Buds Required

[TheX]

 

[throet]

 

[ATXZJ]

When I listen to this track the neighbors bang on my door begging me to turn it up😎

Edited January 8, 2021 by ATXZJ

[Sluggo]

Gets me home. 

[TheX]

No video...just a *badass bass player*. Seeing him live was truly an unforgettable experience.

[ATXZJ]

Thunderfingers! Dude was 100% badass

 

 

[throet]

One thing this thread has taught me is how much mountain bikers like Heavy Metal. I'm really not sure why after growing up in the 70s I never caught on with the heavy metal craze of the 80s and 90s. I thoroughly enjoyed the hard rock bands throughout the seventies, but the line between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal started to blur for me some even in the seventies with bands like Black Sabbath, who I never liked in the same way I liked Zeppelin and Floyd. As the Eighties rolled around, my musical tastes veered more into 80s Alternative, although still enjoying the carryover rock bands from the seventies. Some bands, like Van Halen and AC-DC, seemed to blur the lines for me even further, although I enjoyed many tracks from them and others like them. Then there were bands like KISS and Twisted Sister that I just ignored altogether, but I suppose technically those were classified as Shock Rock.

Would love to hear from some of you head-banging metal fans on what makes that sub-genre special for you, and whether you equally enjoy hard rock or just tolerate it while yearning for something heavier? Found this article that tries to break it down some. Suppose in the end it doesn't really matter - just listen to what moves you (literally and figuratively). Just curious.      

Hard Rock Vs. Heavy Metal

By: SandraVahtelUpdated September 15, 2017

The close similarities shared by hard rock and heavy metal can make it difficult to identify their differences. Both genres have similar, even at times overlapping, origin stories. Musically, they both include loud guitars, pounding drums, driving rhythms and often vitriolic vocals. However, each genre has its own defining characteristics, from its place in the musical lexicon to the technical specifications of its musicality.

Origins

rock star image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com

The 1960s saw the birth and popularization of rock and roll by way of such bands as The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Kinks. Though certainly controversial at the time, the early sounds these bands produced were light and poppy but gave way to a whole host of young musicians armed with guitars and a love for the blues.

History vs. History

Taxonomically speaking, the classification of hard rock has existed longer than heavy metal, but not by much. Led Zeppelin is often credited as the original hard rock band, followed by such acts as Cream, The Who and Deep Purple. Though similar in sound and scope, and most assuredly influenced directly by hard rock, the origins of heavy metal music trace back to 1970s bands like Black Sabbath and Steppenwolf. The burgeoning of the movement signified a turn from the more melodic hard rock genre into exactly what the name "heavy metal" suggests: heavier sounds and darker themes.

 

Musicology

 

Because hard rock’s musical influences root themselves firmly in the blues, its main musical components often include virtuosic guitar and loose, swaggering bass and drum lines. The genre's most famous guitarists include the likes of Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix—all standout musicians. While hard rock remains complex and melodic, the musical composition of heavy metal remains simpler, and obviously louder, and features less blues influence—especially in the way of syncopation. Often quite muscular, a heavy metal band’s rhythm section features three main characteristics: speed, power and precision.

Fans and Commercialism

Some bands—especially Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath—often find themselves lumped into both genres, which causes confusion for those trying to differentiate hard rock from heavy metal. To cut through this confusion, taking a look at other, nonmusical factors can help separate one genre from the other. Many heavy metal bands, because of their less-accessible musical attributes, rarely find commercial success, with the possible exception of a band like Metallica. The same principle does not apply for many hard rock bands, such as Van Halen and Aerosmith, two of the biggest-selling artists of any musical genre, who have won fan bases much broader and much more mainstream than those generally enjoyed by heavy metal bands.

Cult Followings

Though hard rock has a large share of devotees, its fans lack the type of rabidness often exhibited by heavy metal fans. Many metal bands are assigned a “cult status," thereby making many of their fans, in turn, de facto cult members who adopt lifestyles parallel to that of the bands’ images. Heavy metal's fan base, often considered a “subculture of alienation,” largely comprises young white males who adopt a certain fashion and boast of a separation from the rest of society.

[throet]

How heavy is heavy enough? 

