Important points about Heavy Metal!
- Most people associate Heavy Metal as a harder and faster type of Rock, the genre is actually a continuation of “the Devil’s music”: Blues.
- Two aspects of Blues that have always remained: lyrics about sorrow, pain, tragedy, and a more concealed subtext revolving the Devil (though for Blues this was more a reputation than an actual theme). Heavy Metal expanded on these aspects in an obsessive manner. Death, destruction, evil themes, lots of black, sharp and gothic artwork, and a hand symbol that both resembles the Devil’s horns and the letter “M”. These are the main elements of stereotypical Metal artwork/culture that have become dominant.
- The visual language of Metal – a symbolism of anything dark or evil – transcends into corresponding fashion: black T-shirts with Metal artwork, black leather, wristbands with sharp pins, long hair, black jeans and of course: metal.
- Heavy Metal is an overcharged, amped up “metal” genre, with highly technical unique elements such as blast beats, double bass drums, 12 string bass, lightning guitar solos and difficult voice techniques (grunting, falsetto, opera, screeching, etc.).
- Heavy Metal songs are usually longer than Rock songs, with more elaborate and diverse song structures.
- Without a radio friendly format, Metal has stayed clear from mainstream attention, although the genre is internationally well-known and connects fans across the most diverse of countries.
- Heavy Metal uses the Tritone: a musical dissonant interval of three whole tones that conveys a sense of restlessness. The Tritone used to be associated with the Devil since the 18th century.
- Metal topics usually include political, sexist, and religious viewpoints.
- Instrumentation: Rock band set up: (bass, drums, guitar, vocals).
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