Introduction to CBD Oil

What is CBD Oil?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in cannabis plants. It’s extracted from hemp plants and then diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD doesn’t cause a ‘high.’

Brief History and Origins
CBD has a rich history dating back centuries, used for medicinal purposes across different cultures. Its modern resurgence began in the 1990s, leading to extensive research into its potential health benefits more information timesunion.

Legal Status and Controversies
The legal landscape surrounding CBD oil varies worldwide, leading to ongoing debates and controversies. Understanding local regulations is crucial for consumers.

Different Types of CBD Oil
There are three main types of CBD oil: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolates. Each type contains different cannabinoids and offers unique benefits.

Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and CBD Isolates
Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. Broad-spectrum contains multiple cannabinoids but is THC-free. CBD isolates are pure CBD, devoid of other cannabinoids.

Health Benefits of CBD Oil
CBD oil has gained popularity for its various health benefits, including:

Pain Management and Relief
Studies suggest that CBD may help alleviate chronic pain by interacting with neurotransmitters.

Anxiety and Stress Reduction
It has shown promise in reducing anxiety and stress levels, potentially benefiting individuals dealing with anxiety disorders.

Potential for Treating Various Medical Conditions
From epilepsy to insomnia, ongoing research explores CBD’s potential in treating diverse medical conditions.

Factors to Consider When Choosing CBD Oil
CBD Concentration and Potency
The concentration of CBD in a product determines its potency. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective usage.

POWER THEORY was formed in 2006 by guitarist Bob Ballinger who envisioned an inspired blend of the iconic Heavy Metal sounds of the early 80’s & NWOBHM fused with the aggressive stance forged by modern Power Metal. Ballinger’s songwriting pulled directly from guitar heavy bands such as Judas Priest, Saxon, Accept & Iron Maiden while also retaining the melodic sensibilities the style is known for. The early days of Power Theory saw several lineup changes as trying to find musicians within the Philadelphia area who were of the same mind in their influences was an arduous process. Finally armed with a stable lineup in 2007 the band hit local venues ferociously, honing their early songs through numerous live performances before recording and releasing an EP independently in May, 2009 titled “Metal Forever”.

Always pushing forward, 2010 saw POWER THEORY follow up this EP with the release of their debut full length album “Out Of The Ashes, Into The Fire”. They hired notable producer Achim Koehler (Primal Fear, Sinner) for the mastering and on the strength of it landed a distribution deal with Pure Steel Records, Germany who released it internationally and through the Keep It True Festival in 2011. During this time more prestigious gigs were being offered with Power Theory opening for heavyweights like Accept, Kreator & Helstar, all of this topped by an invitation to play the 2012 Warriors Of Metal Open Air Festival in Ohio, USA. This festival was also used as the launch of their 2nd full length album “An Axe To Grind”, again released internationally via Pure Steel Records.

As POWER THEORY continued fleshing out and defining its sound it became evident that a 2nd guitarist and vocalist with greater range would be required for the much stronger and diverse material Ballinger was crafting for the next album, with greater emphasis placed on more serious and sometimes darker toned concepts. It was also at this time that bassist Alan D’Angelo joined, bringing a new depth and stylistic approach to the low end while also bolstering the band’s live show with his highly energetic performances. The band hit the road for 14 shows in 15 days directly supporting Vicious Rumors & Seven Witches in fall 2013, followed by a homecoming show opening for Raven, multiple Philly area shows and a second stage headlining appearance at the 2014 Ragnarokkr Festival in Chicago. Recording immediately began afterwards with Carlos Alvarez (Helion Prime, Judicator) brought on to engineer, produce & mix the album, Peter Baltes of Accept serving as executive producer and mastering by Brett Caldas-Lima (Ayreon, Devin Townsend) on what became the 3rd full length album “Driven By Fear”, released internationally via Pure Steel Records in October 2015 to much acclaim. Prior to the album’s release Power Theory was invited to play Hard Summer Festival in Falkenfels, Germany and a show with FireForce in Belgium. Returning from Europe multiple live dates were played in 2016 to a steadily increasing following throughout Florida, Ohio, Michigan, NYC and of course Philadelphia. POWER THEORY was once again invited to perform at the Hard Summer Festival in Germany and also at the Rock On Fest in Budapest, Hungary, capping off yet another highly successful year filled with even greater achievements.

Early 2017 saw POWER THEORY record & independently release an EP “Something Old, Something New, and Something F***king Live from Europe” with Carlos Alvarez again producing, engineering & mixing and Brett Caldas-Lima providing the mastering. The EP consists of one brand new song, 2 live tracks from European shows in 2015, and 2 reworked fan favorites from the back catalogue. It was meant to bide time while the beginning of the strongest era of the band was begining to take shape. After being chosen as the 1st place winner in the Wacken USA Metal Battle Philadelphia qualifying round, extensive pre production and songwriting began in late 2017 for the follow up to “Driven By Fear”, this time with several major changes. Carlos Alvarez was brought on again not only as producer and recording engineer but also as an actual songwriting member of the band, having already been playing live with them for the previous year. This, coupled with the addition of Johnny Sasso on drums and most noteably, vocalist Jim Rutherford replacing the outgoing former singer led to a massive leap forward for the band’s potential and sound. The goal set from the start was to see POWER THEORY pushing their Traditional / Power Metal style cemented on “Driven By Fear” even further in regards to heaviness, speed and intricacy while sacrificing none of their established hallmarks of melodic, anthemic songwriting. It was also decided at this time to bring in award winning producer Henrik Udd (POWERWOLF, HAMMERFALL) to handle mix duties while once again Brett Caldas-Lima handled the mastering. An arduous 2 years later saw the release of what has been universally hailed as POWER THEORY’s greatest achievement yet, the massive “Force Of Will” released through Pure Steel Records on Dec 6th, 2019. Fans and press alike worldwide have lauded waves of enthusiastic praise with multiple songs being cited as instant classics and the album itself being placed on many “Best Of 2019” lists.

2020 saw Power Theory gearing up for multiple shows with the legendary Ross The Boss (Manowar), festival appearances such as Mad With Power V and the Pure Steel Metal Fest with another possibly in the works, and numerous live shows throughout in support of the new album. Unfortunately due to the covid-19 pandemic most of these shows were cancelled and with no certain time frame of when things might go back to normal, the downtime was instead used to get the groundwork laid for the next album. Pre production is almost complete on the follow up with plans to begin tracking drums by fall of 2021. This next release will see some unexpected surprises that fans are sure to love while still firmly and enthusiastically embracing the genre & sound Power Theory has made its home since the beginning. Live shows are also finally coming back, with the 1st of the year being their appearance at the Mad With Power Festival which had been rescheduled from 2020, followed by a direct support show for metal veterans Vicious Rumors in October and more being added. Battle will once again soon be joined!