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At the turn of the decade in 1970, while England was feeling the effects of a psychedelic rock and blues hangover, a Birmingham based band were about to release their debut album. Originally named Earth, a roots blues-rock quartet formed in 1966 had officially changed their name the previous year. The band looked to be dead and buried when their guitarist and founding member left to join Jethro Tull but upon his return the band set to work on their first full length recording. Their name change now in place, they released their self-titled debut in the February of 1970.

After an industrial accident at 17 years of age in a sheet metal factory, which left him without the tips of his fingers on his right hand, he had considered abandoning his passion for playing the guitar. However, inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt who only had partial use of two paralysed fingers of his fretting hand, he would go on to mould hardened tips or thimbles from plastic to allow himself to continue playing while also using lighter banjo strings and down-tuning his guitar. The consequences of this would be that Tony Iommi would help to create a sound that steered his band away from the psychedelic and blues-rock trends of the time and help to create a genre of music that would quickly grow in popularity throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Iommi, the man often credited with the invention of the heavy metal riff, and his band Black Sabbath released two records in the same year that would become to be considered essential albums in the development of the genre.



Of course the origins of heavy metal are debateble. Many believe that bands such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, Mountain and Deep Purple among others can all be credited in some way to the formation of the genre, whether these bands are generally recognised as metal bands or not. A deeper, lower, heavier guitar tone would become much more prominent in rock music all over the world, along with a faster pace, power drumming and an overall aggression in its delivery. Hard rock bands began to form very quickly and acts such as Blue Oyster Cult, Kiss, Motorhead and Scorpions would all help to lay the groundwork for an explosion of heavy metal bands in the seventies and early eighties, especially in the UK.



The likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and Venom were establishing a heavy metal scene in the UK while the likes of Van Halen, Ratt and Motley Crue were establishing a scene in the US. In the 1980’s the genre would start to unravel further. In California, a number of bands playing faster, more aggressive metal music in the San Francisco bay area would be credited with the origins of Thrash metal. Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth were labelled the “big four” bands for this scene and thrash would become more popular around the world with the likes of Exodus, Sepultura and Sodom all helping to popularise the genre. Away from the commercial mainstream heavy metal would quickly begin to evolve and the genre was then split into several other sub-genres.



Possessed and Death were at the foreground of a blossoming Death metal scene. Venom, Celtic Frost and Bathory are recognised as being among the first Black metal bands. Usually inspired by Black Sabbaths down-tuned, sludge-sounding riffs, bands like Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Trouble, Witchfinder General and Candlemass would develop the Doom metal genre. The list of metal sub-genres simply is staggering and it continues to evolve. Bands such as Pantera, White Zombie, Ministry, Fear Factory, Rage Against The Machine and Tool have brought heavy metal through the 1990’s into the new millenium, through many different trends and styles, many different scenes of varying levels of commercial success and popularity and as with most styles of music the genre continues to expand, evolve and revisit its roots at the same time.

My ears are always open to any metal music that is new to me. As you may have noticed, alot of specific sub-genres have their own themed weeks so i can see this week being devoted more to traditional metal bands. But check the theme schedule, use common sense and if you feel something is appropriate to contribute then do it. This week could just as easily be used to celebrate the variety within such a wide ranging genre of music. Lets hope we dont spend the next week focusing too much on classifying the genre of any song, album or band contributed here but rather share some of our favourite metal music and if you arent a fan, heres hoping our members can offer you something that you may enjoy.

Originally Posted by Gavin B. (Post 892252) The first group to describe their own music as "heavy metal" was the San Francisco based power trio Blue Cheer.

Originally Posted by TheFolkslave (Post 892188) Let us pay our respects to propably one of the most influental metal bands of 00s that decided to call it quits this year.

Originally Posted by mojopinuk (Post 892620) @Jackhammer - that Rods track is fantastic! Terrible name for a band but i think i could get right into this. And Tank, i remember you have mentioned these before. I'm starting to think i downloaded some of their stuff now, i'll have to check. If i did, they are on an old hard drive. There is certainly a whiff of Motorhead in there but that doesnt matter, Motorhead were never the most original band themselves were they? It still sounds good. Plus they are local lads, i should get on this.

Originally Posted by jackhammer (Post 892524) If you are looking some great classic Metal then the U.S 80's trio The Rods are criminally underated:

Originally Posted by jackhammer (Post 892524) The Newcastle (U.K) 80's band Tank were so good too although there is definitely a whiff of Motorhead in there:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk (Post 892620) @Alfred - i've been meaning to check out Genghis Tron for some time now. They seem to be forever touring and playing the same venue here frequently. Where would suggest i start? How many records do they have?

Originally Posted by mojopinuk (Post 892620) @Antonio - I had to check out that Foreign Objects track, given the other two bands you posted. I love that Acid Bath record and Electric Wizard are one of my absolute favourite bands. It sounds like it might be something I could get into. I looked them up and ill grab that 2 disc collection at some point i think.

Originally Posted by mojopinuk (Post 892620) @ Hank - Absolutely nothing wrong with EyeHateGod, Sleep and Melvins! I've never heard Dystopia though. What are they like? And also yes, i think there should be a number of metal sub-genres that have their own weel at some point down the line. I wouldnt let this week get bogged down in sub-genre debate though. If its heavy metal, it qualifies as far as im concerned.

Originally Posted by boo boo (Post 893255) Well I have been listening to Deep Purple a lot and of course they're one of the founding fathers of the genre.

Originally Posted by boo boo (Post 893255) Well I have been listening to Deep Purple a lot and of course they're one of the founding fathers of the genre.

Originally Posted by rammetal7 (Post 893529) Inspired by a conversation in this thread , I think MB should have its own "100 greatest metal songs" list.

Originally Posted by Vanilla (Post 893533) Make it then! :D

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete (Post 893563) I would like to take this time to highlight a neglected and underrated album from metal pioneers Judas Priest. I understand and respect people's opinions on Rob Halford and he is the metal god but I want to pay my respect to Tim 'Ripper' Owens who fronted the band from 1996-2004. While Owens only appeared on two studio albums, his vocal styles and youth really helped Judas Priest keep up with the newer, more extreme styles of metal that had been festering underground for so long. Priest's 1997 album Jugulator was an incredibly heavy album that featured lots of double-bass drumming and low-tune guitar playing. While this does not necessarily equate to the requirements for a good metal band, I found it to be quite interesting to see a pioneer band from the '70's keeping up with the new kids on the metallic block, and in many cases blowing the straight out of the fuc*ing water! It's a shame that Jugulator didn't sell well, many of the complaints were directed towards Owens, critics and fans alike uncomfortable with the new vocalist. They were also largely unhappy with the content matter of the songs being largely violent, many of them suggesting that the band was merely trying to copy death metal artists in order to expand their demographic. Of course on the other side there were critics who were judging it by what it was and not what they expected it to be. And what it was was an amazing rebirth of a band, utilizing the techniques of the very band they inspired. Owens vocals soared high above the music, much like Bruce ****inson, as well as going into the lower, more thrash-styled growl. If there's one thing that all critics can agree on though, it's that the album did spawn one "classic" hit. The 10 minute long finale "Cathedral Spires" is perhaps one of the best closing songs off any album, just listen for yourself: While Halford will never be surpassed in terms of importance to Judas Priest, I do wish that people were a little bit more open and appreciative to what Owens did for the band.