Heavy metal music emerged during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This genre combined different styles of rock and blues music, adding distortion and amplified distortion.
This musical style expresses power, resilience and defiance against authority; musically it strives for virtuosity as evidenced by guitarists such as Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore.
Glam rock, an intermittent subgenre characterized by theatrical images and costumes, also was heavily influenced by heavy metal music.
Origins
Heavy metal music emerged during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by loud electric guitars played with distortion to produce an angry, harsh sound; fast paced songs featuring lyrics which can often be critical or satirical; its fans are known as metalheads.
Historians typically credit British bands Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple with founding heavy metal. These three bands developed their sound from blues music while adding elements of hard rock and psychedelic rock – taking inspiration from Jimi Hendrix who revolutionized how electric guitar could be used.
The 1960s witnessed an emergence of other musical styles associated with heavy metal: glam rock and punk rock. Both genres share certain common characteristics such as loud, crunchy guitars and anthemic songs that draw upon theatrical images depicting mythical or fantasy figures; some bands like Motorhead or David Bowie (during his Ziggy Stardust days) even combined elements from these genres into their unique sound.
In the 1980s, political and academic groups frequently blamed heavy metal music and its fans for various social problems like violence and despondency. Defenders of metal countered that its exploration of madness and horror was simply self-expression; its themes of power, darkness and apocalypse reflected real life rather than idealized hippie ideals of peace and love in hippie hippie culture; similarly it used fantasy, magic and supernatural elements as metaphors to convey this darker truth about life.
Styles
Heavy metal music encompasses many distinct styles and sounds, from punk rock to thrash metal in the 1980s. Thrash metal in particular introduced new levels of speed and intensity to this genre of music. Metallica and Slayer helped define thrash metal with their technical proficiency and catchy songs, while another popular subgenre, glam metal, blends heavy metal with more showmanship and spectacle. Bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Poison embody this genre with their signature big hair and makeup. Groove metal is an emerging subgenre that adds rhythm-driven guitar riffs for an alternative feel while remaining accessible – artists like Pantera and Lamb of God excel at producing groove metal that’s both aggressive and catchy.
Black metal is another extreme subgenre that delves deep into dark themes such as mysticism, the occult, and darkness itself. Bands such as Wolves in the Throne Room and Agalloch use immersive melodies and mood shifts for an emotive sonic experience.
Doom metal, which combines heavy metal with elements of blues rock, has become one of the more acclaimed subgenres. Doom metal bands often write lyrics about drugs use, escapism and counterculture; similarly stoner metal fuses heavy metal with psychedelic rock; bands such as Electric Wizard and High on Fire epitomize this subgenre with their groove-driven sounds and lyrics about drugs, rebellion and death.
Alternative metal is an amalgam of heavy metal with elements from alternative and punk rock music, creating an emotionally intense sound. Artists such as Tool, Dream Theater and Opeth embody this genre. Nu metal, which became popular during the 1990s, incorporates elements of alternative metal, groove metal and rap rock music; for example bands such as Slipknot and Korn combine heavy guitar riffs with aggressive vocals as well as hip-hop-influenced rhythms into a powerful yet visceral genre.
Subcultures
Heavy metal music has evolved over time into many subcultures and styles, each with their own distinct musical characteristics. Thrash metal, known for its fast pace and aggression, became one of the more popular subgenres during the 1980s thanks to bands such as Metallica and Slayer; another style known as groove metal combined the energy of alternative rock with heavy metal forefathers such as System of a Down and Deftones who pioneered this trend; while in the 90s nu metal (or “new metal”) brought elements from grunge music along with hip hop style singing vocalists into heavy metal music itself.
Black metal music combines dark gothic aesthetics with the intensity of heavy metal. Bands like Type O Negative and Lacuna Coil combine haunting atmospheres, emotive keyboard arrangements, and introspective lyrics into an immersive sonic experience for listeners. Black metal also allows for wide variations in vocal style: from Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden singing operatic vocals to Motorhead singer Lemmy Kilmister using intentionally gruff vocals – offering listeners something truly immersive for their ears!
Grindcore, an extreme subgenre which emerged during the 1980s, combines short song lengths, high-speed aggression and intense blast beats into its formula. Napalm Death and Brutal Truth led this trend with their signature guitar riffs and guttural vocals, helping pioneer this genre.
Heavy metal fans, or “metalheads,” have developed their own subculture. Studies have shown that metalheads are more likely than other demographic groups to engage in risky behaviors and have higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, delinquency and social issues; plus their socioeconomic status is lower compared with other genres. Furthermore, this has led to accusations from fundamentalist Christians of “Satanic influence”.
Influences
Heavy metal emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s from its roots in blues rock, psychedelic music and acid rock. Bands such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple applied an aggressive approach to blues scales and chord progressions to make their songs heavier and faster.
These bands’ lyrics explored darker, less traditional subjects than were common at the time. Furthermore, they used more complex guitar solos with distorted and amplified tones; some even went as far as including diatonic modes as an influence for their solos–an influence often found within thrash metal music today.
Though many believe Black Sabbath pioneered metal music alone, several other bands also played an instrumental role. Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic sounds had a substantial effect on heavy style guitar playing employed by these bands; furthermore King Crimson’s 1969 album In the Court of Crimson King featured key musical characteristics of metal such as chuggy rhythm guitar tone, discordant soloing guitar soloing and dark lyrics which would later become part of doom, stoner and sludge metal genres.
Alice Cooper, Kiss, Aerosmith and Van Halen all had significant influences on American heavy metal music. Their raw sleazy sounds combined with fast guitar riffs gave heavy metal music an infectious party-oriented atmosphere; Motorhead added punk rock urgency with their sound.
Metallica and Pantera were two thrash metal bands to pioneer this style in the 1990s, further developing its sound and rebel attitude. However, they soon gave way to grunge bands such as Nirvana that added elements from hip-hop music into its sound, creating nu metal. Heavy metal subculture’s antisocial, fantasy-driven lyrics as well as its loud music caused widespread controversy across many nations; especially conservative societies that perceived heavy metal music as supporting hedonism and antireligious ideals.
Message
Some may view heavy metal music as encouraging Satanism or devil worship. They might cite album covers with depictions of devils and demons and bands using occult symbols for logos as evidence; but most metal musicians do not subscribe to Satan or anything occult – instead writing songs about subjects they find fascinating such as Norse gods and mythology for Amon Amarth vocalist who happens to be an atheist but writes songs on these subjects because they fascinate him!
Metal musicians are increasingly socially aware, using anti-war and feminist themes in their lyrics as well as encouraging freedom of expression. Yet despite being met with critical response, heavy metal has managed to thrive globally as a subculture – its success being testament to its ability to connect with its audiences on an emotional level while inspiring people to express themselves freely.
Some metal fans argue that metal music is inherently violent and poses a heightened risk to listeners. They cite how Cannibal Corpse and Autopsy use graphic violence in their lyrics; however, these arguments ignore that modern horror movies and war-simulating video games also contain considerable amounts of violent content; moreover, fans of any genre of music can be just as dangerous – not just metal fans.
Finding out what constitutes heavy metal can be challenging. This genre encompasses various styles and subcultures that have existed for some time; others may be more recent additions. Although critics have tried their hand at categorizing what makes metal, ultimately the only true way of knowing whether something qualifies is to listen to it yourself.