Portal:Heavy metal

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The Heavy Metal Portal

Heavy metal (sometimes referred to simply as metal) is a genre similar to rock music, that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, heavy, guitar-and-drums-centered sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion and fast guitar solos. The All Music Guide states that "of all rock & roll's myriad forms, heavy metal is the most extreme in terms of volume, machismo, and theatricality."

Heavy metal has long had a worldwide following of fans known as "metalheads" or "headbangers". Although early heavy metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple attracted large audiences, they were often critically reviled at the time, a status common throughout the history of the genre. In the mid-1970s, Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence; the New Wave of British Heavy Metal followed in a similar vein, fusing the music with a punk rock sensibility and an increasing emphasis on speed. Heavy metal became broadly popular during the 1980s, when many now-widespread subgenres first evolved.

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Still Reigning is a live performance DVD by the thrash metal band Slayer, released in 2004 through American Recordings. Filmed at the Augusta Civic Center on July 11, 2004, the performance showcases Slayer's 1986 album, Reign in Blood, played in its entirety with the four original band members on a set resembling their 1986 "Reign in Pain" tour. Still Reigning was voted "best live DVD" by the readers of Revolver magazine, and received gold certification in 2005.

The finale features Slayer covered in stage blood while performing the song "Raining Blood", which led to a demanding mixing process plagued by production and technical difficulties. The DVD's producer Kevin Shirley, spent hours replacing cymbal and drum hits one-by-one. He publicly aired financial disagreements he had with the band and criticized the quality of the recording, and as a result was allegedly subjected to threats and insults from people associated with the band.

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Credit: Greg Waterman

John Dolmayan of System of a Down at Ozzfest 2005. ...Archive/Nominations

News

30 November 2007: Metallica are set to debut a track from their forthcoming album on the new Rock Band video game. (Kerrang)
16 September 2007: The ballot deadline for Led Zeppelin's reunion concert has been extended due to demand. 25 million people have registered for the ballot at the concert's website so far. (NME)
14 September 2007: Iron Maiden have announced a world tour, "Somewhere Back In Time", which will begin in February 2008. (Kerrang)

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Did you know...

...that Metallica was formed after both guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich had placed advertisements in The Recycler about forming a band?
...that Ozzy Osbourne also plays the harmonica and synthesizer?
...that Bullet For My Valentine were originally known as "Jeff Killed John" and played Nirvana and Metallica covers?
...that Dee Snider sang in several church and school choirs, including his All-State choir, as a youth?
...that Motörhead were once voted "the worst band in the world" by NME readers?