The State That Loves Heavy Metal Music
Contents
A blog about the state that loves heavy metal music. Everything from the history of metal to the current scene.
Introduction
Move over Nashville, there’s a new music capital in the United States, and it’s not what you might expect. According to a new study, the state that loves heavy metal music the most is…wait for it…Oklahoma!
That’s right, the state that is more commonly associated with country music is actually home to the most passionate metalheads in the country. The study, which was conducted by Spotify, looked at which states streamed the most metal music on their platform. Oklahoma came out on top, followed by New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
So why is Oklahoma such a hotbed for metal music? Well, it could be because the state is home to some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Tulsa-based band Hanson and Broken Arrow-born musician Corey Taylor of Slipknot. Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure: Oklahomans love their metal!
The History of Heavy Metal
Where it all began
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The genre’s lyrics and performance styles are sometimes associated with aggression and machismo.
In 1970, Black Sabbath’s song “Paranoid” helped define the genre, while their 1970 album Paranoid popularized the heavier sound of metal. In 1971 Deep Purple released their album Fireball which signaled a move away from their earlier sound towards a more heavier sound; shortly afterwards they released Machine Head in 1972 which is considered by many to be one of the defining albums of heavy metal. In 1973 Led Zeppelin released Houses of the Holy which included elements ofmetal. Albums such as Led Zeppelin IV (1972) and Physical Graffiti (1975) further solidifiedLed Zeppelin’s place as one of the forerunners in heavy metal.
During the mid-1970s Judas Priest helped spur the genre’s evolution by discarding much of its blues influence; Motörhead also pioneered the power chord-based fast-paced style that would become trademarked as speed metal. Atomic Rooster and UFO were also notable early contributors to what would become known as space rock. Rainbow, formed in 1975, brought neo-classical elements to heavy metal with their Ritchie Blackmore-led work..
The golden years
The golden years of heavy metal were the 1980s when metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath were at the height of their popularity. Metal music was also influenced by the punk rock movement of the late 1970s. WatchMojo.com puts together a list of the most influential metal bands of the 1980s.
In the 1990s, metal music became more experimental with bands such as Sepultura and Tool incorporating elements of hip hop, industrial and alternative rock into their sound. The genre also began to splinter into subgenres such as black metal, death metal, power metal and nu metal. By the end of the decade, metal was once again enjoying mainstream success with bands such as Slipknot and Limp Bizkit achieving commercial success.
The 2000s saw a decline in the popularity of heavy metal but there were still some great bands active during this period such as Mastodon, Avenged Sevenfold and Motorhead. The 2010s have seen a resurgence inmetal music with newer bands such as Ghost, Baroness and Gojira gaining popularity.
The dark days
The late 1970s and early 80s were tough times for heavy metal. Glam and disco were the dominant sounds of the day, andmetal was widely derided as being outdated and out of touch. This was the era of Spinal Tap-style “mockumentaries” like This Is Spinal Tap, which only served to further the metal-is-stupid stereotype.
But all was not lost for metalheads during this dark period. A few bands continued to fly the metal flag, even if they weren’t getting much mainstream attention. These bands would go on to lay the foundations for what would become known as thrash metal, a subgenre that would revitalize heavy metal in the years to come.
The Resurgence of Heavy Metal
It’s no secret that heavy metal music has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Artists like Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth have been packing arenas and headlining festivals around the world. The genre has also seen a new crop of young bands carrying the torch for metal into the future. But why has heavy metal become so popular again? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons.
New bands to watch
There are a number of new heavy metal bands that are making a name for themselves in the metal music scene. If you’re a fan of heavy metal music, then these are some of the bands that you should keep an eye on.
Soilwork – This Swedish metal band has been around since the early 2000s, but they’ve really started to make a name for themselves in recent years. They’re known for their brutal, yet catchy, brand of metalcore.
Aversions Crown – This Australian deathcore band has only been around since 2012, but they’ve already made a big impact on the metal scene. Their debut album, “Tyrant”, was met with rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
Trivium – This American metal band has been around since 1999, but they really hit their stride in the mid-2000s with their albums “Ascendancy” and “The Crusade”. They’re one of the most popular metal bands in the world and they’re definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of heavy metal music.
Classic bands back in action
In recent years, we’ve seen a resurgence in heavy metal music, with classic bands getting back together and releasing new albums. This has been a welcome development for fans of the genre, who have long been clamoring for new material from their favorite groups.
While some might argue that heavy metal never truly went away, there’s no denying that the current wave of activity is special. We’re seeing bands that haven’t released an album in decades suddenly becoming relevant again, and this has given new life to the genre as a whole.
What’s behind this resurgence? There are a few factors at play. First, many of the classic bands are reaching an age where they can no longer tour as extensively as they once did. This has made fans crave new material from these groups, and they are finally getting what they want.
Second, the current generation of metal fans is more open to different subgenres than ever before. This has allowed groups that might have been cast aside in the past to find a new audience. finally, technology has played a role in making it easier for fans to connect with each other and share their love of heavy metal music.
Whatever the reasons, we’re happy to see heavy metal music back in the spotlight. Here’s hoping that this resurgence continues and we get even more great albums from our favorite bands!
The Future of Heavy Metal
While heavy metal may not be as popular as it was in the 80s, the genre is still going strong. There are new bands forming all the time, and metalheads are some of the most dedicated fans out there. Metal music is more than just a genre- it’s a way of life for many people. In this article, we’ll explore the future of heavy metal music.
The next generation
With the recent popularity of heavy metal music, there has been a lot of speculation about the future of the genre. Some people believe that it will continue to grow in popularity, while others think that it will eventually die out.
One thing is for sure: the next generation of heavy metal fans will be different from the current one. The new generation will be more open-minded and accepting of different styles of music. They will also be more willing to experiment with new sounds and subgenres.
This is exciting news for heavy metal fans, as it means that the genre will continue to evolve and grow. There are no limits to what the next generation of heavy metal musicians can achieve.
The legacy
Heavy metal music has been around for decades, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, heavy metal is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity, with new bands popping up all the time.
But what does the future hold for heavy metal? Will it continue to be popular? Or will it eventually fade away?
It’s hard to say for sure. But one thing is certain: heavy metal has a strong and passionate fan base, and as long as there are fans, there will be heavy metal music.
