Other Bands
First, let me tell you about my musical taste. Now I'm 18 and from 5 years I'm a proud Brother of Metal. MANOWAR is something more than just my favourite band. Their music is one of the most important things in my life. Heavy Metal is the greatest style in music because it's always made from the heart. It's not a way to make money like all the other fucking sorts of "music". The origin of Heavy Metal can be found in the Hard Rock of the 70's but also in the Classical music. There are many great composers whose works can be named "Acoustic Metal with orchestra". Among them are Richard Wagner and Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven's Ninth (Choral) symphony with its "Ode to Joy" (written 1815-24) is a real masterpiece.
There are some other bands (except MANOWAR) that I like. They are:
I first heard this Swedish band only a year or two ago. They play Power Metal and I like them a lot. I have their two albums released from "Nuclear Blast". HammerFall reminds me of ManowaR and the old Helloween. Joakim Cans, their lead vocal, is a Brother of Metal. In an interview he says that he always liked ManowaR and that Eric Adams influenced him through the years.
Lake Of Tears
Another good Swedish band formed in 1993. I have all their four albums. The first "Greater Art" is Trash Death Metal, but now they play Gothic. Their songs are very nice, non-comercial and create a strong mood. The last album "Forever Autumn" is from 1999. I like it a lot and now I'm waiting for the next one.
Vangelis
I hope you already know who Vangelis Papathanassiou is. Best Greek musician he plays since 1965. First he was one of the leaders in "Aphrodite's Child". From the yearly 70's he started his solo career and continues to make music even now in 2000! Here is a "short" list of some of the instruments Vangelis plays: organ, piano, flute, vibes, drums. Also in "Aphrodite's Child" he's doing some back vocals. In my opinion Joey DeMaio and Vangelis are the best musicians and songwriters of the century.
Rhapsody
This is a great Italian Hollywood Metal band. "Hollywood Metal" means Symphonic Metal. I was astounded to find out that they come from Italy. I always tought that in this country no one can make Heavy Metal.They use flutes, piano, violins and other instruments to make their songs so interesting, fast and heavy. Their style is a superb combination of Classical music and Power Metal.
Also I like Black Sabbath (only the old albums), Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Mercyfull Fate, King Diamond, Rainbow (only the first four albums), Yngwie Malmsteen, Bal-Sagoth and Bathory.