The Best Heavy Metal Music Videos on YouTube

A list of the best metal music videos on YouTube. If you’re a fan of metal, you’ll love this list!

What is Heavy Metal?

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom. 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 1968, three years after the genre’s inception, Led Zeppelin became the first heavy metal band to achieve widespread commercial success with their self-titled debut album. Heavy metal now has a large following of fans around the world.

The term “heavy metal” was first used in a song by Steppenwolf, entitled “Born to Be Wild”, from their 1968 album Steppenwolf.

The History of Heavy Metal

Heavy metal is a genre of music that originated in the late 1960s/early 1970s. It is characterized by aggressive, driving rhythms and distorted guitars. Heavy metal music videos often feature elaborate production values and highly scenes.

The Beginnings: Hard Rock and Psychedelic Rock

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that originated 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.

Early heavy metal acts such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin drew on earlier hard rock influences such as bluegrass, boogie-woogie, and blues, but added an extra layer of sonic heaviness that influenced subsequent acts. In 1970, Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album; it was unpopular with critics but unexpectedly influential on later generations of metal musicians. Since then, heavy metal has evolved considerably; it has diversified into numerous subgenres and has influenced other genres such as punk rock and alternative metal.

Even though heavy metal started out as hard rock music played by British bands like Cream and Deep Purple in the late 1960s, it wasn’t called “heavy metal” until the early 1970s. The phrase “heavymetal” actually comes from a William S. Burroughs novel called Naked Lunch. In the novel there is a reference to a type of music called “heavymetal music” which is described as “like a fist fighting”.. When this book was turned into a movie in 1991 by director David Cronenberg, they also used the term “heavy metal” to describe the hard-rocking soundtrack composed by Howard Shore.

The first band that was actually billed as playing “heavy metal” was an English group named Stack Waddy who released an album in early 1972 called Bugger Off!. Although Stack Waddy were more of a hard-rock band than anything else, their use of the term “heavy metal” helped to coin the phrase for future use.

The Birth of Heavy Metal: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by aggressive lyrics, distorted guitars, and powerful drums.

The first heavy metal bands emerged from the British hard rock scene of the late 1960s. These bands, including Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, were influenced by the blues-rock of Cream and Jimi Hendrix, and the psychedelic rock of Pink Floyd. They began to experiment with longer song structures, feedback-driven guitar solos, and loud volume levels.

The term “heavy metal” was first used in 1971 by William Burroughs in his novel Naked Lunch. The term gained popularity in the early 1980s with the formation of thrash metal bands like Metallica and Megadeth. Heavy metal has since evolved into many different subgenres, including doom metal, power metal, groove metal, and nu metal.

Despite its aggressive image, heavy metal has been associated with positive messages such as individualism, freedom of expression, and self-empowerment. It has also been a source of inspiration for many artists across genres including hip hop, pop, and classical music.

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (commonly abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide music movement that arose in the late 1970s, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The DIY attitude of the bands, coupled with a radio and television ban on their music, meant that they relied on their own publicity and self-financed recordings and gigs. Although it was mostly confined to the United Kingdom, there were also bands from other countries that were part of the movement.

The NWOBHM began as an underground phenomenon growing in parallel to punk rock, but it soon began to attract commercial interest after some of the bands signed recording contracts with major record labels. It was sparked by growing discontent with the increasing artificiality and shallowness of mainstream disco and pop music at the time, as well as a longing for the rawer sounds of 1960s garage rock, pub rock and early glam rock.

The NWOBHM came to prominence with a series of articles published in Sounds magazine starting in December 1978, describing a new breed of guitar-oriented bands emerging from working class Britain who were influenced by Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. These bandsthen achieved widespread success in Continental Europe and Japan during the early 1980s before returning to Britain where they had their greatest impact.

The American Response: Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer

In the early 1980s, a new wave of American heavy metal bands began to make their mark on the genre. Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer were all founded in 1981, and they quickly became some of the most popular and influential bands in heavy metal.

Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All, was released in 1983 and immediately established the band as one of the leading lights of the American heavy metal scene. The album’s mix of speed, aggression, and technical prowess was simply unmatched at the time, and it remains one of the most influential heavy metal albums ever released.

