A Definitive History Of Metal

So, what is metal? This is a question you can hear in 2 places; A chemistry class, or any kind of gathering, such as us, that is in love with this heavy music genre, and generally doesn't care about the first one. Just kidding. Just a joke.

"Heavy metal" is a sub-genre of "Rock N Roll" that appeared in the late '60s. 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 theme of metal lyrics is generally anger and rebellion.

In 1968, three of the genre's most famous pioneers, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple were founded. Though they came to attract wide audiences, they were often derided by critics. Following the blueprint laid down by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, several American bands modified heavy metal into more accessible forms during the 1970s: the raw, sleazy sound and shock rock of Alice Cooper and Kiss; the blues-rooted rock of Aerosmith; and the flashy guitar leads and wild party rock of Van Halen.

During the 1980s, glam metal became popular with groups such as Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe. Underground scenes produced an array of more aggressive styles: thrash metal broke into the mainstream with bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, the "Big 4" of thrash metal, while other extreme subgenres such as death metal and black metal remain subcultural phenomena.

During the mid-1970s, Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence, while Motörhead introduced a punk rock sensibility and an increasing emphasis on speed. Beginning in the late 1970s, bands in the new wave of British heavy metal such as Iron Maiden and Saxon followed in a similar vein. By the end of the decade, heavy metal fans became known as "metalheads".

Since the birth of death metal and hundreds of new metal genres, heavy metal has been a popular genre all around the globe with millions of dedicated fans. The metalhead community sure is and will be one of the greatest communities among the globe. LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!