Heavy metal is a form of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s. It might be viewed as a continuation of Cream and Jimi Hendrix’s blues-rock bands. When we think about heavy metal, we usually envision loud, aggressive music with fast guitar solos and vocals that are usually guttural and growling, dark, and gloomy.
Typical subjects include death, religion, and sexuality, but they frequently contain a touch of fantasy. For example, some songs may have medieval themes or depict dragon battles!
Metal music has been around for a long time, but when did it start? This question that many people have asked, and there is no easy answer. Metal music has its roots in blues and rock ‘n’ roll, and it evolved over time to become the genre that we know today.
In this blog post, we will take a look at the history of metal music and discuss some of the key moments that helped shape it into what it is today.
Why Is It Called Metal Music?
The term “heavy metal” was first used in the lyrics of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” song, according to legend. Others say that because “heavy” previously meant “deep” or “evocative”, it came from the counterculture movement and is a reference to its use in psychedelic slogans such as, “turn on, tune in, drop out”.
The name may have originated from the fact that the genre’s pioneers came from cities where steel making was prominent. Black Sabbath, for example, is located in Birmingham. Some people believe that the name was simply given because the noises of metal are as loud and powerful as they are.
The first heavy metal band is often considered to be Black Sabbath, who formed in 1968. Other early metal bands include Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Judas Priest. These bands laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
Heavy metal has evolved over the years, with different subgenres emerging. Some of these subgenres include thrash metal, death metal, and black metal. The genre has also been influenced by other genres such as punk rock and grunge
Despite its popularity, heavy metal music has been met with some criticism over the years. Parents and Christian groups have sometimes criticized the genre for its dark themes and aggressive lyrics. However, many fans of metal music believe that the genre is misunderstood and that it can be a positive force in the world.
Music That Inspired the Rise of Metal Music (the 1950s and 1960s)
Heavy metal is a type of rock music that was inspired by early works of classic and hard rock.
The genre was birthed as a result of early 1950s songs with heavy guitar riffs that include Link Wray’s “Rumble” The Kingsmen’s cover of “Louie Louie” and James Cotton’s “Cotton Crop Blues”.
The first ever heavy metal song is considered to be “I’m Eighteen” by Alice Cooper.
The early 1960s saw the development of British blues-rock bands like The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds.
These artists would go on to influence early metal greats such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath. Another big influence on the genre was American garage rock, which gave birth to bands like The Stooges and MC-five. All of these artists would help shape what would become one of the most popular genres in music history.
Mainstream Heavy Metal Music from the 1970s
The 1970s is when heavy metal truly came into its own as a genre. This was the decade that saw the rise of some of metal’s most iconic bands, including Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Kiss, and Queen. This was also the decade when metal began to branch out into different subgenres, including hard rock, glam metal, and progressive metal.
The 1980s is often considered the golden age of heavy metal music. This was the decade that saw the rise of some of metal’s most popular bands, including Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, and Iron Maiden. This was also the decade when metal began to gain a more commercial appeal with the help of MTV.
The 1990s saw a decline in heavy metal’s popularity due to the rise of alternative genres such as grunge and rap-rock. However, there were still some great metal bands that emerged during this decade, including Pantera, Sepultura, and Tool.
The 2000s saw a resurgence in heavy metal’s popularity, with bands like Slipknot, System of a Down, and Lamb of God achieving mainstream success. The genre has continued to evolve over the years, with new subgenres emerging and old ones becoming more popular.
Heavy metal music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the early 1950s. What started as a niche genre has now become one of the most popular genres in the world. With its catchy riffs and aggressive lyrics, it’s easy to see why metal music has such a large and loyal following.
Early Sub-Genres of Heavy Metal (the 1980s to 2000s)
Black Metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It often features fast tempos, shrieked and growled vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structures.
First appearing in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction to the increasingly commercialized and standardized rock music of the time, black metal was characterized by its abrasive, often chaotic sound, atmosphere, and themes of death, destruction, and despair.
Early pioneers of black metal include Venom, Celtic Frost, Mercyful Fate, and Bathory. In the 1990s there was a second wave of black metal led by Emperor and Mayhem.
Death Metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, fast tempos, deep growling vocals, and complex drumming.
The lyrical themes of death metal may invoke slasher film-stylized violence, religion (sometimes Satanism), nature, philosophy, science fiction, fantasy, or politics.
Early pioneers of the genre include Possessed, Death, and Morbid Angel. In the 1990s there was a second wave of death metal led by bands such as Obituary and Deicide.
Power Metal
Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by a more uplifting sound, focus on melody and catchy hooks, poetic lyrics, and a theatrical stage presence.
