Who Created Heavy Metal Music?

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of heavy metal music and the bands who created it. We’ll also explore the different subgenres of metal and how they’ve evolved over the years. So if you’re a fan of metal music, or just curious about its origins, read on!

The Beginnings of Heavy Metal

The first heavy metal band is widely considered to be Black Sabbath, who formed in 1968. They were quickly followed by other British bands such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. These bands combined the hard-hitting sound of rock with the dark and ominous lyrics of the blues. They also began to experiment with longer, more complex song structures. This new style of music quickly caught on with fans and soon became its own genre.

Hard Rock in the 1960s and 1970s

The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple – these are some of the most well-known and influential hard rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Hard rock is a subgenre of rock music that got its start in the 1960s and was pioneered by bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. Hard rock is characterized by heavy guitar riffs, blues-based song structures, and a general feeling of reckless abandon.

In the early 1970s, hard rock bands began to experiment with longer song form, extending songs beyond the standard three-minute pop format. This new style of music was often referred to as “arena rock” or “stadium rock” because it was designed to be played in large venues with big sound systems. Bands like Queen, Kiss, and AC/DC popularized this new sound with hits like “We Will Rock You”, “Detroit Rock City”, and “Highway to Hell”.

While hard rock can trace its roots back to the 1950s, it wasn’t until the early 1970s that the genre began to be called “heavy metal”. This new name was coined by British journalist Mike Saunders in a review of the 1971 album Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones. In his review, Saunders described the sound of the album as “heavy metal thunderbolt music”. The term heavy metal quickly caught on with both fans and musicians alike, and it has been used to describe this style of music ever since.

The Birth of Heavy Metal

Although there is no single event that can be pointed to as the birth of heavy metal, there are a few moments in time that can be seen as incubators for the genre. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a number of bands were experimenting with sounds that would eventually come to be known as heavy metal. These bands took cues from the hard rock of the day, as well as from genres like blues and psychedelia. They combined these influences with a heavier sound, more distorted guitars, and greater emphasis on volume. This new sound caught on with fans, and soon a new genre was born.

Some of the most influential early heavy metal bands include Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. These bands laid the groundwork for the sound of heavy metal, and their impact can still be felt today. Heavy metal would go on to become one of the most popular genres in music, with legions of fans around the world.

The Pioneers of Heavy Metal

The first heavy metal band is widely considered to be Black Sabbath, who formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968. They were quickly followed by other British bands like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. In the 1970s, Judas Priest,Iron Maiden, and Motorhead helped to solidify the genre. American bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer took the genre to new heights in the 1980s.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is often credited as the pioneers of heavy metal music. The band was formed in 1968 in Birmingham, England by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Sabbath’s debut album, Black Sabbath, was released in 1970 and is widely considered to be one of the most influential metal albums of all time. The band went on to release a string of successful albums throughout the 1970s and early 1980s before disbanding in 1983. Sabbath reunited in 1987 with original vocalist Osbourne and released two more albums before again disbanding in 1996. The band has since reunited several times, with various lineups, and continues to tour and release new music.

Deep Purple

Deep Purple, often referred to as Deep Purple III, is the third studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, released in June 1969 on Tetragrammaton Records in the United States and early September 1969 on Harvest Records in Europe. It was also to be their last album with original singer Rod Evans.

Purple were at a crossroads following the commercial disappointment of 1968’s Shades of Deep Purple. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was growing restless and wanted the band to move in a heavier direction, but Evans and bassist Nick Simper were reluctant to change tack. In need of inspiration, the band turned to Joe South’s “Hush”, which gave them their first hit single and provided a blueprint for their future sound.

With South onboard as producer, Deep Purple began work on their third album at De Lane Lea Studios in London. The results were heavier and more guitar-driven than anything they had done before, with Blackmore’s fuzztone guitars and Ian Gillan’s powerful vocals leading the way. The album was an instant success, reaching number four in the UK charts and spawning the hit singles “Hush” and “River Deep – Mountain High”. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter in the band’s history, with Blackmore officially taking over as leader and steering them towards hard rock greatness.

