As a genre, metal has attracted wide appeal among listeners of all kinds and has even had an effect beyond its own sphere of influence. With its signature guitar riffs and drumming patterns instantly recognisable worldwide, metal remains one of the most loved genres today.
Most people credit Black Sabbath with pioneering heavy metal, but it’s important to acknowledge other influences such as Vanilla Fudge’s psychedelicized pop and The Kinks’ chunky power chords as key influences in its evolution.
Origins
While there is no one-to-one definitive answer on who invented heavy metal music, most historians generally point to its roots in the late 1960s and early 1970s with bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple creating new styles of rock that was louder and heavier than previous works in their genre, with aggressive drumming patterns and distorted guitar tones that later led to subgenres like thrash metal and black metal emerging later on.
While bands such as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and the Kinks had previously explored distortion in rock, they did not go as far in pushing boundaries as Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin did with heavy or dark tones and songs were generally shorter or less repetitive; also due to heavy metal’s riff-based nature which allows for repeated power chord usage creating an intense yet driving rhythmic pattern.
Heavy metal draws much of its inspiration from blues music, which often emphasizes themes of anger and frustration in its lyrics. Many bands within this genre create songs with lyrics featuring this message; many feature death, evil and destruction as themes; this stands in stark contrast with pop music which typically centers on love and happiness.
Classical music has long had an influence on metal, particularly Baroque and Romantic composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolo Paganini, and Richard Wagner. Additionally, classical influences can be found in the speed and technique of metal guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen; their speed draws inspiration from classical pieces as they produce music that has been described as heavy fast complex; this complexity also manifests itself through album artwork or live shows.
Influences
Heavy metal’s history remains uncertain and controversial, with various sources attributing it to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple being key influences while others point towards Blue Cheer, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge as potential precursors. Music journalist Noah Lefevre created a video essay which attempts to answer the question “Who invented metal?”.
He cites how early metal music began its journey in Britain’s industrial working class neighborhoods where actual steel mills could be heard, with musicians inspired by blues music that often dealt with darker themes of power and darkness. Additionally, early metal musicians shrugged off pop’s optimism of all things being in harmony and instead acknowledged life’s troubles head-on.
Heavy metal music can be defined by its characteristic combination of distorted guitar riffs, thunderous drumming and electrifying guitar solos that draw upon styles such as rock, blues and classical music. Heavy metal differs from other genres in that it incorporates elements from both acoustic and electric styles into its soundscape – creating its unique identity.
As music developed into more commercial forms in the 1970s, Kiss and Alice Cooper adopted an aggressive yet sensual style; Judas Priest and Motorhead explored punk rock with an emphasis on speed; while Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith pioneered more refined approaches to musical structure.
Heavy metal has long been blamed for contributing to behaviors like substance abuse, sexual promiscuity and violence. Multiple studies have illustrated correlations between listening to heavy metal music and suicide attempts; consequently some mental health and correctional institutions have prohibited its access. Furthermore, its occult themes (seen among such acts as Black Sabbath, KISS, Mercyful Fate Judas Priest Ozzy Osbourne etc) has led some critics to accuse these bands of encouraging Satanism.
Styles
Heavy metal music, known by its many subgenres as heavy metal, is distinguished by amplified distortion, intricate guitar solos and dark lyrics. Heavy metal began as an evolution of rock music’s cultural revolution during the 60s and 70s, drawing heavily upon blues, psychedelic rock, classical music as well as being defiant and rebellious by nature; ultimately capturing millions of fans worldwide.
Black Sabbath can truly lay claim to creating heavy metal, having released their debut album in 1970. They set the path for bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Judas Priest by employing twin guitar leads with an occult theme as well as pioneering an entirely new vocal style utilizing high-pitched screams and growls.
Steppenwolf (who recorded their debut album in January 1968), The Yardbirds and Jeff Beck Group’s Truth album released in August 1969 can also be considered pioneers of heavy metal music. Additionally, Sandy Pearlman of Blue Oyster Cult coined the term “heavy metal” to refer to their band’s occult-themed music in 1970.
Glam rock was popular during the early 1970s and relied on loud, crunchy guitars and theatrical imagery; David Bowie (in his persona of Ziggy Stardust) was an integral figure. Punk rock also had a huge influence on heavy metal; Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead played with The Damned before joining Motorhead and teaching Sid Vicious how to play bass himself! Alternative rock, particularly grunge bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains before this genre became trendy was evidenced by their earlier marketing as heavy metal bands before becoming mainstream musical trends themselves. Grunge had also had significant influences from heavy metal; both Soundgarden and Alice in Chains were initially promoted as heavy metal bands before alternative rock became widely accepted by their audiences compared with their counterparts within metal’s ranks!
