Speed Metal and the upgrade Heavy Metal received

What is Speed Metal and how is it came to be?

Speed Metal GIF

Sometimes the genre might be referred as Speed'n'Thrash just like the label Hard'n'Heavy used by the press and fans showing that there's no clear delimitation in between. 

Musically and conceptually speaking it is represented by what is more than the traditional Heavy Metal in velocity, delivery and complexity of the overall song structures.

In comparison, with Thrash Metal, for example, Speed Metal band's music contains less Punk or Hardcore influences, although being at the same abrasive musical attributes and...speed, of course!

At the second part of the 70's where the genre has its roots the general rock musical realm was populated by some shy, so to speak, heavy metal releases, the prog-rock scene and punk rock on the other hand

These genres dominated most of the overall rock stage.

First of all, many consider that Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" released in 1974 must be the first 100% speed metal act and it had a huge impact, especially on Metallica and the whole metal development, musically speaking.

About the same period of time the contribution of Motörhead and Judas Priest bands are considered by many being the first former Speed Metal bands.

Also, the german band Accept were an important catalytic, as well.

"Fast as a Shark" song being a great example, in that respect.

As Black Sabbath started to change and forwarded to a more mainstream discourse adding prog or even Beatles influences on "Technical Ecstacy", even their legacy has been already passed for this upgrade with "Symptom of the Universe" or "Children of the Grave" still there was definitively a need for something more exciting to take place.

The mid 70's saw other jams, as well in which we can foresee the upcoming metal genre taking shape. Those are for sure Deep Purple's "Speed King", "Highway Star" or "Fireball".

Also, the british band Budgie had an undeniable highlight in this fashion with the memorable "Breadfan" single.

Along with the start of the 80's, the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement saw the unholy birth incarnated in bands like, the undisputed, the almighty VENOM, which is above Heavy Metal, but not yet Thrash Metal, musically speaking.

As they claimed, bands at that time were not enough savage for their taste, so they managed to add some punk attitude music-wise to a general Heavy Metal structure and overly spiced it with a satanic imagery and baptized it as "Black Metal"!

Other representative bands to be added here, pioneering the genre, as we can think of, must be Angelwitch,Raven,Diamond Head,Tank, besides the canadian bands Anvil and Exciter.

Later in the 80's and 90's bands like Agent Steel, Annihilator, Helstar, Running Wild, Enforcer, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, The Great Cat, Cacophony, Blind Guardian, Dragonforce or Skullfist in 2000's consolidated the style and added more substance and diversity to the general musical picture.

Sometimes, the genre seems to be entwined with the newer Power Metal, especially if we look at the vocal delivery style.

Mercyful Fate GIF

 

King Diamond with Mercyful Fate being more on the traditional part of the Heavy Metal, his solo project, despite the theatrical approach contains all the instrumental ingredients of Speed Metal. There's numerous examples of songs throughout his rich discography in order to sustain that approach.

 

 

The Californian band Metal Church is one of the greatest metal bands to walk the earth and best protagonists, for sure when speaking about speed in metal delivery. 

Their entire catalog being recommended, as well.

Anthrax - Persistence Of Time GIF

 

 

 

Some argue that Megadeth are not exactly Thrash,but Speed Metal in the first place,

especially for their first three albums.

The same arguments goes for Metallica's first albums or even Anthrax. 

However, the Thrash Metal status was later on cemented beyond any shadow of doubt when the more complex and heavier albums like "Master of Puppets" or "Persistence of Time" were released.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, there's an opinion, going on, stating that the first Black Metal wave represented by Venom, Bathory and Sodom are, in fact, some sort of Extreme Speed Metal and later on Black Metal evolved in that form of Speed Metal fashion.

 

Darkthrone's "Transilvanian Hunger" being such an edifying example in that way.

Pedal to the metal!!! \m/

Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger GIF