history
Metal is a rock music subgenre that arose primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Early metal bands would incorporate different alternative music sub-genres such as punk rock, shock rock and blues. These bands are defined by distorted guitars and lengthy guitar solos. Combining these genres gave them a distinctive sound, which helped them achieve further popularity among fans of alternative music. Throughout the years, the metal subculture for music has grown in numbers and style. The metal music style has evolved, thanks to the different bands over the years constantly trying different and new sounds, creating different metal subgenres within the community.
timeline
late 1950s to late 1960s
the beginnings
Influences drawn from blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, combined with loud distorted guitar riffs
Use of 'satanic' and 'occult' imagery by bands, accompanied by theatric live performances
Bands: Black Sabbath, Cream
late 1970s to late 1980s
mainstream
The rise of 'Hair Metal', theatrical performances by metal bands like Alice Cooper
Metal bands breaking into the mainstream market, with many albums in the Top 10 Billboard Charts
Bands: Iron Maiden, Motorhead
early 2000s
other fusions
The growth in popularity of bands like Nirvana, lead more bands who incorporated other sub-genres into their sound to popularity
Some notable sub-genres and fusions are alternative metal, nu-metal, industrial metal and rap metal
Bands: Linkin Park, Korn, Nine Inch Nails
late 1960s to early 1970s
the origins
Debatable among critics who the first heavy metal band actually was
Most people credit Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath the
Heavy metal's distinctive sound started to come together in 1968.
Bands: Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Deep Purple
late 1980s to early 2000s
other sub-genres
Many sub-genres of heavy metal were introduced into the culture by combining different styles of music with metal
Some notable sub-genres are black metal, death metal, thrash metal, power metal and doom metal
Bands: Metallica, Anthrax, Cradle of Filth, Slipknot
mid 2000s to now
new styles
The rise of metalcore, a hybrid of hardcore punk and metal saw great success rates within the metal community
Fusion of nu metal with electropop elements brought a new perspective to the metal scene
Notable sub-genres are mathcore, metalcore, melodic metalcore, deathcore, electronicore and kawaii metal
Bands: Spiritbox, Bring Me The Horizon, Lorna Shore, BABYMETAL
01. metal / heavy metal
Three of the most well-known pioneers of the genre, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple were formed in 1968. Despite the fact that they eventually attracted large crowds, many people frequently mocked them. Many American bands altered heavy metal into more approachable forms during the 1970s, including Alice Cooper, Kiss, Aerosmith, and Van Halen with their extended guitar solos and party rock style, as well as Kiss's raw, sleazy sound and shock rock styles. In the mid-1970s, Motörhead and Judas Priest each contributed to the genre's progression by introducing some punk rock influences and a faster tempo.
Kiss
Ghost
click to listen!
Many metal and heavy metal bands are iconic for their live performances and appearances, most notable being the 'Hair Metal' era, as well as the theatrical performances during live shows.
There are many traditional metal bands, like Alice Cooper and Kiss, who are pioneers in the metal subculture. However, newer metal bands like Ghost and Black Veil Brides have also gained tremendous recognition for their performances and style in their music.
02. metalcore
Metalcore is a fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The usage of breakdowns—slow, powerful sequences that are ideal for moshing—is a trademark of the metalcore sub-genre, as it is with other hardcore and metal fusion genres like crust punk and grindcore. Heavy riffs and stop-start rhythm guitar playing, as well as occasional blast beats and double bass drumming are other characteristics of the metalcore sub-genre. Thrash or scream vocals, as well as death growls, are frequently used by the vocalists in this style. This is combined by some later metalcore bands with clean singing, frequently in the chorus.
The most notable early metalcore bands from the early 2000s who received commercial success are Motionless In White, As I Lay Dying, Bring Me The Horizon and blessthefall. In the mid to late 2010s bands like Spiritbox and Asking Alexandria helped to revive the metalcore scene, while also introducing new influences to the sound. The rise of metalcore throughout the years also helped other new sub-genres to form, like electronicore, mathcore and progressive metalcore.
Motionless In White
Spiritbox
Eternal Blue, album by Spiritbox, 2021
click to listen!
03. nu metal
Another subgenre of alternative metal called nu metal fuses heavy metal music with other musical styles like hip hop, alternative rock, funk, industrial, and grunge. Numerous heavy metal subgenres, as well as other musical styles, have influenced and inspired nu metal bands. Guitar solos and other technical methods are uncommon in nu metal; instead, the genre is largely built on guitar riffs.
Numerous nu metal bands use down-tuned seven-string guitars to produce heavier sounds. Occasionally, DJs are used to provide samples like turntable scratching and electronic backgrounds. Vocal techniques include rapping, screaming, growling, and singing. Lyrics are usually angry and emotional, usually surrounding topics like bullying, angst and emotional issues.
Bands like Evanescence, Slipknot, Linkin Park and Korn are said to be some of the most popular and influential bands in the genre.
Fallen, album by Evanescence, 2003
Linkin Park
click to listen!
04. electronicore
Metalcore which incorporates elements of many electronic music genres, including trance, electronica, and dubstep, is known as electronicore.
Typical metalcore instrumentation, breakdowns, and the heavy use of sequencers, traditional instrument recorded-note samplers, electronic tone-generating synthesisers, auto-tuned singing, and shouted vocals are characteristics of electronicore. Dynamic transitions from mellow electronica ballads to ferocious metalcore parts are common in this genre. The extent to which metalcore properties are included can change, though. Techno, trance, dubstep, electro, and dance are just a few of the other electronic music genres that may be incorporated into the fusion in addition to electronica.
Bands like Electric Callboy and We Butter The Bread With Butter have been playing electronicore music since the mid-2000s, and still continue to expand on this genre, incorporating newer elements into their music, keeping the sound fresh. Bring Me The Horizon's most recent album; POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR has many elements of electronicore. Due to their popularity, electronicore was introduced to a larger audience.
Electric Callboy
POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR,
album by Bring Me The Horizon, 2020
click to listen!
05. kawaii metal
Heavy metal and J-pop components are combined in the musical genre known as kawaii metal (cute metal), which was invented in Japan in the early 2010s. The combination of Eastern and Western influences make a big part of the genre, making it appealing to both cultures. A typical kawaii metal song blends J-pop tunes with heavy metal orchestration as well as a Japanese idol look. Cutesy metal's lyrics are much less harsh than those of other heavy metal genres since they frequently use kawaii themes.
Kawaii metal was developed and became popular by the Japanese girl band BABYMETAL, and the producer, KOBAMETAL.
Other bands have also followed in the footsteps of BABYMETAL, developing connections to other sub-genres like Harajukucore, as well as creating new sounds. Bands that perform kawaii metal are usually from Japan, and is largely fronted by women.
Self-titled album by BABYMETAL, 2015
BABYMETAL
