Is Heavy Metal Dead? This question might shock many headbangers. Since the metal music originated in 1960s the music genre has gone through many ups and downs and added many subgenres during its journey. In the late 70s and early 80s, when metal music was experiencing a slowdown, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) revived the music genre. During this movement, new subgenres of Heavy Metal came into existence that include ‘Thrash metal’, Black metal, Power metal, Death metal, and the subgenres of Doom and Gothic metal.
During 1990s and early 2000, some metal bands shattered, some new trends came and disappeared very soon. Critics went on to say that the Heavy metal is dead. At present, the Retro metal is reuniting the shattered bands to prove that the spirit of metal can never die. Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, the pioneers of Metal music are still active and entertaining audience with their latest albums and live performances. Let us have a look on present condition of different metal subgenres.
* Metalcore: This is the most successful Metal genre that has still maintained its luster. To name a few popular Metalcore bands, we can include ‘Avenged Sevenfold’ and ‘Bullet For My Valentine’ that gained huge commercial success in the last 10 years. In April 2012, at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, ‘Avenged Sevenfold’ received the award for ‘Best Live Band’. ‘The poison’ first album from ‘Bullet for My Valentine’ was released in October 2005 in the UK and on Valentine’s day in 2006 in the US. It stood at number 128 in the Billboard 200 and grabbed 11th position on the Independent albums chart.
* Thrash metal: During 1980s, Thrash was the most respected genre from Metal community. Thrash is a blend of ‘New Wave Of British Heavy Metal’ sound with the aggression and speed of Punk, Hardcore and other genres. Popularity of the genre was on peak during the latter half of the 80's. When 1990s was at the end Thrash bands including DESTRUCTION, EXODUS, ONSLAUGHT and DEATH ANGEL continued to release new albums that kept the charm of Thrash metal alive. At present, ‘Thrash’ is observing a revival movement.
* Death metal: The Death metal bands are trying to get more brutal, technical and conscious to attract crowds. Popular Death metal bands of present time include Krypts, Morbus Chron, Disma, Blaspherian, Shroud of the Heretic, The Wakedead Gathering and others. Death metal is all set to make a stormy return with older bands putting forward new albums and newer bands developing music that received high applauds from audience in the past.
* Black metal is also on the progressive move. The Black bands are trying to offer some different, complex and diverse music by leaving behind the orthodox themes based on Satan.
* Groove Metal: Viewing the commercial success of ‘Lamb of God’, we can say the music genre is still popular among audience and it is worth to consider the Groove metal band ‘Lamb of God’ as Metallica of the decade.
* Nu metal: The music genre has lost its popularity and seems to be disappeared in the last few years. With the success of Korn’s ‘Remember who you are’, ‘The path of totality’ and Evanescence's self-titled album at first position on the Billboard 200, Nu Metal has hope of revival.
The Retro movement is trying to return the charm of Heavy metal genres. Will the Retro movement will be as popular as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) that started in Britain during late 1970s? The retro bands in different countries are storming the minds and setting free the souls of audience. The top 10 retro bands include: Baroness (Georgia, US), Priestess (Quebec, Canada), Sideburn (Switzerland), Wolverine (Sweden), Sodom (Germany), Scorpions (Germany), Motorhead (UK), Epidemia (Russia), Destroyer 666 (Australia), Saratoga (Spain). The collective European tour by KREATOR/TANKARD/ SODOM/ DESTRUCTION in 2012 is observed as a part of Retro Thrash movement.
In just past few months, dozens of metal albums did good business. Some of them are Behemoth - 'The Satanist' (Metal Blade), Truckfighters - ‘Universe’ (Fuzzorama), Mantar – ‘Death By Burning’ (Svart), TrenchRot – ‘Necronomic Warfare’ (Unspeakable Axe) and many others. As Metal is known for raising voice on contemporary issues. In the coming few years we expect to see metal music based on Nihilism, Ethno nationalism, Environment, Anti-moralism and Heroism banging the heads of metal fans.
