They're totally different, though to be fair there are some bands like Manowar who are considered to be Power Metal. They are very focused on their aesthetic (s

They're totally different, though to be fair there are some bands like Manowar who are considered to be Power Metal. They are very focused on their aesthetic (shirtless, oiled up dudes in leather pants riding motorcycles). I think they get lumped in because their lyrics are about glorious battle and such, a traditional lyrical topic of the genre, but musically and aesthetically they're doing something very different from the rest of the genre. I think most Manowar fans consider them to be Power Metal, but many fans of the broader genre (myself included) would disagree. The rest of the genre is derived from the lineage of the band Helloween, itself heavily influenced by the NWOBHM. Many point to 'Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1' as the first Power Metal album. Other early bands include Blind Guardian and Gamma Ray (which was founded by Kai Hansen, who played with Helloween and is considered by many to be the father of the genre). It's closely associated with Speed Metal, the line between them is not always clear but modern Power Metal bands tend to have "something extra" beyond fast guitar and high-pitched vocals, whether it's symphonic or progressive influences, more existential lyrical topics, a focus on storytelling, etc. It's often more about who the band is friends with than their musical or lyrical content or aesthetic. It's closely associated with Scandinavia, and it's worth noting that Symphonic Metal was at the very least heavily influenced by this genre, the respective scenes being tightly entwined/the same people. Some examples of what many self-identified fans of Power Metal would consider good Power Metal- Helloween- Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 Sonata Arctica- Ecliptica Kamelot- Epica (The Symphonic Metal band Epica named themselves after this album) Rhapsody- Symphony of Enchanted Lands