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Rebel Sr. Member

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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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As far as newer bands taking hold, look at say, Sabaton and Avantasia.
There are problems with google search trends that I'm confirming through other means. http://www.google.com/trends/explore?
q=stratovarius#q=Power%20Metal&cmpt=q
Power Metal appears to be on a relative downward trend
http://www.google.com/trends/explore?
q=stratovarius#q=Heavy%20Metal&cmpt=q
Heavy Metal, on the other hand, looks to be on an even LARGER downward trend.
http://www.google.com/trends/explore?
q=stratovarius#q=Rap%20Music&cmpt=q Is Rap music dying too?
http://www.google.com/trends/explore?
q=stratovarius#q=Folk%20Rock&cmpt=q Hipsters have created a resurgance of folk rock, but we're seeing a downward trend there too.
Now, it's possible that as a society, we're just less interested, however I think much more relevant, is the rise of facebook and other social networking, which has become a more effective means for gathering information than google. If you watch social networking groups about metal and power metal (As I do), then you'd see that Gloryhammer is a really big deal.
You could also look at the economics of the issue, but if you want information specific to power metal, you'd have to look at it against the context overall worldwide economic difficulties. I don't have that information ready at hand, especially in context with my earlier theory, but I /can/ say that there are still a TON of power metal albums being made. Here's some data from metal archives into the total amount of power metal being produced. The first number is the total releases (Singles, EP, live albums, box sets, ect...) and in parenthesis is the full length albums.
2005: 543 (264)
2006: 559 (276)
2007: 584 (291)
2008: 668 (341)
2009: 650 (347)
2010: 595 (334)
2011: 655 (359)
2012: 716 (419)
2013: 413 (256) (as of yet)
I could probably ask some record company people too. Lance King (President of Nightmare Records) in particular comes to mind as someone who would have a good perspective of the economics of this |
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NeonVomit Sr. Member

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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think power metal is going anywhere.
Power metal is pretty constant - it doesn't really have peaks or troughs like other genres. Like, black metal got hugely popular for a while now it's sort of settled down, there was a thrash revival for a while and it's settled back down, and so forth. Power metal I guess had a sort of spike when Dragonforce got their song on Guitar Hero, but it was more about them getting popular for a while as opposed to the genre as a whole.
I guess as bands try more things and mix genres around finding 'pure' power metal might be a bit more difficult but the bands are out there and are still playing it. The really big bands (Sonata Arctica, Strato, Blind Guardian etc.) might dabble in other styles but aside from that I think power metal is fine, just lurking below the surface and that's a good place.
Just as some people inexplicably 'grow out of it' (I've heard that phrase more than a couple of times) it's a very popular genre with younger listeners, as it tends to be pretty accessible, catchy and often deals with 'nerdy' themes like fantasy novels, dragons, science fiction and so on, which are actually growing in popularity around the world. Of course not all bands are like this, Mystic Prophecy being a prime example, but even they manage to attract listeners who wouldn't normally like power metal - I know more than a few thrash metallers who have really gotten into them because of their more aggressive approach.
As a result you have 'newer' bands like Powerwolf (they've been at it for a decade now, but you get what I mean) who are becoming really popular and it's not just because of their stage gimmicks - their songs are actually really cool and they don't take themselves too seriously which is very refreshing. I'm sure others can mention rising power metal acts.
I mean... 'Unbreakable' reminds me of an anime theme song and friends of mine who've heard it in my car have almost all said the same thing, especially the ones who watch a lot of anime. I don't think this is accidental, it speaks to a large market and as a result I'm pretty sure some people who like anime will end up listening to Stratovarius as a result. As an example of what a tiny link like that can do, I got into Stratovarius because of the classical elements back when I was in high school and really wanted to hear classical and metal being mixed, and almost 15 years later here I am...
So in conclusion, no, power metal is doing just fine. Just because google searches are (or aren't?) down doesn't mean people aren't going to gigs or getting their hands on the songs. And that is good for all of us. |
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