DOWNLOAD PDF A HISTORY OF HEAVY METAL

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1 Chapter 1 : Andrew O'Neill - History of Heavy Metal - Edinburgh Fringe â Ed Uncovered A Brief History of Metal And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. And while God rested, the devil created Heavy Metal. Heavy Metal is more than just a style of music, its a way of life. It has been a large part of my life as far back as I can remember. In this page I am going to attempt to give a short history of metal as well as tell you a little bit about myself. I was born in Trenton, NJ in March of I started listening to hard rock and what became known as metal as early as 5 years old because of a neighbors who turned me on to Aerosmith. Lets start from the beginning Please note that this is not a complete history, it is only the history as I saw it and as it happened in my life. For the most part, metal lost most of the blues influences and leaving the powerful, loud, guitar riffs. These bands also began to gain dedicated and loyal followers, as opposed to most of the "here to today, gone tomorrow" pop stars that would attract instant popularity, only to lose it all within a few months. It was actually the second wave of bands that caught my attention, mostly because this was about the time that I was old enough to start listening to music. I was mesmerized and from then until today have been a huge Aerosmith fan, as well as a big metal fanatic. Since then, I have bought every Aerosmith album the day it was released. Aerosmith Even in grade school I would brag to friends that I had the new Aerosmith record. I even got into a playground fight because someone said that Led Zeppelin was a better band than Aerosmith. KISS was probably my biggest addiction of the time, as their posters and magazine photos took up every inch of wall space I had in my bedroom. Trends came and went, as did the trendy followers, but metal fans were devoted. In the early 80s, heavy metal exploded in popularity. Upon hearing the classic "Stained Class" I was convinced that Judas Priest was the ultimate heavy band. A few "local bands" were beginning to gain some popularity as well. We all know what happened with Anthrax and Twisted Sister, both went on to be huge successes. What was really great about this time was that there was a unity among metalheads. Some of the better remembered and highly cherished from that time were: Black Sabbath with Ian Gillan, which was an awesome experience. Quiet Riot opened that show. Pat Travers opened up the "R. Dio and Twisted Sister at a small theatre in downtown Philly. The very next year they both returned together and sold out the Spectrum. The year after that Dio did a live video with us Philly maniacs. I still have the t-shirt from that show. The metal guard rail in front of the stage broke in Philly and we were able to sit on the edge of the stage for the entire KISS show. I have seen KISS several other times since then. The reunion and farwell tours have blown me away! TT Quick and Helstar at a little club in Rochester. After Helstar played, almost everyone left, so we watched TT Quick with about 20 other people, then they hung out with us and drank some beers and played pool. Killer show, although my girlfiiend now my wife got violently sick from some laced alcohol she drank.! Not a bad seat in the place. Crossing the new wave of British heavy metal with hardcore punk, speed metal was extremely fast and more technically demanding. Tthe bands played fast, but their attack was precise and clean. In that sense, speed metal remained true to its metal roots. But what it borrowed from hardcore; the insanely fast tempos and a defiant, do-it-yourself attitude was just as important, and sometimes it was even more important. It gave the band not only a unique musical approach but also an attractive "anti-image" for legions fans, including myslef. Of course, Metallica became the leaders of the genre until their recent style changes. Of course, this is only a small list of some of the better known. What was so amazing about this was they they had little, if any, radio support. Unfortunately, this great art form began to fall apart and fracture into what is now either hardcore, grindcore, or black metal. Metallica has gone for a more "alternative" radio friendly sound, while Megadeth have gone for a more melodic radio friendly sound. Anthrax parted ways with vocalist Joey Belladonna and their lead guitarist Dan Spitz and have stayed pretty true to their roots, although I prefer their older music to the newer releases. Belladonna reunited with Anthrax in April Testament and Slayer are still together, albeit with some new faces, but are still pounding out some aggressive thrash that sometimes borders early death metal. Bands like Fates Warning and Savatage, that started out as more traditional heavy metal bands, as well as Queensryche have lead the way for others. Watchtower, Dream Theatre, Veni Domine, Stratovarious, Angra, Viper, and hosts of others took the heaviness of metal and Page 1

2 combined it with the progressive tendencies of Rush, Marillion, Pink Floyd, Yes, and early Genesis and even mixed in some classical elements. Fates Warning Savatage There was one thing for sure, heavy metal was more than just a passing trend. Some critics, even today, continue to dismiss metal as over simplistic, primal pounding, with annoying screams. Certainly, there is some heavy metal that is nothing but three-chord riffing, but most metal bands place major importance on technical skill. Metal guitarists have always been innovators in technique, speed, and skill. In every subgenre of heavy metal, the guitar is the center of the music. The songs are assembled around the riff, with the guitar solo taking prominence. These guys were in a metal band called Holy Saint and they were a Christian metal band. Through this band I became a Christian. I can honestly say the knowing Jesus really changed my life. While some of the story you are about to read has some regrets, I have never regretted my relationship with Him. Fortunately these guys also opened up a whole new world of Christian heavy metal to me. From L to R: Unfortunately, after graduating from college, I got involved in a church that condemned metal. I got deeply involved along with my new wife of only a few months. We conviced ourselves that "secular metal" was all evil and so we got rid of the, literally, thousands of albums, tapes and the beginnings of my CD collection. I know, I often cry myself. Thank God for Stryper! I would have been without any music I liked if not for them. Stryper I began to discover that there was hundreds of Christian metal bands, ranging in style from thrash to classic rock. These bands got me through some tough times. Below are some of the classic Christian thrash discs that still frequent my CD player: Page 2

