The Traditional Doom Metal subgenre

When Tony Iommi and "Geezer" Butler started to write music, Black Sabbath set up the main stereotype riff-leading, easy-to-recognize, style of rock on which they described it as Heavy-Rock back in their hey-days. 

Some bands choose to create heavy metal music based on the same riff-wise characteristics, which were categorized, by fans and media as being the Doom-Metal sub-genre or, later on, labelled as the Traditional-Doom Metal, just to difference it from other subgenres such as Death-Doom Metal, who "arrived" back in 1989 when some bands started to use the death metal vocal approach placed on their doom-inspired riffs.

The first follower did not take long to pop-up and it might be the American "replica" band, gathered under the name of Pentagram which was formed back in 1971.

The second notable incarnation should be the Swedish band Candlemass as of 1984 and the co-nationals from Count Raven who started back in 1989.

Candlemass
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus GIF

The British band Pagan Altar starting on 1978 set up their interesting Occult Doom-inspired heavy metal,along with Witchfinder General back in 1979 who is a heavy metal band both part of the N.W.O.B.H.M.movement and apparently, both had a big influence on the genre, as it was revealed later on.

The same goes for the Californian Heavy-Metal band Cirith Ungol established in 1971 or the German Lucifer's Friend who started in 1970 with a quite heavy eponymous output for that time, adorned with some psychedelic and progressive motifs added into their general music structure.

Also, the American band Trouble contributed from 1981, especially with their first two albums. As, with the following LP's they started to diversify their music, no longer being as "pure-doom" ... so to speak.

The band Iron Man from 1988 could mentioned here, as well, being a Heavy-Metal combo with obvious Black Sabbath influenced riff-work.

They were followed by the American Wino's fronted original band The Obsessed formed in 1979 and later on with the famous Saint Vitus who began back in 1978 to mix Sabbath-ish and Hendrix inspired riffs and solos throughout their entire musical concept.

With this said we have the first "map" of this so called the first wave for this sub-genre.

Candlemass - Nightfall GIF

By the beginning of the '90's we have the Texan band Solitude Aeturnus 1987, later on labelled as "Epic Doom" along with Candlemass, Solstice, Doomsword or While Heaven Wept.

At the end of the 80's the now well-known man-of-doom Lee Dorrian got upset with the Hardcore-punk scene and the Death Metal musical course Napalm Death took, so he left and dedicated himself, totally, to the Doom scene forming Cathedral and deciding to devote his label Rise Above Records in order to promote the genre's bands.

As a result, he decided to issue a compilation called "Dark Passages" back in 1991.
Bands like: Count Raven, Solitude Aeturnus, Penance, Stillborn,Revelation, Saint Vitus are featured on this compilation along with two Cathedral songs.

Cathedral issued their debut "Forest of Equilibrium" in 1991 which is a very slow and extremely heavy album with an interesting vocal approach. Indeed a very original and creative effort. 

The following catalog, starting with "The Ethereal Mirror" changed the game a little bit and was described by the media and fans as being "Stoner-Metal" which is a term (and a sub-genre) that Dorrian dismissed stating that Cathedral's music is just old-school Heavy-Metal, nothing more, nothing less.

The Finnish band Reverend Bizarre managed to resurrect the fans interest in the genre at the end of the 90's and the beginning of the 2000's, along with other bands like Electric Wizard or Sleep , bands that were lately labelled as being part of the above mentioned "Stoner-Metal".

Another highly recommended band to get into must be the first-ever Finnish doom band Spiritus Mortis, especially for the two long-plays fronted by the one and only Albert "The Witchfinder" the frontman of much appreciated Reverend Bizarre.

The American band The Gates of Slumber had a quality musical contribution, here before they split-up, along with Warning hailing from the UK.

As many of you might know the Darkthrone's album "Old Star" incorporated some of the doom vibes trying to pay some sort of riff-work tribute to this genre.

Other bands adopted a more not-so-metal, but rock oriented style, yet still heavily drenched in the Sabbath's soundscape and occult-like attitude. 

Par example bands like Witchcraft, Lucifer or Orchid.

....article to be further continued,corrected and edited...

Black Sabbath and the birth of Heavy Metal - A dive into the main motifs used in the first metal album

Black Sabbath - 1970 - Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath GIF

"What is this that stands before me,a figure in black which points at me". 

