Metal Music
By
User:Kristenmollica @timeAndDate(1274477066)
Heavy metal is an acquired taste that many find to be loud and obnoxious. It's understandable why many people are put off by thrashing guitars, pounding double bass, and screaming vocals. I used to be one of the many who would grimace if a Slayer song was playing. Normally the older you get, the softer your musical taste becomes. I had the reverse effect. Bring on the black t-shirts, the leather boots, and the adrenaline rush of headbanging to heavy metal.
Humble Beginnings
Metal music has always been associated with a feeling of "brute force," for being loud and aggressive. However, this wasn't always the case. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, and Deep Purple are considered the forerunners of metal in the '60s and '70s. Today we think of these bands as more blues rock but they're worth the mention since they were considered "heavy" for their time.
But when you look to the past, you'll think of bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. Black Sabbath's debut self-titled album is considered one of the first heavy metal albums. Other bands that walk the fine line of hard rock and metal include KISS, Blue Oyster Cult (more cowbell please!), AC/DC, and the Scorpions. Yes this was an era where your parents might not have objected so much.
Metal and Makeup
The late '70s and '80s were an interesting time for metal. Bands like Motorhead and Metallica kept things loud and masculine, while other bands like Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, and Alice Cooper needed time to fix their hair and makeup before a show. Glam metal took over mainstream musicgenres such as thrash metal, death metal, black metal, and power metal. Here are some of the bands that brought these subgenres out of the underground:
* '''Thrash Metal''' melting solos. Check out Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeath, and Slayer.
* '''Death Metal''' - Similar to thrash but has more violent lyrics and uses guttural growls and screaming. Listen to Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, and Possessed.
* '''Black Metal''' - Extremely dark and heavy utilizing shrieked vocals. Enjoy the heaviness of Venom, Bathory, and Celtic Frost.
* '''Power Metal''' - A harder version of speed metal with more melodic sounds. Try out DragonForce, Iced Earth, and Kamelot.
An Era of Fusion
The '80s saw a backlash to popular metal and retaliated with submetal, metalcore, alternative metal, and industrial metal. Bands like Korn, Deftones, and System of a Down incorporate metal and grunge to create their own unique sound in the metal scene. Metalcore combines death metal and hardcore punk. Current bands include Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold, Bleeding Through, and Atreyu. Industrial metal throws in elements of synthesizers and sequencers and often distorted vocals. Bands like Rammstein, Ministry, KMFDM, and Marilyn Manson all know how to shred on those synths.
The list of sub and fusion genres has grown immensely over the past two decades. Whether you're into the heavier side of black metal or the more melodic style of symphonic metal, you'll eventually find something to bang your head to. The albums below will give you a little taste of everything. So sample and enjoy, and keep the music blasting.
Top Sellers
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