Heavy Metal Historian

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 58: We close our study of Nu Metal, as we follow the longevity of groups like Korn and Linkin Park who persisted into the 2010’s; and the fruition of styles closely related to Nu Metal during the time, such as Rap Metal, and Alternative Metal. Furthermore, we endeavor to discover what […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 57: We continue our journey into Nu Metal, as we follow the first wave before 2000, in which we find groups such as Korn, Limp Bizkit and Deftones; to the second wave of the style after 2000, an advance that was led by Linkin Park at the time. And in addition […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 56: We enter the late Nineties to explore the genre that has been the most divisive among fans: Nu Metal. Ascending from Groove Metal, we will be looking into how the styles of Thrash, Alt Rock, Punk, Rap, Hip-Hop, & Reggae laid the foundations for the scene to emerge. We explore […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 55: We close our journey through album art with another different kind of episode, in which we consider twenty of the most recognizable metal album covers of all time. Many will agree and many will not, but we run through a discussion of the most iconic cover designs by some of […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 54: In our 3rd part of this series, we continue examining album cover art with a different kind of episode in which we interview artist Felipe Machado Franco; who does amazing work for the likes of Blind Guardian, Rage, Iron Savior, Rhapsody of Fire, and more. In the discussion, we explore […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 53: In Part 2, we continue to take a close at the history of Heavy Metal album cover artwork, this time delving into history unique to metal. From the development of the mascot (such as Eddie), to controversial art, we delve into the presentation of metal albums, as we move forward […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 52: We delve into an exceptionally important aspect of Heavy Metal: the history of album cover art. From the birth of the genre, to downloadable art, we explore the prehistory, evolution, and future of the significance of album art for metal bands and their albums, we begin a multi-part journey into […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 51: We revisit the tragic night of December 8, 2004, the fallout among bands and fans the following day after the final live performance of Damageplan. And then we move to the advent of Hellyeah, and into the rise of Nu Metal and Metalcore. We close our examination of the subgenre, […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 50: We continue our examination of Groove Metal and move from the formative years of the subgenre and into worldwide success for Pantera and Sepultura. We begin to look through the 1990’s at other acts like Soulfly, Down, Machine Head, Chimaira, Prong and more – as we dive into the Rise […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 49: We restart our exploration of subgenres of Metal, and this time turn to one of most successful and prolific scenes to emerge in Heavy Metal during the 1990’s. With pioneers Pantera and Sepultura developing the style, we turn back the clock and dive into their inspirations and influences – in […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 48: We turn to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos. We review how the depth of his intense horror fiction influenced music, especially in the world of Heavy Metal. From the Call of Cthulhu, to Nameless Shapes and Things That Should Not Be, we fall into the depths […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 47: We take our fourth and final look into the style, and look at a few more bands that didn’t get a mention in our investigation of the Origins, Rise, and Future of Death Metal. From the initial days of the subgenre, and into the appearance of many varied offshoots, we […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 46: We start to close our exploration of Death Metal, in which we examine the subgenre’s entrance into the 21st century. As it branched out into other forms of Extreme Metal, it additionally had an impact on subgenres like Metalcore. We also turn to tomorrow, and explore what we can expect […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 45: We resume our journey into the phenomenon of Death Metal. After the formative years of the subgenre, the advance of the style featured many bands from Cannibal Corpse to Deicide, bringing new rudiments to the table. From Original Death Metal to Technical Death Metal, and beyond, we investigate the Rise […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 44: We move in to examining the emergence of one of the most notable subgenres of Heavy Metal. Following in the footsteps of Thrash, Death Metal would become a new, integral, and critical part of the evolution of the genre. But before it could arise, the seeds for the style needed […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 43: Since its origin, metal has been plagued by misinterpretations from critics of the genre who claim the style corrupts its fans and listeners. From claims of devil worship, to the rise of the PMRC, and from the notorious Judas Priest trial, to cases such as the West Memphis Three, and […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 42: As the 2000’s began, Doom Metal continued to endure and evolve, and reached new and unexpected heights in the 2010’s. From the emergence of bands like Swallow the Sun, Ahab, and Pallbearer, we examine where Doom Metal is in the 21st century. And we see what is ahead for tomorrow. […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 41: After exploring the roots