The Magazine

The long reads. Genre histories told chapter by chapter, band biographies, the essential albums, the label stories and the portraits, written by the KaosMetal editors.

Narrowed to Power Metal. The whole magazine →

The five members of Fates Warning posed on a rooftop at dusk, one crouched at the front, air handling units behind them Chapter 3

American Steel: US Power Metal, the Heavier Branch

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 19, 2026

Peavy Wagner of Rage close to the camera on stage, pointing at the crowd, his bass strap over his shoulder

From Speed Metal to Power Metal: The Bridge

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 18, 2026

The three members of Rage standing in a derelict greenhouse, Peavy Wagner in the middle with both hands raised towards the camera

Teutonic Power Metal: The Sound of the German School

Julien Vasseur · Mar 17, 2026

The four members of Diamond Head standing together outdoors against a cloudy sky in a black and white portrait

How the NWOBHM Fed Power Metal

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 16, 2026

The four members of Iron Savior in a studio portrait, Piet Sielck at the front pointing at the camera

The Hamburg Scene: Where European Power Metal Was Built

Julien Vasseur · Mar 15, 2026

Two Wishbone Ash guitarists playing at opposite sides of a small stage, the drummer between them behind the kit

Proto-Power Metal: The Records Before the Name

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 14, 2026

The seven members of the reunited Helloween line-up posed together in a studio, some seated on a red armchair and a crate, others standing behind them

How Helloween Wrote the Power Metal Rulebook

Julien Vasseur · Mar 13, 2026

The four members of Running Wild, Rolf Kasparek among them, posed together in matching studded black leather stage jackets for a studio band portrait Chapter 2

Hamburg, 1985: How Europe Built Its Own Power Metal

Julien Vasseur · Mar 12, 2026

The five members of Edguy standing together on a dark stage under blue spotlight beams

What Makes a Song Power Metal

Julien Vasseur · Mar 11, 2026

James Hetfield singing into a microphone stand and playing guitar on a dark club stage

Why Is It Called Power Metal? From a 1982 Demo Tape to a Genre

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 10, 2026

Accept playing an open air stage, the singer crouched at the microphone in a camouflage top, two guitarists either side of him and the drummer on a riser behind

Where Did Power Metal Originate?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 9, 2026

The five members of Jag Panzer in black leather, seated and standing in front of stacked flight cases for a studio portrait

When Did Power Metal Start?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 8, 2026

The five members of Attacker standing against a red painted brick wall for a band portrait

The First Power Metal Bands

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 7, 2026

Manilla Road playing a small club stage, a lit sign with the band name hanging above the drum kit, guitarist and bassist either side of it

Who Invented Power Metal?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 6, 2026

Iron Maiden's five members, the Paul Di'Anno-era line-up with Steve Harris and Dave Murray, crowded around a pub table, laughing and holding pints, an Iron Maiden backstage laminate on one jacket Chapter 1

What Power Metal Is, and Where It Came From

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 5, 2026

Sonata Arctica's five members standing together among tall stone monuments in a promotional portrait made for the band's thirtieth anniversary Overview

Swords Raised at Full Speed: The History of Power Metal, from Hamburg to the World

Julien Vasseur · Mar 2, 2026

Alice Cooper raising a white top hat on a stage extension surrounded by the crowd, Ol' Black Eyes Is Back tour, November 2019

The Heavy Metal Subgenres, and Where Each One Splits Off

Declan Rourke · Feb 12, 2026

Iron Maiden backstage in 1985, sweaty after a show, with one member holding a draped Union Jack flag Overview

Before It Had Fifty Names: The Story of Heavy Metal, from Birmingham to Everywhere

Declan Rourke · Jan 5, 2026