I want to go back and read the entire series in order. So much here!
I've been watching the documentary "Let There Be Drums!" and Matt Sorum at around 23:30 talks about melancholy/sad songs being about 60bpm, songs that make us want to dance about 120 bpm, and heavy metal songs that make us want to break stuff even faster. He said it's all about emotions and heartbeat, driven by the beat of the music. I thought that was pretty interesting in terms of where heavy metal takes us -- as well as why some of us are so attracted to it.
Yes, there is considerable research on how compelling musical beats tend to be some multiple of the human heartbeat. Makes a lot of sense. Some of the most gripping metal songs are the ones where the vocals are at a slow cadence, floating over the intense, faster-paced instrumentation. A couple of the songs in this article are along those lines--probably one reason I love them. But of course the same effect is at work in everything from Pachelbel to the BeeGees to New Order to Kendrick Lamar--if you can plug into the listener's nervous system you're halfway there!
An excellent read. Everyone has an addition but you convey the basics very well. Regarding Sabbath, I tend to stick with the first album or Paranoid. I can’t really argue with your choice though.
I always feel Black Sabbath tend to be ignored when the other great bands are mentioned. I can't remember a time when I didn't have to play Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as a form of therapy after a bad day. There are some great lyrics on that album that I quote to puzzled faces from time to time. However I remain a rock/metal fan having never really understood what the terms really mean.
A lot of people get obsessive about genre definitions, so I agree the categories are a bit artbitrary (see Arun's comment below). I had to choose a workable number, and went with six bands. I'm sure some people would say van Halen, GNR, ACDC or Kiss should be on this list. And they wouldn't be wrong! Glad to know there's a fellow Sabbath Bloody Sabbath fan here. I do think it's an amazing, groundbreaking album.
I think Led Zeppelin deserves a the top spot along with Deep Purple. Usually, people hear Starway to Heaven first. When they hear Kashmir, they become addicted. They are the most original and diverse sounding heavy metal band. Just listen to Kashmir, Dyer Maker, When the Levee Breaks, In My Time of Dying, In the Light, Heartbreaker, Ramble On, Fool In the Rain. I could go on, but if you haven't heard these, give them a try. None of them sound remotely the same. All are masterpieces with all sorts of worldly influences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-MdiUm1_Y, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuABqrvhLf0
Of course I've heard all of these, and Kashmir is on my list of top ten rock masterpieces of all time. Zeppelin are bigger commercially than Purple or Sabbath but not truly a heavy metal band--for the reason that they did so much other stuff. I personally like them more than Sabbath, but Sabbath are a pure play in metal.
I want to go back and read the entire series in order. So much here!
I've been watching the documentary "Let There Be Drums!" and Matt Sorum at around 23:30 talks about melancholy/sad songs being about 60bpm, songs that make us want to dance about 120 bpm, and heavy metal songs that make us want to break stuff even faster. He said it's all about emotions and heartbeat, driven by the beat of the music. I thought that was pretty interesting in terms of where heavy metal takes us -- as well as why some of us are so attracted to it.
Yes, there is considerable research on how compelling musical beats tend to be some multiple of the human heartbeat. Makes a lot of sense. Some of the most gripping metal songs are the ones where the vocals are at a slow cadence, floating over the intense, faster-paced instrumentation. A couple of the songs in this article are along those lines--probably one reason I love them. But of course the same effect is at work in everything from Pachelbel to the BeeGees to New Order to Kendrick Lamar--if you can plug into the listener's nervous system you're halfway there!
An excellent read. Everyone has an addition but you convey the basics very well. Regarding Sabbath, I tend to stick with the first album or Paranoid. I can’t really argue with your choice though.
I always feel Black Sabbath tend to be ignored when the other great bands are mentioned. I can't remember a time when I didn't have to play Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as a form of therapy after a bad day. There are some great lyrics on that album that I quote to puzzled faces from time to time. However I remain a rock/metal fan having never really understood what the terms really mean.
A lot of people get obsessive about genre definitions, so I agree the categories are a bit artbitrary (see Arun's comment below). I had to choose a workable number, and went with six bands. I'm sure some people would say van Halen, GNR, ACDC or Kiss should be on this list. And they wouldn't be wrong! Glad to know there's a fellow Sabbath Bloody Sabbath fan here. I do think it's an amazing, groundbreaking album.
I think Led Zeppelin deserves a the top spot along with Deep Purple. Usually, people hear Starway to Heaven first. When they hear Kashmir, they become addicted. They are the most original and diverse sounding heavy metal band. Just listen to Kashmir, Dyer Maker, When the Levee Breaks, In My Time of Dying, In the Light, Heartbreaker, Ramble On, Fool In the Rain. I could go on, but if you haven't heard these, give them a try. None of them sound remotely the same. All are masterpieces with all sorts of worldly influences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-MdiUm1_Y, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuABqrvhLf0
Of course I've heard all of these, and Kashmir is on my list of top ten rock masterpieces of all time. Zeppelin are bigger commercially than Purple or Sabbath but not truly a heavy metal band--for the reason that they did so much other stuff. I personally like them more than Sabbath, but Sabbath are a pure play in metal.