Heavy Metal Research Paper
Passion and Aggression: A Review of Heavy Metal Music
Of the many musical genres that immerse themselves in our culture, you
would be hard pressed to find one which exacts as much emotion from its
listeners as Heavy Metal. Whether you are drawn in by the forceful barrage of
sound that envelopes the listener or the fantastical lyrics that are commonly
utilized, any avid listener will agree that this style of music stands for no
substitute. In this brief article my intent to provide the reader with a basic
understanding of the origins of Heavy Metal, and the subtle yet influential role it
plays on our culture today.
There are many varying opinions on the true origin of Heavy Metal. Over
time I …show more content…
Reading this work, I was able to research various
bands for their influence on this style of music.
Heavy Metal derives its sound from a fusion of Blues, Rock, and guitar
distortion. Developed by experimental teenagers whom like every other
generation were actively seeking ways of escaping from their parent's influences,
the sound followed the principles of Rock and Roll by becoming more aggressive
and substantially louder. The first signs of life can be found in the early 70's,
where bands such as Deep Purple and Led Zepplin had established themselves as
something altogether different. The youth naturally embraced this new style, and
METAL 3
Heavy Metal was born.
As the generation responsible for Heavy Metal grew, so to did the genre
itself. During the 80's, Heavy Metal reached an unprecedented level of popularity.
Bands like Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and Rainbow introduced a new level of
musicianship that rooted itself as the standard. Unfortunately, with increased
popularity there was also an increase in demand. Major record labels began
pushing low quality bands in order to satisfy the masses. This resulted in …show more content…
However, this was quickly overridden by the introduction of Rap.
Being Metal's exact opposite, the popularity of Rap made re-establishing a Metal
movement impossible, although bands such as Pantera and Iced Earth certainly
tried. It was not until the end of the 90's that Heavy Metal began showing signs of
life once again.
The New Millennium has seen a strong revival of the genre. With Rap
reaching its peak during the late 90's, it has now encountered the same problem
as its predecessor. A massive production of low quality artists has saturated the
air waves, and as a result there is an ongoing search for the next sound. Many
have found their answer in the rediscovery of Metal. Europe, Asia, and North
METAL 4
America have all become breeding grounds for new bands such as Kamelot,
Sontata Artica, and Pagan's Mind. With this renewed interest in the genre, Heavy
Metal looks as though it has every intention of making a strong come back.
Heavy Metal is a genre that demands the utmost loyalty from its fans.
The average Metal collection contains nearly 30 years worth of history, and
that is perhaps the strongest testament to the staying power of Heavy Metal.
Of the many musical genres that immerse themselves in our culture, you
would be hard pressed to find one which exacts as much emotion from its
listeners as Heavy Metal. Whether you are drawn in by the forceful barrage of
sound that envelopes the listener or the fantastical lyrics that are commonly
utilized, any avid listener will agree that this style of music stands for no
substitute. In this brief article my intent to provide the reader with a basic
understanding of the origins of Heavy Metal, and the subtle yet influential role it
plays on our culture today.
There are many varying opinions on the true origin of Heavy Metal. Over
time I …show more content…
Reading this work, I was able to research various
bands for their influence on this style of music.
Heavy Metal derives its sound from a fusion of Blues, Rock, and guitar
distortion. Developed by experimental teenagers whom like every other
generation were actively seeking ways of escaping from their parent's influences,
the sound followed the principles of Rock and Roll by becoming more aggressive
and substantially louder. The first signs of life can be found in the early 70's,
where bands such as Deep Purple and Led Zepplin had established themselves as
something altogether different. The youth naturally embraced this new style, and
METAL 3
Heavy Metal was born.
As the generation responsible for Heavy Metal grew, so to did the genre
itself. During the 80's, Heavy Metal reached an unprecedented level of popularity.
Bands like Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and Rainbow introduced a new level of
musicianship that rooted itself as the standard. Unfortunately, with increased
popularity there was also an increase in demand. Major record labels began
pushing low quality bands in order to satisfy the masses. This resulted in …show more content…
However, this was quickly overridden by the introduction of Rap.
Being Metal's exact opposite, the popularity of Rap made re-establishing a Metal
movement impossible, although bands such as Pantera and Iced Earth certainly
tried. It was not until the end of the 90's that Heavy Metal began showing signs of
life once again.
The New Millennium has seen a strong revival of the genre. With Rap
reaching its peak during the late 90's, it has now encountered the same problem
as its predecessor. A massive production of low quality artists has saturated the
air waves, and as a result there is an ongoing search for the next sound. Many
have found their answer in the rediscovery of Metal. Europe, Asia, and North
METAL 4
America have all become breeding grounds for new bands such as Kamelot,
Sontata Artica, and Pagan's Mind. With this renewed interest in the genre, Heavy
Metal looks as though it has every intention of making a strong come back.
Heavy Metal is a genre that demands the utmost loyalty from its fans.
The average Metal collection contains nearly 30 years worth of history, and
that is perhaps the strongest testament to the staying power of Heavy Metal.