The American Roots of Heavy Metal

Who Started the Fire?

    Before we look at heavy metal, let's go further back in time to the beginnings of rock 'n' roll. Most modern styles can be traced to the blues, and rock is no exception. The rhythm and blues style is most directly related to the genre, which was already distasteful in the eyes of older generations. Listeners were associated with Satan since rebellion seemed to be an outcome of metal. When white artists tried to replicate the sound, it did not impress audiences nearly as much. An article I found included a shocking statement that record producers were looking for "a white artist who could capture the African American sound." As one would imagine, Elvis Presley was one such artist. Sam Phillips thought his aesthetic would be perfect for the rebellious rock 'n' roll. Afterward, African Americans reclaimed their fame through artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. 

    Born out of rock & roll, heavy metal started around the late '60s after three generations of artists formed and reformed "the ways of rock 'n' roll." Around this time, Americans were dealing with the stress of post-war society, so tension and angst grew in the youth, leading them toward the rebellion known as rock 'n' roll. The archetype of rock bands was associated with rebellious and erratic behavior. They were also "loud" in terms of deafening volume & bold expression. Artists like Led Zeppelin and The Jimi Hendrix Experience influenced the heavy metal sound. The label "heavy metal" came from the lyrics of Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" in 1969, and those words became a term for the genre's distinct sound.

The Self-Titled Tour

    Before I went to Google, I decided to ask a few friends what they thought. I posted a story on my Snapchat (gross, I know) asking viewers to share their perceptions of the music. Many of my friends, myself included, listen to metal, rock, and alternative music, so it wasn't too hard to get answers.

    A common theme is the emotions conveyed, which often involves screaming or aggressive vocals that may seem intimidating to some but relatable to others. My close friend shared "an exact correlation to feelings... put into melody and instrumentals," and another mentioned emotional integrity as a part of the genre. This darker lyrical material was labeled as "angry" and "extreme" instead of "sad" and "romantic" like songs one would hear on the radio.

    The sound itself includes many things. Some people shared songs like "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osborne and "A Little Bit Off" by Five Finger Death Punch. I appreciated a comment saying heavy metal is derived from the blues (what isn't?) from someone who hasn't had a class like Music of Diverse Cultures. This is credited to the kick-pedal drums and "phat" bass used as a strong foundation. Other comments included high-gain guitars and the heavy use of crash cymbals in the mix. Altogether, the cohesion of percussion, guitar, and vocals are constructed to elicit a "vulgar" response for listeners.

    If I had to include my own perception, I'd agree with my friends. I, personally, view the aggressive tone and dark, angry lyrics as a form of expression. The music I hear on the radio feels more superficial to me than some of the metal/alt-rock I listen to, and what I listen to gives me the chance to release feelings of anger and tension by living vicariously through the artists. I'm a sucker for percussion, so I love what I hear from the drummers in these bands. The music is elaborate and beautifully curated for its intended purpose. 

Born to be What?

    So, what is the sound of heavy metal? According to a blog, the characteristics of heavy metal are distinctive. They stated that although the blues are the roots of this genre, heavy metal leans more toward an aggressive style of music. Bands often consist of drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitar, singer, and sometimes keyboard. The guitar's tone is described as thick and "heavy" (what a coincidence), and the tone of voice better conveys the style than the lyrics themselves. Many bands, such as Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, relied heavily on guitars, having two or even three guitars on stage at a time. Live music was vital to the rock and metal culture because the atmosphere was amplified on stage and with a crowd. 

The Grunge Look

    Heavy metal grew to be more than just albums or artists; it became an aesthetic. Fans, known as "metalheads," molded their look from motorcycle culture. Leather jackets, denim jeans, and boots were worn by musicians and fans. Bands like Metallica and Megadeth brought the bullet belts, and studded leather bracelets were added to the mix, contributing to the "grunge" aesthetic. Patches, buttons, and pins were added to jackets to accessorize. Men and women would wear dark makeup and long hair, which often made them look intimidating to some people. This did not help society's image of "satanic" metalheads, but fans just used the dark, "gothic" look to express themselves. It's not a phase, mom.

Where Are They Now?

    Like most other genres of music, heavy metal grew from its roots into a beautiful tree. This tree includes the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), Grunge, Thrash Metal, Nu Metal, and Screamo. These styles of music added more guttural vocals and used a faster tempo to create an even more aggressive sound. Some branches grew in popularity, but the original heavy metal bands were less prevalent as time went on. 

    A quote I cherish came from Wendi Arms, the music librarian of Converse University, who said: "screamo sounds like scary bears." This has nothing to do with heavy metal, but I was looking for a place to insert this quote throughout the entire blog, so here it is. If I had to find a reason, it would be to confirm that people are still intimidated by hard rock and heavy metal. Anyway, if you'd like a "family tree" of rock and metal, this photo shows the branches grown from rock and bands associated with the genres.