The Evolution of the Bass in Heavy Metal Music

The bass guitar is one of the most important instruments in heavy metal music. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the evolution of the bass in heavy metal, from its origins in blues and rock & roll to its current place in the metal world.

The Birth of Heavy Metal

It’s safe to say that without Black Sabbath, there would be no heavy metal as we know it today. Sabbath’s Tony Iommi is widely considered the inventor of the genre, with his signature downtuned, distorted sound. This was a new sound for rock music at the time, and it quickly caught on with other bands.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regularly considered as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. This is most evident in songs such as “Whole Lotta Love”, “The Ocean”, and “Ramble On”.

Black Sabbath

In 1968, a new band called Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album, which many consider to be the first true heavy metal album. Sabbath featured a much heavier sound than most rock bands of the time, with distorted guitars and pounding drums. But it was the bass playing of Geezer Butler that really defined the Sabbath sound.

Butler’s basslines were simple but extremely effective, providing a driving force behind the band’s songs. His playing style would go on to influence countless other bassists in the heavy metal genre, and Black Sabbath would go on to become one of the most influential metal bands of all time.

The Rise of Thrash Metal

The bass has always been an important part of heavy metal music, but it was thrash metal that really pushed the boundaries of what the bass could do. In thrash metal, the bass is often used to create a wall of sound, with the bass player playing power chords and double-stopping to create a thick, heavy sound. This style of bass playing was popularized by Cliff Burton of Metallica, and it has since become a staple of the thrash metal sound.

Metallica

Metallica was formed in 1981 by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, who were quickly joined by lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney. The following year, Cliff Burton replaced McGovney, solidifying the classic lineup of the band. They released their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, in 1983, which is widely considered to be one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

In 1984, Metallica released their second album, Ride the Lightning. This album featured longer and more complex song structures than its predecessor, as well as Burton’s innovative bass playing. His use of pedals and extended solos pushed the boundaries of what was possible on the instrument in metal music.

Metallica’s third album, Master of Puppets, was released in 1986 and is often cited as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. It showcased the band’s ever-evolving sound, with Hetfield and Ulrich writing songs that were faster and more aggressive than anything they had done before. Burton’s bass playing was once again a highlight, with his solos becoming an integral part of the band’s sound.

Tragically, Burton died in a bus accident later that year, leaving Metallica without their most creative member. They decided to carry on as a three-piece band and recruited Jason Newsted to take over on bass.

With Newsted aboard, Metallica released …And Justice for All in 1988. The album was a commercial and critical success, but fans and critics alike felt that Newsted’s bass playing was largely buried in the mix. Despite this issue, the album featured some of Metallica’s best-known songs, including “One” and “Eye of the Beholder.”

In 1991, Metallica released their self-titled “black album.” This album saw them move away from thrash metal towards a more commercial sound. It was a massive success, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. Once again, Newsted’s bass playing was largely overshadowed by the other instruments; however, he did get to contribute some important parts to several songs on the album, including “Enter Sandman” and “Sad but True.”

Newsted left Metallica in 2001 due to creative differences; he was replaced by Robert Trujillo. With Trujillo onboard, Metallica released St. Anger in 2003 followed by Death Magnetic in 2008. These albums saw them return to a heavier sound reminiscent of their early work. Trujillo has been an important part of Metallica’s sound since joining the band; his inventive bass playing can be heard on such songs as “St Anger” and “All Nightmare Long.”

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine’s expulsion from Metallica. A pioneer of the American thrash metal scene, the band is credited as one of the genre’s “big four” with Anthrax, Metallica, and Slayer, responsible for its development and popularization. Megadeth plays in a technical style, featuring fast rhythm section work and complex arrangements. They are also known for their distinctive instrumentation, often featuring bassist/co-founder David Ellefson’s dexterous use of harmonies. Megadeth has released fifteen studio albums, three live albums, five compilations, forty-five singles, ten video albums including appearance on MTV’s Headbangers Ball and two live concert DVDs. The band has sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Bassist David Ellefson is the only original member of Megadeth present on all of their studio albums. He has been with the band since its formation in 1983 and his playing style on the bass guitar_ help define the sound of thrash metal._Ellefson_ uses a pick to play_ Lead basslines and rhythm guitar parts during solos instead of using his fingers like most other rock bassists_ when palm muting or playing powerchords with distortion pedals._Ellefson also provides backup vocals for the band live and on some studio tracks._

The New Wave of American Heavy Metal

American heavy metal has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Newer bands are taking influence from the older bands of the genre and adding their own unique spin to create a sound that is all their own. The bass has always been an important part of heavy metal, but it has evolved over time. Let’s take a look at how the bass has changed in American heavy metal.

Pantera

Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas, formed in 1981. The group’s best-known line-up consisted of vocalist Philip Anselmo, guitarist Dimebag Darrell, drummer Vinnie Paul, and bassist Rex Brown. The band’s most recent album, Reinventing the Steel (2000), peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The band began as a glam metal act in the 1980s and later evolved into one of the most respected bands in heavy metal history. Pantera is credited as one of the leaders of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement. The band’s name is derived from Latin for “all-powerful”, or more accurately “Panthera”, a genus of large felines which includes lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.

