Introduction to Heavy Metal Music

Everything you need to know about heavy metal music, from its history and origins to the different sub-genres that exist today.

Origins of heavy metal

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, and emphasis on live performances.

Hard rock and blues rock

The first examples of hard rock can be traced back to the early 1950s, when bands such as Bill Haley and His Comets, Orlando Riva Sound and The Routers began playing a rougher brand of rock and roll. These bands paved the way for the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, who popularized hard rock in the 1960s. Hard rock continued to evolve in the 1970s with bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Aerosmith leading the way. In the 1980s, hard rock reached new heights with artists like Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Guns N’ Roses.

The roots of heavy metal can be traced back to the late 1960s, when bands such as Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer and Led Zeppelin began playing a heavier brand of rock. These bands paved the way for the likes of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motörhead, who would go on to define heavy metal in the 1970s and 1980s.

Psychedelic rock

Psychedelic rock, also sometimes called psychedelia, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is notable for its embrace of acid rock, which refers to a style of music that is characterized by long jams, improvised solos, and heavy use of feedback and distortion. The genre is also characterized by a preoccupation with matters of the mind, such as altered states of consciousness, and drug use, especially the use of psychedelics.

While psychedelic rock was initially confined to the underground scene, it eventually broke through to the mainstream in the late 1960s with bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones incorporating elements of the style into their music. Psychedelic rock would go on to exercise a considerable influence on subsequent genres such as punk rock, glam rock, and jam bands.

Development of heavy metal

Though often considered a latecomer to the world of rock music, heavy metal has its roots in the sounds of the 60s. Bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin took the hard-edged, distorted electric guitar sound of the time and amplified it, create a new style of rock music. This new sound was characterized by its aggressive, often dark lyrical themes, as well as its faster tempos and heavier instrumentation.

Early heavy metal bands

One of the first heavy metal bands was Black Sabbath, who formed in Birmingham, England in 1968. They were known for their dark and ominous lyrics, which often dealt with topics like occultism, drugs, and war. Sabbath’s sound was also very heavy and slow, with distorted guitars and pounding drums. This sound would come to be known as “Doom Metal.”

Sabbath was soon followed by other British bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, who also helped to pioneer the heavy metal sound. In the 1970s, more and more heavy metal bands began to emerge from all over the world. Some of the most popular bands of this era include Kiss from the United States, Queen from England, and Judas Priest from England.

Heavy metal continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s. During this time, there were many different subgenres of metal that developed, including Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, and Power Metal. Some of the most popular heavy metal bands of this era include Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Anthrax.

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was a musical movement that started in the late 1970s, in the United Kingdom, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The DIY attitude of the new metal bands led to the spread of rawkus energy and enthusiasm throughout England and Wales. The NWOBHM created a template for heavy metal that was taken up by bands such as Metallica and Slayer. It also spawned genres such as power metal and death metal.

American thrash metal

Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its fast tempo and overall aggression. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work. The lyrics often deal with social issues and reproach for “The Establishment”, using direct and denunciatory language, an approach borrowed from Hardcore punk.

Thrash metal developed in the early 1980s, drawing inspiration from NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead, Iron Maiden, andJudas Priest as well as Punk Rock bands such as the Sex Pistols andThe Damned. The first thrash metal bands such as Exodus, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax pioneered their own style of the genre.

American thrash metal band Megadeth during their Countdown to Extinction Tour in 1992

Themes in heavy metal

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.

Satanism and the occult

Themes of Satanism and the occult are prevalent in heavy metal music. Many metal bands have been accused of promoting Satanism or the occult, and countless metal songs contain references to Satan, devils, and the dark side of humanity.

While some bands are clearly antagonistic towards religion, many metal musicians claim that their interest in Satanism and the dark occult is purely for shock value or entertainment purposes only. However, there are a number of metal bands who appear to be genuinely interested in these dark themes, and their music often reflects this interest.

Whether they are promoting Satanism or not, there is no denying that metal bands have helped to popularize these dark themes within society. For better or worse, the popularity of heavy metal music has helped to bring these topics out of the shadows and into the mainstream.

Death and violence

Death and violence are two of the most common themes in heavy metal music. Many metal songs deal with topics like murder, suicide, and war. Metal bands often use shock tactics to get their point across, and this can sometimes lead to controversy.

Death is a frequent topic in metal lyrics, and it is often used as a metaphor for other things like pain, suffering, and loss. Many metal songs are about death itself, while others use death as a way to explore other topics like religion or politics. Violence is another common theme in metal music, and it is often used to depict the dark side of human nature. Metal bands often use graphic images and violent lyrics to shock their listeners and get their point across.

Misogyny

One of the most commonly discussed themes in heavy metal music is misogyny, or the hatred of women. This theme is often explored through the lyrics and imagery of the music, and can be seen as a reflection of the broader attitudes towards women in society.

While some argue that misogynistic themes in heavy metal are simply a form of artistic expression, others argue that they contribute to a culture of violence and sexism. Misogyny in heavy metal has been linked to actual acts of violence against women, and some scholars argue that it can play a role in perpetuating gender inequality.

Heavy metal in popular culture

Heavy metal (or simply 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.

Heavy metal fashion

The clichéd image of heavy metal fashion is of young men with long hair wearing tight jeans and T-shirts adorned with metal band logos and album covers. In actuality, heavy metal fashion has gone through many changes since the genre’s inception in the late 1960s. While some metal bands dress in a way that would be considered “conservative” by today’s standards, others have pushed the boundaries of acceptability, both in terms of music and fashion.

Heavy metal fashion is often characterized by clothing that is meant to shock or provoke. Tight pants, tight leather clothing, spikes, and other form-fitting or revealing attire are often worn by heavy metal fans. Heavy metal concerts often have a “mosh pit” where fans can push and shove each other; this aggressive behavior is sometimes reflected in the clothing worn by heavy metal fans.

Some metal fans dress in a way that pays tribute to their favorite bands or to the history of heavy metal. Many fans sport band t-shirts or wear clothes that reflect a certainmetal subgenre (e.g., black metal fans might wear all black). Others might pay tribute to specific bands by wearing replica concert shirts or patches featuring band logos.

While some heavy metal fashion trendscan be linked to specific subgenres, such as gothic metal or industrial metal, others are more general and are popular among fans of all types ofmetal music. Heavy metal fashion trends come and go, but one thing remains constant: heavy metal fans love to express their individuality through their clothing choices!

Heavy metal in film and television

Heavy metal has been a part of film and television since the early days of both media. It was one of the first genres of music to be featured in film, with early examples including The Chuck Berry Story (1958) and Rock Around the Clock (1956). Metal has been featured in a wide variety of films and television programs, from comedies and dramas to cartoons and documentaries.

One of the earliest examples of heavy metal in film is the Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times (1936). In this film, Chaplin’s Little Tramp character is chased by angry factory workers while “The Anarchy Aria” plays in the background. This scene is considered by many to be one of the first appearances of heavy metal in pop culture.

Heavy metal has also been used as incidental music in numerous films and TV shows. One example is an episode of The Simpsons titled “Homerpalooza” (1996), which features several major metal bands performing at a music festival. In this episode, Homer becomes a “mascot” for the band Cypress Hill, donning their signature skull shirt and headbanging along to their song “Insane in the Brain”.

Other notable examples of heavy metal in film include This Is Spinal Tap (1984), a mockumentary about a fictitious British metal band; School of Rock (2003), a comedy about a substitute teacher who turns his class into a rock band; and Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986), a documentary about Judas Priest fans tailgating before a concert.