Death metal: likely the most recognizable titan of musical extremity. Where black metal encapsulates its listener in the lightless shroud of Satan's cold grasp, and grindcore pummels the listener into the dirt with its bursts of anarchistic rage, death metal brutally tears into your midsection with a rusty scalpel and feasts upon your innards. Fueled by gore, hatred, and slaughter, death metal crafts chugging low-end riffs, technical lead guitar lines, and boasts double kick drum patterns at mach speeds. For such a violent and inaccessible genre, is has accumulated quite a following, reaching even celebrities of Jim Carrey's caliber. Touching the hearts of the listener both emotionally and physically, let's delve into what death metal is all about.
Death metal took its form from the heavier bands in the thrash metal scene. Bands such as Slayer, Kreator, and Morbid Saint built their sound around incredibly fast, palm-muted riffing and more controversial, bloody lyrical content. This eventually led to the initial wave of death metal, borrowing heavily from thrash sounds. Bands like Possessed, Autopsy, Master, Terrorizer, and Necrophagia led the charge with this ultra-violent style of metal.
Similarly to how black metal shifted to its most well-known form in Norway, death metal did something similar in Florida, particularly the Tampa area. Death metal bands were popping up left and right in this location throughout most of the mid- to late-'80s. Morbid Angel, Obituary, Cynic, Deicide, Massacre, Malevolent Creation, Atheist, Brutality, Nocturnus... the list is immense. None of these bands, however, had such a booming impact on the metal genre as Death. With such a simple name, Death paved the way not only for the creation of the death metal sound, but for nearly every innovation on the style for the entirety of its career, thanks to the musical mastermind Chuck Schuldiner. Death metal proved its influence and lasting power early on in its development, and the inspiration hasn't wavered.
Recommended classic death metal listening:
1. Possessed - Seven Churches (1985)
2. Death - Leprosy (1988)
3. Autopsy - Severed Survival (1989)
4. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (1989)
5. Obituary - Slowly We Rot (1989)
Almost as if in a direct response to America's now-Metropolis of death metal greatness, our friends across the pond in Europe decided to take a crack at joining this first wave of death. The Netherlands provided solid slabs of death metal in the form of bands like Pestilence and Asphyx. The United Kingdom came through with Carcass, Bolt Thrower, and Napalm Death (all of which had influence in the grindcore genre as well). Most notably though, were the contributions of Sweden. Recognized by some as an entire subgenre of itself, Swedish death metal featured a much sludgier, dirtier, and yet somehow more melody-driven sound than the accustomed American brand. Bands like Entombed, Grave, Dismember, and Unleashed made names for themselves in no time by delivering sweet, sweet death metal to the European masses.
Recommended European death metal listening:
1. Pestilence - Consuming Impulse (1989)
2. Entombed - Left Hand Path (1990)
3. Dismember - Like an Ever Flowing Stream (1991)
4. Carcass - Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious (1991)
5. Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal (2005)
One of the first genre offshoots of death metal was the invention of deathgrind. This style, as the name would suggest, fuses the technicality and brutality of death metal with the speed, political themes, and concise song structures of grindcore. Early grindcore groups like Carcass, Napalm Death, and Repulsion were the jumping-off points of deathgrind, with bands like Napalm Death eventually writing in the style later in its career. Terrorizer, Macabre, Exhumed, Misery Index, and Brutal Truth are all key figures in the genre, bouncing back and forth between genre tropes to create a unique blend of extremity. Not for the faint of heart, a trait shared by most grindcore spinoffs.
Recommended deathgrind listening:
1. Terrorizer - World Downfall (1989)
2. Brutal Truth - Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses (1992)
3. Napalm Death - Enemy of the Music Business (2000)
4. Misery Index - Heirs to Thievery (2010)
5. Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity (2012)
Technical death metal, often simply referred to as tech death, is a style of death metal focusing heavily on technical difficulty. The musicianship of your average tech death band is to be stretched as far as humanly possible, resulting in incredibly complex and demanding songwriting. Tech death bands, due to implementing far more experience in music theory, tend to bring new vibes into the death metal formula with dynamic textures and exotic scales. Bands from the Florida death metal scene such as Atheist, Cynic, Nocturnus, and later-career Death would spearhead this movement. At its height, bands like Cryptopsy, Nile, Decapitated, Necrophagist, and Gorguts would continue it. Tech death remains one of the most popular styles of death metal today, flourishing in its own scene with bands such as Obscura, Beyond Creation, and Archspire leading the pack.
Recommended technical death metal listening:
1. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence (1991)
2. Death - Symbolic (1995)
3. Gorguts - Obscura (1998)
4. Decapitated - Winds of Creation (2000)
5. Necrophagist - Onset of Putrefaction (2004)
Born from a combination of the tech death and Florida death scenes, brutal death metal is a genre that intends to fully up the ante of death metal's extremity. Triggered blast beats at high speeds, chunky and blazing riffing, and often including midtempo midsections are all characteristics of the genre. First wave bands like Suffocation, Mortician, Pyrexia, Cannibal Corpse, and Dying Fetus exemplify a slow-burning, hatred-fueled style of death metal based around raw aggression. Tech death bands like Cryptopsy and Nile soon enter the fray as well, not allowing impressive musicianship to downplay the sheer brutality and heaviness of their sound.
Recommended brutal death metal listening:
1. Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated (1992)
2. Suffocation - Pierced from Within (1995)
3. Cryptopsy - None So Vile (1996)
4. Nile - Black Seeds of Vengeance (2000)
5. Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition (2000)
Once the 1990s began, death metal had found numerous ways to up its extremity factors. However, a handful of bands in Gothenburg, Sweden had the blueprint for a new style of death metal that did the opposite. Known as "the Gothenburg three," the bands Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, and At the Gates shaped a new brand of death metal, known as melodic death metal. With the subtle aid of Carcass, Amorphis, and Edge of Sanity, melodeath quickly caught on as one of the most commercially successful and widespread genres of death metal. Invoking the melodies and harmonies of early NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden, melodeath bands focused on both catchy hooks and memorable leads, as much as they would give focus on heavy riffs and brutal vocals and lyrics. This style reigns incredibly successful even today, with golden age bands like Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Wintersun, and Arch Enemy still going strong with newcomers like Insomnium and Mors Principium Est. From a less melodic but similarly elegant standpoint, symphonic death metal bands like Fleshgod Apocalypse and Septicflesh began appearing around this point in the timeline as well.