3 Chapter 2 : A Brief History of Metal Heavy MIT Heavy metal: Heavy metal, genre of rock music that includes a group of related styles that are intense, virtuosic, and powerful. Driven by the aggressive sounds of the distorted electric guitar, heavy metal is arguably the most commercially successful genre of rock music. The Difference Between Metal and Heavy Metal Heavy metal may be the most misunderstood and misrepresented form of music in Western culture. From the widespread misuse of the term itself to the insistence by fans, journalists, and musicians that bands playing in hundreds of different music styles be included under its canopy, heavy metal causes confusion almost everywhere it goes. Heavy metal is the first form of true metal music, and it deserves to have its name reserved for creations in its signature style. What is Heavy Metal? Dio â Holy Diver Heavy metal is a specific subgenre of metal that grew out of hard rock music of the s and flourished throughout the s and early s. After a long period of inactivity, heavy metal has enjoyed a revival since the late s that continues today. It also features greater guitar distortion and frequently leans on steely sound production for its gritty character. Elements of the blues and punk music may also be present: Heavy metal is typified by soaring, clean vocals, though numerous instances of coarse baritones also exist. Importantly, heavy metal is melodic, and on a structural level, is a form of pop music. Like pop music, the songs feature memorable chorus hooks and prominent, recurring instrumental melodies. Because many speed metal and American power metal releases display relatively small evolutions, they can often be classified within the boundaries of heavy metal. Additionally, heavy metal overlaps in considerable amounts with doom, thrash metal, European power metal, and early progressive metal. There is also a small but historically significant connection between heavy metal and black metal. For this reason, many albums can be classified in multiple metal subgenres or described with hybrid terms. Equally important to the understanding of what is heavy metal is the understanding of what is not heavy metal. It does not contain influences from classical music, nor does it include opera-style vocals. Heavy metal does not feature Latin rhythms or South American folk instruments. It does not employ any type of music sampling, turntables, or hip-hop vocal deliveries. It does not include blast beats or coarse, strident singing like the kinds found in death metal, black metal, and some thrash metal. It does not include any influences from industrial or electronic music. The years in-between saw very few true heavy metal albums. This Traditional Heavy Metal playlist offers an in-depth collection of releases within the genre, and it focuses on quality recordings with mid to high production values. All albums and songs within the playlist can be accurately described as heavy metal, even if they contain influences of other subgenres like speed metal or American power metal, and the playlist is a valuable resource and crash course for the uninitiated. There is a reasonable historical precedent for this, which is that heavy metal was the first true form of metal music, but the rampant misuse of the label should have been resolved long ago. Hundreds of heavy metal albums have been produced in the past several decades, including groundbreaking entries that remain influential to modern artists playing a diverse range of music. For these reasons and more, it is well past time heavy metal reclaimed its rightful name. Through this process, it must be emphasized that music genres and subgenres shift rapidly when they are new and grow increasingly rigid over time as a greater volume of music is created in and around them. The following commentary therefore benefits from hindsight and broadly considers metal and rock music with decades worth of contributions in mind. Boundary lines between genres and subgenres are formed in response to the density and saturation of each style, and specific songs are classified based on their nearness to the center of each one. For example, in the diagram below, there is a slight musical overlap between hard rock and heavy metal. Outside of that overlap, there is a moderate amount of music within hard rock that is musically very close to metal. It would be tempting to classify that music as metal given its proximity to the genre. Specific examples of this will be provided later. A sample diagram of heavy metal and closely related musical styles. It is impossible to completely and accurately classify music in this way, and the diagram is therefore meant as a visualization tool and not a concrete classification system. Their styles fall cleanly within the scope of rock and hard rock and therefore need no new genres to classify them. However, saying that Black Sabbath was the first metal Page 3