The new sound that they developed helped to shape what is now known as groove metal, a style that would come to dominate the metal scene in the 1990s.

Slipknot

Slipknot is an American nine-piece heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. The band was founded in September 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. Drummer Joey Jordison and guitarist Donnie Steele were recruited soon afterwards. Vocalist Anders Colsefni, guitarist Josh Brainard, and drummer Greg Welts later joined the band, completing the original lineup. This lineup remained intact until May 2010, when Welts left the band due to health issues. Steele also left the band that year, which prompted their search for a new bassist. Jay Weinberg was hired as Slipknot’s touring drummer in August 2010, while Alessandro Venturella and Donnie Steele were hired to fill in Steel’s role as the band’s live bassists.

After the release of their debut album in 1999, Slipknot quickly became one of the most popular bands in the world, with their 2001 follow-up album crushing all expectations. But it was with their third album, ‘Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses)’ in 2004, that Slipknot really pushed themselves to new extremes both musically and culturally. This is evident in songs like ‘Duality’ where Corey Taylor’s screamed vocals are offset by a more melodic vocal line, or ‘Vermilion Pt 2’ where Gray’s growling basslines provide an eerie counterpoint to Jordison’s pounding drums.

And it’s not just Slipknot’s music that has evolved over time; their visual identity has undergone a major transformation too. Gone are the clown masks and boiler suits of their early days, replaced by a more sombre black-and-red colour scheme and a more mature stage show. Even their logo has changed; while it still incorporates their iconic ‘S’ lettering, it is now encircled by barbed wire — a reference to the Iowa State Penitentiary where several members of Slipknot served time during their early years.

Slipknot’s journey from lowly beginnings to global superstardom is an inspirational story of dedication, hard work and determination. But it is also a story of constant change and evolution; something that is evident in everything from their music to their stage show. As Slipknot continue to evolve and push boundaries with each release, there is no telling what they will achieve next.

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The bass in heavy metal music has changed drastically since the genre’s inception in the late 1960s. In the early days of heavy metal, the bass was primarily used as a support instrument, keeping the rhythm while the guitars shredded. However, as the genre progressed, the bass began to take on a more prominent role. New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest brought the bass to the forefront, making it an essential part of the heavy metal sound. These days, the bass is often as important as the guitars in heavy metal, and many bands feature two bassists to create a thick, low end sound.

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden was one of the most successful heavy metal bands of the 1980s, with a sound that was based around twin lead guitars, powerful vocals, and, most importantly, a thundering bass guitar. The band’s bass player, Steve Harris, is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of the modern style of heavy metal bass playing.

Harris’ playing was characterized by its aggressive, driving sound, and its complex and often virtuosic melodic lines. He was also one of the first bassists to make extensive use of double-tracking (recording two separate parts and combining them together), which helped to give the band’s sound a thick, “wall of sound” quality.

While Harris’ playing was certainly influential on the development of the British heavy metal style, he was not the only bassist who played an important role in shaping the genre. Other notable players include Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath, John Entwistle of The Who, and Paul McCartney of The Beatles.

As heavy metal continued to evolve in the late 1970s and early 1980s, so too did the role of the bass guitar. Bassists began to experiment with new techniques and sounds, which led to the development of different subgenres within the genre. Some notable examples include thrash metal ( Cliff Burton of Metallica), death metal ( Jeff Hanneman of Slayer), and black metal ( Fenriz of Darkthrone).

Today, there are countless different styles of heavy metal music being played all over the world, and each one has its own unique take on what a heavy metal bass should sound like. Whether you’re a fan of Iron Maiden or Metallica, Black Sabbath or Slayer, there’s sure to be a band out there that has a sound that appeals to you.

Judas Priest

One of the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal, Judas Priest was formed in Birmingham, England in 1969. The band is credited with helping to pioneer the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Judas Priest’s sound is characterized by twin guitar harmonization, powerful vocals, and aggressive basslines.

Bassist Ian Hill is the only original member of Judas Priest still with the band. He has been with the group since its inception and is one of the primary songwriters. Over the years, he has helped to shape Judas Priest’s sound and establish their identity as one of the most iconic heavy metal bands of all time.

Hill’s bass playing is an essential part of Judas Priest’s sound. He favors a hard-hitting, aggressive style that mirrors the band’s twin guitar attack. His basslines are often complex and challenging, but he always keeps them grounded in groove and rhythm. This allows him to create a solid foundation for the band’s songs without sacrificing any of their power or intensity.

While he is not a particularly flashy player, Hill’s precision and chops are undeniable. He is able to lock into any groove and lay down a rock-solid foundation for his bandmates to improvise on top of. His playing is an essential part of what makes Judas Priest one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time.