Recommended melodic death metal listening:
1. Carcass - Heartwork (1993)
2. At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul (1995)
3. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery (1995)
4. In Flames - The Jester Race (1996)
5. Insomnium - Above the Weeping World (2006)
Similarly to how mid-career classic black metal bands like Darkthrone and Satyricon took considerable influence from the classics and began the black 'n' roll movement, death 'n' roll began around the same time. Bands like Entombed and Carcass released albums with seemingly random influence from classic hard rock and heavy metal bands, inspiring a handful of smaller death metal bands to ride this scattered trend. Bands such as Xysma, Gorefest, Death Breath, Helltrain, Doomriders, Black Breath, and Debauchery picked up the death 'n' roll torch and went with it all the way through the subsequent decades from the 1990s onward.
Recommended death 'n' roll listening:
1. Entombed - Wolverine Blues (1993)
2. Gorefest - Erase (1994)
3. Carcass - Swansong (1996)
4. Doomriders - Black Thunder (2005)
5. Death Breath - Stinking Up the Night (2006)
Death metal has its fair share of fusion genres as well. Combining with other prominent metal genres has led to debate as to whether or not to include these as true subgenres or simply spinoffs. Progressive death metal, blackened death metal, and deathcore will be the key three discussed here. Progressive death metal bands are often lumped into the tech death scene, though I find them to be distinct enough in style and execution to warrant quick discussion. Bands can be progressive without being overly technical. Many progressive death metal bands simply fall under or take influence from progressive metal as a whole, such as Cynic, Gojira, and Opeth. Blackened death metal is simply death metal with black metal influence. This includes Behemoth, Hate, Belphegor, and many other bands. Some confuse this term with war metal, a subgenre of black metal, though I think there's enough distinction to be made. Lastly, we have deathcore. No one is arguing (to my knowledge) that deathcore isn't a genre, but whether or not it is a subgenre of death metal or not is up for debate. Most would consider it a subgenre of metalcore, but the death metal influence is too obvious not to include the genre in the death metal discussion. Deathcore includes bands such as All Shall Perish, The Red Chord, Despised Icon, and Whitechapel.
Recommended progressive death metal listening:
1. Cynic - Focus (1993)
2. Edge of Sanity - Crimson (1996)
3. Opeth - Morningrise (1996)
4. Death - The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
5. Gojira - From Mars to Sirius (2005)
Recommended blackened death metal listening:
1. Necrophobic - The Nocturnal Silence (1993)
2. Hate - Awakening of the Liar (2003)
3. Behemoth - Demigod (2004)
4. Belphegor - Goatreich: Fleshcult (2005)
5. Akercocke - Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone (2005)
Recommended deathcore listening:
1. The Red Chord - Fused Together in Revolving Doors (2002)
2. All Shall Perish - The Price of Existence (2006)
3. Despised Icon - The Ills of Modern Man (2007)
4. Whitechapel - This is Exile (2008)
5. After the Burial - Rareform (2008)
The most recent development in death metal is the creation of slam death metal. What characterizes this genre, you ask? Well, my friend, are you familiar with the concept of "slamming?" You respond with, "Why Zach, who do you take me for? Of course I know what slamming is! It's that one riff at 2:52 in Suffocation's 'Liege of Inveracity' right?" You would be quite right, you scholar you. So get this: they really out here making an entire genre based around a single riff. Even stranger than that concept, is the fact that it's still getting oodles of new bands contributing and building off of this sound, and the genre continues to flourish. Drawing from the brutal death metal of Suffocation and Pyrexia, slam bands like Devourment, Internal Bleeding, Abominable Putridity, Katalepsy, 7 H.Target, and Cephalotripsy created a genre of death metal based in pure filth and horror. Slam themes draw from the goriest, most depraved recesses of humankind's morbid curiosity. As a result, brutal death metal continues to dig itself deeper and deeper underground.
Recommended slam death metal listening:
1. Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten (1991)
2. Internal Bleeding - Voracious Contempt (1995)
3. Devourment - Butcher the Weak (2006)
4. 7 H.Target - Fast-Slow Demolition (2012)
5. Katalepsy - Autopsychosis (2013)
Death metal, whether you like it or not, is an undeniable cultural phenomenon. Even folks who have never heard a lick of death metal in their lives know what the term means (generally speaking). Death metal has become synonymous with extreme music, festering in the depths of the underground music scene, lying in wait to steal your innocent Metallica-listening 13 year old and transform him into a metal purist... But fear not, horrified parental figures, because death metal is more than just a stereotype. It exists to shed light on the pits of the human mind, to open up the realm of dark fantasy into the musical world and ask "what if?" The sheer weight that death metal carries and the wide spread of all the ways the sound can be performed furthers death metal's lasting power. It's honestly amazing how bands like Scar Symmetry can be considered under the same genre umbrella as bands like Kraanium. Such is the way of death metal.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Black Metal
Corpse paint. Blasphemy. Arson. What else could it be but black metal? The classic genre that concerned mothers everywhere desperately tried to dissuade their disenchanted youths from, black metal has prevailed as a prominent form of underground music since its very inception. According to a study done by the Heavy Metal Encyclopedia, it has the highest number of recognized bands in all of the metal subgenres, which is saying a lot. So what is it about black metal that amassed such a devoted and widespread following?
Taking huge influence from the speed metal band Venom and their occultish themes, the first wave of black metal (commonly referred to as "proto-black metal") took its initial steps in the early 1980s. A handful of bands rooted in the thrash metal sound began to utilize now-common black metal tropes such as lo-fi production, tremolo picked riffs, and more unorthodox vocal styles. This trend began with a band called Hellhammer, but quickly spread. Soon, bands like Tormentor, Master's Hammer, Sarcófago, and most notably Bathory began to pop up across the globe. Despite being labeled as black metal by underground sources at the time, the established sound and visual representation that folks associate with black metal today wouldn't appear until later.
Recommended 1st wave black metal listening:
1. Hellhammer - Satanic Rites (1983)
2. Sarcófago - I.N.R.I. (1987)
3. Bathory - Blood Fire Death (1988)
4. Tormentor - Anno Domini (1989)
5. Master's Hammer - The Mass (1989)
In the snow-covered forests of Norway, a new sound was forming. Building upon the groundwork laid by the proto-black metal bands, this new wave would up the ante in many ways: more fearsome, forlorn, shrieking vocals, faster, more sinister music, and a lifestyle based around the true black metal code. This was the second wave of black metal, known commonly as "raw" or "true" black metal. Many of the second wave bands were overtly Satanic, not stopping at simply using imagery or lyricism, but outright committing church burnings, with some even being involved in murders. The trend of wearing corpse paint during performances began here, and come showtime bands would often commit rituals or even sacrifices to up their black metal cred. Legendary bands like Darkthrone, Emperor, Taake, Satyricon, Burzum, and Immortal would arise from this movement, but it wasn't until one particular band that the genre would become (in)famous: The most notorious of the second wave black metal bands was undoubtedly Mayhem. When their vocalist killed himself, the bandmates took a picture of his corpse and used it for their next album cover. When disputes over property rights arose, the bassist stabbed the next vocalist twenty-three times in the chest. It was apparent that Mayhem meant business. With a sound heard from the pits of Helvete to the furthest reaches of the world, this new black metal style would continue to influence artists for decades to come.
