In my opinion, the problem is another. The metal scene in Italy is pathetic, and I hate to say it. Lacuna Coil (who are to metal what the Pope is to Bin Laden) have blatantly copied The Gathering; what have Rhapsody invented? Power mixed with classical music... but how many other bands do that? Angra, Stratovarius... some more speedy, some less. Necrodeath: we’re always there, between Bathory, Celtic Frost, and the like... In short: we're not really good at innovation, but what we do, we know how to do it well.
The point, however, is another. It's about the lack of imagination. The cover art is already a tailor-made calling card. Between Domine (whom I deeply detest), Manowar (who should be burned), and all those colorful pseudo-fantasy bands, we could really open an encyclopedia of copy-paste covers. It's pitiful.
I'm not someone who dislikes power metal, quite the contrary. There are bands I can listen to, like Gamma Ray, Helloween, Freedom Call (but here too, we could compile a long list of flaws and few merits), Rhapsody of Fire (see FC). I much prefer Labyrinth, both old and current. I don’t even mind Hammerfall (except for their second and third albums).
But if power metal is only going to be synonymous with orchestrations that cover the work of various musicians, and with eunuch singers straining to blow out their vocal cords... well then, my friends, we’re really scraping the bottom and it’s time for power metal to retire.
Fortunately, there are bands like Masterplan, Astral Doors, and, why not, some stuff from Pretty Maids that, while not strictly power metal, pack a serious punch.
At least that's my opinion.
