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Classic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is characterized by thumping fast basslines, fast, but less heavy riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses. Its peak period was the early to mid 1980s. It is often seen as both related to, and distinguished from glam metal. It is very similar to hard rock and NWOBHM.

Significant artists include AC/DC, Dokken, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Motörhead, Saxon, Twisted Sister and Van Halen.

History

Classic metal artists were heavily influenced by traditional metal artists and classic rock artists. Artists like Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, KISS, Deep Purple, Van Halen, U.F.O. and Led Zeppelin were seminal influences. AC/DC are considered by some as the biggest influence to the genre, apart from being a part of classic metal itself, with the vocal style and guitarwork of the band considered highly influential.

Classic metal was also influenced by 70s punk rock although the punk influences diminished over time. For example, Iron Maiden had many punk elements in their first two albums but then moved away from punk and embraced all-out heavy metal.

However, the biggest influence on this genre came from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal which broke out in the U.K. in the late 70s. In fact, Iron Maiden and Saxon were both part of this movement. As the movement spread through Europe and became a global phenomenon, it evolved into classic metal.

Classic metal enjoyed great worldwide success. Iron Maiden sold in excess of 58 million albums during the 80s and Dokken sold more than 16 million in the US alone. Europe's landmark album The Final Countdown sold over 7 million copies worldwide, while Scorpions and Judas Priest sold out big arenas around the world.

Classic metal influenced many later metal genres including glam metal, thrash metal, power metal and death metal. Classic metal bands were not as heavy and had a greater sense of melody than the thrash and death metal bands such as Metallica, Anthrax and Morbid Angel that they influenced. Often considered by some fans as the 'purest' form of metal, classic metal was popular for its combination of melody and aggression.

Musicology

Classic metal as a musical genre had a distinctive style. The reason why classic metal is sometimes referred to as 1980s metal or simply (but incorrectly) as heavy metal is because, its style perfectly describes popular music of the first half of the 1980s decade.Classic metal evolved from the earlier genres of rock n roll like Hard rock and Glam rock, during the late 70s. One of the most important and innovative concepts of classic metal was the use of the double lead guitar pioneered by classic metal bands like Scorpions and Judas Priest. And although, this concept was sparingly used by earlier hard rock bands like Uriah Heep and U.F.O., it was wholly developed as a heavy metal musical element during the classic metal era. This concept of dual lead guitars would reach epic heights during the late 1980s when other bands like Megadeth, Tesla and Slayer would also use it. Another musical concept that evolved during the Classic metal era was that of the galloping basslines. Although, this bass style had its inception into music in the earlier Rock n roll era, it became highly evident in the Classic metal era, and was extensively used by Iron Maiden's Steve Harris, Dokken's Jeff Pilson and others. The use of power chords was also amplified during this era. The use of high-pitched and screaming vocals also reached it's pinnacle during this era, later culminating into the glam metal era.

Lyrical theme

Unlike the other genres of heavy metal, classic metal was the most lyrically diverse, with a wide variety of lyrical themes being written by the bands without a centralised prerequisite such as glam metal's lyrics about love, sex, girls, and metal, thrash metal's heavy political and war themes, and power metal's high fantasy themed imagery. The themes in classic metal include: the occult, love, fun-based party songs, fantasy, social themes, and war themes. A single band can write songs based on various themes. For instance, Judas Priest writes songs on party (Livin' after midnight) as well as social themes (Victim Of Changes) and Twisted Sister writes on rebellion (We're not gonna take it) as well as dark imagery (Burn In Hell).

Decline

Classic metal's position as the most popular form of metal withered away in the late 1980s, especially in the 1987-1989 period. At this time newer bands emerged to create thrash metal and hair metal, with each genre taking a quite different approach to their music. Gradually, public interest drifted away from classic metal onto the the newer genres. Due to the hierarchy of classic metal spliting into two parts and drifting away from each other, many classic metal bands came to their end at this time. Some joined one of the two newely founded genres, (Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Motörhead), while some bands experimented with aspects of both genres (Skid Row, W.A.S.P., Scorpions), leaving others to carry on with typcial classic metal stylings (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Europe, Dokken, Dio).

Revival and influence

Although classic metal went into regression as a commercially viable genre in the late 90s, there has been several bands who have tried to revive the genre, or alternativly have incorperated elements of classic metal into their music. Many bands, who came after the classic metal era had ended, played music akin to one genre, with heavy influence from classic metal. White Lion, Warrior Soul, Stratovarius, Warrant, and Slayer being prominent among them.

Many metal bands from various genres cite classic metal bands as their primary influences. Many others, outside the genre too cite classic metal bands as one of their influences.

Important artists

• AC/DC
• Accept
• Alice Cooper
• Black Sabbath
• Deep Purple
• Dio
• Dokken
• Europe
• Fastway
• Iron Maiden
• Judas Priest
• Manowar
• Quiet Riot
• Rainbow
• Yngwie J Malmsteen's Rising Force
• Saxon
• Scorpions
• Twisted Sister
• W.A.S.P.

Notable albums

• AC/DC - Back in Black
• Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
• Dio - Holy Diver
• Dokken - Tooth And Nail
• Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance
• Twisted Sister - Under the Blade
• Saxon - Denim and Leather
• W.A.S.P. - The Last Command
• Quiet Riot - Metal Health
• Scorpions - Blackout

Definitive classic metal anthems

• 'Back in Black' - AC/DC
• 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' - Iron Maiden
• 'Rainbow In The Dark' - Dio
• 'Under The Blade' - Twisted Sister
• 'Breaking The Law' - Judas Priest
• 'Into The Fire' - Dokken
• 'Metal Health' - Quiet Riot
• 'Balls To The Wall' - Accept
• 'I Wanna Be Somebody' - W.A.S.P.
• 'And The Bands Played On' - Saxon
• 'Kings of Metal' - Manowar
• 'Iron Man' - Black Sabbath

Related genres

• Glam metal
• Hard rock
• New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
• Traditional metal

See also

• Timeline of heavy metal

External links

• List Of Classic Metal Bands
• Classic Metal Fest
• The Official 'Classic Metal Show' Site
• Ignitor's Classic Metal Site

• Metal subgenres