That mysterious dark silhouette appeard in a dream "Geezer" Bulter had was probably Satan and it might have been inspired by the occult stories he was into, at that time,  according to what he revealed in some of his interviews, later on.

Also, it might symbolize the materialization of a
new rock genre, demanding you to follow into the most exciting, creative, imaginative and energetic music of all times - HEAVY METAL!

Once the flower power movement gained its momentum and started to slowly fade away, there was a need for a new artistic expression for the disillusioned youth. 

Something to mirror and exorcise their deep concerns, fear and unrest towards this unforgiving sick society.

The end of an era, for sure, and the beginning of the metalhead "breed", which is so well described by Henry Rollins in an interview when he pictured the typical Black Sabbath fans' behavior in the mid of the 70's.

Musically and conceptually speaking Heavy Metal inherited elements from the venomous blues such as Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry's rebel musical groundbreaking rock'n'roll attitude and the Robert Johnson's dark satanic vibes added upon the above mentioned blues skeleton, psychedelic and/or the other rock style called acid/dirty rock.

On the other hand, the dramatic overtones of classical music inspired the sonic structure and the song writing in years to come, according to the musical analysts.

Composers like Wagner, Beethoven or the Paganini's mad virtuosity inspired bands like Van Hallen, Yngwie Malmsteen and most of the bands from the later N.W.O.B.H.M movement.

Later on, it has been revealed that the genre was baptized by the Steppenwolf 's song "Born to be Wild" where the phrase "heavy metal thunder" coined this new, heavy musical approach on which, back in those days, the Sabbath crew was reffering in their interviews with the term of "heavy-rock", when they were asked.

Besides their counterparts from Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Iron Butterfly or Jimi Hendrix who are, also cited among the pioneers in creating the genre, they are more regarded as the creators of the Hard-Rock scene.

In comparison, Black Sabbath sounded a lot heavier starting with their very first release by fully introducing the riff, via the riff master himself - Tony Iommi.

Let's see what happens behind curtain of the pouring rain and the sinister bell chimes...

First of all, what differentiates this album from their future works is the undeniable underground and occult attitude of the music, here, accentuated by the baritonal tone used by Ozzy in order to fit the overall riff-tone contruct.

The album begins with a journey to the witches' sabbath accompanied with a crushing and one of the most memorable riffs of all time, devilish tritones and an almost dancing groove in the end, the much praised Black Sabbath track created both heavy metal and doom metal at once, greeted with a smile from the dark one as the "flames got higher and higher". 

Nothing more to add about this classic.

As a second card in this pack, the harmonica blues-influenced "The Wizard" balanced the previous evil deed with his determination to dissipate evil by spreading his magic. "Never talking, just keep walking". 

The music itself suggesting the mission developing and galloping in order to accomplish the compelling quest.

"Behind the Wall of Sleep" transports you to a mid-paced doomy work, a great landscape added at the lyrical section, genius bass lines and brilliant guitar licks provided by the riff master Tony Iommi. 

The backbone of the album for sure and the Sabbath's creativity in full display. There's no question about it!
 

With the "N.I.B." song we get a quite strange riff following now-the-well-known bass introduction , judging by today standards, and the groove provided here can be considered catchy and fun for a listener back in those days.

As for the overall atmosphere, the obsession for the occult and the love affair with Lucifer must be the main deliverer here.

What follows is a very enjoyable tune. A cover version from the band Crow called "Evil woman, Don't you play your games with me!". Again, the more baritone tone of Ozzy's voice stands out on this one.

"Sleeping Village", could be considered as the second back bone of the album matching perfectly with the art cover, like a soundtrack of the mysterious picture. A crescendo solo ends the song in the same bluesy fashion.

The last chapter for the trip "Warning (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Cover)" it's a monument of guitar virtuosity.

Besides the first part of the song, being some of pure blues awesomeness interpretation, Iommi builds up a bridge showing off and let loose his soloing cascade at the end, before the final closing chorus.
 

Just to summarize the ingredients for the overall occult climax of the album we have :

 - The pouring Rain

 - Bell chimes

 - The Figure in Black

 - The Wizard

 - Lucifer

 - Countryside Village

 - The evil woman and her deeds

 OFFICIAL VIDEO : Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath