HEAVY METALThe Relationship between Music and Society

What is heavy metal?A subgenre of rock musicDeveloped early 1960s and 1970sCreated further subgenres

Thrash Metal

Death Metal

Nu Metal Glam Metal

Progressive Metal

Black Metal

Groove MetalPower Metal

Speed Metal

Folk Metal

Rap Metal

Symphonic Metal

Doom Metal

Grindcore Metalcore

Mathcore

Technical Metal

Avant-garde Metal

Funk Metal

Neo-classical Metal

Pirate Metal

Heavy Metal FansLoyal fan baseAlso called “metalheads”

Heavy Metal Fans (cont.)Formed a community separate from

mainstream societyOwn standards for authenticity

Metal and FashionStyle influenced by historical and

contemporary events, as well as other subculturesBikerLeatherCommon fashion

includes denim jeans/jackets, leather clothing, band shirts, long hair

Metal and Fashion (cont.)Rob Halford central in popularising the

leather image

Metal and Fashion (cont.)Historic and world events also have had

strong influenceVietnam WarVikings

Metal and Fashion (cont.)

Lyrical ThemesFeature a wide range of subjects

DrugsPoliticsSexWarOccultReligionPhilosophyFantasyRomantic tragedy

Lyrical ThemesFeature a wide range of subjects

Drugs

Sex

Occult

Lyrical Themes (cont.)Important part of metal cultureLyrics influenced by societySometimes dark lyrical subjects have become

point of criticism for metalE.g. Judas Priest case

Lyrical Themes (cont.)Have had influence on fans both negative and

positiveE.g. Scandinavian black metal

Immortal

Lyrical Themes (cont.)Have had influence on fans both negative and

positiveE.g. Rage Against the Machine

ConclusionContemporary society has influenced nearly

all aspects of heavy metal in some wayHeavy metal has had both a positive and

negative relationship with society

References Khan-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge.

Berg Publishers.

Moore, Timothy E. (1996). “Scientific Consensus and Expert Testimony: Lessons from the Judas Priest Trial”, The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Available at http://www.csicop.org/si/show/scientific_consensus_and_expert_testimony. Accessed 27/11/09.

Rahman, Nader (2006). “Hair Today Gone Tomorrow”, Star Weekend Magazine. Available at http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/07/04/musings.htm. Accessed 29/11/09.

Weinstein, Deena (2000). Heavy Metal: The Music and Its Culture. (Revised Edition). Cambridge, Da Capo Press.

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