1968 saw the formation of groups considered pioneers of heavy metal music. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple all released albums during that year that brought with it heavier sounds through distortion and shredding guitar riffs.
Who first used the term ‘heavy metal’ is uncertain, although Lester Bangs may have done so during his 1973 review of Black Sabbath for Creem magazine. The name has come to represent music to audiences, musicians and critics.
British Invasion
British Invasion bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks and Who pioneered a genre known as NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal), which combined blues rock with harder rock styles and distortion to produce an intense sound. This genre eventually inspired bands around the globe.
Heavy metal’s origins remain obscure, although it likely stems from a play on words. By the late 1960s, “heavy” had entered popular culture slang; references to heavy music as slower and amplified variations on standard pop fare became widespread. Iron Butterfly explained on their 1968 debut album cover that their name stems from both aspects of “heavy”. And the symbolism of butterflies.
As British Invasion bands were perfecting their musical style, a different form of heavy metal was emerging in Los Angeles. Led by legendary guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoades, this freewheeling heavy metal style expanded beyond distorted blues rock into chord progressions and figuration derived from Baroque models like Bach and Vivaldi; further expanding rock guitar technique.
In the 1970s, heavy metal began to merge with punk music to form hardcore punk. These new bands took an angrier approach to life than its counterpart, emphasizing themes of evil, power and apocalypse in their lyrics – providing a counterculture response to utopian ideals of 1960s peace and love hippie movement.
After 10 years of writing and performing heavy metal songs night after night, original heavy metal bands began to tire of playing their old songs over and over again. Enter 1980, where newer bands like Motorhead and Black Sabbath brought with them punk energy that reinvigorated the genre.
American Rockers
Heavy metal music was heavily influenced by American rockers, particularly blues artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Robert Johnson who provided its foundation with their expressive guitar playing and emotive vocals – particularly their emphasis on amplified distortion for added impact – making its debut later by bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Blue Cheer.
Heavy metal music has its roots in blues music, yet has its own distinct identity and style. An expressive form, heavy metal has given rise to many subcultures within itself; gothic aesthetics favored by Type O Negative and Paradise Lost are popular examples, while nu-metal bands like Slipknot and Korn employ raw, aggressive sounds with nu-metal bands using terms like nu-metal being more appropriate. Both genres have given birth to other musical forms like death metal and power metal which continue on this path of expression and expansion.
The origins of “heavy metal” remain obscure, although it appears to have emerged from beatnik counterculture slang. First used to refer to Steppenwolf songs in 1968, eventually it came to refer to all forms of heavier music.
Heavy metal music has its own culture that extends far beyond its signature sound, permeating fashion, literature, film and even society itself. Heavy metal’s rebellious spirit has left an indelible mark upon world history by disobeying borders and norms.
Heavy metal music is defined by its dark and violent imagery, often depicting dystopian futures or graphically violent scenes. With roots in blues music that cathartically addresses feelings of loss and depression, heavy metal also features outlandish lyrics to provide an escape-from-reality fantasy element that helps listeners cope with loss and depression more readily. Research conducted at Macquarie University revealed that regular listeners of metal tend to become more accepting of violence after listening regularly – suggesting its influence. According to Aristotle’s theory that listening music that stimulated passions would ultimately change one’s character for good – A study conducted at Macquarie University found regular listeners of heavy metal tend to tolerate violence more readily – suggesting it influences behavior change as well. A research group from Macquarie University discovered similar findings as their research confirmed this in terms of more tolerance towards violence among listeners versus non-listeners of metal.
Emphasis on the Guitar
The guitar is unquestionably one of the key instruments in heavy metal music, contributing a distinctive sound through its distortion and ability to be amplified, as well as acting as an intermediary between blues rock and more experimental, psychedelic styles of music. Bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were inspired by American psychedelic artists like Jimi Hendrix who increased distortion to add chaos into their sound; these bands laid the groundwork that has since come to define heavy metal.
Heavy metal relies on more than just its signature instrument – the electric guitar – to produce its distinctive sounds and styles. Drums provide fast pulsing rhythms while bass offers deep low tones to give heavy metal its power. Keyboards such as piano, synthesizer and organ can help establish grooves which support faster-paced guitar riffs.
Vocals are an integral component of heavy metal, but often do not play an active role in song composition. Still, vocalists like Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath were notable vocalists with distinct styles who helped define this genre with his dark lyrics and grandiose persona.
Heavy metal lyrics have long been used as a vehicle to address various social issues and concerns, such as violence, drug abuse, depression and suicide. Many of these themes were developed as an answer to the “peace and love” culture prevalent during the 1960s wherein light overshadowed darkness with happy endings being the norm; heavy metal thus developed an escape-from-reality fantasy side through outlandish lyrics depicting power, apocalypse and evil themes – an antidote for that culture which demanded light over dark.
Heavy Metal was first coined by British magazine “Heavy” in 1968 to refer to early electric rockers like Link Wray’s instrumental version of “Rumble” and The Kingsmen’s cover of folk classic “Louie Louie”. Subsequently, this term came to refer to all types of blues-influenced rock music including Cream, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull and Deep Purple among many other groups.
Influence from Finland
Though heavy metal’s roots lie within American culture, something about Finnish soil has allowed it to flourish here. Perhaps its clean forests or its haunting northern landscape is responsible, or maybe it’s that Finland boasts the highest number of metal bands per capita in the world (according to 2012 heat map)? Whatever its source may be, heavy metal’s presence here cannot be denied; something in Finnish mindset enables its continued existence here.
Toni-Matti Karjalainen, an Aalto University School of Business researcher who specializes in cultural export, suggests this could be because Finnish society differs significantly from more consumerist societies in the U.S. and Europe. Finns traditionally have been highly independent and self-sufficient while their culture contains rich pagan elements which lend itself well to heavy metal music‘s dark aesthetics.
Due to this unique environment, Finnish metal has produced some of the most innovative and influential groups in modern music’s history. Artists such as Nightwish, Ensiferum and HIM have become international celebrities due to their distinctive sound and themes; bands like these incorporate folk culture influences while adding melodic or orchestral nuances that set them apart from their peers.
Heavy metal may be known for its aggressive music, but it actually holds many positive attributes. As a genre of music it is enjoyed socially through drinking and mosh pitting at live shows and has helped many find an outlet to express themselves and break free from mainstream culture by encouraging more rebelliousness among younger audiences.
Heavy metal’s musical and thematic components have also permeated other forms of art, from fashion, movie soundtracks and literature to fashion shows and movies. Heavy metal’s dark themes such as darkness, evil and power have found their way into fashion, movies and literature, offering an alternative viewpoint from mainstream entertainment that offers only happy endings.