The History of Heavy Metal

Heavy metal is a subgenre of rock characterized by loud instrumentation, fast tempos, and aggressive style. Emerging in the 1960s and 1970s, it drew influences from rock, blues, and classical music. Pioneering bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath set the stage, while Judas Priest and Motörhead refined the sound. The 1980s saw the rise of thrash metal with bands like Metallica. Heavy metal is defined by distorted guitars, deep basslines, fast drumming, and intense vocals, often exploring dark themes. It stands in contrast to mainstream genres like pop.

What role do distorted guitars play in heavy metal music?

In what ways do the themes of heavy metal lyrics differ from mainstream music?