Speed metal: Difference between revisions
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{{genrebox|name=Speed metal |
{{genrebox|name=Speed metal |
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|stylistic_origins= |
|stylistic_origins=[[Power metal]] - [[Thrash metal]] |
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|cultural_origins= |
|cultural_origins=Early-Mid [[1970s]], [[United kingdom]] |
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|instruments= |
|instruments=[[Guitar]] – [[Bass guitar]] – [[Drums]] |
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|popularity= |
|popularity=Moderate in the late 1970's, Slightly more popular until early 1990's, Underground ever since |
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|subgenrelist= |
|subgenrelist=List of thrash metal genres |
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|subgenres=[[Thrash Metal]] – [[Groove metal]]| |
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|regional_scenes=[[United Kingdom]] - [[United States]] |
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|subgenres= |
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'''Speed metal''' is a cross-genre reference to bands, mainly from the [[thrash metal]] and [[power metal]] genres. The term is mainly used to differentiate between bands of either genre who use tempos or beats that are faster than is normal for either genre, but also tends to refer to bands that combine aspects of the two genres. ''Thundersteel'' by Riot (CBS/Sony 1988) is widely considered to be a seminal speed metal album. Bands such as [[Judas Priest]] and [[Accept]], although not typically cited as speed metal bands, are usually considered to be the main developers of the faster tempos common amongst speed metal bands. |
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'''Speed metal''' is a loosely defined sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the mid-late 1970s and was the direct musical progenitor of [[Thrash metal]]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively fused the song structures and aggression of [[NWOBHM]] and traditional heavy metal with the speed and energy of [[punk rock]] to create a sub-genre with faster tempos and driving rhythms. |
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Speed metal does not belong only to a genre of bands that possess a typical style ;for instance, some [[glam metal]] bands' and [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] bands' songs can also be classified as speed metal. For example, titles like "Queen of the Reich" ([[Queensrÿche]]), "Slave to the Grind" ([[Skid Row (heavy metal band)|Skid Row]]), "Body Talk" ([[Ratt]]), "Robotman" ([[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]]), "Paris is Burning" ([[Dokken]]), "Live Wire" ([[Mötley Crüe]]), "Tear it Loose" by ([[Twisted Sister]]), "Be Quick or Be Dead" ([[Iron Maiden]]), "Hell to Eternity" ([[W.A.S.P.]]), "Badboys" ([[Whitesnake]]), "Kill the King"' ([[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]]) and "Scream of Anger" ([[Europe (band)|Europe]]) are speed metal songs. |
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Many speed metal bands also ostensibly fall within the categories of other heavy metal sub-genres, typically Thrash metal and [[Power metal]]. This is mainly due to the influence speed metal had on the development of these genres, although it should also be mentioned that Speed metal was used by some [[Glam metal]] and [[NWOBHM]] groups during the 1980s. |
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| ⚫ | Two of the earliest speed metal songs are [[Deep Purple]]'s "Highway Star" from their 1972 album ''[[Machine Head (album)|Machine Head]]'' and [[Black Sabbath]]'s "Children of the Grave", from their 1972 album ''Master of Reality.'' Earlier efforts with a similar style include [[Black Sabbath]]'s "Paranoid" (from the album of that name, 1970) and also Deep Purple's "Speed King" (from the 1970 ''In Rock'' LP) and "Fireball" (From the 1970 ''Fireball'' LP). However, it was "Highway Star" that introduced into heavy metal both the extreme speed of the single-note riffing and also the complex guitar and keyboard solos (performed by [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Jon Lord]], respectively), borrowed from progressive rock of the '70s, but heavily influenced by [[European classical music|classical music]]. These features commonly went on to be associated with more modern [[List of heavy metal genres|metal genres]], but at the time, was typical of speed metal characteristics. |
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Many [[Japanese]] [[Visual Kei]] bands from the 1990s to the present can also be described as Speed metal, largely due to the 1980s band [[X-Japan]] who were very influential in the [[Visual Kei]] movement. |
