Scholars point to this element of metal songs as being key in its definition and understanding of this genre. Scholars acknowledge this preoccupation as one that defines and characterizes it.
Foucault notes that genre names serve a “classificatory function, helping us group texts together and differentiate among them.” In the case of metal genre, its creators took inspiration from periodic table of elements–specifically iron.
The British Invasion
Heavy metal’s origins can be traced to the British Invasion of the 1970s, which saw bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath emerge. While these groups share elements with hard rock and punk acts such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they were distinguished from them through the inclusion of elements such as distorted guitar sounds and throaty vocals which helped define this genre; furthermore they explored dark themes through complex song structures resulting in creating their own distinct musical style that eventually lead to sub-genres emerging later on during early 1990s.
Names are essential when it comes to music genres; not only do they describe its sounds and style, but they can also convey how people should interpret that music. This is particularly relevant when discussing heavy metal genres which emphasize powerful electric guitar riffs with often dark themes explored within them. Heavy metal genre names may connote certain attitudes; for example some might emphasize aggression while others focus more on its positive attributes.
Heavy metal can be traced back to various sources, including Steppenwolf’s hit song Born to Be Wild, William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch and Lester Bangs’ essay in Creem Magazine. However, most researchers agree that its main defining characteristics include its distinctive sound of distorted guitars coupled with fast drumming and aggressive and often violent lyrics as the hallmarks of heavy metal music.
Metal’s dark themes have long made it an effective political tool, used to address war, poverty and sexism as well as more abstract issues such as loss of innocence and individuality. From Black Sabbath’s 1970 album War Pigs to Bristol post-hardcore collective Svalbard’s call to social and environmental activism anthem “Nation Builder,” metal music has long been an outlet for protest and rebellion.
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), which began to emerge during the late 1970s and early 1980s, brought heavy metal music to a global audience and gave birth to major bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Def Leppard. Additionally, MTV helped introduce heavy metal music into mainstream and pop culture environments.
The Psychedelic Rock Movement
The late 1960s psychedelic rock movement expanded upon the British Invasion template. Guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton pushed recording equipment and concert amplifiers to their limits to produce distortion and heavy sounds, while drummers kept up an insistent beat while bassists kept low frequency heavyness along with repetitive rhythmic patterns – becoming hallmarks of metal music.
Black Sabbath and Deep Purple bands such as Black Sabbath emphasized power through lyrics, themes and musical style that highlighted strength, rebellion and darkness in their musical style. Heavy tempos and distorted sounds evoking images of power, rebellion and darkness was often invoked when listening to these bands – they would also draw upon classic literature such as classic movies as well as other forms of culture for inspiration; many metal songs even invoked themes of escapism or even nihilistic escape in their lyrics.
Scholars have noted this emphasis on power as evidence of metal’s masculine appeal to its mostly male audience, and suggest its use of distorted instruments and distortion accentuate the heavy nature of metal music. Detuning of electric guitar strings – originally used by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi to reduce finger injuries pain – also contributes to this heavy sound; now associated with heavy metal music.
Heavy metal musicians and fans in the 1980s faced considerable backlash, stemming from social and political unrest caused by Vietnam War veterans, Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder, Robert Kennedy’s assassination, the rising drug abuse problem in society and other factors. Many of these issues were compounded by hardcore punk’s increased popularity with its fast drumming beats and anti-establishment lyrics that turned many off from heavy metal’s music altogether.
Heavy metal music continued its evolution and diversification in the 1990s with the emergence of new subgenres, such as doom metal. Doom is defined by slow tempos, repetitive guitar riffs, and drone-like heaviness; various styles emerged across America combining doom with hardcore such as Eyehategod’s Louisiana Sludge scene spearheaded by Crowbar; Sleep and Kyuss also lead in terms of stoner metal subgenres.
The American Rockers
The psychedelic rock movement greatly expanded on the British Invasion model by using heavier guitar sounds with darker lyrics, along with heavier distortion and speedier playing from players such as Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to further define heavy metal subgenres like Heavy D and Progressive Metal. Black Sabbath made heavy metal mainstream by pioneering heavy metal, which led to numerous subgenres of heavy music. Bassists and drummers laid down an intense foundation while keeping up the intensity.
Early metal bands had an enormous effect on rock music history. Glam rock, a brief genre in the 1970s that included heavy metal influences via anthemic songs and theatrical images, utilized heavy metal’s impactful style through shock rock performers like David Bowie (especially as Ziggy Stardust) and Alice Cooper for its shock rock live shows and theatrical images. Metal also heavily influenced punk with bands such as Motley Crue and Motorhead adopting elements of this genre into their sound.
Bands such as Motorhead were pioneers of underground punk music. Metallica pioneered thrash metal through aggressive riffs and complex song structures; their “Master of Puppets” and “Ride the Lightning” albums are widely considered among heavy metal’s greatest works.
Heavy metal increased its popularity throughout the 1980s as its artists explored themes of madness and horror, leading to accusations by fundamentalist Christians of Satanic influence in metal music that promoted devil worship or suicide. While this claim was never supported by scientific data, defenders of metal pointed out that exploring these subjects was simply part of its cultural DNA.
As metal music evolved, its influences began to include classical influences – specifically those from classical guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen’s speed and technique as an influential classical guitarist. Progressive bands like King Crimson also adopted heavy metal sounds; 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson features Robert Fripp’s discordant solo in 21st Century Schizoid Man. These musical and thematic characteristics helped establish metal as its own genre; unfortunately as grunge became a mainstream force during the late 1990s bands that played metal were quickly lost as audiences disinterested quickly as grunge replaced them as its dominance was felt more strongly by major record labels;
The 1990s
The 1990s brought many significant innovations to heavy metal music. Grunge emerged as an influential genre of hard rock that featured catchy guitar hooks over technical skills and explored themes of alienation and betrayal; its rise brought in younger, angrier listeners who might otherwise turn to thrash metal; concept albums were also first created during this decade; classical elements returned into metal through players like Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore adapting chord progressions and ideals of virtuosity influenced by Baroque models.
Black Sabbath made waves in metal during the 1990s when they released “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” Ozzy Osbourne made waves with his incensed vocal takes; they even managed to incorporate Biblical legend “Hell and Heaven” into their pummeling rhythms! Additionally, Birmingham-based Black Sabbath hired vocalist Ronnie James Dio who further enhanced their sound.
According to geomusicology, metal’s roots lie in blue-collar industrial towns of England such as Birmingham – home of both Black Sabbath and Judas Priest – giving rise to heavy metal’s focus on escape through ancient world themes rather than factory worker life in Birmingham. This background may explain its emphasis on fantasy over reality when creating music for heavy metal genres such as Black Sabbath or Judas Priest albums.
Early 1990s developments included an increase in guitar effects like distortion. This made guitar more of a focal point in metal music and enabled its genre to create its own sound; increased effects usage led to heavier, darker sounds distinct from blues-rock of earlier decades.
The 90s saw an explosion of new metal subgenres. While its original practitioners came from America and England, many other bands around the globe quickly adopted it and made their own interpretation of this genre. Fans will discover it’s difficult to pin down into just one genre category and many of its best practitioners simply refuse to be classified!