4 band is a massive oversimplification of the various evolutions of the group and their music, as well as their role in the development of the metal genre. Black Sabbath Black Sabbath â Black Sabbath Prior to, Black Sabbath played a brand of bluesy hard rock with a deeply distorted guitar sound under the band name Earth, and before that as an even less rock-oriented incarnation as the Polka Tulk Blues Band. In, the band overhauled their sound, as well as their conceptual themes, under the Black Sabbath moniker, choosing to focus on instrumental distortion and the grinding, leaden sound they had recently developed. Rainbow and Judas Priest Rainbow â Rising As Black Sabbath turned away from their construction of a new music genre, a handful of other bands picked up where they left off and began paving the way toward true metal. Foremost among these acts are Rainbow and Judas Priest. Significantly, they also dropped nearly all of their blues influences for a more direct and assertive approach to their music. These recordings embraced an upbeat, rollicking sound driven by power chords, invigorating guitar solos, and catchy vocal hooks, often packed into accessible pop song structures. Both of these exist on the fringes of hard rock where the genre blends into heavy metal and include songs from both styles of music. However, the seeds of heavy metal, first planted by Black Sabbath and later nurtured by acts like Rainbow and Judas Priest, were on the verge of sprouting into the very first true heavy metal creations. This effort was spearheaded by three seminal recordings: These recordings established a bold new sound that effectively hacked away at their hard rock roots and further severed ties with the blues. In their stead were serious-minded, carefully composed pieces with well orchestrated breaks and guitar solos. Three musically distinct â yet ideologically congruent â albums represented a lucid new form of music that stood apart from nearly everything that had come before them, and they would establish the foundation for all true metal releases to follow. Many more released their records independently or through small record labels, opting for gritty production with harsh, dungeon-like sound quality. In many cases, these unrecognized bands only produced one or two albums before disbanding or moving on to more profitable music endeavors. Early releases from Steel Vengeance, Running Wild, Stormwitch, and Warlock represent this underground heavy metal sound well. The Metal Explosion Medadeth â Rust in Peace As heavy metal flourished over the next few years, it began to evolve quickly at the edges, creating strikingly new forms of music. However, because the splinter styles were fundamentally rooted in heavy metal, they adopted similar names: However, despite the fact the band had become undeniably distinct from the heavy metal acts that preceded them, Slayer continued to be lumped in with the older style of music. Also, because they still retained variously identifiable earmarks of those seminal albums, even on some of the most aggressive recordings, they were still metal. There is a certain amount of laziness and lack of imagination to blame for this, though the swift rate of evolution within metal music was also a culprit for the rampant misunderstanding and misuse of terms. However, that excuse is a limited one. No one had insisted on classifying acts like Death and Obituary as hard rock, yet mystifyingly, acts like Slipknot and Machine Head received the heavy metal label. To use it otherwise is akin to saying BB King performed African spirituals or that Led Zeppelin was a country folk act. The misuse of the heavy metal name is a disservice to the hundreds of excellent bands who have contributed to the massive and influential style of music, including pioneers who laid the groundwork for the entire metal genre. It also disregards the creativity of acts that developed divergent and original music styles beyond heavy metal, ones that deserve new and unique names. Heavy metal is the first and foremost form of true metal music, and there should be no ambiguity about its characteristics or its valuable role in music history. Page 4

5 Chapter 3 : Where Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Legends Live Forever â Hall of Heavy Metal History Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late s and early s, largely in the United Kingdom. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock, and acid rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. Characteristics[ edit ] Heavy metal is traditionally characterized by loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Heavy metal subgenres variously emphasize, alter, or omit one or more of these attributes. The New York Times critic Jon Pareles writes, "In the taxonomy of popular music, heavy metal is a major subspecies of hard-rockâ the breed with less syncopation, less blues, more showmanship and more brute force. Keyboard instruments are sometimes used to enhance the fullness of the sound. The electric guitar and the sonic power that it projects through amplification has historically been the key element in heavy metal. The bass guitar provides the low-end sound crucial to making the music "heavy". The metal drum setup is generally much larger than those employed in other forms of rock music. The ties that bind the two bands started in the s and were still strong in the s. She argues that the loudness is designed to "sweep the listener into the sound" and to provide a "shot of youthful vitality". Musical language[ edit ] Rhythm and tempo[ edit ] An example of a rhythmic pattern used in heavy metal. The upper stave is a palm-muted rhythm guitar part. The lower stave is the drum part. Rhythmic Pattern Audio The rhythm in metal songs is emphatic, with deliberate stresses. Weinstein observes that the wide array of sonic effects available to metal drummers enables the "rhythmic pattern to take on a complexity within its elemental drive and insistency". These rhythmic figures are usually performed with a staccato attack created by using a palm-muted technique on the rhythm guitar. These phrases are used to create rhythmic accompaniment and melodic figures called riffs, which help to establish thematic hooks. Heavy metal songs also use longer rhythmic figures such as whole note - or dotted quarter note-length chords in slow-tempo power ballads. The tempos in early heavy metal music tended to be "slow, even ponderous". When power chords