Heavy metal

Is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands thatcreated heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. Early bands, such as Led Zeppelin, BlackSabbath and Deep Purple, attracted large audiences. These bands are widely considered main founders of the genre. However, they were often critically reviled; this was a status common throughout thehistory of the genre. In the mid-1970s Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence; Motörhead introduced a punk rock sensibility and an increasing emphasis onspeed. Bands in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal such as Iron Maiden followed in a similar vein. Before the end of the decade, heavy metal had attracted a worldwide following of fans known as"metalheads" or "headbangers". In the 1980s, glam metal became a major commercial force with groups like Mötley Crüe and Twisted Sister. Underground scenes produced an array of more extreme, aggressivestyles: thrash metal broke into the mainstream with bands such as Metallica and Megadeth, while other styles like death metal and black metal remain subcultural phenomena. Since the mid-1990s, popularstyles such as nu metal, which often incorporates elements of grunge and hip hop; and metalcore, which blends extreme metal with hardcore punk, have further expanded the definition of the genre.Characteristics
Judas Priest, performing in 2005

Musical language Rhythm and tempo
An example of a rhythmic pattern used in heavy metal.

Harmony Typical harmonic structures Relationship withclassical music Lyrical themes

Image and fashion
Kiss performing in 2004, wearing their famous makeup

Physical gestures
Fans raise their fists and make the "devil horns" gesture at a...