It’s Heavy Metal Music Month!

It’s Heavy Metal Music Month, and we’re celebrating by looking at some of the greatest metal albums of all time!

Introduction

In honor of Heavy Metal Music Month, we’re taking a look at the history of this genre of music and some of its most iconic bands.

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It has since evolved into a range of different styles, with each subgenre having its own distinct characteristics.

Heavy metal is characterized by its aggressive, driving sound and its use of distorted electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums. Metal songs often have complex structures and are known for their high levels of instrumentation. The genre also frequently incorporates elements of other genres, such as punk rock, hardcore punk, and industrial music.

Some of the most influential heavy metal bands include Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. These bands have helped to shape the sound and style of heavy metal and have inspired countless other bands over the years.

What is heavy metal music?

Heavy metal music 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, four of the genre’s biggest acts recruited well-known graphic artists to create artwork specifically for them. This coincided with a new wave of popularity for the genre, beginning with Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album, released on 13 February 1970 in the UK. Sabbath’s Tony Iommi made use of down-tuning to create a heavier sound that took advantage of the newly invented Marshall stack. These new bands rejected the peace and love hippie ethos of 1967 in favour of a more aggressive approach more influenced by harder rock. Led Zeppelin famously used easy-to-play power chords and sexually suggestive lyrics on songs like Whole Lotta Love andImmigrant Song; Deep Purple popularized this approach with hits like Smoke on the Water; while Jimi Hendrix produced feedback-laden blues rock jams such as Crosstown Traffic and Voodoo Chile (Slight Return).

The history of heavy metal music

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 Tony Iommi made use of palm-muted power chords to create a skeletal framework over which he could layer his guitar solos; Sabbath’s sound thus became one of the first recognizably “heavy” sounds in rock. In 1974 Deep Purple launched an even heavier approach with their album Stormbringer; other early pioneers of heavy metal included Led Zeppelin (whose fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV, featured the song “Stairway to Heaven”), Judas Priest (with the influential British Steel), UFO, Bangaltera and Queen. In the late 1970s and early 1980s new wave of British heavy metal arose with bands such as Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard; Motörhead also gained notoriety with their 1977 hit “Ace of Spades”. This was followed in the mid-1980s by an American wave Metallica’s 1986 album Master of Puppets was really considered to be thrash metal’s definitive statement.

The different subgenres of heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It has its roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, and often incorporates elements of those genres. Heavy metal is characterized by aggressive guitar playing, drums, and often distorted or growling vocals.

There are many different subgenres of heavy metal music, each with their own unique sound and style. Some of the most popular subgenres include:

-Thrash metal: Thrash metal is characterized by fast tempos, heavy guitars, and aggressive lyrics. Thrash metal bands often use double bass drums to create a fast, intense sound.

-Death metal: Death metal is a more extreme form of thrash metal, with even faster tempos and heavier guitars. Death metal lyrics often focus on dark subject matter such as death, violence, and the occult.

-Doom metal: Doom metal is a slower, heavier form of heavy metal that often incorporates elements of psychedelic rock. Doom metal songs often have dark and atmospheric lyrics about despair, loss, and death.

-Black metal: Black metal is a fast-paced form of heavy metal that emerged in the 1980s. Black metal musicians often dress in all black clothing and wear black makeup to create a look that is intended to be shocking or intimidating. Black metal lyrics often deal with Satanism, death, and other dark topics.

The biggest heavy metal bands of all time

Formed in 1981, Metallica is one of the most influential and commercially successful heavy metal bands of all time. With a career spanning four decades, the band has sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. They are also one of the most awarded bands in history, winning nine Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards.

Led by singer/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, Metallica has released ten studio albums, including such classics as “Kill ‘Em All,” “Ride the Lightning,” “Master of Puppets,” and “…And Justice for All.” The band’s most recent album, 2016’s “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct,” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was their sixth consecutive album to do so. Metallica is currently celebrating their 35th anniversary with a massive world tour that will run through 2019.

The best heavy metal albums of all time

To celebrate Heavy Metal Music Month, we’re counting down the best heavy metal albums of all time! We’ve compiled a list of the greatest metal albums ever released, from thrash classics to black metal masterpieces, so you can find the perfect record to bang your head to.

So crank up the volume, headbang along to our countdown and let us know in the comments which albums you think deserve a spot on our list.

1. Metallica – ‘Master of Puppets’
2. Slayer – ‘Reign in Blood’
3. Black Sabbath – ‘Paranoid’
4. Pantera – ‘Vulgar Display of Power’
5. Megadeth – ‘Rust in Peace’
6. Iron Maiden – ‘The Number of the Beast’
7. Judas Priest – ‘Painkiller’
8. Anthrax – ‘Among the Living’
9. Motorhead – ‘Ace of Spades’
10. Venom – ‘Black Metal’

Why heavy metal music is so popular

People have been enjoying heavy metal music for decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down in popularity. There are a number of reasons why this genre of music is so popular, especially among younger people.

For one, heavy metal music is often seen as rebellious and edgy. This can be appealing to people who are looking to express themselves in a unique way. Additionally, the fearlessness that is often associated with heavy metal can be empowering for listeners.

Another reason why heavy metal music is popular is because of the skill that is required to play it. Heavy metal songs often require expert musicianship, and this can be impressive to listen to. Additionally, the complex arrangements and fast-paced nature of the music can be exhilarating for listeners.

Finally, many people enjoy the community that surrounds heavy metal music. Fans of this genre often form close-knit groups where they can share their love of the music and bond over their common interests. This sense of community can be very valuable to listeners who are looking for a place to belong.

The future of heavy metal music

Heavy metal music has been around for decades, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, many experts believe that heavy metal music is here to stay and will only continue to grow in popularity.

There are many reasons why heavy metal music has such a devoted following. For one, it is incredibly diverse. There are subgenres of heavy metal music to suit any taste, from the most hardcore headbangers to those who enjoy a more melodic sound.

Another reason why heavy metal music is so popular is that it is highly accessible. Unlike other genres of music, heavy metal is widely available on the internet and on streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora. This makes it easy for fans to discover new bands and explore different styles of heavy metal music.

Finally, heavy metal music has a rich history and culture that fans can immerse themselves in. There are countless books, websites, and forums devoted to discussing the history and meaning of heavy metal music. This allows fans to really connect with the genre on a deeper level.

All signs point to heavy metal music continuing to grow in popularity in the years to come. So if you’re a fan, be sure to check out new bands and explore all the different subgenres that the genre has to offer.