The Evolution of Heavy Metal Music

The heavy metal genre has come a long way since its inception in the late 1960s. Join us as we explore the evolution of this truly unique form of music.

The Origins of Heavy Metal

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.It originated as an offshoot of the blues-rock and psychedelic rock genres.

Hard Rock

Hard rock is a form of rock music characterized by heavy use of aggressive vocals, distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, and drums, sometimes accompanied with keyboards. It began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Hard rock developed into a major form of popular music in the 1970s, with bands such as the Who, Boston, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Aerosmith and Kiss. During the 1980s, some hard rock bands moved away from their hard rock roots and more towards pop rock. Established bands made a comeback in the mid-1980s and hard rock reached a commercial peak in the 1980s with glam metal bands such as Bon Jovi and Def Leppard and the rawer sounds of Guns N’ Roses which followed up with great success in the later part of that decade. Hard rock began losing popularity with the commercial success of grunge in the early 1990s but regained some popularity in the mid-1990s with bands such as Metallica.

Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as acid rock, is a style of music that originated in the mid-1960s. The genre is defined by its use of distorted guitars, feedback, and extreme volume levels. Psychedelic rock was a response to the boredom and conservatism of early 1960s rock music. Psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of alienation, drug use, and mind expansion. The genre is also known for its association with the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Early psychedelic bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Doors were influenced by Eastern mysticism, Western philosophy, and psychedelic drugs such as LSD. Psychedelic rock quickly spread from Britain to America and mainland Europe. In America, psychedelic rock was known for its association with the San Francisco Bay Area scene and the “Summer of Love” (1967).

The peak of the psychedelic rock era was 1967’s “Summer of Love.” At this time, many young people were experimenting with mind-altering drugs such as LSD. This led to a change in musical styles and lyrical themes. Psychedelic music often addressed themes such as love, peace, freedom, and happiness. It also featured extended improvised solos and jam sessions.

The popularity of psychedelic rock began to decline in the late 1960s due to changes in fashion and the increasing popularity of other genres such as hard rock and heavy metal. However,psychedelic rock has remained influential throughout the years and has been referenced by subsequent generations of musicians.

Proto-Metal

Proto-metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a combination of blues rock and hard rock elements, and is often considered a precursor to heavy metal.

Proto-metal bands were typically marked by high levels of musicianship, extended instrumentation, and an emphasis on structure and songwriting over raw sonic power. They drew inspiration from British blues rock bands such as Cream and The Yardbirds, as well as American hard rock bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Alice Cooper.

In the early 1970s, proto-metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, and UFO began to experiment with heavier sonic textures and more aggressive song structures. These bands would go on to lay the foundation for the development of heavy metal music in the 1970s.

The Birth of Heavy Metal

Though many participate in the creation of Heavy Metal,the first truely influential band is often considered to be Black Sabbath.With their self titled debut in 1970,the band combined the heaviness of blues based rock with an apocalyptic undertone to give birth to a new genre of music.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is often cited as the first heavy metal band. Formed in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, the band created a new sound that was characterized by its dark, menacing and brooding tone. Heavily influenced by the blues, Black Sabbath took the genre in a new direction with their debut album, Black Sabbath. The album featured songs like “Black Sabbath,” “N.I.B.” and ” Evil Woman” which showcased the band’s signature sound. With its heavy riffs, pounding drums and Osbourne’s distinctive vocals, Black Sabbath set the stage for the development of heavy metal music.

Deep Purple

Deep Purple is a British rock band that was formed in 1968. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of heavy metal music. Deep Purple’s sound is marked by intense guitar work, powerful drums, and classical influences.

The band’s debut album, Shades of Deep Purple, was released in 1968. The album featured the hit single “Hush.” Deep Purple became internationally successful with their next album, In Rock (1970). The album contained the classic tracks “Speed King” and “Child in Time.”

Deep Purple continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s, including Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972), and Burn (1974). In 1976, the band embarked on a world tour that was captured on the live album Made in Japan.

Deep Purple went through a number of lineup changes in the 1980s and 1990s. The band’s most recent studio album, Now What?!, was released in 2013.

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 cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music.

The band’s debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), contains elements of folk music and had a profound influence on subsequent rock music. “Dazed and Confused”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and “Communication Breakdown” are some of the band’s most well-known singles.

