Exploring Heavy Metal: A Guide for New Listeners
Heavy Metal is a genre that has captivated audiences with its powerful sounds and intense lyrics. Whether you are new to the heavy metal world or just looking to explore it more, this guide will help you start your journey with some classic and must-listen bands.
Starting Your Heavy Metal Journey
For new listeners, starting with bands like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin can be a great way in. Many people have heard of Led Zeppelin but might not realize they were one of the pioneer bands in the heavy metal genre. Led Zeppelin's use of distorted guitars and dark themes laid the groundwork for what came to be known as heavy metal.
Which Bands Should You Start With?
Here are some classic bands and albums that can serve as an excellent starting point:
Black Sabbath - Start with their first three albums: Iron Maiden, Powerslave, and The Number of the Beast. Judas Priest - Painkiller is probably the album you should try first. Judas Priest is known for their high-pitched vocals and killer guitar parts, which gave metal its traditional shape. Iron Maiden - Go for any of their 80's albums as they are known for being classic examples of traditional heavy metal.Once you enjoy these bands, you can expand to other 80's heavy metal legends like Metallica, M?tley Crüe, Dio, Megadath, and many more. The key is to follow your instincts and explore the vast world of metal music.
Explore More Heavy Metal Options
There are plenty of resources available to help you explore the genre further. Here are some recommendations:
Heavy Metal Playlists on Spotify or YouTube Books on Heavy Metal history and biographies of the bands Websites and blogs dedicated to metal music Lists like the "Best Heavy Metal Bands" and "Best Heavy Metal Albums"Top 30 Metal Bands of All Time
Based on my personal list and historical importance, here are the top 30 heavy metal/hard rock acts:
Black Sabbath Led Zeppelin Iron Maiden AC/DC Mot?rhead Judas Priest Ozzy Osbourne Metallica Aerosmith Slayer Dio Van Halen Def Leppard Thin Lizzy Deep Purple Saxon Alice Cooper Kiss Manowar Queensryche Megadeth Tool Korn Exodus Pantera Scorpions Mercyful Fate Slipknot Sepultura Yngwie MalmsteenIf you want to see more lists, VH1 has compiled a list of the "100 Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Artists", as well as the "Best Heavy Metal Songs of All Time".
Happy Listening!