# Traditional heavy metal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690 "2011-11-21T21:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/21 "2011-11-23T05:10:00Z")
When I’m feeling eighties metal-ish, I’ll go looking for Scorpions Love at First Sting or Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/22 "2011-11-23T09:01:56Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I’m sorry. I just have to point out that the phrase “traditional heavy metal” makes me think of the [Carter Family](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Family) doing a cover of “Master of Puppets.”😉 Heh. From what I can tell, “traditional heavy metal” is what’s now classified as “power metal”. All these subgenres nowadays … I remember when there were just “blues-based” and “classical-based” varieties. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/23 "2011-11-23T11:52:12Z")
Yes, today we have things like symphonic metal… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8hOgRsOTJWc/hqdefault.jpg "Within Temptation - Frozen [OFFICIAL VIDEO]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOgRsOTJWc) (Within Temptation, Frozen) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CgXbejQdlGY/hqdefault.jpg "Within Temptation - Stand My Ground [OFFICIAL VIDEO]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgXbejQdlGY) (Within Temptation, Stand My Ground) aaand _really_ symphonic. (Epica, Cry For The Moon) It’s not all women singing, by the way, though that tends to be a feature. (Nightwish, Beauty and the Beast - older, and very good) Aaaand then there’s the kind of thing that’s… well. Indescribable and they actually can’t play it live. Or they couldn’t. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0jgrCKhxE1s/maxresdefault.jpg "DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s) (Dragonforce, Through The Fire and Flames) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/24 "2011-11-23T16:52:54Z")
I do love Epica. I came across them a while back. Am I alone in thinking the singer is much more attractive in that series of “studio” videos, where she looks like she did her own makeup, than in the regular videos where she’s clearly made up by a professional makeup artist? ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/25 "2011-11-23T20:11:10Z")
I like metal, but only that which I can understand and sing the lyrics. No cookie monster vocals. My faves are Queensryche, Fates Warning, Testament (a little harder, but Chuck Billy can _sing_), Y&T, and if you have a thick skin, a slightly warped sense of humor, and can appreciate misogynistic parody, Steel Panther is great. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/26 "2011-11-24T03:10:12Z")
Now, there’s metal and there’s metal. I mean, who doesn’t like a little Def Leppard or Motley Crue now and again? Some people are still carrying that torch too. [Bang Camaro - Pleasure (pleasure) [Official Video] - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msfp8Fr6Qwc) (Bang Camaro: Pleasure (Pleasure)) [Push Push (Lady Lightning) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHyg-pead3w) (Bang Camaro: Push Push Lady Lighting) And while I’m on a Rock Band theme, if you’re curious what they mean by ‘cookie monster’, I give you this. Yes. It’s a female singer. [Visions by Abnormality LYRICS - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzpXNqURPxQ) (Abnormality: Visions. But most of you guessed that.) ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/27 "2011-11-24T07:30:44Z")
Another over-the-top but fun (and talented) metal band; Dream Evil. I think just about every video I’ve ever seen of them has some sort of weaponry and explosions. Yay! [Fire! Battle! In Metal!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ulHlv659Jo) [The Book of Heavy Metal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzFMPPH340&feature=relmfu) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/28 "2011-11-24T09:41:48Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Another over-the-top but fun (and talented) metal band; Dream Evil. I think just about every video I’ve ever seen of them has some sort of weaponry and explosions. Yay! > [Fire! Battle! In Metal!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ulHlv659Jo) > [The Book of Heavy Metal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzFMPPH340&feature=relmfu) … I LOVE IT. Talented, entertaining, and that second song is hilarious 😛 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/29 "2011-11-24T18:19:09Z")
That right there, that’s good shit man. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/30 "2011-11-24T18:47:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Shrinebuilder - Blind For All To See](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xszku3Jhz4) — [url=[http://poorimpulsecontrol.blog.com/2010/04/04/shrinebuilder/](http://poorimpulsecontrol.blog.com/2010/04/04/shrinebuilder/)] wow! ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/31 "2011-11-25T01:46:26Z")
In the beginning there was…MC-5 and Motorhead. Definitely check out Led Zeppelin’s _Immigrant Song_. You may also enjoy Yngwie Malmsteen. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/32 "2011-11-25T02:36:33Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Metal can still be fun. You just have to crank it up and go a bit… Over The Top. > > > Enjoy some White Wizzard. That…is fucking AWESOME! Where have I been that I missed those guys? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/33 "2011-11-25T04:25:52Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That…is fucking AWESOME! Where have I been that I missed those guys? Looks to me like these guys are Terry Pratchett fans as well. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/34 "2011-12-11T00:02:09Z")
I remembered the band I was trying to think of. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bzUPG8olnO0/maxresdefault.jpg "Steel Panther - Community Property") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUPG8olnO0) Steel Panther. Not exactly SFW. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yfB7vF7nCdA/maxresdefault.jpg "Steel Panther - Death To All But Metal (Explicit)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfB7vF7nCdA) ---