Led Zeppelin

Of all the bands that have been credited with creating heavy metal, Led Zeppelin is perhaps the most important. Though they were not the first band to play heavy metal, they were certainly the most influential.

Led Zeppelin was formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. They quickly rose to fame with their self-titled debut album, which featured the now-classic tracks “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown.” Their second album, “Led Zeppelin II,” was even more successful, thanks in part to the massive hit single “Whole Lotta Love.”

Led Zeppelin’s third album, “Led Zeppelin III,” saw them experimenting with different sounds and styles, including folk and country. This album also featured one of their most iconic songs, “Stairway to Heaven.”

Over the next few years, Led Zeppelin released a series of highly successful albums, including “Houses of the Holy,” “Physical Graffiti,” and “Presence.” They also undertook a series of legendary tours, during which they would often play for hours on end without taking a break.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1980 when drummer John Bonham died of alcohol poisoning. The band decided to disband rather than continue without him. Led Zeppelin’s legacy continues to this day – they are widely considered to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Judas Priest

One of the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal, Judas Priest is often credited with helping to pioneer the genre. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969, the band has released seventeen studio albums, two live albums, and four compilation albums. They have sold over 50 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

The band’s signature sound is characterized by twin lead guitars, powerful vocals, and a heavy rhythm section. Their 1978 album Stained Class is considered a genre classic, and their 1980 album British Steel was a commercial breakthrough, reaching number four on the UK charts. Other important releases include Turbo (1986), Painkiller (1990), and Redeemer of Souls (2014).

Judas Priest has been influential to many subsequent metal bands, and their music has been featured in films such as Rock Star (2001) and Metalocalypse (2006).

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 and peaked in the early 1980s. It was a reaction to the declining rock scene of the 1970s. Bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Def Leppard, brought heavy metal back to its roots with a more aggressive sound.

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is often credited as being one of the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, along with bands like Judas Priest and Def Leppard. They released their self-titled debut album in 1980, which was quickly followed by 1981’s Killers. These two records cemented Iron Maiden’s status as one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the world, and they have remained hugely successful ever since.

Over the course of their career, Iron Maiden have released a total of 15 studio albums, the most recent being 2015’s The Book of Souls. They are also renowned for their live shows, which are often elaborate affairs featuring pyrotechnics, puppets, and Eddie, their iconic mascot.

Iron Maiden are considered to be one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, and they have inspired a host of other bands in the genre. They continue to be hugely popular all over the world, and their influence is still very much felt today.

Def Leppard

Formed in 1977, Def Leppard was one of the leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. The band’s debut album, On Through the Night, was released in 1980 and featured the hit single “Photograph.” Def Leppard’s follow-up album, High ‘n’ Dry, was released in 1981 and featured the singles “Let It Go” and “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak.” The band’s third album, Pyromania, was released in 1983 and featured the singles “Photograph,” “Foolin’,” and “Rock of Ages.” Def Leppard’s fourth album, Hysteria, was released in 1987 and featured the singles “Animal,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Armageddon It,” and “Hysteria.”

Motörhead

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 2014, the British band Motörhead was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Motörhead was formed in 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister. The band is considered a pioneer of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which re-energized heavy metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Motörhead’s signature sound was characterized by aggressive, fast-paced songs with distorted guitars and Kilmister’s raw vocals. The band’s live performances were known for their high energy and for Lemmy’s distinctive on-stage persona.

The band released 22 studio albums over the course of their career, including some of heavy metal’s most influential records such as Overkill (1979), Ace of Spades (1980), Iron Fist (1982), and Orgasmatron (1986). Motörhead disbanded in 2015 after Lemmy’s death, but their music continues to be celebrated by fans around the world.

The Americanization of Heavy Metal

Metallica

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, the self-titled debut album from Black Sabbath brought an ominous sound to rock music, which would be imitated by many other bands over the next decade. Led Zeppelin’s early work also showed the influence of blues and psychedelia in creating what would become heavy metal. Deep Purple’s Jon Lord opened his band’s 1968 song “Hush” with an overdriven organ sound that prefigured the heavy riffing that would become a mainstay of metal. Cream’s “Crossroads” (1968) blended blues rock with hard rock, while Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” (1967) featured distorted guitars and feedback howls reminiscent of future metal stars.

