The Definition of Metal

[clcwarlock]

I grew up in the 70's and 80's listening to what I have and always believed was Heavy Metal at the time. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden even Led Zeppelin to name a few. When I see reviews today of guitars and amps I always here the question "Can you do metal with that?" Some say these pickups, amp or guitar will get you close to metal some not. What I haven’t realized for a while is that my definition of metal and the current definition of Metal, I think, are different. When I think metal I think Plexi/JCM800 maybe with an overdrive pedal, the British sound if you will. So, when I look at a demo of the HX/DA or 65amps Empire it seems to me you could do metal with it no problem, at least the metal that I know. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

 

[Albrecht Smuten]

It took me a long time to realize that the "trademark" metal sound is not really a matter of guitar sound. It's more a matter of the whole band's sound and most importantly the arrangements - perfect timing, agressive staccato attacks, evil scales, the "wall of sound", etc... and it seems that the drummer does a great deal of work. If you don't have a crazy double kicking cymbal splashing blast beating drummer accompanied by 5-string bassist, following every drum kick, no "metal" guitar sound will save you.

Nevertheless, contemporary metal guitar sound seem to emphasize bass and treble, with heavy distortion. And maybe a little flanger (just for the color). As for the amp, Mesa Boogie Rectifier had been very popular in past years...

 

[docbennett]

Heavy Metal = "Blue Oyster Cult's first 3 Albums"

As a matter of fact, one of their producers, Murry Krugman, was at one time credited with coining the term "Heavy Metal"

#1: Self Titled "Blue Oyster Cult"

#2: "Tyranny & Mutation:

#3: Secret Treaties:

Listen to these 3 albums...you will totally understand "Metal" as a genre of Rock.

 

[vchizzle]

Too many metal styles to define. There's:

or

 

[vchizzle]

I probably left 20 or sub-genres out, which will anger the historians of metal.

 

[vchizzle]

Forgot some 80's action.