**Author:** ![ushimitsudoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@ushimitsudoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ushimitsudoki)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/35 "2011-12-11T10:57:34Z")
Some good suggestions in this thread. Here are a few that I don’t think were mentioned: - [Ghost](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PakoE1eBps) (Ritual) - [Mastodon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAihDAJX8Ow) (Curl of the Burl) - [Red Fang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQPfQvLIseA&ob=av2e) (Wires) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/36 "2011-12-12T03:57:21Z")
It’s not just power metal he’s talking about. Power metal generally features the Maiden-style twin leads, but has a lot of swords-and-sorcery lyrical content. Dio’s _Holy Diver_ is probably the archetypal album (though Manowar is definitively the archetypal band). The documentary _Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey_ included [a handy “metal family tree”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal:_A_Headbanger's_Journey#.22Definitive_metal_family_tree.22) for this sort of discussion. The only problem with it is that it tends to identify each subgroup more by time frame, audience and secondary characteristics rather than based on actual musical considerations. For example, most of the stuff Sepultura plays is a bunch of heavy chord progressions, while most Megadeth songs are characterized by a distinct lead composed of double stops and a quieter chord-based rhythm track - but both are nominally “thrash”. [Diamond Head’s _Am I Evil_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJYCClXUkyE&feature=related) is everything I like about metal in a neat package. It’s an especially good example of the multiple tempo changes that characterized the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Did you like _The Trooper_ because of the riff? If so, there are a lot of Megadeth songs you’ll like- all kinds of Maiden-inspired meedlymeedlymeedly stuff. [_Hangar 18_ is a good place to start](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtsD2tBPZgo). You’ll probably want to work forwards from _Rust In Peace_ - Megadeth started out really heavy, and got less so as time went by. _[Washington is Next](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFhgv-eTkXo)_, from the last album, is another song in the same vein. It was already mentioned, but early Queensryche sounded a lot like a more melodic and less bass-heavy Maiden. _[Walk In the Shadows](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zilmYuinQm0&ob=av3n)_ is a great intro to Chris DeGarmo’s unique guitar tone and Geoff Tate’s even more unique voice. _[Another Rainy Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5fuP3teihg&feature=relmfu)_ is one of the rare power ballads that kicks ass (which may explain why it bombed as a single). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/37 "2011-12-12T04:22:38Z")
Oh, nearly forgot: if you ever wondered what happened to the kids you grew up who listened to Maiden and Dio and spent every other waking second playing video games: [Dragonforce](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s&ob=av3e). This song was in Guitar Hero 3, so you might have heard it before. Don’t bother listening to the rest of their songs because they all sound exactly like this one. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/38 "2011-12-12T07:39:16Z")
When I saw this thread had popped back up, I dug thru my stuff and came up with a few more bands to list here. [Wolf - Voodoo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHxtAQiVS_A) [Cauldron - All or Nothing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_E2vJzmMOg) [Crowning Glory - Dead Man’s Paradise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHWaBSLrm3Y) I actually like this next band, as they come of like a perfect cross of **AC/DC** and **Judas Priest** : [Bullet - Bite The Bullet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTCbIF66RJs) [Bullet - Dusk Til Dawn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlWg82aVm14) This band sounds like a perfect cross of **AC/DC** with **AC/DC** : [Airbourne - Blonde, Bad & Beautiful](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO7-y47z03s) [Airbourne - Stand Up For Rock And Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_tMjx4fz-Q) More random miscellaneous bands like the OP asked for (maybe): [Enforcer - Into The Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsOx6W5H-n8) [Destroy Destroy Destroy - Born Of Thunder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-hbyYn2uBQ) (might be too growly but its not CMVs) [Icarus Witch - Capture The Magic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGoQ56rR2WQ) [Widow - The Pleasure Of Exorcism](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZh9-AU7qk) [Twisted Tower Dire - The Stone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0V45SDxwYQ) For people who want to go a little further back and hear some doom (these guys are usually total Black Sabbath worshippers, for those of you not familiar with the genre): [Orchid - No One Makes A Sound](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_NomU8J95c) [The Gates Of Slumber - Ice Worm](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR8-tkLOOVg) [Jex Thoth - Nothing Left To Die](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JgUOn3J2Y) Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/39 "2011-12-12T08:03:36Z")
I forgot one: For those who want to go even further back to a classic rock sound, check out Sweden’s [Graveyard - Hisingen Blues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnGBa8dVm6k), the title track from their latest album. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690/40 "2011-12-12T10:24:26Z")
If you don’t mind lyrics in Spanish, there’s [Tierra Santa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyIF62C8ZwI), who it turns out is a christian rock band from Spain. They very much remind me of Iron Maiden. KISS is kind of hit and miss, but [Alive!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czMAkRfDlZ4&feature=related) is a fun album. [Creatures Of The Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGckua_5dg) is probably their most “metal” album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-heavy-metal/603690.md?page=3)