History of Heavy Metal (Part 1) 1968 to 1992

Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock, garage rock, and acid rock, heavy metal bands developed a thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and loudness.

Origins:

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Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues (1968) [3:40]	Beatles - Helter Skelter (1968) [4:29] Jimmy Hendrix Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (1968) [5:14]

In 1968, three of the genre's most famous pioneers British bands Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple  were founded. Though they came to attract wide audiences, they were often derided by critics.

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Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (1969) [6:20] Black Sabbath - War Pigs (1970) [7:55] Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song (1970) [2:26] Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water (1972) [5:40]	Black Sabbath - Iron Man (1970) [5:56] Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970) [2:48] Led Zeppelin Black Dog (1971) [4:55] Deep Purple - Highway Star (1972) [6:07]

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 party rock of Van Halen.  During the mid-1970s, Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence, while Mot rhead introduced a punk rock sensibility and an increasing emphasis on speed.

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Aerosmith Walk this Way (1975) [3:41] Van Halen Eruption (1978) [1:42] Judas Priest Breaking the Law (1980) [2:45]	Alice Cooper Welcome to my Nightmare (1975) [5:20] Aerosmith Sweet Emotion (1975) [3:13] Ted Nugent Stranglehold (1975) [8:24] Kiss - Detroit Rock City (1976) [3:36] Van Halen Runnin with the Devil (1978) [3:34] AC/DC Back in Black (1980) [4:16] Accept Balls to the Wall (1983) [4:28] Dio Holy Diver (1983) [4:39] Dio Rainbow in the Dark (1983) [4:14]

Beginning in the late 1970s, bands in the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) such as Iron Maiden and Saxon followed in a similar vein. By the end of the decade, heavy metal fans became known as "metalheads" or "headbangers". The lyrics of some metal genres became associated with aggression and machismo, an issue that has at times led to accusations of misogyny.

NWOBHM

Although encompassing diverse styles inherited from rock music, the music of the NWOBHM is best remembered for infusing earlier heavy metal with the intensity of punk rock to produce fast and aggressive songs. The DIY attitude of the NWOBHM bands led to raw-sounding, self-produced recordings and a proliferation of independent record labels. Song lyrics were usually about escapist themes, such as mythology, fantasy, horror, and the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

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Mot rhead Ace of Spades (1980) [2:48] Iron Maiden Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982) (7:11)	Saxon Denim and Leather (1981) [5:28] Judas Priest You ve Got Another Thing Coming (1982) [4:20] Iron Maiden The Trooper (1983) [4:23] Iron Maiden Aces High (1984) [4:59]

During the 1980s, glam metal became popular with groups such as Bon Jovi, M tley Cr e and Poison.

Glam (Hair Metal)

Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam rock.

Early glam metal evolved directly from the glam rock movement of the 1970s, as visual elements taken from acts such as David Bowie, T. Rex, and New York Dolls (and to a lesser extent, the punk and new wave movements taking place concurrently in New York City) were fused with the decidedly more heavy metal leaning and theatrical acts such as Alice Cooper and Kiss. The first examples of this fusion began appearing in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene. Early glam metal bands include M tley Cr e, Hanoi Rocks, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, and Dokken. Glam metal achieved significant commercial success from approximately 1982 to 1991, bringing to prominence bands such as Poison, Skid Row, Cinderella, and Warrant. From a strictly visual perspective, glam metal is defined by flashy and tight-fitting clothing, makeup, and an overall androgynous aesthetic in which the traditional "denim & leather" aspect of heavy metal culture is replaced by spandex, lace, and usually heavy use of bright colors.

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M tley Cr e Livewire [3:17] Ozzy Osbourne Crazy Train [4:10]	Motley Crue Shout at the Devil (1983) [3:13] Ratt Round and Round [4:25] Dokken Alone Again (1984) [4:05] Whitesnake Slow and Easy (1984) [4:14] Twisted Sister We re Not Gonna Take It (1984) [4:31] Guns n Roses Welcome to the Jungle [4:33] Guns n Roses - Sweet Child O Mine (1987) [5:02]

Meanwhile, however, underground scenes produced an array of more aggressive styles: thrash metal broke into the mainstream with bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. while other extreme subgenres such as death metal and black metal became and remain  subcultural phenomena.

Thrash Metal

Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work.

The genre emerged in the early 1980s as musicians began fusing the double bass drumming and complex guitar stylings of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) with the speed and aggression of hardcore punk and the technicality of progressive rock. Philosophically, thrash metal developed as a backlash against both the conservatism of the Reagan era and the much more moderate, pop-influenced, and widely accessible heavy metal subgenre of glam metal which also developed concurrently in the 1980s. Derived genres include crossover thrash, a fusion of thrash metal and hardcore punk. Extreme subgenres such as death metal and black metal became and remain  subcultural phenomena.

Examples of Hardcore Punk

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Dead Kennedys Nazi Punks Fuck Off (1981) [2:10]	Dead Kennedys California ber Alles (1979) [3:40] Black Flag My War (1984) [3:46]

Example of Progressive Heavy Rock

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	Rush The Spirt of Radio (1980) [4:46] Rush Tom Sawyer (1981) [4:33]

Thrash Metal

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S.O.D. The Ballad of Jimi Hendrix (1985) [0:05] Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) [8:35] Slayer Raining Blood (1986) [3:42] Metallica - One (1989) [7:26] Slayer Seasons in the Abyss (1990) [6:34]	Metallica Fade to Black (1984) [6:57] Megadeth Peace Sells (1986) [4:02] Slayer Angel of Death (1986) [4:51] Anthrax Caught in Mosh (1987) [5:00] Slayer South of Heaven (1988) [4:58] D.R.I. Beneath the Wheel (1989) [5:35] Slayer War Ensemble (1990) [4:52] Metallica - Enter Sandman (1991) [5:32] Megadeth Symphony of Destruction (1992) [4:01]

1991-92: Heavy metal essentially becomes mainstream with the popularity of Metallica's Black Album and the hit song "Enter Sandman".  Glam Metal, at its height of 1980's excess and superficiality, is quickly washed away by the Grunge and Alternative Rock movement, which incorporate many aspects of Heavy Metal for a wider audience... 

To be continued

Black Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal, Groove Metal, Rap Metal, Alternative Metal, Industrial Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal, Nu Metal, Metalcore, Deathcore, Djent, Mathcore, NWOAHM