Recommended 2nd wave black metal listening:
1. Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992)
2. Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)
3. Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994)
4. Mayhem - De Mysteriis dom Sathanas (1994)
5. Immortal - At the Heart of Winter (1999)
Once the 1980s began to draw to a close, a new subspecies of black metal took form. War metal, known to some as bestial black metal, is a very niche style of underground music, drawing heavily from death metal and grindcore, but staying true to the standard raw black metal formula. As its namesake would imply, war metal ups the violent lyrical content, often turning to subjects like nuclear war and the Holocaust for inspiration. Musically, the style shares more similarities with the first wave of black metal, rather than the second. Bands like Blasphemy, Archgoat, Beherit, and Bestial Warlust kicked the style off, but the genre didn't actually end up gaining much traction until the 2010s, with bands like Teitanblood, Revenge, and Infernal Coil all releasing genre-defining albums.
Recommended war metal listening:
1. Blasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom... (1990)
2. Bestial Warlust - Vengeance War 'Til Death (1994)
3. Archgoat - Whore of Bethlehem (2006)
4. Teitanblood - Death (2014)
5. Revenge - Behold.Total.Rejection (2015)
The next subgenre of black metal to arrive in the scene was symphonic black metal. This style, as the name would suggest, introduced Western classical music, symphonic, and orchestral elements into the black metal sound, providing a grandiose, epic atmosphere. It was spearheaded by Emperor, one of the biggest and earliest second wave groups, and other bands like Summoning and Arcturus. Soon, however, the style gained major traction, producing some of the most popular bands in the scene today: Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and Carach Angren.
Recommended symphonic black metal listening:
1. Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996)
2. Cradle of Filth - Dusk... and Her Embrace (1996)
3. Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
4. Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997)
5. Summoning - Stronghold (1999)
Melodic black metal, or meloblack for short, is a style of black metal that first arrived around the same time that symphonic black metal did. Meloblack placed significantly more focus on melody, harmony, and clean production than raw black metal, though keeping the genre's characteristic cold atmosphere, evil lyrical themes, and musical ferocity. Bands like Dissection, Sacramentum, Dawn, and Rotting Christ were the originators of the style, but it has since branched out to influence other groups such as Windir and Melechesh.
Recommended melodic black metal listening:
1. Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane (1995)
2. Rotting Christ - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers (1996)
3. Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun (1996)
4. Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy) (1997)
5. Windir - Arntor (1999)
Atmospheric black metal, commonly referred to as ambient black metal or, later, cosmic black metal, is a style of black metal focusing heavily on drenching the listener in atmospheric, dreamy textures and soundscapes. The aggression of previous black metal styles may or may not be present in this genre, as the washy, reverb-laden sounds produced by layers of guitars and keyboards may depict a less oppressive and animalistic nature. Bands such as Burzum, Summoning, and Blut Aus Nord began the genre back in the early 1990s, but atmoblack has become arguably the most popular style of black metal in the 2010s with bands like Wolves in the Throne Room, Agalloch, Deafheaven and ColdWorld.
Recommended atmospheric black metal listening:
1. Burzum - Filosofem (1996)
2. Agalloch - Pale Folklore (1999)
2. Drudkh - Blood in Our Wells (2006)
3. Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters (2007)
5. ColdWorld - Melancholie² (2008)
Pagan black metal, also sometimes referred to as folk black metal or simply Pagan metal, is a style of black metal that exemplifies elements from traditional folk music. This usually consists of utilizing regional instrumentation such as the violin or hurdy-gurdy, and focusing on Pagan themes and visuals. This genre is tied closely to folk metal as well as atmospheric black metal. Started by bands such as Primordial, Ulver, and Kampfar, Pagan black metal takes the black metal sound in a much more meditative route; focusing on naturalistic and simplistic Pagan elements rather than the disassembly of modern organized religions.
Recommended Pagan black metal listening:
1. Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)
2. Primordial - A Journey's End (1998)
3. Drudkh - Autumn Aurora (2004)
4. Negură Bunget - OM (2006)
5. Moonsorrow - Jumalten aika (2016)
Depressive black metal, known also as depressive suicidal black metal (DSBM), is essentially black metal with a doom metal attitude. Focusing on the dreariest, most drab aspects of existence, DSBM wallows in self-pity and despises every moment of its miserable collective life. Lyrical themes tie into exactly this, with an atmospheric wall of sound placed over forlorn shrieks and sobs as vocal styles. Needless to say, the genre is small and very niche, but its fanbase is dedicated to the craft. The genre carries an aura of mystery and vagueness to it, particularly in the grotesque appearance of the genre's posterchild, Nattramn from the band Silencer.
Recommended depressive black metal listening:
1. Bethlehem - Dictius te necare (1996)
2. Silencer - Death... Pierce Me (2001)
3. Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (2003)
4. Shining - V: Halmstad (2007)
5. Gris - Il était une forêt... (2007)
In the new millennium, black metal has seen itself undergo a few different incarnations apart from established subgenres. Bands like Enslaved have introduced progressive metal elements into their sound with albums like Below the Lights. Classic bands like Immortal and Taake continue to release great slabs of classic-sounding black metal. Bands like Thorns come along to introduce electronic and industrial metal elements into the mix. Weakling boasts a very particular type of atmosphere, and Darkspace takes atmosphere to near ambient music levels. Falkenbach combines with Viking metal, Deströyer 666 with thrash metal, and Deathspell Omega with avant-garde metal. Oranssi Pazuzu introduces psychedelic rock elements. Even after all of these stylistic offshoots, new black metal bands continue to write interesting and engaging music in a more classic style, such as Inquisition, Batushka, and Mgła. This proves that black metal is not simply a niche of its own, but can find a place in nearly every other musical niche in which there is to experiment, directly contributing to its longevity.
Recommended '00s & '10s black metal:
1. Weakling - Dead as Dreams (2000)
2. Enslaved - Below the Lights (2003)
3. Deathspell Omega - Paracletus (2010)
4. Mgła - Exercises in Futility (2015)
5. Batushka - Litourgiya (2015)
One of the most unorthodox pairings that black metal found itself in is a subgenre called black 'n' roll. Hearkening back to the simpler, power-chord based playing of the first wave of black metal, black 'n' roll bands take influence from classic hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal bands. Classic black metal bands such as Darkthrone, Satyricon, and Impaled Nazarene began the style through experimentation and evolution of their sound, and before long there were bands such as I, Khold, Zeal & Ardor, Chapel, and Kvelertak performing the sound as well.