are played on the lower strings at high volumes and with distortion, additional low frequency sounds are created, which add to the "weight of the sound" and create an effect of "overwhelming power". Traditional heavy metal tends to employ modal scales, in particular the Aeolian and Phrygian modes. Tense-sounding chromatic or tritone relationships are used in a number of metal chord progressions. A pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass range, during which at least one foreign i. Their appropriation and adaptation of classical models sparked the development of a new kind of guitar virtuosity [and] changes in the harmonic and melodic language of heavy metal. Classical and metal are probably the two genres that have the most in common when it comes to feel, texture, creativity. Heavy metal lyrics According to scholars David Hatch and Stephen Millward, Black Sabbath, and the numerous heavy metal bands that they inspired, have concentrated lyrically "on dark and depressing subject matter to an extent hitherto unprecedented in any form of pop music". The thematic content of heavy metal has long been a target of criticism. With grunts, moans and subliterary lyrics, it celebrates Congress to regulate the popular music industry due to what the group asserted were objectionable lyrics, particularly those in heavy metal songs. Senate and in court. While the case attracted a great deal of media attention, it was ultimately dismissed. In countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, and Malaysia, there have been incidents of heavy metal musicians and fans being arrested and incarcerated. Heavy metal fashion Kiss performing in, wearing makeup. For many artists and bands, visual imagery plays a large role in heavy metal. Long hair gave members of the metal community "the power they needed to rebel against nothing in general". Deena Weinstein writes, "T-shirts are generally emblazoned with the logos or other visual representations of favorite metal bands. Performers typically wore long, dyed, hairspray-teased hair hence the nickname, "hair metal" ; makeup such as lipstick and eyeliner; gaudy clothing, including leopard-skin-printed shirts or vests and tight denim, leather, or spandex pants; and accessories such as headbands and jewelry. Many metal musicians when performing live engage in headbanging, which involves rhythmically beating time with the head, often emphasized by long hair. The il cornuto, or devil horns, hand gesture was Page 5

6 popularized by vocalist Ronnie James Dio while with Black Sabbath and Dio. Two primary body movements used are headbanging and an arm thrust that is both a sign of appreciation and a rhythmic gesture. Stage divers climb onto the stage with the band and then jump "back into the audience". Page 6

7 Chapter 4 : History Of Heavy Metal To the uninitiated, any loud music is called heavy metal. In reality, there are a multitude of heavy metal styles and subgenres. Heavy metal is a wide umbrella characterizing a style of music that is generally loud and aggressive. There are genres that are very melodic and mainstream, and other. Search A Brief History of Metal And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. And while God rested, the devil created Heavy Metal The early half of the decade witnessed an unparalled explosion of popular music. Each of these groups contributed to the creation the "rock band" archetype: Drawing inspiration from their blues and rock and roll forebearers, "hard rock" acts, like Cream Tales of Brave Ulysses, Led Zeppelin Communication Breakdown, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience Voodoo Child, provided the soundtrack for a generation increasing disaffected by social injustice and the escalating war in Vietnam. What differentiated these acts from their predecessors was technological advances that enabled new heights in sonic disruption Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues. These acts were markedly louder not only in volume, but in weaving of brutally blunt social commentary into their lyrics. Heavy Metal began to take shape Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Just as physicists point to the Big Bang as the origin of our universe, so too can we pinpoint the exact moment and location when heavy metal burst forth onto the scene. That place and time? What happens when you have a generation come of age in an economically depressed industrial town during an era of lost innocence? Well, Black Sabbath Paranoid happens. The quartet forged a sound that recalled the clamor of the steel mills Iron Man that dominated landscape of their hometown. In the process, they unleashed a sonic revolution. Lyrically, Sabbath openly addressed socially taboo subjects ranging from political corruption War Pigs to recreational drug use Sweet Leaf to social ostracization Children of the Grave. Yet, what they lacked in complexity, Black Sabbath compensated for in terms of power and intensity. Nevertheless, Black Sabbath set the standard as the first proper heavy metal band. A quintet by the name of Deep Purple Smoke on the Water was experimenting with many of the same influences as their countrymen to the northwest. Ultimately, Deep Purple helped establish and define heavy metal as a genre while simultaneously challenging its limits and conventions. Enter Judas Priest Victim of Changes. Yet, Priest incorporated many of the musical elements pioneered by Deep Purple. The quintet successfully combined the darkness and intensity Dissident Aggressor of Black Sabbath with the musicality and complexity Tyrant of Deep Purple. Featuring the twin-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K. Downing as well as the unworldly vocal ability of Rob Halford, Judas Priest ushered heavy metal into uncharted territory Exciter. Capitalizing on their unique talents, Priest ushered in an era of heavy metal that was at once highly rhythmic and melodic that interchanged between breakneck and more reserved tempos sometimes within one song. However, the lasting legacy of Judas Priest was the introduction of the indelible