Fifth Angel

Fifth Angel emerged from the Bellevue, Washington scene in the mid-1980s, a crucial node in the development of US Power Metal (USPM). Their sound identity is defined by the high-tenor vocal prowess of Ted Pilot and the technical lead work of James Byrd and later Kendall Bechtel.

Unlike the more aggressive thrash bands of the era, Fifth Angel focused on 'arena-ready' power metal, characterized by high production values and sophisticated melodic structures. Their self-titled debut on Shrapnel Records is widely considered a cult classic of the genre, later picked up by Epic Records as the industry sought the next breakout melodic metal act. Despite a hiatus following 1989's 'Time Will Tell,' the band's legacy was preserved by the European 'Keep It True' festival circuit, leading to a successful 21st-century comeback. They are frequently grouped with Seattle-area peers like Queensryche and Heir Apparent, representing a more 'intellectual' and polished strain of heavy metal that influenced the later European power metal explosion.