Heavy metal, occasionally referred to as just metal, is a form of music epitomizing driving, aggressive rhythms and very much amplified distorted guitar sound. Heavy metal incorporates elements of blues, rock, prog rock and blues rock. It takes its roots in the hard rock bands that between 1967 and 1974 created a hybrid of blues and rock with a heavy, drums-and-guitar-centered sound. From the late 70s on, lots of bands like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin would blend this sound with a revitalization of European classical music. The peak popularity of heavy metal rock bands was in the 1980s. Even though the commercial success is not as high as it was then, heavy metal music still has a great wide-reaching following of fans known by terms such as headbangers, metalheads and moshers.
The most frequently seen line-up for heavy metal rock bands is a rhythm guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, a lead guitarist, a singer (who on occasion may be one of the instrumentalists), and more seldom a keyboard player. Heavy metal rock bands typically epitomize virtuosic instrumentation, particularly a guitar, dark lyrics and themes, aggressive, up-tempo rhythms and symphonic or classical styles. The subgenres of heavy metal, however, have their individual stylistic deviations that may exclude some of these characteristics.
The history of heavy metal music of the late 1970s and early 1980s is very much debated amid music historians. Some would describe the period as a period of "selling-out", when heavy metal rock bands like Blue Oyster Cult attained modest mainstream success and the Los Angeles metal scene began to attract pop audiences, particularly in the 1980s. Others downplay or ignore the significance of these bands, and as a substitute focus on the advent of classical influences, found in the material of Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen and such.
A lot of people, including the musicians of prominent heavy metal rock bands, believe that the basics of the specific sound and style of genuine heavy metal were ushered in by Judas Priest with their three early albums: 1976 "Sad Wings of Destiny", 1977 "Sin After Sin" and 1978 "Stained Class". Although Rainbow and Deep Purple are also so often cited as original a sort of authentic heavy metal, these prominent bands are commonly considered hard rock bands.
The blast of guitar virtuosity (started by Jimi Hendrix earlier) was taken to the forefront by Eddie Van Halen with many considering his 1978 solo "Eruption" a milestone. Randy Rhoads (with pioneers Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne), Ritchie Blackmore (previously of Deep Purple), and Yngwie Malmsteen continued to solidify the explosion of virtuoso guitar play, and in sometimes, nylon-stringed guitars and classical guitars played at heavy metal performances.
This bang would calm down in the Ronnie James Dio`s music and continue to settle towards Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, who are perhaps the final and absolute consummation of genuine heavy metal in their grandfathers` lineage - Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.