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Later speed metal includes [[X Japan]]'s ''Ill Kill You'' (1985), [[Helloween]]'s ''Walls of Jericho'' (1985), [[Motörhead]]'s live album ''[[No Sleep 'til Hammersmith]]'' (1981), and the band [[Megadeth]], who consider themselves as the "World's State-of-the-Art Speed Metal Band". Prior to joining Megadeth, [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]] colaborated with [[Jason Becker]] in the band [[Cacophony_(band)|Cacophony]], who are often cited as speed metal. |
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==History== |
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The term "speed metal" is still used to glorify and differentiate bands with high-speed playing, though the term is branching out to include bands from both [[gothic metal]] and [[progressive metal]] as well. Some believe that ''[[Painkiller (album)|Painkiller]]'' (1990), the last album Judas Priest released before the departure of singer [[Rob Halford]] (who would later return in 2004), has set a new standard for speed metal. |
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===Origins=== |
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The exact origin of speed metal is difficult to pinpoint mainly because it was never fully established as a sub-genre of heavy metal until the early 1980s. However, many consider the earliest speed metal song to be [[Deep Purple]]'s "[[Highway Star]]" from their 1972 album [[Machine Head (album)|Machine Head]]. |
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There were earlier efforts with a similar style including [[Black Sabbath]]'s "[[Paranoid (song)|Paranoid]]" from their 1970 album [[Paranoid (album)|Paranoid]] and also Deep Purple's "Speed King" from their 1970 album [[Deep Purple in Rock|In Rock]] and "Fireball" from their 1971 album [[Fireball (album)|Fireball]]. |
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| ⚫ | However, it was "Highway Star" that introduced into heavy metal both the extreme speed of the single-note riffing and the complex guitar and keyboard solos (performed by [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Jon Lord]] respectively) borrowed from progressive rock of the |
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===Evolution of speed metal=== |
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[[Image:No Sleep 'til Hammersmith.jpg |right|thumb|200px|[[Motörhead]] – ''[[No Sleep 'til Hammersmith]]'']]Although [[Judas Priest]] did not release a full on speed metal album until their 1990 album ''[[Painkiller (album)|Painkiller]]'', many of their early albums contained speed metal songs. One example is the song "Exciter" from their 1978 album ''[[Stained Class]]''. These songs had tremendous impact on the speed metal explosion in the 1980s. |
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[[Motörhead]] added primitive speed metal elements to their brand of heavy metal, while newer bands also began to emerge on the scene. The [[NWOBHM]] movement had reached its zenith at this stage and many bands embraced speed metal, notably [[Venom]], who combined Motörhead's style with a raw, harsh atmosphere. NWOBHM bands such as [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Raven_(band)|Raven]] produced a number of speed metal songs as well. In particular, "[[Aces High (song)|Aces High]]", and "Invaders" by the former. |
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The German heavy metal band [[Accept]] also introduced speed metal elements into their sound at the start of the decade. The song "Fast As A Shark" on their 1982 album ''[[Restless and Wild]]'' is an example of Accept's speed metal ideas. Accept's influence on the German heavy metal scene was unquestionably huge. Bands such as [[Running Wild (band)|Running Wild]], [[Grave Digger (band)|Grave Digger]], [[Helloween]], [[Rage (band)|Rage]] and [[Paradox (band)|Paradox]] built upon the fast tempos of Accept to form the foundations of German speed metal. |
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[[Image: Judas Priest Painkiller.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Judas Priest]] – ''[[Painkiller (album)|Painkiller]]'']]Bands who would later develop into thrash originally had their music deeply rooted in speed metal. [[Slayer]]’s debut album ''[[Show No Mercy]]'', [[Anthrax (band)|Anthrax]]’s debut album ''[[Fistful of Metal]]'' and [[Overkill (band)|Overkill]]’s debut album ''[[Feel the Fire]]'', as well as many other early albums by thrash metal bands, contained speed metal elements (inspired by the NWOBHM) that were combined with archtypical thrash metal riffs. These bands would eventually allow thrash motifs to dominate their music resulting in the thrash metal explosion of the mid 80s. |
