A Short History Of Metal

written by Ian Woods and Ethan Smith

Metal is music that can trace it’s roots to both early rock and electric blues. Bands such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, who were influenced by Led Zeppelin, Cream, etc., are often credited with starting the genre known as Metal. But this is only partially true. Black Sabbath and Deep Purple were stoner/sludge (also known as doom) rock. Judas Priest are, in fact, the first real metal band (formed in 1971). Acts like Iron Maiden and Motorhead also developed this fledgling style. Metal musicians eventually started looking past Sabbath’s blues scales and began writing diminished and minor keys into their solos and diatonic modes into their riffs.

These changes are now a standard in metal and it’s many bastard children sub-genres. In the early 1980s and Thrash Metal made it’s debut with Metallica and Exodus being prominent. Through out the 80’s and 90’s, different Metal styles were being invented and developed. Death metal in Florida and Sweden. Black Metal in Norway. And Progressive Metal in Connecticut and Seattle. There are many sub genres and musical histories of metal so to help explain this, here are the main styles:

Black Metal

While Venom is credited with coining the term “Black Metal” (from their 1982 release of the same name) it is Mayhem and Bathory who gave it its distinct sound. Muddled, murky recording quality, fast paced scratchy guitar riffs, high screamed vocals that are usually barely heard and never understood, and pounding over bearing drums are the key in creating a Black Metal sound. The lyrical themes usually deal with Satanism, death, and even Nationa; Socialism (in the case of Burzum)

Examples: Darkthrone, Bathory, Immortal, Negator, Emperor, old Satyricon, Mayhem.

Death Metal

Style of metal that deals almost exclusively with…you guessed it, Death. Bands in this vein often write very gory and morbid lyrics. As far as music is concerned technical fast paced guitar is implemented with varying tempo’s and time signatures, however the sound is so muddied (intentionally through amp settings and recording) that it sounds very simple. Drums incorporate blast beats which are alternate hits of snare and bass drum with a crash or ride symbol hit. These are used in large amounts to accent the ferocity and speed of this style.

Examples: Morbid Angel, Death, Suffocation, Bolt Thrower, Rubicon, Dying Fetus, Possessed

Melodic Death Metal

Very similar to Death Metal with the addition of some melody. Screams can alternate between high and low. Songs are generally of a better sound quality

Examples: In Flames, Dark Tranquility, At The Gates, The Black Dahlia Murder, Entombed, Arsis

Doom Metal

Very melancholy sound that stresses tragedy and depression. Characterized by Black/Death vocals and slow, trudging guitar riffs. Several offshoot styles have arisen from Doom’s slowly grinding footsteps including Sludge Doom, Drone, and Funeral Doom. All of these follow the same basic blueprint, having relatively repetitive slow riffs and vocals stressing the negative of love, life, and the hereafter.

Examples: My Dying Bride, Sun O))), Candlemass, Sleep, Ramses, Grief

Folk Metal

Metal that incorporates folk melodies and rhythms in its music. Originally from Finland. Heavily influenced by the occult and Viking culture. Music is usually Black or Death in style.

Examples: Finntroll, Skyclad, Adorned Brood, Elvenking, Primordial, old Vintersong

Goth Metal

Sound style that depends heavy on ambiency and keyboards. Unlike Industrial “Metal” electronic’s are not heavy, instead string arrangements are used to heighten the forbidding atmosphere. Vocals alter between Death screams and clean singing, often provided by female vocalist. Goth bands usually fall into one extreme or the other, having mostly singing or mostly screaming with some talking parts. Also many Goth bands, most notably Type O Negative, have their roots in Thrash or Speed metal, but later changed their style as they “matured”. It is also important to noticed that many operatic acts (such as Nightwish, Lacuna Coil) have borrowed extensively from Gothic music, while not being a Gothic band themselves. Lyrical themes often deal with disillusionment and/or religious themes.