and ancestry behind Doom Metal, we start on examining the spread of the genre. Progressing through the 1980’s and into the 1990’s, and from the likes of Candlemass, Cathedral, Electric Wizard and beyond, we uncover the Rise of Doom Metal. Hosted by Greg Davies from Blendover, […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 40: From the beginnings of Black Sabbath in the early 1970’s spawned a subgenre of metal that still goes strong to this day. Later works by groups like Lucifer’s Friend and Witchfinder General would also help develop the style. From the beginnings of metal through to the effect of the NWOBHM […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 39: We turn to the folklore and fantasy surrounding Witches and Witchcraft, its emergence into horror, and subsequent inclusion in heavy metal. From one side of the coin being the fictional wickedness of fairy tales and epics, to the other side being the peaceful influence of the modern Wiccan beliefs, we […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 38: During the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, there were not just a few dozen bands that were pushing metal forward – there were hundreds. In Part Two of our exploration into the NWOBHM, we plow into the archives and rediscover some of the forgotten bands from the era. We […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 37: After Early and Traditional Metal a new generation of bands in the United Kingdom were brewing a cultural shift for metal at large. With bands like Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Raven, Venom, and more, came a new energy that strengthened the style. We look into the history of […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 36: We return to looking into Horror Folklore and examine how the concept of zombies has influenced metal, and recognize some of the quintessential metal songs exploring the idea of a zombie apocalypse. After looking at the mythos of Vampires and Werewolves, we now turn our attention to Zombies and Heavy […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 35: We voyage back in time to examine the emergence of the bands that followed the Early Metal movement. As the scene was forming up in the Seventies, the word “METAL” began being used to describe the sound. From Alice Cooper and KISS to AC/DC, and to the Metal Gods themselves, […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 34: We keep on the horror folklore kick, and turn our focus away from vampirism, and over to lycanthropy. We look to the emergence of the creatures that would become known as werewolves, and where the mythology came from. We investigate how they’ve influenced literature and movies and look into Werewolves […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 33: We turn to the horror genre, and examine the emergence of the beings that would become known as vampires, and where the folklore came from. From the appearance of vampiric folklore, to the progress of works like Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, to the vampire tales told in music: we look into […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 32: After studying the origins and rise of Power Metal, we now turn our focus to the final chapter of our journey into the subgenre: its future. We explore the emergence of a new generation carrying the torch forward into the 21st century, and take a guess at what’s in store […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 31: We conclude our look into Industrial Metal, as we look at where the style was during the beginning of the 21st century, and where it’s going now. Following the legacy set down by groups such as Nine Inch Nails, VAST, Ministry, Rammstein, and Marilyn Manson, we search for what’s in […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 30: We resume our journey into Power Metal, as we explore the subgenre that embraced elements of history and literature. From the bands bringing the fantasy and sword and sorcery to life through music and on stage, such as HammerFall, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Kamelot, and more, we examine the Rise […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 29: We continue our focus on Industrial Metal, as its origins evolved into the emergence of a generation in the 1990’s that shifted opportunities. From the groundbreaking works of Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, to the appearance of Fear Factory, Rammstein, and White Zombie, we examine The Rise of Industrial Metal. […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 28: We commence the examination of another eminent genre of Metal, and go back to look at the bands and artists that shaped the initial stages of the subgenre. From Ronnie James Dio, with his work in Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Dio; to the works of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden; […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 27: Amalgamating the experimentalism of avant-garde rock, with the emerging electronica coming out of Europe, Industrial Music would rise to later evolve into the genre made famous by Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, we turn back the clock to examine where it all derived from: we investigate The Origins of Industrial […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 26: Inside the evolution of Prog Metal during the 1990’s and 2000’s arose a new subgenre that has become one of the most popular of current metal styles. The intriguingly named DJENT Metal embraces a particular style established by the likes of Meshuggah. From Sikth to Animals as Leaders, and more, […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 25: From the DIY approach of early punk, to the self-managed method of Hardcore, to the rise of Thrash Metal, we dig a little deeper into