Here's a few:
-Sacred Oath: Back in the 80's, US
Power Metal basically went two ways: the more progressive rock-influenced
Road (see
Fates Warning,
Queensryche,
Heir Apparent et al), or the more thrashy road.
Sacred Oath took the latter with A Crystal Vision. This album features a real penchant for bludgeoning gallop riffs and some really classy lead guitar work, and the songs are well done. Admittedly, the vocalist isn't great, in that he uses his falsetto too much, but otherwise this album is very strong work.
-Helstar: while they've received more recognition (rightfully so) in recent years, in the grand scheme of traditional metal they are a criminally underrated band. This band
Fused traditional
Heavy Metal with both thrash and neo-classical melody, but without the pompousness that you'd expect from Yngwie Malmsteen. Remnants of War and Nosferatu are
Absolute masterworks of traditional
Heavy Metal, with absolutely
Killer riffs, impeccable lead guitar work, and James Rivera's powerful, tuneful vocal deliver.
-Oracle: Another one of those thrashy USPM bands, these guys were apparently mostly ex Iced Earth members... which is funny, because this blows away pretty much everything that band ever did aside for Burnt Offerings. As
Darkness Reigns is a
Killer album, with some really lengthy but well constructed songs, with excellent, bludgeoning thrashy riffing, some excellent soloing, and a vocalist that rivaled
Warrel Dane before he joined Nevermore. Very good album... it's just a real
Bitch to find nowadays.