image of heavy metal: No one could anticipate at the time that the look would become synonymous with heavy metal. Nevertheless, heavy metal now had a look that matched the power and intensity of its sound Metal Gods. Although heavily inspired by the founding heavy metal bands, the music of these new acts effectively eliminated influence of the blues, instead incorporating elements of late s British punk. The result was a faster and aggressively bombastic sound. Songs explored the realms of fantasy and mythology Rime of the Ancient Mariner, yet also maintained the social ire of their predecessors. Building on this creative exploration, the NWOBHM bands, especially Iron Maiden, embarked on creating elaborate, theatrical stage shows that thematically complimented their music Powerslave. These newly explored elements resonated with fans beyond England. Come crawling fasterâ obey your masterâ Metallica - Master of Puppets Heavy metal experienced different interpretations as it began to disseminate globally. In Los Angeles, many bands developed a streamlined approach with a neutral, simplified sound and a focus on theatrics and showmanship. Moving north along I-5, other bands embarked on a path diametrically opposed to the hair movement. Drawing inspiration from the original metal bands and the increased intensity of the NWOBHM acts, a new subgenre of metal coalesced: Thrash was the most extreme incarnation of heavy metal to date. The thrash bands challenged the norm and openly expressed their vitriol and discontent through socially conscious and Page 7

8 politically critical lyrics. By the end of the s, heavy metal was becoming schizophrenic, developing in two converging directions with each pushing conventions to extremes. The novelty of hair metal vanished as quickly as it burst onto the scene. Thrash remained too extreme for mainstream audiences. Some thrash bands, most notably Metallica Enter Sandman and Megadeth Symphony of Destruction, successfully experimented with a streamlined and commercially palatable direction. This move was a reaction to the rapidly growing popularity of Grunge more on that in a minute. While some thrash bands turned to the limelight, others embraced the unbridled freedom of the underground. One act in particular, Dallas-based Pantera Cowboys From Hell, enjoyed commercial success by exploring an evolved thrash-hardcore hybrid. Pantera championed many of the same conventions of thrash metal, only driven by extremes. Ironically, Pantera was pedestrian by comparison to the spectrum of bands exploring Extreme Metal. This broad subgenre represented the traditional conventions of metal taken to every conceivable extreme: Extreme metal which included Black [Immortal - Pure Holocaust] and Death [Death - Flattening of Emotions] metal attracted limited, but intensely dedicated, audiences that wanted to explore the possibilities beholden in metal. A simplified or streamlined approach did not satisfy such listeners. Quite simply, the masses opted to leave it. The emergence of Grunge truly signaled the death knell for hair metal. However, the comparison ended there. Gone were the theatrics and upbeat lyrical subjects, replaced with a stripped-down, progression-driven approach coupled with lyrics obsessed with disenfranchisement and angst. Coinciding with the global recession of, Grunge resonated with the masses preaching a message of resigned despair. In, Rob Halford abruptly left Judas Priest, which entered an extended period of dormancy. The aforementioned mainstream turns by Metallica Until It Sleeps and Megadeth A Secret Place continued into the mids with similarly-veined follow-up releases to their commercial breakthroughs. For all intents and purposes, as a mainstream commodity, heavy metal was dead. In Flames - Only for the Weak During most of the s, heavy metal languished in obscurity while Grunge and Alternative Rock dominated the modern rock charts. Although the masses abandoned heavy metal in droves, the die-hard fans remained as loyal as ever, eagerly anticipating the next evolution of the genre. Luckily, metal bands enjoyed increased freedom to pursue new and unconventional directions, owing to their absolution from the expectations and obligations inherent in big-time record contracts. Left to its own devices, many original and avant-garde interpretations often the synthesis of multiple subgenres exploded on to the scene: Nevertheless, heavy metal sustained itself as a phenomenon despite virtually no mainstream support. Epilogue So, there you have it. Four decades later, heavy metal thrives as a highly diverse, ever-evolving musical genre. Often mistaken for punk or hard rock, heavy metal can be a tricky subject open to much debate: Page 8

9 Chapter 5 : Download [PDF] a history of heavy metal Heavy metal (often referred to simply as metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late s and early s, largely in England and the United States. Piano Guitar Microphone Drum History Of Heavy Metal Heavy metal often referred to simply as metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late s and early s, largely in England and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The bands from the earlier years of metal can be classified more accurately as "hard rock", but are listed here as the pre-cursors of heavy metal. The origin of the term heavy metal is uncertain. Some suggest it was coined by a critic for Rolling Stone Magazine, who in said that the music of Jimi Hendrix was "like heavy metal falling from the sky", or the words "heavy metal thunder" in the Steppenwolf song "Born to be Wild", or the William S. It is somewhat amusing that there actually is a debate going on as to who put the two innocuous word together first. T Early heavy metal bands, hard rock, such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple attracted large audiences, though they were often critically reviled, a status common throughout the history of the genre. Before the end of the decade, heavy metal had attracted a worldwide following of fans known as "metalheads" or "headbangers". Underground