Recommended black 'n' roll listening:
1. Khold - Phantom (2002)
2. Satyricon - Volcano (2002)
3. I - Between Two Worlds (2006)
4. Vreid - I Krig (2007)
5. Kvelertak - Kvelertak (2010)
The most recent style of black metal is what is commonly referred to as blackgaze, post-black metal, or hipster black metal. This sound takes a significant departure from the genres of the prior years, instead opting for a brighter, dreamier sound. As an offshoot of atmospheric black metal, wall of sound production and huge, reverby guitars are an absolute must. Some bands like Deafheaven and An Autumn for Crippled Children prefer to create a brighter, post-rock influenced sound. Others such as Alcest and Lantlôs dwell in a more shadowy, shoegaze-based sound.
Recommended blackgaze listening:
1. Alcest - Écailles de lune (2010)
2. Lantlôs - .neon (2010)
3. Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason (2011)
4. Deafheaven - Sunbather (2013)
5. An Autumn for Crippled Children - Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love (2013)
Across all of its varying incarnations, anywhere from Teitanblood's oppressive battering ram of a sound to the dreamy textures of Deafheaven, black metal has undeniably shaped and influenced both metal culture and societal counterculture since its inception. Its rebellious, DIY aesthetic draws upon the primal urge for youthful arrogance, similarly to what punk rock had done in prior decades. The scope of inspiration to be drawn from black metal is immense, and will continue to inspire the dark, cold, and eerie corners of the mind for years to come.
Taking huge influence from the speed metal band Venom and their occultish themes, the first wave of black metal (commonly referred to as "proto-black metal") took its initial steps in the early 1980s. A handful of bands rooted in the thrash metal sound began to utilize now-common black metal tropes such as lo-fi production, tremolo picked riffs, and more unorthodox vocal styles. This trend began with a band called Hellhammer, but quickly spread. Soon, bands like Tormentor, Master's Hammer, Sarcófago, and most notably Bathory began to pop up across the globe. Despite being labeled as black metal by underground sources at the time, the established sound and visual representation that folks associate with black metal today wouldn't appear until later.
Recommended 1st wave black metal listening:
1. Hellhammer - Satanic Rites (1983)
2. Sarcófago - I.N.R.I. (1987)
3. Bathory - Blood Fire Death (1988)
4. Tormentor - Anno Domini (1989)
5. Master's Hammer - The Mass (1989)
In the snow-covered forests of Norway, a new sound was forming. Building upon the groundwork laid by the proto-black metal bands, this new wave would up the ante in many ways: more fearsome, forlorn, shrieking vocals, faster, more sinister music, and a lifestyle based around the true black metal code. This was the second wave of black metal, known commonly as "raw" or "true" black metal. Many of the second wave bands were overtly Satanic, not stopping at simply using imagery or lyricism, but outright committing church burnings, with some even being involved in murders. The trend of wearing corpse paint during performances began here, and come showtime bands would often commit rituals or even sacrifices to up their black metal cred. Legendary bands like Darkthrone, Emperor, Taake, Satyricon, Burzum, and Immortal would arise from this movement, but it wasn't until one particular band that the genre would become (in)famous: The most notorious of the second wave black metal bands was undoubtedly Mayhem. When their vocalist killed himself, the bandmates took a picture of his corpse and used it for their next album cover. When disputes over property rights arose, the bassist stabbed the next vocalist twenty-three times in the chest. It was apparent that Mayhem meant business. With a sound heard from the pits of Helvete to the furthest reaches of the world, this new black metal style would continue to influence artists for decades to come.
Recommended 2nd wave black metal listening:
1. Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992)
2. Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)
3. Burzum - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994)
4. Mayhem - De Mysteriis dom Sathanas (1994)
5. Immortal - At the Heart of Winter (1999)
Once the 1980s began to draw to a close, a new subspecies of black metal took form. War metal, known to some as bestial black metal, is a very niche style of underground music, drawing heavily from death metal and grindcore, but staying true to the standard raw black metal formula. As its namesake would imply, war metal ups the violent lyrical content, often turning to subjects like nuclear war and the Holocaust for inspiration. Musically, the style shares more similarities with the first wave of black metal, rather than the second. Bands like Blasphemy, Archgoat, Beherit, and Bestial Warlust kicked the style off, but the genre didn't actually end up gaining much traction until the 2010s, with bands like Teitanblood, Revenge, and Infernal Coil all releasing genre-defining albums.
Recommended war metal listening:
1. Blasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom... (1990)
2. Bestial Warlust - Vengeance War 'Til Death (1994)
3. Archgoat - Whore of Bethlehem (2006)
4. Teitanblood - Death (2014)
5. Revenge - Behold.Total.Rejection (2015)
The next subgenre of black metal to arrive in the scene was symphonic black metal. This style, as the name would suggest, introduced Western classical music, symphonic, and orchestral elements into the black metal sound, providing a grandiose, epic atmosphere. It was spearheaded by Emperor, one of the biggest and earliest second wave groups, and other bands like Summoning and Arcturus. Soon, however, the style gained major traction, producing some of the most popular bands in the scene today: Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and Carach Angren.
Recommended symphonic black metal listening:
1. Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia (1996)
2. Cradle of Filth - Dusk... and Her Embrace (1996)
3. Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
4. Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997)
5. Summoning - Stronghold (1999)
Melodic black metal, or meloblack for short, is a style of black metal that first arrived around the same time that symphonic black metal did. Meloblack placed significantly more focus on melody, harmony, and clean production than raw black metal, though keeping the genre's characteristic cold atmosphere, evil lyrical themes, and musical ferocity. Bands like Dissection, Sacramentum, Dawn, and Rotting Christ were the originators of the style, but it has since branched out to influence other groups such as Windir and Melechesh.
Recommended melodic black metal listening:
1. Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane (1995)
2. Rotting Christ - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers (1996)
3. Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun (1996)
4. Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy) (1997)
5. Windir - Arntor (1999)
Atmospheric black metal, commonly referred to as ambient black metal or, later, cosmic black metal, is a style of black metal focusing heavily on drenching the listener in atmospheric, dreamy textures and soundscapes. The aggression of previous black metal styles may or may not be present in this genre, as the washy, reverb-laden sounds produced by layers of guitars and keyboards may depict a less oppressive and animalistic nature. Bands such as Burzum, Summoning, and Blut Aus Nord began the genre back in the early 1990s, but atmoblack has become arguably the most popular style of black metal in the 2010s with bands like Wolves in the Throne Room, Agalloch, Deafheaven and ColdWorld.
