I know it's tough to tell, and these genres are sometimes quite vague, but what do you all think was the first power metal band in existence? The earliest I have is 1987 with Savatage's Hall Of The Mountain King. Is there much else that's earlier? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: My library was screwed up due to some update; anyway, Helloween's Walls Of Jericho is my first.

Metal Church released in 1984 as did Omen's, Battle Cry.

Well there are 2 different types of Power Metal (which I learned, on here) US Power Metal and Euro Power Metal.

I still don't believe in the US Power Metal to me it was either Heavy Metal or Thrash. Anyway.... I think I'm with you Helloween's Walls Of Jericho was the first Power Metal album.

that depends on your defenition of Power Metal doesn't it? As I understand it, "Power Metal" was a term originally used to describe a more aggressive, thrash style of metal, and not the flowery, happy metal with songs about unicorns and dragons that we know and love today. So do you go with the original definition or the modern one? If you go with the original, the first band to call themselves "power metal" I believe were Pantera.

Power metal was those bands that were too fast/heavy for traditional heavy metal but not quite as fast/heavy as thrash bands, thus POWER metal.

Metal Church were the very definition of Power Metal.

I think it has to be Metal church.

I was listening to blessing in disguise on my way to work this morning.

Walls of jericho is also outstanding.

Although i'm more of the Deris era fan.

As far as what most people nowadays call "power metal" the first (and best) band would be HELLOWEEN.

Possibly omen...I'm not quite sure what the TRUE first would be!

I vaguely remember Metallica being called "Power Metal" back in the KILL'EM ALL days...

Flotsam and Jetsam referred to themselves as 'power metal' on their first album--but it doen't really apply.
I would go with Helloween.
And if we boiled it down one more degree, we'd find Iron Maiden.

There are some goofy songs in Iron Maiden's discography that would fit nicely under the power metal umbrella; "Flash Of The Blade", "Sun And Steel", "The Duellists", "Quest For Fire"...all the cheesy imagery and overly catchy pop-influenced arrangements scream today's definition of "Power Metal".

Savage Grace was "borderline" speed/power metal on "Scepters of Deceit" Metal Massacre II (1982) and "The Dominatress" EP (1983)

Again, all dependes on what "is"... is

From what we called Power Metal in the 80s, the earliest albums would be:

Hawaii - One Nation Underground (83)
Wild Dogs - Wild Dogs (83)

Rainbow - Long Live Rock'n'Roll

Songs like Kill the King were totally power metal and influential to what became the European power metal scene.

ahhh, yes, plodding songs like Rainbow's "Stargazer" could almost fit the Power Metal category
That song structure/style seems to be what I think of when I hear the term.

Though a lot of the bands mentioned and more - Metallica, Omen, Metal Church, Overkill, Exciter, Liege Lord, Jag Panzer, etc all used to be labelled Power Metal right before the term "thrash metal" seemed to be mentioned everywhere almost overnight when I looked in fanzines and mags in 1985, and The Big Four were the bands to be compared to if they fit the genre.

One of the first power metal discs for me came from France in 1983. The H-BOMB - Coup De Metal EP. This was one of the first with speedy double bass stuff.