Metal is more than just a style of music. It is a way of life. Metal is defined by more than just certain trends or fads. Metal music has endeared for generations. I have a passion for metal music. I love the energy and the musicianship of the bands. Fan devotion is a big reason metal music has carried on for so long. There are many different genres within metal, all sharing the same characteristics. Metal music is loud, heavy, and complex. Some of the best musicians in the world play metal music.

Metal music was derived from the blues rock of the 1960′s. Blues riffs were the focal point of early metal music as was the sound of the guitar. The metal guitar sound was created when Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi lost the tips of his fingers in a sheet metal factory accident. To continue playing the guitar Iommi, used light strings and tuned his guitar down to C#. This tuning is commonly used by jazz musicians.

Along with the tuned down guitars, Black Sabbath also featured the “Devil’s Tritone” in their music. The tritone has a distinct evil sound and can be heard in the main riff of the song “Black Sabbath.”

In the 1970′s Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy emerged featuring a twin lead guitar sound. The twin guitar sound became essential in metal music as the guitars are used to play unique harmonies and trade off solos.

The band Motörhead also emerged in the 1970′s, bringing a fast, raw, aggressive sound to the metal landscape. Their 1980 album, “Ace of Spades,” was a classic that helped urge in the thrash genre of metal. Thrash metal emerged as a force to be reckoned with when Metallica released their first album in 1983, “Kill ‘em All.” Along with Metallica – Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax soon emerged creating the “Big Four” of thrash metal.

Also in 1983, the band Quiet Riot released their album “Metal Health.” It was the first heavy metal album to reach the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 charts. The success of Quiet Riot brought upon the era of glam metal. Glam metal was characterized by flashy bands that had an accessible sound. Their songs typically contained a large, catchy, sing-along chorus. Glam metal is one of the most successful forms of metal music.

The death metal style of music also emerged in 1983. Possessed and Mantis (lated renamed Death) helped create the genre, taking the speed of thrash metal and adding the growling vocals commonly associated with metal music.

The black metal style of music formed in the 1980′s with bands such as Venom and Celtic Frost. Black and death metal have formed a rivalry of sorts, between the bands and fans of the two styles.

Around the same time the band Queensrÿche formed, taking the complexity of Rush and fusing it with the common metal sound, creating a genre called progressive metal. Progressive metal is known for its complex arrangements and sound. It has always been an underground form of music, even though bands like Queensrÿche and Dream Theater have had commercial success.

In 1987 the band Helloween released their album, “Keeper of the Seven Keys,” which helped create the genre power metal. Power metal took the melodic style of Iron Maiden and added bigger sing along choruses to the songs. It is a very popular genre in Europe.

In the early 1990′s, metal music was at its most powerful position commercially. That all changed soon after the release of Metallica’s “Black Album,” with the emergence of grunge music. Grunge took the raw energy of metal and removed its complexity, creating a style of music that was fit for radio.

Even though bands like Pantera had commercial success in the early to mid 1990′s, metal music returned to the underground. This all changed when nu metal started to take form. Nu metal consisted of a low, heavy sound that emphasized grooves. Some nu metal bands also featured a rapping vocal approach instead of the traditional singing or growling approach of other genres. Nu metal had considerable commercial success and helped bring metal music back into the forefront of the music community.

The creation of Ozzfest by legendary metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, brought a large scale tour of metal bands across the United States in the summer. This tour along with the others that followed, helped keep the metal community strong. Metal music is at a very strong point in its existence, with the emergence of new bands, and the ability of older bands to continue putting out quality material. Metal music is a style that has survived many hardships and remains as strong as ever.