Recommended atmospheric black metal listening:
1. Burzum - Filosofem (1996)
2. Agalloch - Pale Folklore (1999)
2. Drudkh - Blood in Our Wells (2006)
3. Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters (2007)
5. ColdWorld - Melancholie² (2008)
Pagan black metal, also sometimes referred to as folk black metal or simply Pagan metal, is a style of black metal that exemplifies elements from traditional folk music. This usually consists of utilizing regional instrumentation such as the violin or hurdy-gurdy, and focusing on Pagan themes and visuals. This genre is tied closely to folk metal as well as atmospheric black metal. Started by bands such as Primordial, Ulver, and Kampfar, Pagan black metal takes the black metal sound in a much more meditative route; focusing on naturalistic and simplistic Pagan elements rather than the disassembly of modern organized religions.
Recommended Pagan black metal listening:
1. Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)
2. Primordial - A Journey's End (1998)
3. Drudkh - Autumn Aurora (2004)
4. Negură Bunget - OM (2006)
5. Moonsorrow - Jumalten aika (2016)
Depressive black metal, known also as depressive suicidal black metal (DSBM), is essentially black metal with a doom metal attitude. Focusing on the dreariest, most drab aspects of existence, DSBM wallows in self-pity and despises every moment of its miserable collective life. Lyrical themes tie into exactly this, with an atmospheric wall of sound placed over forlorn shrieks and sobs as vocal styles. Needless to say, the genre is small and very niche, but its fanbase is dedicated to the craft. The genre carries an aura of mystery and vagueness to it, particularly in the grotesque appearance of the genre's posterchild, Nattramn from the band Silencer.
Recommended depressive black metal listening:
1. Bethlehem - Dictius te necare (1996)
2. Silencer - Death... Pierce Me (2001)
3. Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (2003)
4. Shining - V: Halmstad (2007)
5. Gris - Il était une forêt... (2007)
In the new millennium, black metal has seen itself undergo a few different incarnations apart from established subgenres. Bands like Enslaved have introduced progressive metal elements into their sound with albums like Below the Lights. Classic bands like Immortal and Taake continue to release great slabs of classic-sounding black metal. Bands like Thorns come along to introduce electronic and industrial metal elements into the mix. Weakling boasts a very particular type of atmosphere, and Darkspace takes atmosphere to near ambient music levels. Falkenbach combines with Viking metal, Deströyer 666 with thrash metal, and Deathspell Omega with avant-garde metal. Oranssi Pazuzu introduces psychedelic rock elements. Even after all of these stylistic offshoots, new black metal bands continue to write interesting and engaging music in a more classic style, such as Inquisition, Batushka, and Mgła. This proves that black metal is not simply a niche of its own, but can find a place in nearly every other musical niche in which there is to experiment, directly contributing to its longevity.
Recommended '00s & '10s black metal:
1. Weakling - Dead as Dreams (2000)
2. Enslaved - Below the Lights (2003)
3. Deathspell Omega - Paracletus (2010)
4. Mgła - Exercises in Futility (2015)
5. Batushka - Litourgiya (2015)
One of the most unorthodox pairings that black metal found itself in is a subgenre called black 'n' roll. Hearkening back to the simpler, power-chord based playing of the first wave of black metal, black 'n' roll bands take influence from classic hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal bands. Classic black metal bands such as Darkthrone, Satyricon, and Impaled Nazarene began the style through experimentation and evolution of their sound, and before long there were bands such as I, Khold, Zeal & Ardor, Chapel, and Kvelertak performing the sound as well.
Recommended black 'n' roll listening:
1. Khold - Phantom (2002)
2. Satyricon - Volcano (2002)
3. I - Between Two Worlds (2006)
4. Vreid - I Krig (2007)
5. Kvelertak - Kvelertak (2010)
The most recent style of black metal is what is commonly referred to as blackgaze, post-black metal, or hipster black metal. This sound takes a significant departure from the genres of the prior years, instead opting for a brighter, dreamier sound. As an offshoot of atmospheric black metal, wall of sound production and huge, reverby guitars are an absolute must. Some bands like Deafheaven and An Autumn for Crippled Children prefer to create a brighter, post-rock influenced sound. Others such as Alcest and Lantlôs dwell in a more shadowy, shoegaze-based sound.
Recommended blackgaze listening:
1. Alcest - Écailles de lune (2010)
2. Lantlôs - .neon (2010)
3. Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason (2011)
4. Deafheaven - Sunbather (2013)
5. An Autumn for Crippled Children - Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love (2013)
Across all of its varying incarnations, anywhere from Teitanblood's oppressive battering ram of a sound to the dreamy textures of Deafheaven, black metal has undeniably shaped and influenced both metal culture and societal counterculture since its inception. Its rebellious, DIY aesthetic draws upon the primal urge for youthful arrogance, similarly to what punk rock had done in prior decades. The scope of inspiration to be drawn from black metal is immense, and will continue to inspire the dark, cold, and eerie corners of the mind for years to come.
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Thrash Metal
One of the most notorious of the metal styles, thrash metal remains an influential and timeless sound over thirty years after its inception. The sheer speed, ferocity, and aggression with which the key bands in the style play creates an outlet for the everyday struggles of the listener. The themes (ranging from the sociopolitical to the supernatural to prideful metal-meta) have taken their root and spread influence to nearly every subsequent subgenre. Thrash metal, characterized by pure speed and anger, created the perfect blueprint not just for the metal of the future, but for all forms of extreme metal thenceforth.
As the 1980s opened its doors, metal was riding a high. While the biggest heavy metal bands from the 1970s like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were taking the world by storm, a new wave of music had solidified its hold on the underground. Subsequent speed metal releases would soon develop into a much darker, more sinister style of music with the addition of "proto-"harsh vocals like yelling and even fry growling in some cases. Songs were longer, faster, more intricate... and thrash metal took its first steps.
Thrash metal first reared its head in the Los Angeles area of California as a direct response to the wave of glam metal showing popularity in mainstream rock and metal circles. To some, the pop-infused melodies and flair for flamboyant theatrics were the antithesis of the original metal spirit; the slow, plodding evil of Black Sabbath or the grandiose epics of Iron Maiden were being besmirched by permed hair and neon spandex pants. As a result, bands like Exodus, Metallica, and Slayer were formed, hearkening back to metal's roots, but with a new raging fire in its spirit. From this, the Big 4 was formed. The Big 4 of thrash metal represent the genre's biggest and most influential artists: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Other bands with the same musical ideas popped up all over the United States, such as Death Angel, Testament, Overkill, and Vio-Lence. Germany had a thriving thrash scene as well, with the Teutonic 4 being formed as well: Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, and Tankard. Voivod emerged from Canada, Celtic Frost from Switzerland, Sepultura from Brazil... soon, thrash metal had taken over the world.
