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| − | '''Heavy metal''' is an Anti-Christian <ref> [http://www.av1611.org/rock.html Hatred of Jesus Christ]</ref> musical genre that was developed mainly in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, heavy metal is primarily noted for an emphasis on distortion, palm muting, aggressive lyrical content, bass-heavy sounds, as well as the influence of blues scales and classical structures. Heavy Metal has also spawned numerous sub genres which omit or improve upon standard technique, or invent new one altogether, giving heavy metal as a genre an impressive variety of styles and sounds. Heavy metal's origins are both rooted in the cultural upheavals that occurred during the 1960s, such as the conflict in Vietnam and the reevaluation and mass rejection of previous social schema, and the enormous influence of bands such as [[The Jimi Hendrix Experience]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[Black Sabbath]] that are regarded as proto-metal as well as hard rock. Other musical influences include psychedelic rock, blues rock, and the still developing progressive rock genre. Though heavy metal initially borrowed heavily from the blues in terms of playing style, this was later largely discarded by future metal acts such as [[Judas Priest]]. | + | '''Heavy metal''' is a musical genre that was developed mainly in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, heavy metal is primarily noted for an emphasis on distortion, palm muting, aggressive lyrical content, bass-heavy sounds, as well as the influence of blues scales and classical structures. Heavy Metal has also spawned numerous sub genres which omit or improve upon standard technique, or invent new one altogether, giving heavy metal as a genre an impressive variety of styles and sounds. Heavy metal's origins are both rooted in the cultural upheavals that occurred during the 1960s, such as the conflict in Vietnam and the reevaluation and mass rejection of previous social schema, and the enormous influence of bands such as [[The Jimi Hendrix Experience]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[Black Sabbath]] that are regarded as proto-metal as well as hard rock. Other musical influences include psychedelic rock, blues rock, and the still developing progressive rock genre. Though heavy metal initially borrowed heavily from the blues in terms of playing style, this was later largely discarded by future metal acts such as [[Judas Priest]]. |
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| | The first style of rock which grew from this was distorted [[blues]] sound created by [[San Francisco]] based [[psychedelia]] band, '''Blue Cheer''', whose influence on electric blues bands could be seen from [[Cream (rock band)|Cream]] to [[Jimi Hendrix]] to '''ZZ Top'''. The second style was [[progressive rock]], which in 1968 was led by [[England|English]] band '''King Crimson''', combining jazz, classical, experimental, psychedelic and folk music. The precursor to this sound was [[The Beatles]], arguably the first band to leave the standard rock format, creating longer song structures, many of which were narrative or [[opera|neo-operatic]]. This was the main inspiration for later bands such as '''Camel''', [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] and [[Yes (band)|Yes]]. | | The first style of rock which grew from this was distorted [[blues]] sound created by [[San Francisco]] based [[psychedelia]] band, '''Blue Cheer''', whose influence on electric blues bands could be seen from [[Cream (rock band)|Cream]] to [[Jimi Hendrix]] to '''ZZ Top'''. The second style was [[progressive rock]], which in 1968 was led by [[England|English]] band '''King Crimson''', combining jazz, classical, experimental, psychedelic and folk music. The precursor to this sound was [[The Beatles]], arguably the first band to leave the standard rock format, creating longer song structures, many of which were narrative or [[opera|neo-operatic]]. This was the main inspiration for later bands such as '''Camel''', [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] and [[Yes (band)|Yes]]. |
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| | ==1980s== | | ==1980s== |
| | During the early 1970s three British bands were formed that would arguably become the most dramatically influential of the genre during the 1980s: [[Judas Priest]], Motorhead, and [[Iron Maiden]]. The 1980s also gave rise to the American thrash metal movement with notable bands being [[Metallica]], [[Megadeth]], Anthrax, and Slayer. During the 1980s glam metal also became very popular with bands including Twisted Sister, Def Leppard, and [[Stryper]]. | | During the early 1970s three British bands were formed that would arguably become the most dramatically influential of the genre during the 1980s: [[Judas Priest]], Motorhead, and [[Iron Maiden]]. The 1980s also gave rise to the American thrash metal movement with notable bands being [[Metallica]], [[Megadeth]], Anthrax, and Slayer. During the 1980s glam metal also became very popular with bands including Twisted Sister, Def Leppard, and [[Stryper]]. |
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| | + | ==1990s== |
| | + | The advent of Grunge in the early 90s is seen as the end of glam metal dominance. Nirvana's 'Nevermind' caused widespread public interest in alternative forms of music. [[Groove Metal]] became popular with Pantera's 'Cowboys from Hell' and Sepultura's 'Chaos AD'. The normally marginalized sub-genres of metal, that began forming in the early to mid 80s, soon enjoyed much wider exposure. [[Black Metal]], especially in the Scandinavian countries, began to see a huge rise in popularity<ref>fact</ref>. [[Marduk]], [[Mayhem]], and [[Burzum]] were see at the forefront of the early black metal scene, and continued to see popularity due to the controversies that surrounded the bands, such as Marduk's fascination with the Third Reich and anti-christian lyrical content; the murder of Mayhem's lead guitarist Euronymous by Burzum's Varg Vikernes, as well as the lyrical content and album themes of everything post 'Deathcrush'. |
