I'm a big big fan of power metal, I'm very familiar with the classics so I've been taking to exploring stuff specifically from the 2000s onward and enjoying the sound in general a lot. My issue I've found is that seemingly every band absolutely must have an album be almost an hour long with very inconsistent pacing throughout.

What I'm looking for essential is power metal from the 2000s onward that is at most 45 minutes long and genuinely great. To give an idea of what I like in general, in the classics I like Blind Guardian, Helloween, Running Wild, Omen, Rage, Stratovarius, Jag Panzer, Riot and Fates Warning. Post 2000s that I enjoy include but are not limited to Stormwarrior, Nocturnal Rites, Human Fortress, Paragon, Persuader, Astral Door, Savage Circus, Twisted Tower Dire, Lost Horizon. I am familiar with and do not like Sabaton, Kamelot, Symphony X and in general anything that sounds like Nightwish.