The genre emerged in the early 1980s partly as a reaction to the increasingly aggressive sound of death metal and black metal. Early pioneers of power metal include Manowar, Helloween, Blind Guardian, and HammerFall. In the 1990s there was a second wave of power metal led by bands such as Stratovarius and DragonForce.
Thrash Metal
Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its fast tempo and overall aggression. The songs usually utilize fast percussive beats, low-register guitar riffs, high-register solos, and shouting vocals.
The lyrical subject matter often deals with criticisms of the establishment, society in general, or humanity.
Early pioneers of thrash metal include Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Exodus, and Anthrax.
In the 1990s there was a second wave of thrash metal led by bands such as Pantera and Machine Head.
Recent Sub-Genres of Metal
Nu-Metal
Nu-metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of heavy metal with those of other genres, such as hip-hop, alternative rock, and grunge. Nu-metal bands have been described as having an “aggressive, energetic” sound that is “in your face”.
The genre first emerged in the early 1990s with bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Kid Rock.
The mid-1990s saw the rise of bands such as Korn and Limp Bizkit, who would help bring nu-metal to mainstream success.
Nu-metal would peak in popularity in the early 2000s with bands such as Linkin Park and Slipknot.
However, by the late 2000s/early 2010s, nu-metal’s popularity would begin to decline, with many of its key bands either breaking up or changing their sound.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of both metal and hardcore punk. Metalcore bands are often characterized by their use of breakdowns, which are extended periods of heavy riffing that is meant to encourage moshing.
The genre first emerged in the early 1990s with bands such as Earth Crisis and Integrity. In the mid-2000s, metalcore experienced a major resurgence in popularity, with bands such as Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, and Trivium achieving mainstream success.
However, by the late 2000s/early 2010s, metalcore’s popularity began to decline once again.
New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal
The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM) is a subgenre of heavy metal music that takes inspiration from the original wave of British heavy metal bands from the 1970s. NWOTHM bands are often characterized by their use of traditional instrumentation and song structures, as well as a more “old-school” approach to metal.
The genre first emerged in the early 21st century with bands such as Enforcer and Iron Maidens. In the 2010s, the NWOTHM experienced a major resurgence in popularity, with many new bands emerging that were inspired by the classic sounds of 1970s heavy metal.
However, unlike other retro-metal movements, the NWOTHM has continued to maintain a strong presence in the metal world, with many new bands continuing to emerge that are keeping the sound alive.
FAQ
Who was the 1st heavy metal band?
The first heavy metal bands are Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple often referred to as the “unholy trinity”.
In 1970, Led Zeppelin released their self-titled debut, while Black Sabbath and Deep Purple published important albums. This was a crucial year for the development of heavy metal, as it saw the birth of this new genre of music.
When did metal music get popular?
The first wave of metal bands began emerging in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These bands, such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, were influenced by the hard rock music of the time. They began to experiment with heavier sounds and darker themes in their music. This new sound quickly gained popularity with fans of hard rock music.
The second wave of metal bands began appearing in the mid-1970s. These bands, such as Judas Priest and Kiss, built on the foundations laid by the first wave of metal bands. They added more aggressive vocals and faster tempos to create a more intense sound. This new style of metal quickly gained popularity with fans of hard rock and heavy metal music.
Did the Beatles start heavy metal?
Heavy metal, on the other hand, was founded in the late 1960s by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
The Beatles’ composition “Helter Skelter” may be considered the first proto-metal song. Those rhythms are true to their word. They’re called “stomp-stomp-clap”.
And they are the key to understanding “the heavy metal DNA”. Stomp-stomp-clap is the pulse that drives every great metal song, from Sabbath’s “Paranoid” to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. It’s the heartbeat of metal.
Of course, not every band uses stomp-stomp-clap. Some use a different variation: gallop-gallop-clap. This was popularized by Judas Priest in the 1970s and later adopted by Iron Maiden.
Who came first – Slayer or Metallica?
This is a tough question. Both bands formed in the early 1980s and released their debut albums in 1983 – Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All and Slayer’s Show No Mercy. So it’s hard to say who came first.
What we do know is that Slayer was heavily influenced by Venom, a pioneering black metal band from England. In turn, Metallica was heavily influenced by Diamond Head, a pioneering New Wave of British Heavy Metal band from England. So you could say that Venom and Diamond Head were the true pioneers of metal.
Is heavy metal good for mental health?
Yes, according to a new study. The study found that people who listen to metal are less likely to experience anxiety and depression. Metal fans also tend to have higher self-esteem and are more outgoing than non-metal fans. So if you’re feeling down, put on some metal and headbang your way to happiness.