Heavy metal is one of the most popular forms of modern music. It has existed for just over 50 years and is now an essential part of pop culture. A wide range of sub-genres has also grown around heavy metal.
Origins
Heavy metal was formed by bands from the Midlands in England. It was influenced by psychedelic rock and blues. The genre has a very distinctive sound that contains distorted amplification, electric guitar solos and heavy drum beats. Songs of this genre tend to be played at a high volume.
Early bands such as Black Sabbath originally played their new songs in small local venues. Eventually, heavy metal became so popular that it spread to America. Metallica and similar artists rose to prominence. During the 70s and 80s, there was a surge in public interest for heavy metal. Numerous bestselling albums were produced. Today, the genre continues to gain new listeners.
Famous Bands
- Iron Maiden
This British group has been around for over 40 years. The general lineup has mostly stayed the same during that time. Iron Maiden has amassed an enormous fan base made up of people from all over the world. Their songs often deal with dark topics and historical events.
- Nightwish
Nightwish is a band from Finland. They mix heavy guitar sounds, orchestral music and operatic vocals. This creates an unusually soft version of metal. Their songs tend to focus on fantasy stories and folklore. The lead singer of Nightwish has changed several times, forcing the group to develop new styles.
- Rammstein
The German band Rammstein are one of the heavier metal bands out there. They are well known for their energetic live gigs, which use a substantial amount of pyrotechnics. Rammstein revel in being controversial. Many of their music videos are too explicit to be broadcast on television.