Subcultures
Heavy metal music’s roots can be traced back to various subcultures, including rock and blues, psychedelic rock, acid rock and acid blues. Heavy metal has also had an influence on other genres like thrash, death metal and black metal; and its themes of rebellion, darkness and social commentary have seeped out into wider society.
Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple are widely recognized as pioneering metal music during the late 60s and early 70s. Each was heavily influenced by rock and blues predecessors before taking these sounds further with heavier guitar riffs and melancholic lyrics that helped lay the groundwork for what would later become heavy metal.
Judas Priest were one of many bands influenced by Iron Maiden; Judas Priest adopted leather style culture into their music and image, while British band Iron Maiden borrowed its name to reference steel and iron; their song, “Iron Maiden”, featured words like “I am the Iron Man” as a direct nod back to their roots as well.
Cream and Jimi Hendrix also explored such darker, melancholic themes during this era of rock music. Lester Bangs coined the term “heavy metal” to refer to Black Sabbath in 1970 based on its combination of meanings from “heavy” (intensified, seriousness) and metallic (guitar).
Heavy metal has long been criticized by its critics as anti-intellectual and violent music, with lyrics blamed for everything from violence and despondency to suicide and mental illness. Yet despite these accusations, heavy metal remains one of the world’s most beloved musical genres, continuing to have an influence over culture through fashion and visual arts.
Message
Heavy metal music’s origins remain unclear. While various rock bands from the 1960s provided various elements that would eventually define metal music, Black Sabbath were responsible for its hallmark elements: distorted guitars and pounding drums, as well as its mass murder-themed lyrics from Helter Skelter being widely considered the first track ever created in this genre. Furthermore, they pioneered long technical solos which would later be adopted by other metal acts to define their sound.
Deep Purple and Judas Priest became pioneers in developing advanced guitar styles during the early 80s. This style included shredding, classical influences, speed playing and speed solos; also setting trends for future metal styles with its darker, more serious tone that would later influence future metal music genres. Metal musicians began writing lyrics about morbid topics such as death, war and drug abuse giving metal music its current aggressive tone.
Heavy metal has often been the source of controversy due to its more extreme sound and lyrics, leading to allegations of Satanism, devil worshipping, blasphemy and even school shootings or suicides being linked directly with its music.
Metal fans believe that heavy metal music represents resistance against an oppressive political system and freedom from restrictive social norms, acting as an outlet for their emotions and form of self-expression. While heavy metal may spark controversy at times, its influence remains undeniable and continues to inspire new artists; its legacy will continue for many years yet. Polyphonic’s video essay provides a detailed, yet insightful look into its origins – this video answers “Who invented Heavy Metal Music?.”
In the 1960s, a new genre of music emerged. Heavy and loud in tone, but also possessing an irrepressibly rebellious edge which won over millions.
Black Sabbath, led by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne is widely considered to have invented heavy metal music. Their dark themes and occult-inspired lyrics helped establish this subgenre of metal music as its own genre.
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath’s members Bill Ward (drummer), Tony Iommi (guitarist) and Geezer Butler (bassist) are widely recognized as pioneers of heavy metal music. Their 1970 self-titled and Paranoid albums helped define this subgenre of rock that later came to be known as heavy metal music; bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest all attribute Black Sabbath as having heavily influenced their early years – though rock critic Lester Bangs credits Black Sabbath as creating what we know today as heavy metal music!
Black Sabbath stood apart from bands like Sam and Dave or Cream with its heavy emphasis on apocalyptic themes in both its music and culture. From lyrics like “Black Sabbath,” “Evil Woman,” or the more mainstream “Bird of Prey,” which lamented and encouraged destruction of existing systems to make way for something better, all were used by this band to attack and ultimately change them for good.
Black Sabbath were also one of the first metal bands to embrace nuance and variety in their sound; their first two albums featured everything from folk ballads to stomping ragers with effects like the “I am Iron Man” song’s signature gurgling cough to effects such as that featured on “I Am Iron Man.” Their sound’s depth helped fuel its initial success; with Black Sabbath reaching number eight in Britain and Paranoid remaining on charts for 65 weeks (Black Sabbath reaching 8 in Britain).
Black Sabbath took advantage of their growing success and began touring relentlessly, performing at every major 1970s rock festival they could. Over time, this effort paid off, becoming household names across Britain and America alike. Constant exposure to new audiences also sharpened their craft on stage while simultaneously building confidence. Their first three albums; Master of Reality (1971), Sabbath (1972) and Born to Be Wild (1973) all achieved similar levels of success.
Uriah Heep was one of the pioneering bands in early heavy metal music history. However, they never fully embraced its ethos; Black Sabbath however did. Black Sabbath were pioneering when it comes to metal’s embrace of mythic truths as religion; their songs include references to demons, angels, and gods which appealed to some of humanity’s darker corners of consciousness.