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However, it should be noted that several bands concentrated on refining their speed metal sound instead of veering in this new musical direction. Notable examples include [[Agent Steel]] and [[Exciter (band)|Exciter]], two bands who, at the time, chose to remain speed metal. |
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After their speed metal debut ''[[Walls Of Jericho (album)|Walls of Jericho]]'', Helloween slowly paved the way for what power metal would ultimately become with the release of the albums ''Keeper of the Seven Keys'', ''Parts I'' and ''II'', in 1987 and 1988, respectively. Modulation and tempo changes suddenly became prominent in several songs with alternations between fast dynamic sections and slower, and therefore more atmospheric, ones. Epic passages were introduced and the general intensity was toned down. |
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In 1990, [[Judas Priest]] released the album ''Painkiller'', which served to epitomize the speed metal genre. Instead of blending together several different musical ideas, the band opted to create an entire album dedicated to speed metal. |
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==Speed metal today== |
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Today, speed metal is vastly less popular as an art form than it was in the 1980s. The most notable speed metal bands are those who have continued to produce speed metal to this day, and more modern bands who draw most of their influence from Judas Priest’s Painkiller album. Notable modern bands playing speed metal are [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], releasing the album ''[[Powerplant (album)|Powerplant]]'' in 1999, [[Iron Savior]] and [[Primal Fear (band)|Primal Fear]]. |
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==Speed metal songs from non-speed metal bands and albums== |
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Speed metal has also been used by other metal subgenres during the [[1980s]]. Many of these were [[Glam metal]] and [[NWOBHM]] bands. Notable speed metal songs from non-speed metal bands are; |
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* "Be Quick or Be Dead" by [[Iron Maiden]] |
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* "Queen of the Reich" by [[Queensrÿche]] |
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* "Slave to the Grind" by [[Skid Row (heavy metal band)|Skid Row]] |
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* "Body Talk" by [[Ratt]] |
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* "Live Wire" by [[Mötley Crüe]] |
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* "Kill the King" by [[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]] |
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* "Robotman" by [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] |
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* "Tear it Loose" by [[Twisted Sister]] |
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* "Hell to Eternity" by [[W.A.S.P.]] |
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* "Paris is Burning" by [[Dokken]] |
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* "Fast As A Shark" by [[Accept]] |
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==Speed metal albums== |
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Specific speed metal albums include the following: |
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*[[Judas Priest]]’s ''[[Painkiller (album)|Painkiller]]'' |
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*[[Exciter (band)|Exciter]]’s ''Heavy Metal Maniac'' |
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*[[Rage (band)|Rage]]’s ''Perfect Man'' |
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*[[Anthrax (band)|Anthrax]]’s ''[[Fistful of Metal]]'' |
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*[[Iron Angel]]’s ''Hellish Crossfire'' |
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*[[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]’s ''[[Powerplant_(album)|Powerplant]]'' |
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*[[Helloween]]’s ''[[Walls Of Jericho (album)|Walls Of Jericho]]'' |
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*[[Agent Steel]]’s ''Unstoppable Force'' |
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*[[X-Japan]]’s ''[[Blue Blood (album)|Blue Blood]]'' |
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*[[Iron Savior]]’s ''Unification'' |
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*[[Bulldozer (band)|Bulldozer]]’s ''The Day of Wrath'' |
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*[[Venom (band)|Venom]]’s ''[[Welcome To Hell]]'' |
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*[[Running Wild (band)|Running Wild]]’s ''[[Gates to Purgatory|Gates To Purgatory]]'' |
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*[[Paradox (band)|Paradox]]’s ''Product Of Imagination'' |
