We have no doubt that the world is changing and with it music. What we hear today surely has nothing to do with what some of our relatives danced many years ago. Or maybe yes, but surely not with the same rhythm nor with the same instruments: electric guitars, basses, drums and strong voices, does that ring a bell? Exactly, we are talking about heavy metal, one of the musical genres with more history in music.
Heavy metal, or simply metal for the most intimate, is one of the types of rock that changed the lives of more than a generation and that it emerged in the late sixties, although it could be said that its time when it had its greatest boom was in the 70s and 80s, leaving a legacy that for thousands of people , continues today to be
If there is anything this genre is characterized for, it is for its powerful sound using amplifiers, its very loud volume and for its emblematic lyrics, which generally criticize socially accepted topics and others address lyrics about the protests. However, although many relate it to the dark side, sometimes it also deals with love issues.
Metallic / Getty/Jeff Kravitz
As we have already mentioned, Heavy Metal appeared in the 60s and continues to this day. A genre with a lot of history behind it, but Where it comes from?
The Origin of Heavy Metal
Heavy metal didn’t happen and established itself overnight. It all started when they started using different distorted guitars from rock and blues, even classical music. A mixture that we saw in groups like the Beatles with Skelter Hero already pink with The Song of the Nile.
But the great explosion of this musical genre came 1968 in Birmingham (England), when the band went on stage black sabbath, responsible for the origin of this musical genre. It was made up of people who came from different cities full of factory noise and managed to simplify traditional rock and blues with the complaints of an entire working class.
Thanks to Ozzy Osbournewho just canceled his tour, and his iconic voice, accompanied by the lyrics and bass of Butler Geezer, guitar sounds Tony Iommi and the drums of Bill’s Quarters Black Sabbath was formed, marking a new musical path.
Black Sabbath in 1970 / Getty/Chris Walter
Accustomed to the pop genre of that era which sounded everywhere, Black Sabbath surprises with its dark and sinister music. Among his themes rThey claimed social problems such as political corruption, drug abuse and exile. However, if they stood out for anything compared to other groups that were born, it was because of their minimalist style.
From the 70s to today
After the success of Black Sabbath came the rise of this musical genre and there live concerts have started in which the members of a group seize the color black, predominant in the clothes of the artists. The shows became a show that left no one indifferent.
During the 70’s the first mix of its kind between traditional metal and punk is born, then known as British heavy metal. In this aspect, the most famous groups were Sir Lord Baltimore, Blue Öyster Cult, Aerosmith, Scorpions, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Nazareth, Kiss, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden.
It was in the 80’s when heavy metal gets harder and the subgenres begin. For many, it is considered the finest time of its kind as new musical groups such as Def Leppard, Van Halen and Metallica begin to emerge and as a result it begins to gain even more recognition.
Later in the 90s bands continued to innovate with heavy metal and new genres continued to emerge within it. The show becomes more incredible with the staging of electric guitarswhich they begin to do alone and shine on stage.
Finally, nowadays heavy metal is always present and the truth is that with the advent of new technologies, they continue to innovate in terms of musical creation. While new genres continue to exist within it, there are names like Korn, Linkin Park, Children of Bodom, and In Flames, among others, that keep ringing.
What types of heavy metals are there?
Heavy metal has a long history and since its inception it has not stopped evolving, generating new subgenres as we have already seen. Let’s see which ones mattered the most:
- black metal: This is one of the most emblematic subgenres. It is characterized by the use of high-pitched, raspy vocals that accompany it, as well as the use of satanic, lyrical, and pagan imagery.
- Celtic Metal: It is the main representative of folk metal. He uses classical instruments and deals with themes from Celtic mythology.
- Doommetal: This genre uses slower times and reflects melancholy and darkness.
- Death Metal: One of the most extreme forms of the genre for its use of distorted guitars and for its use of growling vocals, low tunings and fast chases.
- Grindcore: This genre is the result of a mixture of thrash metal and death metal, although the vocals are similar to those of the latter.
- gothic metal: Not only is it a combination of themes between the dramatic and the melancholy, but in addition the male voices mingle with the female voices.
- metal core: It is once again the result of a mixture, in this case of heavy metal with hardcore. In this subgenre, bands like Shadows Fall and God Forbid stand out.
- metal hair: It comes at the end of the 80s and it is due to the hair artists are wearing at the moment.
- Thras Metal: It is characterized by the use of fast guitar and aggressive vocals.
- progressive metal: The mix of heavy metal and progressive rock results in long songs and concept albums.
- Power Metal: It is a very melodic form in which high-pitched guitars and strong vocals are used. It is also one of the epic styles with long songs and lyrics based on mythology, fantasy and metaphysical themes.
- Bare metal: The influence of hip-hop and rap gave rise to this new genre within heavy metal.