What are some releases that have shaped up power metal a decade after Helloween's first 3 albums?

So last week, a new member named Guyo commented on Rex's review for Angra's Holy Land. Looks like a nice comment, but there was one sentence that really caught my attention: "Remember that in 1996 the concept of Power Metal didn't yet exist, so technically this album isn't Power Metal; it was called melodic Speed ​​Metal."

Look, I won't put this guy down for how much they know, but with all due respect, that's not true at all. The term was first coined in the mid-80s, with the genre having been pioneered by Helloween with their first 3 albums (Walls of Jericho and the Keepers of the Seven Keys duology). There are also a couple American bands at that time who also started developing the European power metal sound while staying in US power metal, like Riot and Savatage. As well as several albums in the early to mid-90s that would be a sin to deem NOT power metal, from bands like Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, and Running Wild.

But OK, let's say power metal wasn't a thing until the 90s. What would be some power metal releases that have shaped up in the genre in say the second half of the 90s and the first half of the 2000s that would qualify as pioneering the genre if that's the case? I've narrowed down my list to albums from that era that I've considered essential to the genre and I enjoyed when I was at the height of listening to that genre 10 years before this post (some not as much as I do now). Here's what I've come up with:

Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

Gamma Ray - Land of the Free (1995), Somewhere Out in Space (1997), Power Plant (1999), No World Order (2001)

Stratovarius - Fourth Dimension (1995), Episode (1996), Visions (1997), Destiny (1998)

Angra - Holy Land (1996), Fireworks (1998), Rebirth (2001), Temple of Shadows (2004)

Rhapsody (of Fire) - Legendary Tales (1997), Symphony of Enchanted Lands (1998)

Nightwish - Angels Falls First (1997), Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000)

HammerFall - Glory to the Brave (1997), Legacy of Kings (1998)

Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica (1999), Silence (2001)

Avantasia - The Metal Opera Part I (2001), The Metal Opera Part II (2002)

Elvenking - Heathenreel (2001), Wyrd (2004)

DragonForce - Valley of the Damned (2003), Sonic Firestorm (2004)

Kamelot - Epica (2003)

Well those last few albums (by DragonForce and Kamelot) are more like my own personal choices, as they helped solidify my metal taste starting with power metal (along with of course, DragonForce's Inhuman Rampage).

So what do you all think are some releases that helped shaped up power metal in the 90s/2000s, in the hypothetical scenario that the genre was supposedly invented around then? Discuss!

This is a genre I know very little about, Andi, but I have always thought that bands like Nightwish and Sonata Arctica were symphonic metal rather than power metal, or are the two terms synonymous with each other and interchangeable? Other than that I can't really contribute much to this discussion, sorry. For context, though, I did buy "Keeper of the Seven Keys" when it came out and never heard the expression power metal applied to it at the time (or to anything, to be honest).

Don't forget Imaginations from the Other Side in 1995.  96 isn't the best cutoff.  Blind Guardian's decision to steer into symphonics helped redefine power metal, that and the rise of symphonic metal band Therion who made the switch from death.  But the idea of symphonic power as fully cemented by Rhapsody with their debut and continued for many albums afterwards.  "Emerald Sword" is basically the song that half the power metal bands these days try to rewrite, tempo and all.  But the other side of power metal, the raw edge, is thanks to bands such as Gamma Ray, Rage and Running Wild.  If you want 1996, then you definitely want Grave Digger's Tunes of War, self-titled and Excalibur.  Also include Angra's Holy Lan and Temple of Shadows for the symphonic stuff.

Note: Therion and Grave Digger prove that the genres are NOT interchangeable, but a plethora of bans proves the two work together.

This is a genre I know very little about, Andi, but I have always thought that bands like Nightwish and Sonata Arctica were symphonic metal rather than power metal, or are the two terms synonymous with each other and interchangeable?

The Nightwish and Sonata Arctica albums I've chosen in my list have each band's power metal side shining the most, though in subsequent albums, they would expand on their symphonic direction to make their own form of symphonic power metal, with Nightwish eventually standing by their pure symphonic metal flame of fame.

Don't forget Imaginations from the Other Side in 1995.  96 isn't the best cutoff.  Blind Guardian's decision to steer into symphonics helped redefine power metal, that and the rise of symphonic metal band Therion who made the switch from death.  But the idea of symphonic power as fully cemented by Rhapsody with their debut and continued for many albums afterwards.  "Emerald Sword" is basically the song that half the power metal bands these days try to rewrite, tempo and all.  But the other side of power metal, the raw edge, is thanks to bands such as Gamma Ray, Rage and Running Wild.  If you want 1996, then you definitely want Grave Digger's Tunes of War, self-titled and Excalibur.  Also include Angra's Holy Lan and Temple of Shadows for the symphonic stuff.

I agree that 1996 isn't the best cutoff, which is part of why I was baffled about Guyo's comment. As I said earlier, Blind Guardian and Gamma Ray have power metal classics that shouldn't be forgotten or mislabeled in Imaginations from the Other Side and Land of the Free, respectively. Indeed, Angra's albums have helped develop symphonic power metal and should be deemed as such instead of "melodic speed metal". So I'm going to extend my list a few years to include those albums, and I might also give those Grave Digger and Rage albums a try (after several poor attempts at getting the appeal). Thanks, Rex!

I wouldn't take internet resources as being gospel on niche historical topics like this one Andi. If I strain my brain, I'd suggest that the stuff that I remember being called power metal back in the late 1980's was generally the US power metal variety. I don't recall any links to the European bands until later on but then that's never really been my bag so it's entirely possible that I just forget or missed it altogether. I certainly remember those acts being referred to as speed metal though so it's possible that Guyo's statement has some merit.