scenes produced an array of more extreme, aggressive styles: Since the mids, popular styles such as nu metal, which often incorporates elements of funk and hip hop; and metalcore, which blends extreme metal with hardcore punk, have further expanded the definition of the genre. Heavy metal is traditionally characterized by loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Metal sub-genres variously emphasize, alter, or omit one or more of these attributes. The New York Times critic Jon Pareles writes, "In the taxonomy of popular music, heavy metal is a major subspecies of hard-rockâ the breed with less syncopation, less blues, more showmanship and more brute force. Keyboard instruments are often used to enhance the fullness of the sound. The loud, distorted Hammond organ and occasionally the magnetic tape-based mellotron were popular with early metal bands; these instruments were displaced in the s by electronic keyboard synthesizers. Today, keyboards are used in styles such as progressive metal, power metal, and symphonic metal. Some nu metal bands incorporate hip hop elements, which may include a DJ scratching and creating various sound effects. The electric guitar and the sonic power that it projects through amplification has historically been the key element in heavy metal. Guitars are often played with distortion pedals through heavily overdriven tube amplifiers to create a thick, powerful, "heavy" sound. In the early s, some popular metal groups began co- featuring two guitarists. Leading bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden followed this pattern of having two or three guitarists share the roles of both lead and rhythm guitar. A central element of much heavy metal is the guitar solo, a form of cadenza. As the genre developed, more intricate solos and riffs became an integral part of the style. Guitarists use sweep-picking, tapping, and other advanced techniques for rapid playing, and many styles of metal emphasize virtuosic displays. The lead role of the guitar in heavy metal often collides with the traditional "frontman" or bandleader role of the vocalist, creating a musical tension as the two "contend for dominance" in a spirit of "affectionate rivalry". Heavy metal "demands the subordination of the voice" to the overall sound of the band. The prominent role of the bass is also key to the metal sound, and the interplay of bass and guitar is a central element. The bass guitar provides the low-end sound crucial to making the music "heavy". A few use shred guitarâ style techniques such as tapping and sweep picking. In some styles, such as thrash and death metal, the bass may be distorted with a bass overdrive pedal for a heavier, thicker sound. The essence of metal drumming is creating a loud, constant beat for the band using the "trifecta of speed, power, and precision". Metal drumming "requires an exceptional amount of endurance", and drummers have to develop "considerable speed, coordination, and dexterity A characteristic metal drumming technique is the cymbal choke, which consists of striking a cymbal and then immediately silencing it by grabbing it with the other hand or, in some cases, the same striking hand, producing a burst of sound. The metal drum setup is generally much larger than those employed in other forms of rock music. Aside from the standard toms, bass Page 9

10 drum, snare, and hi-hat, ride, and crash cymbals used in many rock drum kits, there is often a double bass drum, additional toms, a number of additional cymbals e. In his book Metalheads, Jeffrey Arnett refers to heavy metal concerts as "the sensory equivalent of war. She argues that the loudness is designed to "sweep the listener into the sound" and to provide a "shot of youthful vitality. Weinstein observes that the wide array of sonic effects available to metal drummers enables the "rhythmic pattern to take on a complexity within its elemental drive and insistency. These rhythmic figures are usually performed with a staccato attack created by using a palm-muted technique on the rhythm guitar. Brief, abrupt, and detached rhythmic cells are joined into rhythmic phrases with a distinctive, often jerky texture. These phrases are used to create rhythmic accompaniment and melodic figures called riffs, which help to establish thematic hooks. Heavy metal songs also use longer rhythmic figures such as whole note- or dotted quarter note-length chords in slow-tempo power ballads. The tempos in early heavy metal music tended to be "slow, even ponderous. One of the signatures of the genre is the guitar power chord. In technical terms, the power chord is relatively simple: Although the perfect fifth interval is the most common basis for the power chord, power chords are also based on different intervals such as the minor third, major third, perfect fourth, diminished fifth, or minor sixth. Since the power chord is based on a single interval, it enables guitarists to use a high level of distortion without unintended disharmony or inter-modulation distortion. If a triadâ a chord with a root, third, and fifthâ is played on a heavily distorted guitar, inter- modulation distortion may produce frequency components at the various sums and differences of the frequency components of the input signal which will be not be harmonically related to the input signal, leading to disharmonious sounds. Most power chords are also played with a consistent finger arrangement that can be slid easily up and down the fret board. Heavy metal is usually based on riffs created with three main harmonic traits: Example of a harmonic progression with the tri-tone G-C: The tri-tone, an interval spanning three whole tonesâ such as C and F â was a forbidden dissonance in medieval ecclesiastical singing, which led monks to call it "diabolus in musica" or the "the devil in music. Heavy metal has made extensive use of the tri-tone in guitar solos and riffs, such as in the beginning of "Black Sabbath". Heavy metal songs often make extensive use of pedal point as a harmonic basis. A pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass range, during