RFI Ep. 323: U.S. Power Metal 

Not a huge power metal fan but you've sold me on these fuckin guys, especially Griffin.

Mystifier episode sir please

Symphony X - The Odyssey is a masterpiece of our time

Skullview episode!!

Sacred Oath reminded me of the fact that you never did a Stormwitch episode. Would be nice.

I can’t believe I’ve never listened to Griffin before! That shit blew my mind the second I put it on. I suppose I spend too much time listening to stuff like Gore Beyond Necropsy, and I occasionally neglect the absolute poser retardant that is classic U.S. heavy metal. Going back to what you were talking about towards the beginning of the episode, I think a Liege Lord episode would be pretty awesome. If you ask me, their discography is absolutely perfect. They started out great, and just got even better with each release! Anyway, great work on this one! I was starting to get nervous that I’d pass out before this dropped.

Hell yeah, right topic at the right time! Over the last years my love for USPM (for some weird reason I prefer the term "US Power Steel", maybe 'cause steel is harder than metal idk) has grown more and more. It's kind of a missing link between the classic Hard'n'Heavy to Speed, Thrash and Progressive Metal. Glad you mentioned the early stuff from Twisted Tower Dire, it's amazing! You can never go wrong with USPM bands having 'Steel' in the name: Steel Prophet, Steel Assassin, or the very obscure Matthias Steele. Another episode on this topic would be very appreciated! Maybe with Slauter Xstroyes (talking about weird)?

Twisted Tower Dire -Crest of the Martyrs is a pretty good slab of USPM. Their latest full length, Wars in the Unknown, is a return to Crest era TTD and well worth a spin. They don't have a really deep discography, but they might be worthy of the RFI treatment.

English Dogs had a great Discharge-meets-NWOBHM (or GBH crossed with Metallica) in the 80's with "To the ends of the Earth/Forward into Battle" & "Where Legends Began" albums. Def worth a listen.

Griffin's vocalist sounds a lot like Sheepdog MacLaren from Razor. I'm not a Power Metal guy but I really dig Griffin.

Have you listened to Armagh? Kind of reminiscent of Griffin in that 'raw, overblown heavy metal'-kind of way, with strange song structures. Great stuff. And cheers for a great episode - Sacred Oath was news to me!

Riot. Early pioneers of power metal. Just listen to the album Thundersteel which came out in 1988, and they were already laying the foundation long before then. Cited by Hammerfall among others as a major influence. They even inspired Judas Priest's Painkiller. Hugely underrated band.

My favorite and most explored scene. Also very good choices, the early Attacker is a love-or-hate oddity typical of this scene (in terms of accessibility, not music). Sacred Oath falls into my favorite category of bands from this subgenre, i.e. those very mystical, dreamlike and atmospheric bands like Warlord, Lords Of The Crimson Alliance or Matthias Steele. But individually, Griffin is my no. 1 of these three. I prefer their debut, but Protectors... is also a masterpiece. There is something in this band that I like to call "venom" (not a band, you can call it malice also), you can feel it in the instrumental layer, but it is the unique vocals that really emanate this venom. Even average bands in this scene are solidly good, and unique bands and gems are, in my opinion, the peak of metal music. I also understand the love for the Japanese scene very well, because the Japanese are masters of power metal melodies and emotional vocals. Recently I've been listening to Talon Of King by Hellen non-stop. Hail from Poland!

Used to like me the occasional Sonata Arctica, then they made an entire album whining about Trump. And not in a based way.

Need some early stormwitch

I'm going to have to check out Griffin, you made them sound incredible. I already love the first two Attackers. Surprised you didn't namecheck Jag Panzer considering how hyped up Ample Destruction is.

Blackened shoegay > Powerwolf IMHO

Damn. Last US Power Metal video I've seen was from RideIntoGlory a couple of years ago. Haven't delved into PM past Brocas Helm and Attacker. But Brocas Helm is peak so I don't mind tardloop listening. Call me a poser, but that EU PM is just too much cheese even for me

Honestly, that 2nd Griffin album reminds me a bit of the first Death Angel album, I think that one came out 1 year after.

Do you like the Catacombs/Hierophant/Origin of Darkness complex of band?

Need a Twisted Tower Dire episode brah brah if you’re talking USPM

Fucking great. Love that First Attacker record Is so fucking underrated. Is full of other bands from the same scene chat didn't get the deserved respect like cauldron born, titan force or nasty savage

Great vid man! Have you heard Kaevum? Just got their 2023 release on vinyl and its one of my favorite Norwegian bm projects of the past decade.

Great episode Homez. Definitely made my nutz hairy…er. 🤘🐉🗡🏰

First Attacker is awesome, love their second album too! Sleepy Hollow full length with Bob Mitchell was pretty cool too. Twisted Tower Dire episode please! Have you ever heard Valhalla from Pittsburgh?

Orchidectomy pls Let’s get heavier

Could you maybe do a video on Nargaroth?

Great episode as usual RFI. USPM had a lot of gems, for me personally Omen and Helstar is what gets me going. Never heard of Sacred Oath, so i will dig into those guys. What is your opinion on 80s European speed metal or crossover? Both sound a bit different compared to the US counterparts.