Metal music: Beyond the screams and volume

Ever since I was a child, I have been surrounded with the metal genre. My dad being a metalhead, it was all I ever heard in the car. And finally, at twelve years old, I went to my first metal concert: AC/DC. I fell in love with the vibes and community myself, just as my dad did. Eight years later, it is still my favourite genre, and I have broadened my horizons to other subgenres of metal. Yet, I still hear sometimes: “I don’t get how you can listen to that garbage; it’s just noise!”, and it got me thinking… Is that really all it is?

There are a lot of reasons why metal music is not just loud noise. Many dismiss metal as noise, often conflating it with the guttural screams of death metal. But there are other genres out there that do not scream the lyrics. Genres like Gothic metal like Cradle of Filth and Medieval metal such as Saltatio Mortis are more poetic. While genres like glam metal such as Mötley Crüe and kawaii metal like Babymetal are heavier but still understandable and do not involve a lot of screaming.

Besides, if you argue that Metal music is just noise, we can argue that any music genre is ‘just noise’. Music is just sound that we added meaning to, we like it because it means something to us. Saying that it’s just noise is saying that famous artists like Jackson Pollock just throw paint at a canvas and call it art. There is art in both these things. Both Pollock’s canvases and metal’s sound invite interpretation; art, like music, resonates through perspective. If society says, “this is art” or “this is music”, you are going to start seeing it differently.

The genre came during a time when a lot of pop music was talking about peace and love, but it was not like that in every part of the world.

Understanding metal's identity and influence requires revisiting its roots.

Originating in the late 1960's and early 1970's, metal or also known as heavy metal is a genre of rock music that has its roots in the United Kingdom and the United States. Metal music blends elements from blues rock, psychedelic rock, and acid rock together. It typically has four key characteristics: traditional blues rock instrument line-ups, dark or intense lyrics, a strong focus on guitar, and powerful vocals that complement the music’s intensity. While most of the artists were in the "hippie"-pop trend, Metal bands came around to go against that societal norm, to break out from the mould.

The term Heavy metal came before the actual genre. It was first used by William S. Burroughs in his 1961 novel “The Soft Machine”, where it was used to describe one of the characters. Then in 1968 it was used for the first time in lyrics, in Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild”.

In the Rolling Stone Magazine No. 70 from November 1970, “Heavy Metal” was used to describe the genre for the first time. In a review written by Metal Mike Saunders. What bands it applied to were not known yet at the time.​​​​​​​

There were two bands that are widely credited in the creation of the heavy metal genre: Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.

While these two bands are vastly different in a lot of ways, they have some things in common. Both these bands hail from Birmingham, and they both took inspiration from the occult, but in vastly diverse ways. Black Sabbath’s eerie, brooding tone, exemplified by tracks like ‘Black Sabbath’ and ‘Paranoid,’ paired themes of existential dread with occultism, enthralled viewers and paved the way for the future of the genre.

Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ with its ethereal lyricism and mythological undertones, showcased their softer, mystical take on the occult. Dee Snider, lead singer of the band Twisted Sister talked about the impact Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin had on the genre in the documentary: “Heavy: The story of Metal” from 2006.

Both bands are revolutionary in their own right, defined by unique qualities that set them apart yet bring them together under the metal umbrella.

The Metal genre has been around for five, almost six decades now and a lot has changed between then and now. The genre has become more mainstream, there are now so many subgenres that you lose count of them. Fans of the genre used to be- and sometimes still are- seen as aggressive, but in reality, and in my own experience, they are one of the most accepting groups of people out there. We look out for one another, we celebrate our differences and see past disability, sexuality, and gender. As long as you are there to enjoy the music and rock out. 

This inclusive spirit is reflected in the genre’s evolution and widespread appeal over decades.

Heavy metal's journey began in the 1970s with Black Sabbath, whose dark, brooding sound laid the genre’s foundation, while Led Zeppelin brought mysticism and blues, showcasing Robert Plant’s soaring vocals and Jimmy Page’s masterful guitar work. Together, they defined the genre’s early identity.

In the 1980s, Iron Maiden spearheaded the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” with epic storytelling and intricate guitar work. Across the Atlantic, Metallica pushed thrash metal to the forefront with razor-sharp aggression and timeless albums like Master of Puppets. Meanwhile, glam metal bands like Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi brought metal to the mainstream, combining theatrical flair with catchy, radio-friendly melodies.

The 1990s saw a shift, with grunge-infused acts like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden exploring darker themes, while Korn and Slipknot fused hip-hop and heavy metal into the rebellious nü-metal sound. By the 2000s, bands like Ghost and Mastodon revitalized traditional metal, blending its roots with modern innovation. Metalcore, with acts like Killswitch Engage, brought emotional depth and technical complexity, further diversifying the genre.

From Sabbath’s eerie chords to Mastodon’s progressive landscapes, heavy metal has thrived by pushing boundaries while staying true to its rebellious roots.

The metal genre is a lot more than just the music, it is a lifestyle, a place for people to come together and celebrate their differences. Where they just groove to the music and have fun for a while, making friends, forgetting their responsibilities even if it is just for a night. 

In my eyes, that is what metal’s all about. Making music you are proud of, no matter how dark it may seem to others. Of course there will always be people that say it’s noise, but there will always be people out there that will like it. The history of the music genre gives perspective on how this music brought people together then and now, and how it’s not just some loud noise.