which at least one foreign i. Heavy metal riffs are frequently constructed over a persistent repeating note played on the low strings of the bass or rhythmic guitar, most usually on the E, A, and D strings. In other words, a single bass noteâ most frequently low E or Aâ is persistently repeated while some different chords are successively played, including chords that do not normally incorporate that bass note, which creates a sense of tension. In this case, one guitar plays the pedal point in F, while the second guitar plays the chords. The appropriation of "classical" music by heavy metal musicians typically involves musical elements associated with the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras of art music. In the s, guitarists Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen used eighteenth-century Baroque and later classical compositions as models, inspiring neoclassical metal players including Michael Romeo, Michael Angelo Batio, and Tony MacAlpine. Although a number of metal musicians cite classical composers as inspiration, heavy metal cannot be regarded as the modern descendant of classical music. Classical and metal are rooted in different cultural traditions and practicesâ classical in the art music tradition, metal in the popular music tradition. Heavy metal bands, including progressive and neoclassical metal bands, generally do not seek to observe the compositional and aesthetical exigencies of classical music. Common themes in heavy metal lyrics are sex, violence, and the occult. Since the s, with the rise of thrash metal, a substantial number of metal songs have included sociopolitical commentary. Romantic tragedy is a standard theme of gothic and doom metal, as well as of nu metal, where teenage angst is another central topic. Genres such as melodic death metal, progressive metal, and black metal often explore philosophical themes, while more extreme forms of death metal and grindcore have purely aggressive, gory, and often unintelligible content. Heavy metal songs often feature outlandish, fantasy-inspired lyrics, lending them an escapist quality. The thematic content of heavy metal has long been a target of criticism. With grunts, moans and sub-literary lyrics, it celebrates Congress to regulate the popular music industry due to what the group asserted were objectionable lyrics, particularly those in heavy metal songs. In, Judas Priest was sued by the parents of two young men who had shot themselves five years earlier, allegedly after hearing the subliminal statement "do it" in a Priest song. Page 10

11 While the case attracted a great deal of media attention, it was ultimately dismissed. As with much popular music, visual imagery plays a large role in heavy metal. Some early heavy metal acts such as Alice Cooper and Kiss and some newer bands such as Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, and GWAR have become known as much for their outrageous performance personas and stage shows as for their music. Down-the-back long hair, according to Weinstein, is the "most crucial distinguishing feature of metal fashion. Long hair gave members of the metal community "the power they needed to rebel against nothing in general. T-shirts are generally emblazoned with the logos or other visual representations of favorite metal bands. Many metal performers of the s and s used radically shaped and brightly colored instruments to enhance their stage appearance. Fashion and personal style was especially important for glam metal bands of the era. Performers typically wore long, dyed, hairspray-teased hair hence the nickname, "hair metal" ; makeup such as lipstick and eyeliner; gaudy clothing, including leopard-skin-printed shirts or vests and tight denim, leather, or spandex pants; and accessories such as headbands and jewelry. Pioneered by the heavy metal act X Japan in the late s, bands in the Japanese movement known as visual keiâ which includes many nonmetal groupsâ emphasize elaborate costumes, hair, and makeup. Deena Weinstein argues that heavy metal has outlasted many other rock genres largely due to the emergence of an intense, exclusionary, strongly masculine subculture. While the metal fan base is largely young, white, male, and blue-collar, the group is "tolerant of those outside its core demographic base who follow its codes of dress, appearance, and behavior. The metal scene has been characterized as a "subculture of alienation", with its own code of authenticity. This code puts several demands on performers: The phrase has been used for centuries in chemistry and metallurgy. An early use of the term in modern popular culture was by counter cultural writer William S. The word "heavy" in this sense was a basic element of beatnik and later counter- cultural slang, and references to "heavy music"â typically slower, more amplified variations of standard pop fareâ were already common by the mids. The first recorded use of heavy metal is a reference to a motorcycle in the Steppenwolf song "Born to Be Wild," also released that year: In a interview on the PBS program Rock and Roll, he asserted that heavy metal "was a term originated in a New York Times article reviewing a Jimi Hendrix performance," in which the author likened the event to "listening to heavy metal falling from the sky. The first documented uses of the phrase to describe a type of rock music are from reviews by critic Mike Saunders. In the November 12,, issue of Rolling Stone, he commented on an album put out the previous year by the British band Humble Pie: Here they were a noisy, unmelodic, heavy metal-leaden shit-rock band with the loud and noisy parts beyond doubt. There were a couple of nice songs Through the decade, heavy metal was used by certain critics as a virtually automatic putdown. In, lead New York Times popular music critic John Rockwell described what he called "heavy-metal rock" as "brutally aggressive music played mostly for minds clouded by drugs," and, in a different article, as "a crude exaggeration of rock basics that appeals to white teenagers. Bands like The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds developed blues-rock by recording covers of many classic blues songs, often speeding up the tempos. As they experimented with the music, the UK blues-based bandsâ and the U. Page 11