Recommended Big 4 listening:
1. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)
2. Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986)
3. Anthrax - Among the Living (1987)
4. Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)
Recommended non-Big 4 '80s thrash metal listening:
1. Exodus - Bonded by Blood (1985)
2. Kreator - Pleasure to Kill (1986)
3. Testament- The Legacy (1987)
4. Sepultura - Beneath the Remains (1989)
5. Overkill - The Years of Decay (1989)
One band from the Big 4, Anthrax, was the oddball of the bunch. Being the only band formed in New York rather than California, Anthrax had developed a significantly different style of thrash than its contemporaries. Utilizing much more tongue-in-cheek humor, pop culture references, and shorter songs, Anthrax took noticeable influence from hardcore punk. Eventually, this would lead to an entire spinoff genre, aptly named crossover thrash. This hybrid genre of thrash and hardcore can be differentiated from similar styles like thrashcore by its leanings towards metal over punk. Bands like Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D. for short), Suicidal Tendencies, Carnivore, D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles), and Nuclear Assault would follow in Anthrax's footsteps and combine the two styles.
Recommended crossover thrash listening:
1. D.R.I. - Dealing With It! (1985)
2. S.O.D. - Speak English or Die (1985)
3. Nuclear Assault - Game Over (1986)
4. Carnivore - Retaliation (1987)
5. Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988)
Many established thrash metal bands released phenomenal albums in the early 1990s, but the style wouldn't find itself as popular as the decade continued. When Metallica released their self-titled album, known colloquially as "the Black Album," in 1991, the shape of metal was changed forever. Metallica had stepped away from the intricacy and speed of their first four albums in favor of a more polished production style and more mid-tempo riffs. As a result, this revitalized form of classic heavy metal exploded in popularity. Metallica became one of the biggest bands in the world, and most other thrash bands made significant changes to their sound as a result. Classic-sounding thrash metal took the backseat in the 1990s, resulting in the development of groove metal (which will be discussed in a future entry) and technical thrash metal. Metallica would become more of an experimental hard rock band, Slayer would experiment with groove metal, Megadeth went straightforward heavy metal, and Anthrax (with the arrival of vocalist John Bush) would become more of an alternative metal band.
Recommended '90s thrash metal listening:
1. Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death (1990)
2. Kreator - Coma of Souls (1990)
3. Sepultura - Arise (1991)
4. Demolition Hammer - Epidemic of Violence (1992)
5. Testament - The Gathering (1999)
Technical thrash metal is a subgenre of thrash that places extra emphasis on complex songwriting and demanding instrumentals such as that of Annihilator, Coroner, Sadus, and Artillery. Though the style never caught on as much as its parent genre in terms of popularity, its reach of influence is undeniable, as this style of metal would lead to the development of the first progressive metal bands, such as Watchtower, Voivod, and Mekong Delta. It was also an obvious precursor of technical death metal.
Recommended technical thrash metal listening:
1. Sadus - Illusions (1988)
2. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss (1989)
3. Annihilator - Alice in Hell (1989)
4. Coroner - No More Color (1989)
5. Mekong Delta - Dances of Death (And Other Walking Shadows) (1990)
The 2000s saw a bit of a renaissance in terms of the classic thrash sound. Though much of the charm of the Big 4 had dissolved in the 1990s, the underdogs continued going strong, with bands such as Exodus, Testament, and Kreator releasing fantastic comeback albums as the decade progressed. Machine Head combined the genre beautifully with groove metal, as Nevermore did with progressive metal. Crossover thrash also saw a resurgence, with the most significant band being Municipal Waste. Classic thrash had some revivalists such as Evile and Violator.
Recommended '00s thrash metal listening:
1. Kreator - Violent Revolution (2001)
2. Exodus - Tempo of the Damned (2004)
3. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (2005)
4. Machine Head - The Blackening (2007)
5. Testament - The Formation of Damnation (2008)
In the 2010s, thrash metal continued to be led by the underdogs of the '80s scene, continuing to release consistent releases amongst the new bands that popped up. Artists like Power Trip, Skeletonwitch, Heathen, Suicidal Angels, and Deceased... held the torch in the classic style. However, technical thrash's resurgence is the most significant in terms of the genre in the new decade: bands such as Havok, Revocation, and the mighty Vektor have released some of the 2010s' best metal records.
Recommended '10s thrash metal listening:
1. Overkill - Ironbound (2010)
2. Havok - Time is Up (2011)
3. Revocation - Chaos of Forms (2011)
4. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic (2017)
5. Vektor - Terminal Redux (2018)
Normally, I close these entries with some spiel about how the genre, despite its waning relevancy in the grand scheme of metal, is ultimately still important and influential today. With thrash metal, though, this doesn't need to be said. Thrash has continued to be a vibrant, creative, driving force of metal music since its inception, and will likely continue to be simply due to its stretch of influence and the value of its inspiration. Most everyone's first metal band is Metallica, and there's nothing quite as special as hearing Master of Puppets for the first time. Thrash is responsible for decades' worth of newcomers to the metal community, and arguably for that purpose alone, it will always be one of the most relevant and most essential aspects of the metal family tree.
As the 1980s opened its doors, metal was riding a high. While the biggest heavy metal bands from the 1970s like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were taking the world by storm, a new wave of music had solidified its hold on the underground. Subsequent speed metal releases would soon develop into a much darker, more sinister style of music with the addition of "proto-"harsh vocals like yelling and even fry growling in some cases. Songs were longer, faster, more intricate... and thrash metal took its first steps.
Thrash metal first reared its head in the Los Angeles area of California as a direct response to the wave of glam metal showing popularity in mainstream rock and metal circles. To some, the pop-infused melodies and flair for flamboyant theatrics were the antithesis of the original metal spirit; the slow, plodding evil of Black Sabbath or the grandiose epics of Iron Maiden were being besmirched by permed hair and neon spandex pants. As a result, bands like Exodus, Metallica, and Slayer were formed, hearkening back to metal's roots, but with a new raging fire in its spirit. From this, the Big 4 was formed. The Big 4 of thrash metal represent the genre's biggest and most influential artists: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Other bands with the same musical ideas popped up all over the United States, such as Death Angel, Testament, Overkill, and Vio-Lence. Germany had a thriving thrash scene as well, with the Teutonic 4 being formed as well: Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, and Tankard. Voivod emerged from Canada, Celtic Frost from Switzerland, Sepultura from Brazil... soon, thrash metal had taken over the world.