 

[Sluggo]

I have several playlists that have a little bit of everything and I chose one that fits my mood to where or what I’m riding. Not sure how to distinguish between all the genres, but I generally like a driving bass and drums with a guitar and vocals on the side. If I can feel it in my chest, it goes on my hammer playlist.   

[ATXZJ]

If its from the heart, i'm in. Regardless of genera 

Also. I've never been in a pit that bounced like a sepultura or soulfly show. Mother of god

Edited January 10, 2021 by ATXZJ

[Chief]

For me it's more about composition. The music needs to have some complexity to it to get my interest. Not to say that I don't like simpler stuff but music that is complex is my go to. Big Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin fan from a kid. There are quite a few metal bands that are musically complex Lamb Of God, Between The Buried And Me, Mastadon. Unfortunately once they go to that guttural screaming I lose interest quickly. Was never into the Hair band stuff a bit too corny and better musicians had already done that schtick David Bowie being one of the first. Huge Tool fan along with APC and Puscifer. There really aren't many bands making good progressive music anymore. Conceptual albums are a thing of the past thanks to streaming media services, people just buy the one song they like instead of an entire album. I also enjoy good guitarists of course Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and my all time favorite David Gilmour. 

[TheX]

 

[TheX]

 

[Chief]

 

[TheX]

 

[Sluggo]

 

[throet]

 

[Chief]

 

[AntonioGG]

On 1/9/2021 at 8:40 AM, throet said:

One thing this thread has taught me is how much mountain bikers like Heavy Metal. I'm really not sure why after growing up in the 70s I never caught on with the heavy metal craze of the 80s and 90s. I thoroughly enjoyed the hard rock bands throughout the seventies, but the line between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal started to blur for me some even in the seventies with bands like Black Sabbath, who I never liked in the same way I liked Zeppelin and Floyd. As the Eighties rolled around, my musical tastes veered more into 80s Alternative, although still enjoying the carryover rock bands from the seventies. Some bands, like Van Halen and AC-DC, seemed to blur the lines for me even further, although I enjoyed many tracks from them and others like them. Then there were bands like KISS and Twisted Sister that I just ignored altogether, but I suppose technically those were classified as Shock Rock.

Would love to hear from some of you head-banging metal fans on what makes that sub-genre special for you, and whether you equally enjoy hard rock or just tolerate it while yearning for something heavier? Found this article that tries to break it down some. Suppose in the end it doesn't really matter - just listen to what moves you (literally and figuratively). Just curious.      

Hard Rock Vs. Heavy Metal

By: SandraVahtelUpdated September 15, 2017

The close similarities shared by hard rock and heavy metal can make it difficult to identify their differences. Both genres have similar, even at times overlapping, origin stories. Musically, they both include loud guitars, pounding drums, driving rhythms and often vitriolic vocals. However, each genre has its own defining characteristics, from its place in the musical lexicon to the technical specifications of its musicality.

Origins

rock star image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com

The 1960s saw the birth and popularization of rock and roll by way of such bands as The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Kinks. Though certainly controversial at the time, the early sounds these bands produced were light and poppy but gave way to a whole host of young musicians armed with guitars and a love for the blues.

History vs. History

Taxonomically speaking, the classification of hard rock has existed longer than heavy metal, but not by much. Led Zeppelin is often credited as the original hard rock band, followed by such acts as Cream, The Who and Deep Purple. Though similar in sound and scope, and most assuredly influenced directly by hard rock, the origins of heavy metal music trace back to 1970s bands like Black Sabbath and Steppenwolf. The burgeoning of the movement signified a turn from the more melodic hard rock genre into exactly what the name "heavy metal" suggests: heavier sounds and darker themes.

 

Musicology

 

Because hard rock’s musical influences root themselves firmly in the blues, its main musical components often include virtuosic guitar and loose, swaggering bass and drum lines. The genre's most famous guitarists include the likes of Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix—all standout musicians. While hard rock remains complex and melodic, the musical composition of heavy metal remains simpler, and obviously louder, and features less blues influence—especially in the way of syncopation. Often quite muscular, a heavy metal band’s rhythm section features three main characteristics: speed, power and precision.