Megadeth’s debut album, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?, was released in 1986 and cemented the band’s reputation as one of the most exciting young bands in heavy metal. The album’s mix of speed, aggression, and technical prowess was simply unmatched at the time, and it remains one of the most influential heavy metal albums ever released.

Slayer’s debut album, Show No Mercy, was released in 1983 and immediately established the band as one of the leading lights of the American black metal scene. The album’s mix of speed, aggression, and technical prowess was simply unmatched at the time, and it remains one of the most influential black metal albums ever released.

The Rise of Death Metal and Black Metal

Death metal and black metal are two of the most extreme and controversial genres of metal music. Both styles are characterized by extremely fast tempos, heavy distortion, and aggressive lyrics. Death metal is often focused on themes of death and violence, while black metal typically has a more Satanic or anti-religious bent.

Death metal originated in the early 1980s, with bands like Possessed and Morbid Angel. These bands took the speed and aggression of thrash metal to new levels, adding guttural vocals and gruesome lyrics. By the mid-80s, death metal had spread to Europe, where it was embraced by bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost. In the 1990s, death metal continued to evolve, with bands like Death and Obituary pushing the boundaries of speed and brutality.

Black metal also emerged in the early 1980s, with Venom’s iconic album Black Metal. This album showcased a more raw and primitive sound than anything that had come before, as well as a more overtly Satanic image. This style was further developed by bands like Mercyful Fate, Bathory, and Mayhem. In the 1990s, black metal became increasingly associated with National Socialist (Nazi) ideology, violence, and arson; this culminated in the horrific murders committed by members of the Norwegian black metal scene.

Despite (or perhaps because of) their controversial images and violent lyrics, death metal and black metal have remained two of the most popular genres of heavy metal music. If you’re looking for some extreme musical thrills, check out some of the best deathmetal and blackmetal music videos on YouTube!

The Nu-Metal Era

The early 1990s saw the rise of a new genre of heavy metal music, Nu-Metal. Combining elements of heavy metal, hip hop, and alternative rock, Nu-Metal was a fresh and exciting sound that quickly gained popularity with metal fans. Some of the most popular Nu-Metal bands included Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and Slipknot.

While Nu-Metal was initially very popular, it eventually fell out of favor with many metal fans. Some felt that the genre was too commercialized and watered down, while others simply got tired of the style. However, there are still many Nu-Metal bands active today and the genre continues to have a loyal following.

The New Wave of American Heavy Metal

The New Wave of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM) is a musical genre and subculture that combines elements of heavy metal music with those of its hardcore punk and alternative metal predecessors. It is characterized by aggressive yet melodic vocals, distorted guitars, and emphatic rhythms.

The NWOAHM scene began in the early 1990s and reached its height of popularity in the 2000s. Bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax are credited with helping to pioneer the genre. More recent acts such as Lamb of God, Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, and Killswitch Engage have continued to evolve the sound and maintain its popularity.

The NWOAHM is often seen as having its roots in the thrash metal explosion of the 1980s. Many of the bands that would go on to be considered part of the NWOAHM began their careers during this time. Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All, released in 1983, is often cited as an important early work in the genre.

The NWOAHM is characterized by a heavier, more aggressive sound than its thrash metal predecessors. Guitars are typically played in drop-tunings (e.g., drop-D or drop-C), which allows for a heavier overall sound. Distortion and other effects are often used to create a more “metal” sound. palm muting is also frequently employed to create a tighter rhythm guitar sound.

Vocals are typically barked or screamed, rather than sung; however, some bands (e.g.,Killswitch Engage) have incorporated more cleanly sung vocals into their music. Lyrical themes tend to be dark and aggressive, often dealing with topics such as death, violence, betrayal, and other dark aspects of human nature.

The NWOAHM has been extremely influential on subsequent heavy metal subgenres; many bands that emerged in the 2000s (such as Bullet for My Valentine and As I Lay Dying) were heavily influenced by the sounds and aesthetic of the NWOAHM.

The Best Heavy Metal Music Videos on YouTube

Heavy metal music is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a thick, heavy sound, characterized by distorted guitars, powerful drums, and aggressive vocals. Metal music has been around for decades, and there are countless metal music videos on YouTube. In this article, we will be discussing the best heavy metal music videos on YouTube.

Metallica – “One”

“One” is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third and final single from their fourth studio album, …And Justice for All (1988). Written by band members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, “One” is an anti-war song that portrays a World War I soldier who is severely wounded — both physically and emotionally.

The music video for “One” was directed by Bill Pope and released in 1989. It won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 1990 ceremony.

Slayer – “Raining Blood”

This is one of the most metal videos ever made. It’s so metal that it’s actually set in hell, and features the band playing in front of a literal wall of fire. If that doesn’t get you pumped up, nothing will.

Pantera – “ Cowboys from Hell”

“Cowboys from Hell” is the debut single from American heavy metal band Pantera, taken from their 1990 album of the same name. The song was written by Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and guitarists Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. It is one of the band’s most popular songs and is considered to be a cornerstone of their sound.

The music video for “Cowboys from Hell” was directed by Kevin Kerslake, who had previously directed videos for Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The video features the band performing in a desert landscape intercut with footage of a group of cowboys riding through the same landscape.

The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards, Best Metal/Hard Rock Video and Best New Artist in a Video, but lost both to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. It remains one of the most iconic metal videos ever made and is considered essential viewing for any fan of heavy metal music.

Sepultura – “Refuse/Resist”

Directed by Michael Gira of Swans, “Refuse/Resist” is a searing call to arms that begins with footage of the police brutality at the 1992 Los Angeles Riots before transitioning into performance footage of the band. It’s an incredibly powerful video that perfectly captures the aggression and intensity of Sepultura’s music.

Machine Head – “Davidian”

Released in 1994, “Davidian” is the lead single off of Machine Head’s debut album, Burn My Eyes. The album quickly gained popularity in the metal community, and “Davidian” remains one of the band’s most popular songs. The music video features live footage of the band intercut with footage of violence and demonstrations, which perfectly captures the energy and intensity of the song.

Lamb of God – “Redneck”

Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randall Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. Since their formation, Lamb of God has released eight studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, and three DVDs. The band’s musical style is considered a mix of groove metal and thrash metal. “Redneck” is a song by American heavy metal band Lamb of God. The song was released as the first single from their fourth studio album Sacrament on May 30, 2006. The song peaked at number 25 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.

Mastodon – “Blood and Thunder”

Mastodon – “Blood and Thunder”
An epic song deserves an epic video, and that’s exactly what Mastodon delivered with “Blood and Thunder.” The track, which appeared on the band’s 2002 debut album Remission, tells the story of Moby Dick from the perspective of Captain Ahab, and the clip brings that narrative to life in brutal fashion. Featuring stop-motion animation courtesy of frontman Brent Hinds (who also directed), “Blood and Thunder” is a visual feast for metalheads and animation fans alike.

Gojira – “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe”

From the album L’Enfant Sauvage, Gojira’s “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe” sees the French metal outfit pummel their way through seven minutes of some of the heaviest riffs and biggest drums you’re likely to hear. The video itself is just as punishing, with a series of jarring, disorienting cuts that will leave you feeling just as battered as the song sounds.

Behemoth – “Ov Fire and the Void”

Polish death metal band Behemoth’s video for “Ov Fire and the Void” is one of the most impressive pieces of metal filmmaking in recent years. The production values are high, the effects are mind-blowing, and the whole thing is just plain skull-crushingly awesome.

0. Avenged Sevenfold – “Nightmare”

The Best Heavy Metal Music Videos on YouTube

Whether you love or hate Avenged Sevenfold, you have to give them credit for making one of the most visually arresting music videos of the past decade. “Nightmare” is a nine-minute opus that tells the story of a young man who is haunted by the memory of his deceased girlfriend. The video was directed by prop master Bob Alton, and it features some truly amazing special effects. If you’re a fan of metal, or just good music videos in general, “Nightmare” is definitely worth a watch.