The Golden Age of Heavy Metal

The golden age of heavy metal was a period of great creativity and diversity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Heavy metal music was influenced by a wide range of music styles, including blues, psychedelic rock, and even disco. This period also saw the rise of several subgenres, including speed metal, power metal, and thrash metal.

Judas Priest

Judas Priest is one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1968, the band has been credited with helping to pioneer the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Judas Priest’s trademark sound is a mix of twin guitar harmonies, thundering rhythms, and dramatic vocal melodies. Over the course of their career, the band has released 17 studio albums, including such classic heavy metal albums as British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), and Painkiller (1990). Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is often credited as one of the pioneers of heavy metal music and they have inspired countless other bands in the genre. They formed in London in 1975 and released their debut album, Iron Maiden, in 1980. This album was a major success and it catapulted them to international stardom. They have released a total of 16 studio albums and they are still touring and making new music today. Some of their most popular songs include “The Trooper”, “Aces High”, and “Fear of the Dark”.

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist James Hetfield, who then recruited vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Cliff Burton. Metallica’s current lineup comprises founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Guitarist Hammett joined the band in 1983, a year after the release of their debut album Kill ‘Em All. Bassist Burton died in 1986 when his tour bus crashed; he was succeeded by Jason Newsted. Newsted left Metallica in 2001 due to creative differences; he was replaced by Trujillo, who had previously worked with Ozzy Osbourne and Suicidal Tendencies.

The band’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. Metallica earned a growing fan base in the underground music community and won critical acclaim with its first five albums. The band’s fifth album, …And Justice for All (1988), became its first to chart in the Billboard 200 and featured its first Grammy Award-winning song, “One”. In 2000, Metallica was among a number of artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band’s copyright-protected material without consent. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite releasing new material sporadically between studio albums—including a collaboration album with Lou Reed called Lulu (2011)—the band returned to touring in 2009 following an extended hiatus due to personal issues within the group. Their 2009–2013 World Magnetic Tour marked their longest concert tour to date at over 500 shows across six continents—including performances at every major music festival including Download Festival (UK), Lollapalooza (US), Big Day Out (Australialinqq) series on Vh1 Classic

The Modern Era of Heavy Metal

The early 2000s saw the rise of a new breed of metal bands who blended the sounds of the old guard with modern influences. This new wave of metalheads embraced the heavy riffs and breakdowns of metalcore while incorporating elements of nu-metal and industrial metal. These bands would go on to pave the way for 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. Although the band has experienced several lineup changes, the current incarnation includes nine members: Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Jim Root, Craig Jones, Sid Wilson, Chris Fehn, Jay Weinberg and Alessandro Venturella.

Slipknot’s musical style has been described as nu metal and alternative metal, although the band’s founders have rejected the label. The band is known for its aggressive live shows and intense work ethic. Slipknot has released five studio albums: Slipknot (1999), Iowa (2001), Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004), All Hope Is Gone (2008) and .5: The Gray Chapter (2014).

The band has sold over 28 million records worldwide and is currently ranked as one of the best-selling bands of all time. They are also one of the most critically acclaimed bands in heavy metal history, having been nominated for twelve Grammy Awards – winning two – and earning a spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list.

System of a Down

System of a Down is an American rock band from Glendale, California, formed in 1994. The band currently consists of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (vocals, guitar), Shavo Odadjian (bass, backing vocals) and John Dolmayan (drums). The group achieved commercial success with their debut album, Toxicity, which was released in 2001. their next two albums Show More…
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Lamb of God

Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994 as Burn the Priest, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered a significant member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.

Since their formation, Lamb of God has released eight studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, and two DVDs. The band’s eighth studio album, VIII: Sturm und Drang, was released on July 24, 2015. They have toured with the Ozzfest twice and have appeared at Lollapalooza four times between 2005–2009. According to Nielsen SoundScan report for the US market in 2012,[5] Lamb of God is one of the top-twenty best-selling metal bands in America. Since 2010 the group has seen drastic changes with several members leaving or being fired from the tour due to personal reasons also not limited to substance abuse problems as seen with Chris Adler drummer who took a leave to deal with his addiction issues which he later returned from in July 2017.