The American band Metallica rose to prominence in the 1980s with their pioneering speed metal album Kill ‘Em All (1983), which featured fast tempos, sophisticated guitar work, and aggressive lyrics. Slayer followed suit with Reign in Blood (1986), considered one of the heaviest and fastest albums ever recorded. These two bands would come to be major influences on subsequent extreme metal scenes.

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine’s dismissal from Metallica. Along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, Megadeth is one of the Big Four thrash metal bands of the 1980s. Megadeth’s debut album Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! was released in 1985 on the independent label Combat Records, selling well underground before being re-released on the major label Capitol Records in 1986. Their fourth studio album, Countdown to Extinction (1992), debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and featured their most commercially successful singles “Symphony of Destruction” and “Skin o’ My Teeth”. Megadeth went on to achieve commercial success with their next three albums: Youthanasia (1994), Hidden Treasures (1995) and Cryptic Writings (1997). In 1998, drummer Nick Menza collapsed onstage due to a heart condition which caused him to miss several shows; he was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso for the rest of that year’s touring cycle. In early 2002, Menza was again diagnosed with a heart tumor but this time it resulted in his departure from Megadeth after three attempts at treatment failed. He was replaced by Vinnie Colaiuta for two years; during which time David Ellefson ran his own heavy metal-themed coffee company called Rock café while he remained co-owner of EMP Label Group. After leaving active duty in 2004 due to neck injuries caused by Asian Folded Pyramid Syndrome, Ellefson made amends withMustaine and rejoined him in Megadeth in 2010 prior to the recording of their thirteenth album TH1RT3EN.

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and drummer Dave Lombardo. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the “big four” thrash metal bands, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Since its debut album in 1983, the band has released fifteen studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six video albums and thirty-nine music videos. The band has received five Grammy Awards, five Kerrang!

Heavy Metal in the 21st Century

According to most people, the origins of heavy metal can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. This is when bands such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin started to experiment with distorted guitars and aggressive lyrics. However, there are some people who believe that the roots of heavy metal go back even further.

Nu-Metal

Nu-metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that emerged in the late 1990s. It is characterized by a fusion of metal and alternative rock elements, with an emphasis on melody and emotion over heaviness and aggression.

Nu-metal bands often use elements from other genres, such as hip hop, electronica, and alternative rock. Many nu-metal bands have been accused of borrowing heavily from the sounds of other groups, including Deftones, Korn, and Limp Bizkit.

Nu-metal has been criticized for its lack of originality, as well as its focus on outward appearance and showmanship over musical substance. However, the genre has also gained a significant following among heavy metal fans who appreciate its melodic approach and emotionally charged lyrics.

Metalcore

Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of traditional metal with hardcore punk. It first emerged in the late 1980s with bands such as Earth Crisis and Integrity, and it reached its height of popularity in the 2000s with bands like Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, and All That Remains.

While metalcore bands vary in their sound, they are typically characterized by intense breakdowns (a section of a song in which the guitars and drums drop out for a period of time), high-pitched screamed vocals, and hardened melodies. Lyrically, metalcore songs often deal with topics such as social injustice, human suffering, and personal turmoil.

Metalcore rose to prominence in the early 2000s due to the success of bands like Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage. These bands brought the genre to a wider audience through their appearances on MTV and Ozzfest, and their music was also featured in several video games (including Guitar Hero) and movies (such as Saw III). In recent years, metalcore has continued to grow in popularity, with newer bands like As I Lay Dying, Trivium, and Architects finding success both commercially and critically.

Deathcore

Deathcore is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines core elements of death metal with various other hardcore punk and heavy metal styles. It typically features breakdowns, blast beats, and severe vocals. Deathcore emerged in the early 2000s, and was pioneered by bands such as Despised Icon, All Shall Perish, and Suicide Silence.

While deathcore has its roots in death metal, it is not to be confused with the related genre of death-doom, which combines death metal with doom metal.