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| | ==Criticism== | | ==Criticism== |
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| | :The development of heavy metal music in the '60s and its continuing popularity through the '70s, '80s, and '90s coincides, for one thing, with the period of the greatest popularity horror films and books have ever known. Both mark a transitional moment in our history: the end of Pax Americana; new economic crises; de-industrialization, the decline of unions and the rise of low-pay service jobs; revelations of corrupt leadership; powerful social movements challenging dominant policies on race, gender, ecology, and consumer rights; new challenges to the stability of social institutions such as the family; and redefinitions of political themes such as freedom. Much of the culture of the past twenty years has functioned to restore the sense of security undermined by these disruptions. Heavy metal, like horror films, has provided ways of producing meaning in an irrational society. <ref>[http://www.superseventies.com/stairway.html Dr. Robert Walser, Professor of Musicology, Dartmouth College] - author of ''Running With the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music''</ref> | | :The development of heavy metal music in the '60s and its continuing popularity through the '70s, '80s, and '90s coincides, for one thing, with the period of the greatest popularity horror films and books have ever known. Both mark a transitional moment in our history: the end of Pax Americana; new economic crises; de-industrialization, the decline of unions and the rise of low-pay service jobs; revelations of corrupt leadership; powerful social movements challenging dominant policies on race, gender, ecology, and consumer rights; new challenges to the stability of social institutions such as the family; and redefinitions of political themes such as freedom. Much of the culture of the past twenty years has functioned to restore the sense of security undermined by these disruptions. Heavy metal, like horror films, has provided ways of producing meaning in an irrational society. <ref>[http://www.superseventies.com/stairway.html Dr. Robert Walser, Professor of Musicology, Dartmouth College] - author of ''Running With the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music''</ref> |
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| − | ===Satanism===
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| − | Many bands create giant props of Satan for their concerts accompanied with flames and fireworks in order to recreate the conditions of [[Hell]]. Metal songs that promote Satanism include ''"By Demons Be Driven"'' by Pantera, <ref>[http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/pantera/vulgardisplayofpower.html#10 By Demons Be Driven lyrics] </ref> <ref> [http://www.av1611.org/rock.html Rock music: Devil's advocate] </ref> and ''"The Conjuring"'' by Megadeth.<ref> [http://www.completealbumlyrics.com/lyric/34511/Megadeth+-+The+Conjuring.html The Conjuring lyrics] </ref> <ref> [http://www.av1611.org/rock.html Rock music: Devil's advocate] </ref>
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| − | Bands such as [[Mudvayne]] even heavily alter their appearance so that they physically resemble [[Satan]] himself.
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| − | The "Devil-Horns" hand signal is a common gesture made in metal culture. This is done by placing your ring, and middle finger together along with your thumb and then raising your index and pinky fingers. This is done to look like the horns of [[Satan]].
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| − | Some individuals become so immersed in the Heavy Metal culture that the vehemently deny the obvious correlation between Heavy Metal and Satanism.
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| − | ===Anti-Christianity===
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| − | Anti-Christian sentiments are quite common amongst the extreme metal sub genres, especially in the Scandanavian black metal scene. Metal bands that claim to be Christian are criticized for making Un-Christian sounding music, or faking Christianity to sell records or corrupt young Christians. Supporters of Christian metal often deny the inherently violent natures of heavy metal music and overlook the fact that Jesus would not want Christians to channel these negative emotions.
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| − | ===Suicide and Violence===
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| − | Besides Satanic criticism, Heavy Metal music has been known to promote violence, sex and suicide among youths. Glamorization of suicide can be observed in songs such as ''"Suicide Solution"'' by Ozzy Osbourne <ref> [http://www.metrolyrics.com/suicide-solution-lyrics-ozzy-osbourne.html Suicide solution lyrics] </ref> and ''"Fade to Black"'' by Metallica, <ref> [http://www.encycmet.com/songs/srfade2b.shtml Fade to Black is about suicide]</ref> while violence is promoted in songs like ''"Take No Prisoners"'' by Megadeth <ref> [http://www.actionext.com/names_m/megadeth_lyrics/take_no_prisoners.html Take no prisoners lyrics] </ref> and ''"Die by the Sword"'' by Slayer. Metal songs with violent lyrics have shown to lead to an increase of the amount of violent thoughts and actions within the listener.<ref>[http://www.apa.org/releases/violentsongs.html Violent Music Lyrics Increase Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings, According to new Study]</ref> Riots after Heavy Metal concerts are a regular, expected occurence. <ref> [http://www.memoryarchive.org/en/Guns_'n_Roses_Riot,_1991 Guns N Roses Riot] </ref> <ref> [http://www.deftone.com/archives/2002/11/guns_n_roses_vancouver_riot Another Guns N Roses riot] </ref> <ref> [http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/1992/Montreal/montreal.html ANOTHER Guns N Roses riot] </ref>
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| | ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |