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Heavy Metal Defined Help
Posted on 6/29/23 at 11:26 am
Posted on 6/29/23 at 11:26 am
What makes a song heavy metal vs hard rock, etc? Trying to understand what you would say to explain to an alien how to identify Heavy Metal.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 12:27 pm to SFCSaint77
Metalheads can't even agree. That's why there are so many sub-genres.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 12:33 pm to SFCSaint77
Metal vs rock is a constantly evolving line. Think of it like the Overton Window in politics. The same sounds that would have been considered heavy metal in 1980 are laughed off by rock bands as simple “pop rock” by 1991. Metal in 1991 would be considered just normal mainstream “rock” by 2001. Metal gatekeepers, much like punk or any other subgenre of music, is an endless game of “no true Scotsman” by a bunch of neckbeard purist edgelords that believe that only the least accessible and offensive music deserves the label of “real metal”.
The best way to distinguish rock n roll from metal, in my opinion, is the amount of blues and general African American influences in the music. The more the music is rooted in European classical music, the more likely it is to be considered “metal”. The more it’s rooted in delta blues, the more likely it will be considered “rock n roll” (the big exception being “stoner metal”).
The best way to distinguish rock n roll from metal, in my opinion, is the amount of blues and general African American influences in the music. The more the music is rooted in European classical music, the more likely it is to be considered “metal”. The more it’s rooted in delta blues, the more likely it will be considered “rock n roll” (the big exception being “stoner metal”).
Posted on 6/29/23 at 12:46 pm to SFCSaint77
quote:weight, not volume
What makes a song heavy metal vs hard rock, etc
Posted on 6/29/23 at 1:15 pm to SFCSaint77
Don’t need words bruh. Just headbang and enjoy.
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 5:09 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 1:40 pm to kingbob
I think that is about good of a line to draw as any.
I use the drums as a gauge as well. Which, would ultimately fit into your descriptions. The use of the bass kick drums definitely is a key sign to me. I think hard rock core of the song stems from the guitar, which is similar to your blues/jazz inspiration. Metal is built much more around the drums IMO (not universally but usually is a pretty constant staple).
I use the drums as a gauge as well. Which, would ultimately fit into your descriptions. The use of the bass kick drums definitely is a key sign to me. I think hard rock core of the song stems from the guitar, which is similar to your blues/jazz inspiration. Metal is built much more around the drums IMO (not universally but usually is a pretty constant staple).
Posted on 6/29/23 at 2:56 pm to SFCSaint77
you just know it when you hear it
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:13 pm to SFCSaint77
Posted on 6/29/23 at 4:48 pm to danilo

This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 7:58 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 5:00 pm to SFCSaint77
Posted on 6/29/23 at 5:09 pm to deernaes
Fair number of bands on both lists like Winger, Firehouse, Dokken, Motley Krue, etc.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 7:58 pm to kingbob
Metal is Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and all the bands that took inspiration from those guys.
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:10 pm to SFCSaint77
You know it when you feel it in your chest
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:45 pm to SFCSaint77
If I hear excessive double bass and/or screaming, it’s probably metal
Posted on 6/29/23 at 8:52 pm to Shockthamonkey
quote:
Metal is Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and all the bands that took inspiration from those guys.
I agree for the last two, but not that first one. The vast majority of Black Sabbath’s catalog is rooted pretty deeply in the blues. There are a ton on traditional rock, roots rock and blues rock bands that cite Black Sabbath as inspiration.
I think the same when I hear Led Zeppelin called metal. Led Zeppelin, a band that played half their songs with an acoustic lead guitar. Ido understand and agree that one could call either group a predecessor, or forefather of metal though. I just don’t see that as being the same as being metal.
Neil Young has been called one of the fathers of grunge, but no one calls him grunge
ETA: Also when people say that about Sabbath, I think they’re solely thinking about masters of reality
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 8:54 pm
Posted on 6/29/23 at 9:07 pm to deernaes
quote:
I always thought two lists draw a good line between hard rock and metal....
If you Wikipedia metal and Wikipedia hard rock you’re going to find Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and likely Deep Purple listed and the founding fathers of both. A metal band plays metal, a hard rock band plays hard rock.
Can you imagine a world where slipknot releases a song like planet caravan, or Metallica releases a song like going to California?
I only argue against labeling these two bands in particular because both have a varied catalog and I don’t think either classified themselves as a straight metal or hard rock band
ETA, found an Iommi quote where he combined to two lol
“”We called it heavy rock," recalls Iommi. "The term heavy metal came about from a journalist when I came back from America (in the 70s).
"He said 'you're playing heavy metal' and I said 'no, it's heavy rock - what's that?'"
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 9:34 pm
Posted on 6/30/23 at 12:29 am to SFCSaint77
Slayer, Goatwhore, Megadeth, Pantera = Heavy Metal
Van Halen, Godsmack, AC/DC, KISS = Hard Rock
Van Halen, Godsmack, AC/DC, KISS = Hard Rock
Posted on 6/30/23 at 9:39 am to A12 Oxcart
quote:
Metalheads can't even agree. That's why there are so many sub-genres.
Metal
Death Metal
Black Metal
Southern Sludge
Thrash
Goth Metal
Grindcore
Speed Metal
etc...
And most of these have their own sub-genres
I basically think of bands like Metallica and Megadeth as regular Metal. It gets more murky after that.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 11:35 am to boxcarbarney
But megadeth and Metallica are thrash metal
Posted on 6/30/23 at 12:59 pm to wasteland
quote:
But megadeth and Metallica are thrash metal
Son of a....
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