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*[[Abattoir (band)|Abattoir]]’s ''Vicious Attack'' |
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*[[Grave Digger (band)|Grave Digger]]’s ''[[Heavy Metal Breakdown]]'' |
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*[[Riot (band)|Riot]]’s ''Thundersteel'' |
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*[[Blind Guardian]]’s ''[[Battalions of Fear]]'' |
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==Current use== |
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As speed metal was the vanguard for what would eventually become [[power metal]] and [[thrash metal]], significant overlap between genres is often encountered in bands that are said to be rooted predominately in speed metal. This sometimes leads to confounding views with respect to the genre. The most common mistake is using the terms Speed metal and Thrash metal interchangeably. While the two are undeniably related to one another, both exhibit verifiable and definitive character traits that serve to differentiate them. Thrash metal tends to be much more riff oriented, with song constructions that utilize greater musical complexity and tempo variation. A common method that helps differentiate between the two styles of metal is listening to an album that is representative of both styles. For instance, Judas Priest’s ''Painkiller'' or Helloween’s ''Walls Of Jericho'' and [[Slayer]]’s ''[[Reign In Blood]]'' or [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]]’s ''[[Bonded By Blood]]'' are good starting points. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 22:39, 7 July 2006
| Speed metal | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Power metal - Thrash metal |
| Cultural origins | Early-Mid 1970s, United kingdom |
| Typical instruments | Guitar – Bass guitar – Drums |
| Subgenres | |
| Thrash Metal – Groove metal | |
| Regional scenes | |
| United Kingdom - United States | |
| Other topics | |
| Extreme metal | |
Speed metal is a cross-genre reference to bands, mainly from the thrash metal and power metal genres. The term is mainly used to differentiate between bands of either genre who use tempos or beats that are faster than is normal for either genre, but also tends to refer to bands that combine aspects of the two genres. Thundersteel by Riot (CBS/Sony 1988) is widely considered to be a seminal speed metal album. Bands such as Judas Priest and Accept, although not typically cited as speed metal bands, are usually considered to be the main developers of the faster tempos common amongst speed metal bands.
Speed metal does not belong only to a genre of bands that possess a typical style ;for instance, some glam metal bands' and heavy metal bands' songs can also be classified as speed metal. For example, titles like "Queen of the Reich" (Queensrÿche), "Slave to the Grind" (Skid Row), "Body Talk" (Ratt), "Robotman" (Scorpions), "Paris is Burning" (Dokken), "Live Wire" (Mötley Crüe), "Tear it Loose" by (Twisted Sister), "Be Quick or Be Dead" (Iron Maiden), "Hell to Eternity" (W.A.S.P.), "Badboys" (Whitesnake), "Kill the King"' (Rainbow) and "Scream of Anger" (Europe) are speed metal songs.
Two of the earliest speed metal songs are Deep Purple's "Highway Star" from their 1972 album Machine Head and Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave", from their 1972 album Master of Reality. Earlier efforts with a similar style include Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" (from the album of that name, 1970) and also Deep Purple's "Speed King" (from the 1970 In Rock LP) and "Fireball" (From the 1970 Fireball LP). However, it was "Highway Star" that introduced into heavy metal both the extreme speed of the single-note riffing and also the complex guitar and keyboard solos (performed by Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord, respectively), borrowed from progressive rock of the '70s, but heavily influenced by classical music. These features commonly went on to be associated with more modern metal genres, but at the time, was typical of speed metal characteristics.
Later speed metal includes X Japan's Ill Kill You (1985), Helloween's Walls of Jericho (1985), Motörhead's live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith (1981), and the band Megadeth, who consider themselves as the "World's State-of-the-Art Speed Metal Band". Prior to joining Megadeth, Marty Friedman colaborated with Jason Becker in the band Cacophony, who are often cited as speed metal.
The term "speed metal" is still used to glorify and differentiate bands with high-speed playing, though the term is branching out to include bands from both gothic metal and progressive metal as well. Some believe that Painkiller (1990), the last album Judas Priest released before the departure of singer Rob Halford (who would later return in 2004), has set a new standard for speed metal.
