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Development of Heavier Sound
Mid-1960s British bands such as the Yardbirds, Cream, and the Jeff Beck Group, along with Jimi Hendrix, are credited with developing the heavier drums, bass, and distorted guitar sounds that differentiate heavy metal from other genres. -
New Sound Codified
The new sound was codified in the 1970s by Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath with the release of Led Zeppelin II, Deep Purple in Rock, and Paranoid, respectively. These songs featured heavy riffs, distorted “power chords,” mystical lyrics, guitar and drum solos, and vocal styles that ranged from wails to whines. -
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Popularity Slump
Heavy Metal's popularity slumped during the disco years at the end of the 1970s, but it became more successful than ever in the 1980s. -
New Wave
Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, and Saxon headed the “new wave of British heavy metal” that, along with the impact of Eddie Van Halen’s astonishing guitar virtuosity, revived the genre. Heavy metal had, however, become a worldwide phenomenon in both fandom and production with the success of Germany’s Scorpions and other bands from Japan to Scandinavia. The most important musical influence of the decade was the adaptation of chord progressions, figuration, and ideals of virtuosity from Baroque models. -
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Fracture and Criticism
Heavy metal fragmented into subgenres in the 1980s. A smaller scene of styles developed in opposition to the more pop-oriented metal of Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and the glam bands. Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer pioneered thrash metal, distinguished by its fast tempos, harsh vocal and guitar timbres, aggressiveness, and critical or sarcastic lyrics. Political and academic groups blamed the genre and its fans for causing everything from crime and violence to despondency and suicide. -
The Rise of "Glam" Metal
A wave of “glam” metal, featuring gender-bending bands such as Mötley Crüe and Ratt, emanated from Los Angeles beginning about 1983; Poison, Guns N’ Roses, and hundreds of other bands then moved to Los Angeles in hopes of getting record deals.