Head Banger: The Best of Heavy Metal Music
Contents
From the early days of Black Sabbath to the latest in metalcore, find out what makes heavy metal music so special in this blog post.
Introduction
Few genres of music are as misunderstood as heavy metal. For many, the sheer volume and aggression of the music is off-putting, while others simply don’t “get” the often complex and poetic lyrics. But for those who love metal, there is nothing else quite like it.
Heavy metal first emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be. These early innovators laid the foundation for the genre as we know it today.
Since then, heavy metal has continued to evolve, with new subgenres constantly emerging. From thrash to death metal, black metal to power metal, there is something for everyone within the genre.
This book aims to introduce newcomers to the world of heavy metal, as well as provide longtime fans with a comprehensive overview of the genre’s history. We’ll explore the biggest names and most influential bands, as well as some of the more obscure corners of the metal universe. So put on your armor and get ready to headbang!
The Early Days of Heavy Metal
It is safe to say that without Black Sabbath, there would be no Heavy Metal as we know it today. Sabbath’s slow, doomy, and blues-influenced riffs created a new genre of music that would come to be known as Heavy Metal. Sabbath’s sound was unlike anything that had come before, and their dark lyrics about drugs, addiction, and evil further set them apart from the rest of the music world. Sabbath’s success would pave the way for other heavy metal bands to emerge in the early 1970s.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (bass guitar) and John Bonham (drums). The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound, rooted in blues and psychedelia on their early albums, has earned them recognition as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, though their unique style drew from a wide variety of influences, including folk music.
Black Sabbath
Formed in 1968 by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, Black Sabbath is often cited as the band that created heavy metal. Sabbath’s dark, dirge-y sound was a reacti
Deep Purple
Deep Purple was formed in 1968 in Hertfordshire, England and is considered to be one of the first heavy metal bands. Their sound was characterized by progressive elements, lengthy jams, and classical influences. The band released their debut album, Shades of Deep Purple, in 1968 to commercial and critical success. The album featured the hit single “Hush”, which was covered by many other artists.
Deep Purple’s second album, The Book of Taliesyn, was released in 1969 and featured the singles “River Deep – Mountain High” and ” Kentucky Woman”. The latter song would be covered by many artists, including Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Deep Purple’s third album, Deep Purple in Rock, was released in 1970 and is considered to be their essential heavy metal record. The album features the classics “Speed King” and “Child in Time”, both of which are considered to be some of the best examples of early heavy metal music.
The New Wave of Heavy Metal
A new wave of heavy metal is emerging, led by bands like Ghost, Metallica, and Slayer. This new wave is heavier, faster, and more aggressive than the metal of the past. The lyrics are dark and often deal with topics like death, violence, and the occult. The new wave of metal is sure to please fans of the genre.
Judas Priest
The English heavy metal band Judas Priest rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s with their influential brand of twin-guitar lead heavy metal. The band is known for such iconic songs as “Breaking the Law”, “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”, and “Living after Midnight”. Judas Priest was one of the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which also includes such bands as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard.
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden is one of the most influential and iconic heavy metal bands of all time. Formed in England in 1975, the band has released a staggering 16 studio albums, selling over 100 million copies worldwide. Iron Maiden is known for their catchy hooks, complex songwriting, and outrageous stage shows, which feature Eddie, the band’s mascot and horror-inspired icon. Iron Maiden has inspired generations of metalheads and continues to be a force in the world of heavy metal music.
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California by drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield, and has been based in San Francisco, California for most of its career. The group’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Metallica’s lineup has changed several times over the course of the band’s history. Since 1989, the lineup has consisted of Hetfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ulrich (drums). Other long-standing members include lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (who joined the band in 1983) and bassist Robert Trujillo (a member since 2003). Bassist Cliff Burton joined Metallica in 1986 and played on their 1986 studio album Master of Puppets; he died from injuries sustained during a bus accident in Sweden nine months after its release.
After embarking on a co-headlining tour with Blink-182 in summer 2019, Metallica announced that they would enter the studio to work on their next album.The band is currently working on material for their eleventh studio album, which is due for release sometime in 2020 or 2021.
The Modern Era of Heavy Metal
Slipknot
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. The band was founded in September 1995 by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. After several lineup changes in its early years, the band settled on nine members for more than a decade: Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Jim Root, Craig Jones, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, Shawn Crahan and Joey Jordison. Gray died on May 24, 2010 and was replaced during 2011–2014 by former guitarist Donnie Steele. Jordison was fired from the band on December 12, 2013. Steele left during the recording sessions for .5: The Gray Chapter. The band found replacements in Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums. .5: The Gray Chapter was released on October 21, 2014 to positive critical and fan reception. It debuted at number one on Billboard 200 with 132,000 equivalent album units; Slipknot’s second US number one album following Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) in 2004
System of a Down
System of a Down is an American rock band from Glendale, California, formed in 1994. The group’s current lineup consists of vocalist/keyboardist Serj Tankian, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan. The band achieved commercial success with its debut album, System of a Down, released in 1998 by Columbia Records. The album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. It was followed by Toxicity in 2001 and Mezmerize in 2005—both of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200—and by Hypnotize in 2006.
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band’s current lineup consists of lead vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman.
The band released their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, in 2001. Avenged Sevenfold’s second album, City of Evil, was released in 2005; the album debuted at No. 30 on Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA just over a year later in June 2006. In 2007 they released their self-titled third album, which topped the Billboard 200 chart and featured three top 30 singles; “Critical Acclaim”, “Nearly Impossible”, and “Scream”. Their fourth studio album Nightmare debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart in 2010 containing the singles “Nightmare”, “Welcome to the Family” and “Buried Alive” . The fifth studio album Hail to the King was released on August 27th 2013 by Warner Brothers Records and was Avenged Sevenfold’s second consecutive Number one debut on Billboard 200 chart containing songs like: “Hail to the King”, “Shepherd of Fire” ,and “Doing Time”. The band has scored one number one single on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs Chart with their song “Nightmare” as well as four number one hits onBillboard’s Hot Rock Songs Chart with: “Critical Acclaim”,
“Shepherd of Fire”, “”Hail to the King” ,and
“Doing Time”. Throughout their career they have had three Grammy Award nominations including one for Best Hard Rock Performance for their song “Bat Country” off City of Evil soundtrack in 2006
Conclusion
In conclusion, heavy metal music is a great way to get pumped up and headbang your way to a good time. It is also a great way to relieve stress and let out some aggression. There are many different styles of heavy metal music, so there is something for everyone. Whether you like thrash metal, death metal, or black metal, there is a band out there that you will love. So crank up the volume, put on your favorite headbanging tunes, and let loose!