Examples: Theatre of Tragedy, Type O Negative, Without Face, Moonspell, Lacrimosa

Industrial Metal

Depends heavily on synthesizers to fill out the often hollow sound. Metal-esque riffs are used and vocals are often put through some sort of distortion. Sometimes referred to as “dance metal”. There are two distinct sides to Industrial, the Electronic turned Metal, as demonstrated by Ministry and KMFDM, and Metal turned Electronic, such as Godflesh and Malhavoc.

Examples: Godflesh, KMFDM, Red Harvest, Rammstein, Zeromancer, Ministry, Frontline Assembly, Swamp Terrorist

Hardcore Metal

Also referred to as Metalcore, Hardcore Metal borrows heavily from Hardcore in terms of drum patterns and lyrical themes. The metal/hardcore crossover style began in the late 1980’s with bands such as Integrity and Nuclear Assault combining the speed and fury and punk and hardcore with the metal riffing. Early metalcore and thrash shared many similarities but for the mid raged growl of hardcore vocals. The style evolved over time containing just as many Swedish influences (Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying) as it has Southern Rock (Everytime I Die, A Life Once Lost).

Examples: Dead to Fall, Zao, Everytime I Die, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, I Killed The Prom Queen

Power Metal

Borrowing heavily from baroque style classical music and classical music in general, Power Metal came to the forefront of the metal scene in the mid 80’s, even though it’s inception began with the formation of Iron Maiden in 1975. The dueling style solo’s used by the their guitarist set the benchmark for Power Metal to follow. Europe’s Accept fused Iron Maiden’s mentality with folk music to form their own distinct sound. Power Metal has grown more grandiose as time goes on, with bands such as Blind Guardian and Iced Earth gaining national attention. Lyrical theme’s include many fantasy standard (dragons, wizards, castles, battle) and folkish themes (folk heros, religious stories).

Examples: DragonForce, Angra, Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, Hammerfall, Mystic Prophecy, Kamelot

Progressive Metal

Prog Metal is simply progressive rock with a heavier mentality. Progressive music’s sound cannot really be pigeonholed due to the very nature of Progressive Music, however some factors remain constant. The musicianship is very high and often very complex. Most songs are very long with very few “parts” repeated. And often bands put out concept albums (albums unified by a central theme that runs throughout the record. Often songs will have a consistent riff or sound that anchors it together). Developed in part by Queensrÿche, Dream Theatre, and Fates Warning in the mid 80’s, Progressive metal has expanded into countless sub-styles. Ranging from the death metal influenced Opeth and Cynic, to the spazzy PsyOpus and the Dillinger Escape Plan to the jazz stylings of Liquid Tension Experiment and Ephel Duath.

Examples: Dream Theater, Symphony X, Opeth, Rush, Atheist, Liquid Tension Experiment

Thrash Metal

Thrash metal combines the speed and intensity of punk and hardcore with the precision of metal. High velocity riffing and shifting time changes are commonly used, all anchored by “machine gun” style drumming. Beginning in 1981 with Overkill, Thrash metal remained an underground until 1984 with the release of Overkill’s “Feel The Fire” and the ever present Slayer’s “Haunting the Chapel EP”. Thrash metal started to stagnate with too many bands saturating the relatively small market. However in 1989 with Sepultra’s “Beneath the Remains” being release on Roadrunner Records. Europe got into the sound and soon bands such as the Haunted and Kreator combining the Swedish death style with Thrash riffs.

Examples: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Annihilator, Overkill, Death Angel, Kreator, Anthrax

Nu Metal

Not truly a metal sub-genre, more closely like a 2nd cousin twice removed, Nu Metal combines some metallic and alternative rock riffing with a hip hop based vocal delivery and rhythm. Usually involves heavy sampling and turn table use. Many bands reached mainstream status. Lyrics usually tell of some sort of hardship, whether it be a relationship failure or substance abuse. Few true metal heads put this bastardization of our music on the same level as other genres however.

Examples: Korn, the Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Staind, American Head Charge, Taproot, Cold