69. History of Rock Music: 8. Extreme Metal, ACJ Music Academy

How are you?

Following the last week, I am going to start my 69th lecture.

The topic for this week is “Extreme metal”, the 8th theme of “The History of Rock”.

This lecture is a summary of the contents of “69. History of Rock Music: 8. Extreme metal” introduced on November 19, 2016.

“Extreme metal” is a term that comprehensively defines a number of subgenres related to heavy metal that have developed since the early 1980s. This genre is generally more aggressive and harsher than other metal styles, normally with lyrics of dark and sensational themes, and covers themes that go beyond moral and religious limits.

The main genres of the Extreme metal are Black metal, Death metal, Doom metal, Speed metal and Thrash metal.

Black metal emphasizes heavily distorted guitar sound with fast tempo, screaming vocal style and tremolo picking. Representative bands of Black metal include Venom, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost and Mayhem. Black metal expresses extreme anti-christism and advocates Satanism that makes inaccessible to the majority of people, and mainstream culture is hostile to the genre. 

Venom

Death metal uses techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking with a low-tuned guitar adding heavy distortion, and is characterized by growling vocals, screams, and aggressive and powerful drumming. The theme of the lyrics covers violence, Satanism, supernaturalism and mysticism. The pioneers in this genre include Obituary, Morbid Angel and Possessed.

Morbid Angel

Doom metal generally uses a slower tempo, a lower-tuned guitar, and a heavier sound than other metal genres. The music and lyrics deal with the feelings of despair, fear and perdition to come, and were greatly influenced by Black Sabbath's early works. Pagan Altar, Saint Vitus and Candlemass are bands that have contributed greatly to defining Doom Metal as a unique genre.

Candlemass

Speed metal originated in the late 1970s, rooted in “New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)” and is defined as “extremely fast, harsh and skillful music”. Exciter, a Canadian Speed metal band formed in 1978, is considered one of the first Speed metal bands, and Accept, a heavy metal band from Germany, contributed greatly to the development of this genre.

Exciter

Thrash metal is characterized by a fast tempo and overall aggressive music, typically using fast percussion beats and low-end guitar riffs. The lyrics covers social issues and criticizes the privileged class with straightforward and threatening language. Thrash metal influenced on subsequent extreme metal genres such as Death metal and Black metal. Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer are the four major groups that pioneered this genre and gained popularity.

Slayer

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Next week, I will lecture 9th topic “Punk”.

Thank you.