Black Sabbath, Metallica and Iron Maiden. If you’ve ever been part of a metal music conversation, you know these names are practically sacred. But who established it as a norm and why is nobody getting bored of these same names on repeat already? For they might have mastered the enigma of the algorithm– as to why in a world where people form clusters of opinion over every passing thing, Metal music is new as ever, alive as ever and kindling the fire even better?
Metal music, believe it or not, emerged during the Industrial Revolution where the sounds of the steel factories and hammers forged its foundations quickly as a robust genre. By the 1970s, most of it inspired by jazz and British blues, marked the rise of Black Sabbath that rose to prominence with the release of albums: Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Masters of Reality (1971), IV (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), and Sabotage (1975). Metal burned the stages down with their harsh and occult themes that sparked widespread debate and fascination. These bands, stubborn as ever, stayed true to their mantra of being brutally unapologetic by tossing around everything from political turmoil to worldly injustices in their timeless lyrics. The intricate guitar work, complex riffs and arpeggios of metal guitarists along with the technical solos by legends such as Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett gave this genre its aggressive sound and helped it amass a loyal following that endures to this day!
Metal producers consistently aimed to produce timeless music by manipulating the chorus into anything but monotonous, allowing you to almost teleport to whichever era lingers in your mind while listening to it. For instance, the immigrant song by Led Zeppelin— despite being the shortest song on their list — involves immense levels of depth, built up by riffs and chords that people are unable to catch normally. The sole ability of the song to encapsulate such details allows it to then delicately and smoothly enter the aural spaces of the mind, body and soul of the listeners. Metal musicians also overcame equipment limitations, creating raw yet refined sounds that remain unmatched today. The unavailability of such exotic and raw sounds today makes them rare among every generation. This dedication to detail helped metal bands cultivate some of the most iconic and loyal fan bases in music history. Metalheads aren’t just listeners; they’re connected to the music on a deep, almost heritage-like level, passing it down through generations.
Metal’s unapologetic nature that flows through their lyrics is what keeps it thriving today. Even when labelled as “satanic” or “cult music” its creators stood firm, building a legacy that’s influenced even today’s biggest pop and rock figures. For example, Lady Gaga who not only performed with Metallica at the Grammys but also brought metal-inspired energy into her world tour. Taylor Swift’s Reputation, even encapsulated metal’s gothic vibe, and artists like Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, and Kanye West have all been spotted wearing metal bands’ merchandise. This genre doesn’t just stay in its horizons- it influences fashion, pop culture, and even the concept of ‘cool’ today. So, while other trends come and go, metal remains effortlessly at the top as the spark that it creates owing even to its contributions to other such genres i.e. pop or rock, remains raw and unique.
Have you ever caught yourself banging your head to Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’—even if Stranger Things gave it a nudge? No judgement! I bet you are thinking “Oops! My incognito weirdness was short-lived.” But even if you consider yourself a Radiohead certified ‘creep,’ you’re statistically healthier than 89% of opera-goers swaying to classical melodies, according to Dr. Avlanm??. Headbanging, it turns out, is a great stress reliever. Who would have thought that music born from steel factories could outlast digital-age icons like Gorillaz?
When Steve Harris of Iron Maiden suggested ‘Flight of Icarus’ as the band’s crowning achievement—highlighting his individual contributions—he disagreed as he favoured songs that involved collective rather than sole efforts. This camaraderie among metal artists distinguishes them from pop acts like One Direction, whose ‘this is not the end’ message ultimately disappointed fans. Moreover, Testaments’ band member, Alex Skolnick, in an interview once reflected on the distinctiveness of the original US thrash metal sound and why many contemporary metal bands tend to sound alike; later he shared his scrutiny that it’s due to the overuse of digital plugins—unlike icons like Metallica and Iron maiden whose rhymes, tunes and force electrified naturally.
Today, few people directly associate it with the Industrial Revolution, which partly inspired metal’s origins. As a result, the genre has branched into sub-genres like alternative metal, which often attract broader audiences compared to alternative rock. Bands such as Linkin Park, System of a Down, Black Sabbath have contributed to the industry in a sustainable way where the music they made earlier in the day is still dominantly influential even if in the form of sub genres. With the revival and continuous respect for metal music’s emergence from a hollow ground it’s not perishing for a long time!
By Khadija Nawaz
Writer (Team 2024 – 2025)