Lessons on Heavy Metal: Pre-Metal -- A rationale for approaching metal, and some notes on influences

A short while back a friend of mine, in response to my lack of knowledge on pop-music, said "I'll teach you about pop music if you teach me about Metal. Deal?" I agreed.

So here's my attempt to introduce the subject of metal:

I started by asking 5 specific questions to get a sense of where my friend was at. I wanted to get a sense of his general tastes, how far he would go in terms of listening, and what he felt he had been previously introduced to:

1.  What are some bands you enjoy that you consider metal? (past to present)
2.  When you listen to music what do you enjoy most about it?
1. Lyrics?

2. Musicality/quality of musicianship? 

3. Sound quality (stripped down, rhythmic, progressive, harsh/aggressive, melodic)?
3. With regard to overall content and subject, how opened minded are we with…

1. Death?
Blood, guts, gore and violence?

2. Melancholia?
3. Profanity?

4. Criticisms of organized religion? (Apathy to openly expressed hatred)

5. Satan? (Beware of him and/or perhaps worship him)

6. Social and political commentary?
7. Drugs?
8. 
Pure balls-out aggression?

9. Assorted historical lore?
4. Vocals…

1. The voice is an instrument, bring it on, I'm game for whatever!

2. High-pitched shrieking/screaming might be much

3. Deep guttural vocals speak to my innate tribal senses.
4. I really just prefer clean singing.
5. Falsetto Opera? Why not?!?
5. What's your favorite rock album to date, why do you love it so?

Why do this?

1) I ask these questions to get it all out on the table.

One thing I've come to notice when broaching the subject of metal with people, it's sometimes a subject that is seemingly shrouded in mystery. If it isn't then it is most certainly one that has a few key images that come to mind 1) certain actions-headbanging, aggressive mosh pits 2) Specific characters ranging from Ozzy Osbourne to Marilyn Manson to Axel Rose. 3) Loud volume that reminds us of an incomprehensible madness. While it certainly does involve a great deal of those things, it's not just those things.

2) It gives me a sense of where to start. In this case, we'll go back to the beginning. Where does the Heavy Metal sound come from?

I'll let Sam Dunn's episode on Pre-Metal influences and history do most of the talking here...

This method and approach to understanding Heavy Metal, the history and influences to its creation, is one that I've used with my students in geography class. Yes, my students study Heavy Metal in class. We use the genre as an example of cultural geography studies and in a discussion of globalization (more to be posted about this later).

Why know the history? Well it shares a great deal about what the thinking of a musician is like; what musically informs them, what culture informs them, what locations and social ideas shape them. 

Important takeways to have about this episode: The genre is one that evolves. Heavy Metal and its extreme sub genres are one that grow over time. What was decidedly extreme in the early years of Black Sabbath may pale in comparison to those of later years.

If you'd like to have a closer look at some of the comparisons Sam Dunn makes in his episode (Howlin' Wolf's vocal style against that of Lemmy of Motorhead, or Buddy Rich's drumming against Dave Lombardo for instance) check out these youtube playlists:

Classical Music and Metal Music Playlist 

Blues Music and Metal Music Playlist

Jazz Music and Metal Music Playlist

Early Rock N' Roll and Metal Music Playlist

Yours in Metal,

-L