Fans and Commercialism

Some bands—especially Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath—often find themselves lumped into both genres, which causes confusion for those trying to differentiate hard rock from heavy metal. To cut through this confusion, taking a look at other, nonmusical factors can help separate one genre from the other. Many heavy metal bands, because of their less-accessible musical attributes, rarely find commercial success, with the possible exception of a band like Metallica. The same principle does not apply for many hard rock bands, such as Van Halen and Aerosmith, two of the biggest-selling artists of any musical genre, who have won fan bases much broader and much more mainstream than those generally enjoyed by heavy metal bands.

Cult Followings

Though hard rock has a large share of devotees, its fans lack the type of rabidness often exhibited by heavy metal fans. Many metal bands are assigned a “cult status," thereby making many of their fans, in turn, de facto cult members who adopt lifestyles parallel to that of the bands’ images. Heavy metal's fan base, often considered a “subculture of alienation,” largely comprises young white males who adopt a certain fashion and boast of a separation from the rest of society.

I had meant to reply to your post a while back, and running into an article finally prompted me to.

I grew up listening to whatever my parents listened to as I've mentioned before (Beatles, Mexican popular music, classical music, Mexican classic ballads, etc.)  At some point I got into Rock music:  Queen, The Police (though they sound more like Jazz in their early days), David Bowie, etc.  At some point I was all into the hair bands:  Cinderella, Ratt, Poison, Motley Crue, etc.  I never got into Black Sabbath but I did like Deep Purple.  8th and 9th grade I had some heads in my apartment complex and we rode the buses together, and they got me into Metallica.  I loved it.  Maybe 10 years later I ran into a school friend whom I hadn't seen in 10 years, and we both remarked how embarrassing it was to have like Twisted Sister.  I guess it was right at the time for us being tweens.  At that point we were in San Antonio (a much harder rocking town than Austin IMO), Guns-n-Roses and the start of Grunge, I still remember 99.5 KISS ads for Soundgarden at the Sunken Gardens Theater.  It's all an evolution in taste.

35 years later or so, and I love the old Black Sabbath.  To think of how early they were (I bet most gen-x don't realize how early they were) is just amazing.

I would recommend you re-visit Black Sabbath.

Here's the article that prompted this post:

https://www.theringer.com/2021/1/14/22230652/metallica-black-album-enter-sandman-history-podcast

PS  I still think Jethro Tull winning the first Grammy for Heavy Metal over Metallica And Justice For All is a travesty.  Fight me.

 

With that:

 

PS  

Edited January 15, 2021 by AntonioGG

[throet]

2 hours ago, AntonioGG said:

I had meant to reply to your post a while back, and running into an article finally prompted me to.

I grew up listening to whatever my parents listened to as I've mentioned before (Beatles, Mexican popular music, classical music, Mexican classic ballads, etc.)  At some point I got into Rock music:  Queen, The Police (though they sound more like Jazz in their early days), David Bowie, etc.  At some point I was all into the hair bands:  Cinderella, Ratt, Poison, Motley Crue, etc.  I never got into Black Sabbath but I did like Deep Purple.  8th and 9th grade I had some heads in my apartment complex and we rode the buses together, and they got me into Metallica.  I loved it.  Maybe 10 years later I ran into a school friend whom I hadn't seen in 10 years, and we both remarked how embarrassing it was to have like Twisted Sister.  I guess it was right at the time for us being tweens.  At that point we were in San Antonio (a much harder rocking town than Austin IMO), Guns-n-Roses and the start of Grunge, I still remember 99.5 KISS ads for Soundgarden at the Sunken Gardens Theater.  It's all an evolution in taste.

35 years later or so, and I love the old Black Sabbath.  To think of how early they were (I bet most gen-x don't realize how early they were) is just amazing.

I would recommend you re-visit Black Sabbath.

Here's the article that prompted this post:

https://www.theringer.com/2021/1/14/22230652/metallica-black-album-enter-sandman-history-podcast

PS  I still think Jethro Tull winning the first Grammy for Heavy Metal over Metallica And Justice For All is a travesty.  Fight me.

 

With that:

 

PS  

That's a really nice piece by BS - mellow enough to go to sleep to. Great story too on how your tastes evolved. I do love some Metallica tracks but like Jethro Tull much more. Still, I feel you on them being slighted given that Jethro Tull really isn't even a Heavy Metal band, at least not in my book.  

[TheX]

 

[Chief]

 

[TheX]

 

[Chief]

Saw this guy open for Joe Satriani. Amazing guitarist.

 

[Sluggo]