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
have developed my own, however; it is important to note one of the

primary sources I have used for information on the subject. In his work, The

Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal, Daniel Bukszpan(2003) lays out a clear and

certifiable history of the genre.
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
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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
a

popularity backlash towards the end of the 80s. A new generation of youth began

seeking their own musical voice, and Heavy Metal entered its dark age.

The 90s proved to be the proverbial "death" of Heavy Metal. After the air

waves became saturated with mediocre bands, there was a movement for

something different. At first the answer was Grunge, a short lived movement lead

by Nirvana.
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

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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.
Once

a band has established itself, it remains etched in the genre's history forever, to be

celebrated by listeners for years to come. Heavy Metal is not a random fad, but

rather a musical force backed by a multitude of followers. It is a musical

phenomenon that will never die.