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!