Deep Purple
Heavy Metal has long been debated by historians and music experts. While some will debate who actually invented heavy metal, most experts recognize Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin for creating it with their blend of rock, blues, distortion and an intense musical style which captured young people’s interest during the late 1960s. Critics sometimes belittled these bands at first but later proved immensely successful.
Music from these bands combined several genres, such as blues, psychedelic rock and classical. Amplified distortion provided the music with an appealing raw, powerful sound, appealing to youths. Band members included various vocalists – some even had classical training – creating a new style of music which was both aggressive and melodic; this type of sound gave fans worldwide an intense feeling of power and strength that had them coming from far and wide to experience it first-hand.
These musicians belonged to a generation searching for something different from the flower power pop that dominated the music scene at that time. They were drawn to the honesty of lyrics which addressed drugs, war, poverty and social activism through concerts often attended by thousands. This style of music had a great deal of influence in shaping other genres such as alternative and hard rock rock music genres.
Deep Purple first formed in 1968 and is widely considered a pioneer of modern heavy metal music. Comprised of vocalists, bass players, and guitarists – vocalists in particular are featured – they have had numerous members change over the years; original lineup of the band included Ritchie Blackmore who is famous for his unique neoclassical approach to guitar playing; however he left shortly thereafter to focus on his solo career and concentrate on solo efforts; current members are Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice, Steve Morse, and Simon McBride
Though they underwent numerous changes over time, the band managed to maintain its popularity and reputation for powerful performances. Over the course of its history, it sold millions of records worldwide and won multiple awards; their fans remain loyal followers who accompany them on tour and attend concerts; additionally they have contributed significantly towards shaping several subgenres, including speed metal and neoclassical “baroque” metal genres.
Led Zeppelin
Who created heavy metal music is one of the enduring debates of history. While opinions will differ depending on your source, Led Zeppelin are generally acknowledged as the first band to create it as a distinct musical genre. Their sound was unmistakably powerful, pioneering new techniques in recording that would later become staples of hard rock music. Concerts were equally memorable; using music to evoke feelings of power and grandeur while their stage outfits featured intricate designs inspired by folk music and classical orchestration influences.
They were one of the world’s most beloved bands and became a source of inspiration to generations of musicians worldwide. However, their antics often made headlines. One incident even involved being accused of trashing their hotel room during one stay! Yet despite all this controversy they remain one of music history’s most influential groups.
Through the years, many other bands would draw influence from Led Zeppelin and add their own individual twist to its sound, ultimately giving rise to various subgenres of metal such as doom metal, stoner metal and death metal. The 1980s witnessed the birth of New Wave of British Heavy Metal featuring bands like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Judas Priest; known for fast-paced melodic anthems that captured global audiences’ interest.
Heavy metal has an extensive and vibrant legacy that continues to have an influence over musicians, fans, and music critics today. The genre’s unique sounds have helped shape a culture and lifestyle that defy borders and societal norms; its sounds have helped define an alternative lifestyle and subculture characterized by defiance against borders and norms. Despite negative stereotypes attached to metal’s popularity, however, this genre remains widely accepted across cultures; many embrace its power within pop culture despite violent associations or sexual degradation associated with some versions. Metal can even serve as a vehicle for political activism or social justice causes – two powerful forces within pop culture that continue today!
Judas Priest
People typically associate heavy metal music with Judas Priest. The band is widely recognized for their signature snarling roar and black leather outfits, along with loud and fast songs using plenty of distorted guitar riffs and loud solos. Widely considered to be pioneers of the genre, their image and sound has inspired numerous bands across different musical subgenres; their songs often depict war or violence as well as include positive messages while their operatic vocal style adds another powerful element that stirs strong emotions within listeners while encouraging audiences against authority.
Judas Priest began as a blues-based rock band. Their debut album, Rocka Rolla, was released in 1974 but did not meet with commercial success; nevertheless they would later fine tune both their music and image by speeding up and heavier their playing while wearing leather and spikes live onstage. By the 1980s they would become an international symbol of heavy metal music with their look inspiring musicians worldwide.
Though it remains debatable who first created heavy metal music, most agree that Black Sabbath were among the pioneers in creating this genre of music. Based in industrial areas of England and inspired by steel mill noises, they used distorted guitars that became synonymous with heavy metal.
Other bands who contributed to the development of heavy metal include The Kinks, Who and Jimi Hendrix. Furthermore, blues artists like Howlin’ Wolf were pivotal in shaping its sound – his deep voice and intense performances greatly shaped heavy metal as an artform, as his style influenced numerous metal singers today.
Though most believe Black Sabbath to have invented heavy metal, its true origins may be more complex. A recent video essay by musician Noah Lefevre explores this subject by interviewing numerous heavy metal musicians like Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth), William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Matt Pike (High on Fire), and Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society). Fans of heavy metal should watch this fascinating documentary!