the most vital part of these scenes: the Metal Fans who connected with each other to share music in an underground network of tape-trading… Hosted […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 23: Finally, we reach our destination after looking at Thrash Metal, Punk, and Hardcore, and inspect the first prosperous fusion of Metal with Punk: Where Thrash was blended with Hardcore. We look into the key bands that shaped the genre, and where it is headed now. From Uncle Slam to Suicidal […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 23: We turn to Prog Metal from 2000 to today and examine the likes of Mastodon, Periphery, and Baroness, as they drove the boundaries of the style further. Then we glance to the future, not only to the new bands emerging across the world, but predict the return of some big […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 22: We revisit Hardcore Punk, wherein we explore MORE bands and artists that contributed greatly to the scene and to its influence on Metal. From the Shock Rock of GG Allin, to the war declaration of Fear; and the Anarcho-punk of Discharge to the Zombie Punk of the Cramps: We re-examine […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 21: We return to Prog, where we pursue the significance of Rush, as the Canadian musical giants establish a subgenre that would influence countless bands that would follow. From Queensryche, to the development of Dream Theater, into the ambiguity of Tool and beyond, we delve into The Rise of Progressive Metal. […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 20: We turn to the second wave of Punk: the emergence of Hardcore. From the Horror Punk of the Misfits, to the influence of Rollins and Black Flag, to the political Dead Kennedys, and the Straight Edge of Minor Threat and Fugazi, we turn to the advancement of a Punk Subgenre […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 19: From the development of Pink Floyd into the 1970’s, to key essential bands from the era such as Genesis and Yes, to Rush leading the growth of Progressive Metal, we turn back time to investigate why Prog was so important to the evolution of Rock and Metal during the era […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 18: Streaming from the effects of blues, rock, and heavy metal, a new musical crusade that butted heads with bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but would win over a new cohort of fans – and create an attitude within music that would not only revolutionize the face […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 17: We examine how the relevance of experimental avant-garde substance and the work of psychedelic rock would cause to influence the development of a style that has become one of the most popular among fans. From the inheritance left by classical music, the flexibilities of Frank Zappa, the explorations of Pink […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 16: Instead of Heavy Metal Historian decorating a tree that looks like the Spirit of Christmas puked all over the place, this episode is going to look at “The Spirit of Metal”. From the early development of the genre, to modern scenes, but beyond into the future (and the past), we […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 15: The protests, rioting, looting, & arson of Ferguson in 2014 has caused many to recall the events of the LA Race Riots from 1992. Metal is frequently influenced by major events, including the mayhem of unrest – and the groups and songs that came after that time were of no […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 14: After uncovering the origins of Thrash Metal, and the rise of Metallica and others in our preceding episodes; we move now into the 21st century, to look at the revival of the genre – and examine this Thrash Renaissance spreading across the planet. And just as importantly, we look forward […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 13: 100 years after its declaration, the world still bears the scars and the impact of The Great War. The combat influenced a century of art, literature, but just as importantly, music as well. We have a look at World War I in Metal – from Iron Maiden’s “Paschendale” and beyond […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 12: In one of the most disconcerting cases of all time, we continue to examine the influence that serial killers have had on Metal. From The Ripper and Bathory, we advance into the 20th Century, to now turn to an individual that would have an effect on horror films and heavy […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 11: Continuing our journey into Thrash, we examine the beginnings from the Bay Area to the Big 4, developing a style influenced by Metal and Punk that became a viable alternative to the Glam Metal of LA. From the US to Germany, and to the entire world, we look into the […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 10: From a wealth of privilege, the killer who would become known as the Countess of Blood, Elizabeth Bathory, would have a dark influence on literature, film, and in the music of heavy metal. But who is Countess Bathory, why is she viewed as the most prolific serial killer, and how […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 9: If there was a metal subgenre that was one of the most prominent and important, it would be Thrash. The style would be inspirational in the development of crossover genres, the rise of Death Metal and Black Metal; plus much more from around the world. For this episode, we look […]

Heavy Metal Historian Episode 8: From its beginning, Heavy Metal has been a genre in which musicians have been unafraid to tackle subjects and topics that are a little on the darker or overwhelming side. Disease and sickness isn’t a new topic for music – but with all this news media frenzy and fear going […]