Recommended Big 4 listening:
1. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)
2. Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986)
3. Anthrax - Among the Living (1987)
4. Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)
Recommended non-Big 4 '80s thrash metal listening:
1. Exodus - Bonded by Blood (1985)
2. Kreator - Pleasure to Kill (1986)
3. Testament- The Legacy (1987)
4. Sepultura - Beneath the Remains (1989)
5. Overkill - The Years of Decay (1989)
One band from the Big 4, Anthrax, was the oddball of the bunch. Being the only band formed in New York rather than California, Anthrax had developed a significantly different style of thrash than its contemporaries. Utilizing much more tongue-in-cheek humor, pop culture references, and shorter songs, Anthrax took noticeable influence from hardcore punk. Eventually, this would lead to an entire spinoff genre, aptly named crossover thrash. This hybrid genre of thrash and hardcore can be differentiated from similar styles like thrashcore by its leanings towards metal over punk. Bands like Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D. for short), Suicidal Tendencies, Carnivore, D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles), and Nuclear Assault would follow in Anthrax's footsteps and combine the two styles.
Recommended crossover thrash listening:
1. D.R.I. - Dealing With It! (1985)
2. S.O.D. - Speak English or Die (1985)
3. Nuclear Assault - Game Over (1986)
4. Carnivore - Retaliation (1987)
5. Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988)
Many established thrash metal bands released phenomenal albums in the early 1990s, but the style wouldn't find itself as popular as the decade continued. When Metallica released their self-titled album, known colloquially as "the Black Album," in 1991, the shape of metal was changed forever. Metallica had stepped away from the intricacy and speed of their first four albums in favor of a more polished production style and more mid-tempo riffs. As a result, this revitalized form of classic heavy metal exploded in popularity. Metallica became one of the biggest bands in the world, and most other thrash bands made significant changes to their sound as a result. Classic-sounding thrash metal took the backseat in the 1990s, resulting in the development of groove metal (which will be discussed in a future entry) and technical thrash metal. Metallica would become more of an experimental hard rock band, Slayer would experiment with groove metal, Megadeth went straightforward heavy metal, and Anthrax (with the arrival of vocalist John Bush) would become more of an alternative metal band.
Recommended '90s thrash metal listening:
1. Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death (1990)
2. Kreator - Coma of Souls (1990)
3. Sepultura - Arise (1991)
4. Demolition Hammer - Epidemic of Violence (1992)
5. Testament - The Gathering (1999)
Technical thrash metal is a subgenre of thrash that places extra emphasis on complex songwriting and demanding instrumentals such as that of Annihilator, Coroner, Sadus, and Artillery. Though the style never caught on as much as its parent genre in terms of popularity, its reach of influence is undeniable, as this style of metal would lead to the development of the first progressive metal bands, such as Watchtower, Voivod, and Mekong Delta. It was also an obvious precursor of technical death metal.
Recommended technical thrash metal listening:
1. Sadus - Illusions (1988)
2. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss (1989)
3. Annihilator - Alice in Hell (1989)
4. Coroner - No More Color (1989)
5. Mekong Delta - Dances of Death (And Other Walking Shadows) (1990)
The 2000s saw a bit of a renaissance in terms of the classic thrash sound. Though much of the charm of the Big 4 had dissolved in the 1990s, the underdogs continued going strong, with bands such as Exodus, Testament, and Kreator releasing fantastic comeback albums as the decade progressed. Machine Head combined the genre beautifully with groove metal, as Nevermore did with progressive metal. Crossover thrash also saw a resurgence, with the most significant band being Municipal Waste. Classic thrash had some revivalists such as Evile and Violator.
Recommended '00s thrash metal listening:
1. Kreator - Violent Revolution (2001)
2. Exodus - Tempo of the Damned (2004)
3. Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (2005)
4. Machine Head - The Blackening (2007)
5. Testament - The Formation of Damnation (2008)
In the 2010s, thrash metal continued to be led by the underdogs of the '80s scene, continuing to release consistent releases amongst the new bands that popped up. Artists like Power Trip, Skeletonwitch, Heathen, Suicidal Angels, and Deceased... held the torch in the classic style. However, technical thrash's resurgence is the most significant in terms of the genre in the new decade: bands such as Havok, Revocation, and the mighty Vektor have released some of the 2010s' best metal records.
Recommended '10s thrash metal listening:
1. Overkill - Ironbound (2010)
2. Havok - Time is Up (2011)
3. Revocation - Chaos of Forms (2011)
4. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic (2017)
5. Vektor - Terminal Redux (2018)
Normally, I close these entries with some spiel about how the genre, despite its waning relevancy in the grand scheme of metal, is ultimately still important and influential today. With thrash metal, though, this doesn't need to be said. Thrash has continued to be a vibrant, creative, driving force of metal music since its inception, and will likely continue to be simply due to its stretch of influence and the value of its inspiration. Most everyone's first metal band is Metallica, and there's nothing quite as special as hearing Master of Puppets for the first time. Thrash is responsible for decades' worth of newcomers to the metal community, and arguably for that purpose alone, it will always be one of the most relevant and most essential aspects of the metal family tree.
Friday, July 5, 2019
Speed Metal
One of the most nebulously defined genres of metal has always been speed metal. Obviously, judging from its moniker, speed metal is fast. Yes, this is true, but there are plenty of metal styles that are characterized by being fast. Thrash metal, grindcore, death metal... all of these styles make liberal use of high tempos. What differentiates speed metal? Well, for starters, speed metal tends to vary regionally; early English speed metal takes from heavy metal, specifically the NWOBHM movement. American speed metal tends to point more towards the development of thrash metal. Speed metal originating from other European countries often sounds more indicative of later power metal. The general consensus is that speed metal is faster and heavier than traditional heavy metal, but lacks the outright aggression and harsh aesthetics of later thrash metal bands.
This style found its origins in the United Kingdom, with bands from the NWOBHM movement like Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Tank leading the charge in electrifyingly fast metal music. Despite these bands laying an obvious groundwork, the band that is most often credited with "inventing" speed metal is Motörhead. With songs like "Overkill" and "Ace of Spades," the signature double kick-drum playing had simply not be done in this fashion before. Metal listeners in the late 1970s were awestruck by the speed and ferocity with with Motörhead performed. Within the confines of the NWOBHM movement though, Venom was the band that solidified the sound most purely (also leading directly to the creation of thrash and black metal as well).
As the 1980s hit, speed metal began to take a form of its own. In the United States, thrash metal was taking its first fledgling steps, and thus bands like Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth began releasing demo material. Though almost all signature thrash metal bands take major influence from NWOBHM, these bands' early works would cross into speed metal territory far moreso than their contemporaries. Early power metal bands often began as speed metal bands as well, with some of the genre's key releases coming from popular names such as Helloween, Running Wild, and Blind Guardian. More important still were the "pure" speed metal bands showing up around this time, with the sound gaining traction with bands such as Exciter, Helstar, Liege Lord, Agent Steel, Whiplash, and Scanner.
