Track Of The Day - The Guardians Edition

Greater impact is added to this highlight, flowing smoothly through heaviness and melody:

Bombastic symphonics, kick-A rhythm, and glorious vocals reign again in this grand highlight:

Many different acts woven together for one of the best epics done by Neurotech or any other artist:

One of the best Mechina tracks I've heard in ages, a 10-minute epic that includes a spine-chillingly beautiful two-minute bridge in the middle:

The more symphonic side of this massive 8-minute epic:

The "Reform" suite continues with this djenty symphonic metal highlight:

The more symphonic side of this massive 10-minute epic:

One of only two standouts in the new Brainstorm album, thanks to the impressive singing of Leaves' Eyes clean vocalist Elina Siirala:

Been listening to a lot of these guys lately, having finally put them past just being a softer Blind Guardian-knockoff. This one has a particularly clever chorus and post-chorus.

Taking over the Guardians playlists has allowed me to get back in touch with material from bands I've long forgotten about and encounter some fascinating discoveries. Could that be enough for me to consider proposing my re-entry to the clan? Maybe... In the meantime, here are 5 power metal bands that I've heard of when I was still completely in that zone 10 years ago (except Warkings), but didn't start listening to them full-time until I rediscovered them in the playlists that I've assembled in the last few months:

Today I decided to check out those two bonus cover songs from the Warkings album Morgana. Their cover of this Powerwolf hit is just SPOT-ON, really doing the original justice. Thumbs-up for this one! Unlike the other cover song that I'll mention soon...

FINALLY, IT COMES! The time for power metal to ENLIGHTEN ME once again after drifting in and out of the genre, with two bands that I've heard of when I was still completely in that zone 10 years ago, but didn't start listening to them full-time until now:

Part of the revival of my Guardians interest comes from some bands of other genres that I like. Mechina is an obvious example by how much i enjoy them, but Hope for the Dying would also have a say in this with their symphonic metalcore sound that includes more progressive structures and Two Steps From Hell-esque orchestra:

Seriously, listeners should check this song out for all its symphonic grandeur:

Still one of the best album openers and power metal songs I've heard to this very day:

A live rendition of what still reigns as one of my favorite Nightwish songs today:

A fantastic epic paying tribute to the animated works of Disney:

But this 2007 reissue bonus track is also worth going an extra mile:

One of the most climatic album-closing tracks in standard heavy metal, despite being from a 2000s album that blends the genre with rockabilly:

This opening track is a favorite of mine and my brother's, proving that Elvis metal works like a dream:

Dark Moor's most fascinating epic, paying tribute to Mozart's works:

A 5-part 13-minute progressive epic that serves as the literal centerpiece of the "A New Age Dawns" saga and would itself spawn a couple sequels in subsequent albums:

The greatest conclusion to Rhapsody (of Fire)'s first 5-album saga:

This short highlight shows that the band can kick a** with their progressive neoclassical metal sound:

This heavy epic track I still consider one of the best standouts in Within Temptation's career: