An introduction to Western heavy metal: the masterpieces that changed the history of metal

AmerikaUriah Heep

Rammstein – Amerika (Official 4K Video)

RAMMSTEIN may not be very well known in Japan, but they’re popular enough to sell out stadiums in the United States and Europe.

This song carries a strongly satirical message aimed at America, which is clearly reflected in its music video.

It also fits well with the mechanical sound characteristic of industrial metal.

Don’t Fear the WinterRage

Rage – Don’t Fear the Winter (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Among the many power metal bands, RAGE stands out as the one that most distinctly embodies a German essence.

Despite being a trio, their intensely powerful sound and melodies imbued with that uniquely German sense of melancholy make this a hidden gem that perfectly matches their forceful style.

BlindKorn

Korn – Blind (Official HD Video)

Even in the 2020s, Korn remain in full force, with a long-awaited new album slated for release in 2022.

It hardly needs saying that they debuted in 1994—the year Kurt Cobain passed away and the grunge boom rapidly faded—and went on to spark the late-’90s nu-metal movement, achieving major commercial success.

As the anecdote goes, the Japanese edition of their self-titled debut barely sold upon release in Japan, yet the band’s sound—intertwining tricky riffs from two seven-string guitars, a bass defined by slapping with a fierce attack, drums full of ghost notes and complex grooves, and frontman Jonathan Davis’s anguished vocals that seem to shoulder America’s darkness—went far beyond merely fusing metal and hip-hop.

It was something so alien that it could only be described as KORN.

It’s true that traditional heavy metal fans criticized them amid the nu-metal boom, but from the mid-2010s onward, metalcore and deathcore acts began to incorporate sounds that clearly reflect Korn’s influence, and I feel their achievements deserve renewed recognition.

Among their early signature songs, Blind is a true masterpiece that opened up new possibilities in the history of heavy metal—and alternative rock at large—and its singular originality will never fade.

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KOH-1

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Black SabbathBlack Sabbath

BLACK SABBATH – “Black Sabbath” (Official Video)

A song by Black Sabbath, the British metal band formed in 1968 and often called the pioneers of heavy metal.

It’s the title track of their debut album, Black Sabbath, and a song that bears the band’s name.

Rather than the fast and furious qualities people often first associate with heavy metal, this track offers a dark, complex structure you can savor.

It exemplifies the depth and breadth of the genre, making it a must-listen both for newcomers to metal and for those who already love it.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Freezing MoonMayhem

Mayhem – Freezing Moon (HQ)

A track by Mayhem, a Norwegian metal band that epitomized the early black metal scene and earned a fervent global following with their highly ferocious sound.

The song appears on their long-delayed debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, whose release was pushed back due to a series of shocking incidents, including a band member’s suicide and a murder.

The relentless blast-beat drumming and a guitar solo that conveys a sense of foreboding make the fusion of their unique worldbuilding and performance quality addictive.

It’s a dark number that represents the band’s early period and expanded the expressive range of the metal genre.

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Hoshino Takashi

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