Recommended '80s speed metal listening:
1. Venom - Welcome to Hell (1981)
2. Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
3. Agent Steel - Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)
4. Helloween - Walls of Jericho (1985)
5. Helstar - Nosferatu (1989)
By the 1990s, most of the initial speed metal bands had moved onto their solidified styles. Helloween, Blind Guardian, and Running Wild had all released some of the most iconic and recognizable power metal releases of all time. Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax did the same for thrash metal, though Megadeth's Rust in Peace still remains one of the genre's magnum opuses. Much of the buzz that speed metal had generated in its early years has now dissipated in favor of the styles that it influenced, with true, pure speed metal being harder and harder to find as the years progress. Early bands like Agent Steel, Whiplash, and ADX continue to release music, but it often lacks the punch that their initial works had acquired. Despite this, the genre remained steady in the underground, often in foreign settings, with bands like Vatican, Hermética, Bewitched, and Su Ta Gar.
Recommended '90s speed metal listening:
1. Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)
2. Vatican - Answer to the Master (1990)
3. Hermética - Ácido Argentino (1991)
4. Bewitched - Diabolical Desecration (1996)
5. Agent Steel - Omega Conspiracy (1999)
In the 2000s, speed metal mostly continued its downward descent. Classic bands like Enforcer and Agent Steel continue their underdog stories, while other power metal fusion bands such as Stormwarrior and Timelord began to pop up here and there. It wasn't until the 2010s where speed metal began to see a bit of a revival. An uptick in the classic '80s influence began to show itself in the form of bands such as Midnight, Hellripper, Vulture, Striker, Ambush, Chapel, Speedripper, Black Viper, and Deathhammer.
Recommended '00s and '10s speed metal listening:
1. Stormwarrior - Heading Northe (2008)
2. Midnight - Satanic Royalty (2011)
3. Enforcer - Death by Fire (2013)
4. Ambush - Firestorm (2014)
5. Hellripper - Coagulating Darkness (2017)
As unlikely as it is for speed metal to become a "popular" form of metal, its undeniable charm and influence on countless waves of metal will be noted for as long as the genre exists. As most of the earlier forms of metal have shown in previous entries, it doesn't matter whether or not a genre's revival wave gains traction or not. As long as the classic releases continue to age well, captivate, and inspire future music, speed metal will continue to be relevant.
As I promised on the hardcore punk entry, this is a much shorter entry. Speed metal's history is brief, but its influence is undeniable. The genres that we'll discuss from this point onward will be more and more relevant in today's age, as they've continued to evolve instead of dissolve and reappear in sporadic spots in later decades, as these past few tend to have done. Thanks to whoever actually reads these little things!
This style found its origins in the United Kingdom, with bands from the NWOBHM movement like Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Tank leading the charge in electrifyingly fast metal music. Despite these bands laying an obvious groundwork, the band that is most often credited with "inventing" speed metal is Motörhead. With songs like "Overkill" and "Ace of Spades," the signature double kick-drum playing had simply not be done in this fashion before. Metal listeners in the late 1970s were awestruck by the speed and ferocity with with Motörhead performed. Within the confines of the NWOBHM movement though, Venom was the band that solidified the sound most purely (also leading directly to the creation of thrash and black metal as well).
As the 1980s hit, speed metal began to take a form of its own. In the United States, thrash metal was taking its first fledgling steps, and thus bands like Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth began releasing demo material. Though almost all signature thrash metal bands take major influence from NWOBHM, these bands' early works would cross into speed metal territory far moreso than their contemporaries. Early power metal bands often began as speed metal bands as well, with some of the genre's key releases coming from popular names such as Helloween, Running Wild, and Blind Guardian. More important still were the "pure" speed metal bands showing up around this time, with the sound gaining traction with bands such as Exciter, Helstar, Liege Lord, Agent Steel, Whiplash, and Scanner.
Recommended '80s speed metal listening:
1. Venom - Welcome to Hell (1981)
2. Exciter - Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
3. Agent Steel - Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)
4. Helloween - Walls of Jericho (1985)
5. Helstar - Nosferatu (1989)
By the 1990s, most of the initial speed metal bands had moved onto their solidified styles. Helloween, Blind Guardian, and Running Wild had all released some of the most iconic and recognizable power metal releases of all time. Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax did the same for thrash metal, though Megadeth's Rust in Peace still remains one of the genre's magnum opuses. Much of the buzz that speed metal had generated in its early years has now dissipated in favor of the styles that it influenced, with true, pure speed metal being harder and harder to find as the years progress. Early bands like Agent Steel, Whiplash, and ADX continue to release music, but it often lacks the punch that their initial works had acquired. Despite this, the genre remained steady in the underground, often in foreign settings, with bands like Vatican, Hermética, Bewitched, and Su Ta Gar.
Recommended '90s speed metal listening:
1. Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)
2. Vatican - Answer to the Master (1990)
3. Hermética - Ácido Argentino (1991)
4. Bewitched - Diabolical Desecration (1996)
5. Agent Steel - Omega Conspiracy (1999)
In the 2000s, speed metal mostly continued its downward descent. Classic bands like Enforcer and Agent Steel continue their underdog stories, while other power metal fusion bands such as Stormwarrior and Timelord began to pop up here and there. It wasn't until the 2010s where speed metal began to see a bit of a revival. An uptick in the classic '80s influence began to show itself in the form of bands such as Midnight, Hellripper, Vulture, Striker, Ambush, Chapel, Speedripper, Black Viper, and Deathhammer.
Recommended '00s and '10s speed metal listening:
1. Stormwarrior - Heading Northe (2008)
2. Midnight - Satanic Royalty (2011)
3. Enforcer - Death by Fire (2013)
4. Ambush - Firestorm (2014)
5. Hellripper - Coagulating Darkness (2017)
As unlikely as it is for speed metal to become a "popular" form of metal, its undeniable charm and influence on countless waves of metal will be noted for as long as the genre exists. As most of the earlier forms of metal have shown in previous entries, it doesn't matter whether or not a genre's revival wave gains traction or not. As long as the classic releases continue to age well, captivate, and inspire future music, speed metal will continue to be relevant.
As I promised on the hardcore punk entry, this is a much shorter entry. Speed metal's history is brief, but its influence is undeniable. The genres that we'll discuss from this point onward will be more and more relevant in today's age, as they've continued to evolve instead of dissolve and reappear in sporadic spots in later decades, as these past few tend to have done. Thanks to whoever actually reads these little things!
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