sought out a Nile music video to confirm my suspicion that Amon Amarth sounded nothing like them. I listened to the Nile song, and was pretty content that they were two different genres of metal until I saw Amon Amarth referred to again as a death metal band.

With their melodic style and a sound pleasing to the ear (including a badass breakdown in Gods of War Arise), they are what I'd associate more with power metal, rather than the extreme fast-pace and dissonance I expect from death metal bands like Nile.

Where am I going wrong? What constitutes the difference between the genres?

[Kutsic]

Amon Amarth play melodic death metal, with small elements of viking and folk metal thrown in.

Melodic death metal is a form of music popularized by bands from Sweden's Gothenburg scene. In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At the Gates are probably the best known bands that play the style. It combines elements of death metal with the musical characteristics of bands like Iron Maiden. Some of the more common elements of melodeath are a slower pace, extensive use of guitar harmonies, a greater focus on rythm, and clean sections to the music.

There's a pretty big variety of death metal sounds out there, because while it may be hard for those only familiar with the more American style of death metal to understand how melodic death metal is, in any way at all related to the death metal genre, scandinavian death metal has (generally speaking) a more melodic and focused direction to it, rather than basing their sound on pure brutality.

So yes, when you boil it down, Amon Amarth is, at the most basic description, a death metal band.

[pistonengine08]

OK, that helps. But what is the difference between the two genres? (so I don't sound so ignorant in the future)

[LavatoryLoveMachine]

What is the difference between power metal and death metal?

To make my confusion clearer:
I'm just getting into heavy metal and have a rather thin collection of metal albums (Prolly less than 20). One of my favorites (and most recent addition) has been Amon Amarth - With Oden on Our Side. I initially thought that the album was power metal until I saw it referred to as death metal. I instantly sought out a Nile music video to confirm my suspicion that Amon Amarth sounded nothing like them. I listened to the Nile song, and was pretty content that they were two different genres of metal until I saw Amon Amarth referred to again as a death metal band.

With their melodic style and a sound pleasing to the ear (including a badass breakdown in Gods of War Arise), they are what I'd associate more with power metal, rather than the extreme fast-pace and dissonance I expect from death metal bands like Nile.

Where am I going wrong? What constitutes the difference between the genres?

wow dude. If you are gonna get into metal, first of all, you need people to help you find out what you are into. You can barely do that on your own.

First advice: the names of the genres have nothing to do with what they are, especially in the case of power metal.

For example, listen to Cannibal Corpse (death) and Thy Majestie (power). As different as night and day.

I dont like death metal much, unless its melodic. What I love about Amon Amarth is that the create their music to create a viking atmosphere, borrowing a distorted sound like the original viking bands like Bathory.


EDIT: power metal, is commonly based on speed also, but it focuses on melody and a high vocal range as well. Power metal is nothing like death metal though, so dont confuse both. But when people say fast, they usually think of power metal, not death I would say. Not all power metal is fast though.

[LavatoryLoveMachine]

Read the post that guy is posting. Its an awesome guide to metal genres. Plus, you'll find great bands you might have not heard about:

http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/929...ed-thanks.html

Your best bet is to listen to it. Look, death metal and power metal are on completely opposing sides of the spectrum. SO be thankful you asked your questions here instead of a metal forum haha People are nasty on the internet (look at my own posts lol)

This is an invaluable site: metal-archives.com Click search by genre, go to death metal and power metal, visit the bands's myspace's (theres a link on the bands's metal archive page), and come back here. Once you listen to it, rather than read descriptions, you are gonna understand. Probably hit yourself in the head for being confused about it.

Whoever gave you the confusion to thinking Amon Amarth was power should be shot. Dont worry, Ill help you track him down.

[Kutsic]

Another thing that helps are the wikipedia descriptions of genres, they usually have an instrument by instrument layout of the common elements of each genre, along with a list of the more prominent bands.

[Rev0lver]

the reason why some people might classify amon amarth as power metal is because of the lyrics. a mix of those types of lyrics but with a death metal sound is sometimes referred to as Viking Metal or even Folk Metal. power metal=pokemon music with good but cheesy guitar parts.

[LavatoryLoveMachine]

the reason why some people might classify amon amarth as power metal is because of the lyrics. a mix of those types of lyrics but with a death metal sound is sometimes referred to as Viking Metal or even Folk Metal. power metal=pokemon music with good but cheesy guitar parts.

Ok, your definition of power metal is HORRIBLE, especially for a guy that doesnt know what it is, but whatever.

Who would think Amon Amarth lyrics are like power metal's? They have nothing in common. And when AA refer to viking mythology theres a realness to the themes. They dont pretend it to be mythology. Its as if it was their religion. Besides, most of their songs are about fighting.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

nowadays power metal lyrics aren't unique to power metal. if i remember correctly bling guardian did an album based on lord of the rings and black metal band's entire career is basically built around lotr and tolkien. fact is death metal typically has deep growls, while power metal have "classically" trained singers meaning clean vox

[pistonengine08]

Read the post that guy is posting. Its an awesome guide to metal genres. Plus, you'll find great bands you might have not heard about:

http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/929...ed-thanks.html

Your best bet is to listen to it. Look, death metal and power metal are on completely opposing sides of the spectrum. SO be thankful you asked your questions here instead of a metal forum haha People are nasty on the internet (look at my own posts lol)

This is an invaluable site: metal-archives.com Click search by genre, go to death metal and power metal, visit the bands's myspace's (theres a link on the bands's metal archive page), and come back here. Once you listen to it, rather than read descriptions, you are gonna understand. Probably hit yourself in the head for being confused about it.

Whoever gave you the confusion to thinking Amon Amarth was power should be shot. Dont worry, Ill help you track him down.

Hey thanks man that helps a lot. I liked a lot of the music from both genres, now I just gotta find something with vocals that doesn't make me pound my head into the wall (Any idea when Matt Barlow and Pyramaze are coming out with a new album?). I'll keep listening and expanding my library.