12 Chapter 6 : A History of Heavy Metal by Andrew O'Neill The Origins of Heavy Metal. Someone unfamiliar with the heavy metal genre would be forgiven for feeling a little bit confused upon first listen. What do you want? According to research cited by Walser, some 10 million Americans would join that chorus. However, that same research suggests nearly twice as many would blanch at the prospect. Such is the power, and divisiveness of this broad and provocative genre of rock music. As with many genres and sub-genres of music, a definition of the parameters of Heavy Metal is maddeningly difficult. Even its genesis is hotly debated. Still, just which bands those are is also contested. Peter Jelic, owner of a rock-album rarities store in Canada, sums up several key players when he picks Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep and Led Zepplin as the instigators of the Heavy Metal movement, a grouping more or less agreed with by most. This in part has lead to the blurring of the lines between true Heavy Metal and other Hard Rock music, as both share similar arrangements and instrumentation. This explains the difficulty in tracking the Heavy Metal trajectory through music history. Here is where the hem of the genre unravels. While the distortion-guitar-based sound, driving rhythms and raging vocals are essentials, not every band with those prerequisites is allowed the hallowed Metal tag. Shuker sees authenticity as a vital part of the Metal mystique, its raw expressiveness and power setting it apart from the more commercially packaged pop world. In MTV arrived, and this new medium of video was embraced by many for its huge ability to reach audiences, and therefore sell records. However, it was exactly this approach that Metal purists were opposed to. Therefore, bands with the prerequisite Heavy Metal sound that embraced the new technology were considered lesser to those whose material, sound and image was not MTV friendly. For die-hard Metal fans, they wandered too far from the core ideology and image of the genre. Perhaps some of the reason for such disdain of the more commercialised groups came from the identity of the Metal masses. At its core Heavy Metal appealed to the young, white, working-class male. Such locales and climates define an audience drawn by the overt masculinity and the iconic, quasi-phallic guitars. The resurgence of the genre did not go unnoticed. Metallica picked up the Metal baton and played with a speed to rival the Punk nay-sayers, but a vehemence characteristic of true Heavy Metal. Sub Genres abounded, almost one for each new band that distinguished itself in the Metal Pantheon. The divisions, as within or between any genre are in almost constant flux, and often dependant on who is defining them. Heavy Metal continues to evolve, splinter and spread. Instrumentations and volume once the sole domain of the Metal elite can now be found on Disney products. The children of Punk Ska, Emo, Goth et. However, there remains a core that is undeniably Heavy Metal. While the popular acts like Metallica become mainstreamed, there is a steady rise of new bands, louder, faster and more explosive, waiting to bear the Heavy Metal badge into battle for a new generation of listeners. Page 12

13 Chapter 7 : History of Heavy metal Today, metal comes in many, many forms, but the hierarchy of the genre is constantly up for debate. One thing is certain, though-sabbath fucking rules! Created by RJ Bentler and Joren Cull. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and sufficient evidence. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. Research to Build and Present Knowledge Standard 7: Gather relevant information from multiple sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information in writing while avoiding plagiarism. Speaking and Listening Comprehension and Collaboration Standard 1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats including visual, quantitative, and oral. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including across multiple texts. Research to Build and Present Knowledge Standard 6: Gather relevant information from multiple sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others. Summarize, paraphrase, and synthesize texts in ways that maintain meaning and logical order within a text and across texts. Make intertextual links among and across texts, including other media e. Make complex inference about text and use textual evidence to support understanding. The student understands the relationship that exists between the arts and the societies in which they are produced. The student expects to: Explain the relationships that exist between societies and their architecture, art, music, and literature. Relate ways in which contemporary expressions of culture have been influenced by the past. Describe ways in which contemporary issues influence creative expression. Analyze the causes and effects of economic differences among different regions of the United States at selected times in U. The student relates music to history, culture, and the world. The student is expected to: Identify relationships of concepts to other academic disciplines such as the relations between music and mathematics, literature, history, and the sciences. Speaking and Listening 2: Time, Continuity, and Change Theme 3: People, Places, and Environments Theme 4: Choose music appropriate for a specific purpose or context. Analyze how the structure and context of varied musical works inform the response. Support evaluations of musical works and performances based on analysis, interpretation, and established criteria. Perceive and analyze artistic work. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work. Connecting Anchor Standard Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. Relate artistic ideas and work with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding. Page 13