Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a form of music characterised by aggressive, driving rhythms and highly amplified distorted guitars, generally with grandiose lyrics and virtuosic instrumentation.

Cultural impact

The loud, confrontational aspects of heavy metal have led to friction between fans and mainstream society in many countries. Due to the hedonistic nature promoted by the music and its occasional anti-religious sentiments heavy metal as a sub-culture has come under attack in many Islamic countries where, in the most extreme cases, even wearing a black T-shirt can be an arrestable offence. In Europe and America, the fan base for heavy metal consists primarily of white males in their teens and 20's, many of whom are attracted to heavy metal's overtly anti-social yet fantastical lyrics and extreme volume and tempos. Hence, we have the stereotype of the spotty-faced, adolescent headbanger venting his rebellious urges by listening to presposterously loud, morbid music. This image has been highlighted in popular culture with such television shows and movies as "Beavis and Butt-head" and "Airheads". Heavy metal's bombastic excesses, exemplified by hair metal, have often been parodied, most famously in the film This Is Spinal Tap (see also the phenomenon of the heavy metal umlaut). Douglas Adams neatly satirised the propensity for excessive volume in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with the fictional rock band Disaster Area — creators of the loudest sound in the known universe. It should be noted, however, that Adams was satirising Pink Floyd stage shows specifically, rather than heavy metal in general.

Related Topics:
Beavis and Butt-head - Airheads - This Is Spinal Tap - Heavy metal umlaut - Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Pink Floyd

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Many heavy metal stylings have made their way into everyday (albeit ironic) use; for instance, the "devil horns" hand sign first popularised by Ronnie James Dio has become a common sight at many rock concerts. During the 1970s and 1980s, flirtation with occult themes by artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P. and Iron Maiden led to accusations of "Satanic" influences in heavy metal by fundamentalist Christians. One popular contention during that period was that heavy metal albums featured hidden messages urging listeners to worship the Devil or to commit suicide (see Judas Priest and backward message and Allegations of Satanism in popular culture) and murder (as seen in "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills" and "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations", documentaries by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky about the 1994 Arkansas murder of three 8-year-old boys and the conviction of three teenagers using Metallica lyrics as evidence.)

Related Topics:
Devil horns - Ronnie James Dio - Ozzy Osbourne - W.A.S.P. - Iron Maiden - Satanic - Fundamentalist - Christians - Devil - Judas Priest - Backward message - Allegations of Satanism in popular culture

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