Term Papers on Heavy Metal Music

Term Paper Title	Heavy Metal Music
# of Words	1085
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	4.34

Heavy Metal Music

Catherine Hindelly

     Everyone has heard their music or heard their name; Deep Purple, Metallica,
Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix,
and even Megadeth.  These great artists all have one thing in common, they all play a
form of music called “heavy metal.”
     But what is heavy metal?  There are many different descriptions of the style.  One
characteristic is the playing of electric guitars (however, this type of guitar is not
necessary).  Metallica and Pantera, for example, are known for, but not only for, their
strong intricate electric guitar tabs and style.  On the other hand, music played by Deep
Purple is on an acoustic.  Metal music also tends to always include a guitar solo at one
point during the song; usually in the middle or a little after the midpoint of the piece.
Every band has a drummer, and most have a bassist.  The vocals can be by the guitarist or
by someone who does not play an instrument.
     When people think of heavy metal music, they think of fast, violent, and noisy
songs.  Even metal fans can be guilty of this.  But, this is a misconception that many
have.  Heavy metal music can definitely be described as fast and violent most of the time.
However, there are many exceptions to this.  For example, Metallica, who is for the most
part quick, loud, and “wild,” has hit songs such as Nothing Else Matters, One, Fade to
Black, The Unforgiven, and Turn the Page.  If one is not familiar with Metallica, they
would never imagine that these soft and serious songs belong to this heavy metal band.
Ozzy Osbourne as well has a few slower, calmer, and softer songs.  One of these is Mama
I’m Coming Home.  If you compared this song to a song such as Crazy Train, you would
see an amazing difference between the two.  Yet, not matter how fast or slow a heavy
metal song is, it always retains a solid guitar sound and a solid drum beat.
     Much like other types of music, heavy metal songs usually cover a certain type of
topic.  There are many different topics including mythological creature and events, kings,
bad attitudes, murders, insanity, drugs, suicide, thunder and lightning, bleeding, violence,
capital punishment, dysfunctional families, love, weapons and explosives, death, politics,
fire, money, anarchy, gambling, feelings, misfortune, Armageddon, partying,  loneliness,
and other aspects of life. The song like Ride the Lightning by Metallica, for example, is
about capital punishment.  Yet, topics are not at all limited in any   way.  One song by
Metallica called Nothing Else Matters is a tribute to Cliff Burton, the original bassist who
died during a live tour in Europe in a bus accident.  This song if full of feeling and
expresses the band’s love and feelings towards the late Cliff.  It also includes their
feelings about being unique and different.
     Meanwhile, some bands tend to specialize in a certain range of topics.  Rage
Against the Machine, for example, sings of social issues, discrimination, corruption in
government, the media, and topics such as this.
     Heavy Metal bands frequently sing about love; usually the negative aspects of it,
but sometimes the positives.  Pantera, for example, has a song called This Love.  This
song speaks about a love he had that he wasn’t sure ab...

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