Heavy metal music emerged as a distinct musical style during the 1970s. Characterized by powerful, aggressive guitar sound and throaty vocals that emphasize power and intensity.
Early examples include Led Zeppelin, who combined granite rock riffs with unearthly vocals and an occult-themed focus; and Birmingham’s Black Sabbath, whose powerful, thrashing sound set the standard for subsequent bands.
Origins
Heavy metal music may have its origins in late 19th-century fiction by novelist William Burroughs who described a cannon that fired “heavy metal.” Since then, its meaning has expanded and eventually came to refer to various elements and compounds. Steppenwolf made famous this term with their hit song “Born to Be Wild” featuring these lyrics; by 1970 it had come to symbolize an entire genre.
Although metal draws its inspiration from hard rock, it has developed its own distinct genre with distinct sonic features. Metal’s emphasis on volume and distortion conveys power that appeals to male audiences while its lyrics and themes frequently address topics like war, death, depression and regret.
Musically, metal bands often incorporate elements of classical music into their compositions and performances. Deep Purple was among the first metal acts to incorporate complex song structures and virtuosic performances into its sound; guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and keyboardist Jon Lord both come from a classical background themselves.
In the 1980s, metal musicians and fans came under attack from political and academic bodies who blamed it for everything from violent crime to mental illness to despondency and suicide. While much of this criticism has since been debunked, metal’s legacy as dangerous music remains.
Influences
Metal musicians have always drawn from various sources of influence when creating their unique sound – whether that is classical, folk or blues influences. Furthermore, their culture of birth also shapes them; metal artists possess an intense fascination for times and places beyond our own that is both mysterious and fantastical; these elements combine with guitar’s unique soundwaves to define metal’s distinct sound.
Metal music’s emphasis on power can be seen through its expansive songs, its signature distorted electric guitar sound and aggressive vocal styles creating an air of aggression – characteristics often used as justification for crime and violence, delusions and suicide in society. Yet this genre continues to attract those drawn to it while its music continues to develop over time.
Steppenwolf, Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult were among the first bands to pioneer what would later be termed heavy metal music in the early 1970s. Their sound combined experimental approaches with amplified blues-rock guitar, later being heavily influenced by psychedelic rock influences.
As heavy metal has evolved over its history, its genre has been divided into various subgenres. One such subgenre is death metal which often features violent lyrics exploring topics such as psychopathy, delirium, mutilation, exorcism, rape and cannibalism. Other subgenres such as thrash metal and grindcore feature fast drumming and distorted guitar playing for maximum intensity.
Styles
Heavy metal music can often be described as loud, fast and aggressive. Its distinctive sounds include guitar distortion, bass lines that boom constantly and drums that beat in time with each song. Most metal bands also include singers who may or may not also play an instrument and frequently keyboards aren’t seen as essential components of heavy metal bands’ soundscape.
Heavy metal was born from rock and blues influences; many scholars consider the blues-based songs of the British Invasion to be among its first true heavy metal tracks, including Link Wray’s instrumental “Rumble”, Kingsmen’s cover of Eddie Cochran’s classic hit and Steppenwolf’s rockabilly inspired “Born to Be Wild”.
Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix pioneered this genre, pushing its limits with amps that produced both melodic and harsh tones simultaneously. Others employed diatonic scales which enabled longer solos that were more intricate harmonically.
Heavy metal music tends to address dark themes, like aggression and masculinity, in its lyrics. Many metal groups have drawn criticism from watchdog groups and societal figures due to these controversial messages; in the 1980s alone, heavy metal musicians and fans were blamed for violence, drug abuse, despair and suicide among other issues.
Characteristics
Heavy metal music can be defined by its signature elements of loud volume, distortion and an aggressive attitude. Its soundscape is further amplified by drums with their steady beat, bass guitars offering solid support, and lead vocalists whose powerful voices complement those of his instruments.
The early waves of heavy metal music were pioneered by British blues-rock bands that broke new ground through their use of distortion and rock-and-roll energy. Scholars and fans have pointed to Blue Cheer’s cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” (January 1968), Steppenwolf’s rock anthem “Born to Be Wild” (also in 1968), and Yardbirds version of Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance” from March as early examples of heavy metal music.
Los Angeles was also characterized by an evolving musical style led by guitarists such as Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne who combined granite-rock riffs with unearthly vocals to craft lyrics focused on macabre themes. Meanwhile, psychedelic music of the 60s expanded on this template, pushing guitar sounds and volume limits further than ever – led by Jimi Hendrix’s multitracked recordings and Eric Clapton’s rock ‘n roll power.
Heavy metal music witnessed a sudden revival during the 1990s thanks to bands such as Disturbed and Slipknot, among others. Other bands like Ambush, Enforcer, Ghost, High on Fire, In Flames Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive all helped bring heavy metal back into public view.
Influenced by blues
The blues was instrumental in shaping rock, while its expressive guitar playing helped form heavy metal. Artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Johnson popularized this new style by using amps designed to generate these tones; eventually this innovation led to amplifiers specifically tailored for this effect and thus becoming one of the foundational elements of heavy metal music.
British groups such as Cream, the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group – as well as American psychedelic rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane – introduced new sounds into their music that distinguished it from earlier blues-based rock genre. Led Zeppelin II in 1968 and Deep Purple’s In Rock release in 1970 cemented these genre-altering innovations.
Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore helped expand this style with riff-driven songs featuring power chords, complex guitar leads, and aggressive vocal styles such as Robert Plant from Zeppelin or Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne’s throaty howls. Some fundamentalist Christians also accuse these artists of practicing Satanism due to the way in which many embraced elements of occultism within their art forms.
Heavy metal has many influences beyond these three subgenres. Punk combines aggressive guitar playing with loud guitars for an aggressive theatrical effect; hard rock features melodic vocals while power metal utilizes lighter tones with complex compositions. Other subgenres of heavy metal such as thrash and speed metal employ heavier drums for faster paces.
Influenced by rock
Heavy metal was heavily influenced by rock and roll music’s development in the 1960s. Early examples of heavy metal employed distorted guitar sounds and hard, aggressive beats; later examples could be found in British acts like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
Heavy metal was first coined by Steppenwolf’s 1968 song with its line: “heavy metal thunder.” Although initially meant as an insult, fans quickly adopted it as an honorific title.
In the early 1970s, as rock transitioned to metal, its riffs and sounds became more complex and intense. A number of bands used distorted guitar tones and pedals for this new, aggressive sound. Guitarists learned sweep-picking and tapping techniques which enabled fast playing speeds that intensified songs’ power.
In the 1970s, heavy metal music gained immense popularity as it explored themes of darkness, evil, and power. Bands such as Megadeth, Slayer and Nine Inch Nails often focused their music around violent imagery such as violence, death and unrestrained hedonism while mocking religious symbols, faith and traditional concepts of love. While its heavy sound often brought criticism against this genre; supporters maintain that heavy metal was not responsible for any social ills.