I know practically nothing about heavy metal. I don't understand the different sub-genres of metal yet. I just need a starting point. The hardest bands I listen to are Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Black Sabbath/Ozzy. Are there any heavy metal bands you would recommend for me?
So many sub-genres, and each has it's distinct sound. In the late 80's-early 90's, I actually couldn't stand too much outside of Iron Maiden or Judas Priest (both great bands). I tried to listen to Celtic Frost, but it was Cold Lake, and album most CF fans derided, but the band does some different stuff over the course of their history. I own all their albums now and enjoy them a lot. My tastes have changed quite a bit since I first heard symphonic metal around 2007 and I've given different metal genres more of a chance since. If you like early Metallica, then Slayer, Testament and other thrash metal bands would be good for you. Metallica has changed up their style a few times, but the other bands, not so much, so they're still closer to that style. Doom metal is another pretty good way to go. I've gotten huge into Draconian, in no small part because of the second, female vocalist. But they're heavy and doomy and on their early albums somewhat reminiscent of Sabbath. Folk metal bands like Cruachan and Eluveitie are another way to go, especially if you love Celtic music and metal. I don't own any Cruachan, but do own all the Eluveitie albums. It's hard to jump right in. Do what I usually do and find videos or at least audio tracks on youtube, check out different bands and decide what you like well enough to buy.
I forgot to mention this. It's my fault. One of the things I was looking for in these bands is appropriate lyrics. So, no Satanic lyrics and no (or little) violence. Is this too much to ask? I was really looking for more of clean metal bands. Thanks
I think Black Metal does the Satanic stuff, maybe the heavier Death Metal bands. Obviously there are occasional mentions in other type of metal. Satanic isn't what I look for in a type of metal but I don't necessarily discount a band if they do some, though the Folk Metal bands can do some paganism. When you say "clean" do you just mean no devil and violence or are you looking for clean vocals?
I meant lyrically. Cleaner vocals would be kinda nice because I'm not into Five Finger Death Punch kinda distorted vocals. But, I understand that I need to keep an open mind and that this is metal, not soft rock.
Black Metal doesn't do near as much satanic lyrics as a lot of people claim. Having read various books about the scene it was clear to me many other themes were their background lyrically.
