Jazmyn Smith
Prof. Jeffrey Hight
ENGL080
30 September 2023
Metal vs. Rock
In the lively jazz and blues scene of the 1950's, the city of Chicago witnessed a pivotal
moment in the history of music. During May 1955, the iconic track "Maybellene" was premiered
by none other than the 'Father of Rock & Roll', Chuck Berry, and a mere year later in 1956, Elvis
Presley released "Heartbreak Hotel," a song that not only enthralled audiences but also came to
earn him the illustrious title of the 'King of Rock & Roll’. These tracks and others soared to
unprecedented heights, selling well over ten million copies, and laying the framework for a genre
that would change the world. Over time, rock music became heavier and challenged more
musical standards, straying further away from its forebears, and evolving through the early 60’s
and 70’s with the British Invasion and branching off into other subgenres. Numerous pioneers of
rock music emerged and redefined what ‘Rock & Roll’ really meant, retaining familiar
household names such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and
many others that gave the expanding style its renowned reputation. Later into the 60’s, iconic
bands such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple introduced darker themes, extreme stage
presences and a distinct sound that diverged from the typical rock lineup so palpably that it could
not be categorized in the same genre as the others. From the influence of the Rock genre, Metal
surfaced as a subgenre and came into its own, both as a sound and a culture.
Despite their shared origins, Rock & Metal developed unique identities that set them
apart in the realm of popular music, with metal recognized for its unapologetic heaviness,
thematic depth, and instrumentation, and rock praised for its adaptability, relatability, and wide
appeal. Though often confused, their differences are equally as broad as their similarities, and
understanding them makes it easier to classify heavier music.
Both genres are rich in sound but developed on different timelines and scales. Rock
generally arose during the 50’s and remained extensively popular through the 90’s, but the height
of metal began closer to the 80’s, with essential subgenres referred to as ‘Heavy’, ‘Thrash’, and
‘Glam’ metal eventually diverging into more subgenres that gained traction during the 90’s and
2000’s, such as ‘Death’, ‘Black’ and ‘Nu’-metal. Metal appealed to the more alternative crowds
and was openly more forceful about their anti-establishment, nonconformist themes, often
criticizing the political climate and conventional attitudes of the pop crowd. Collectively, metal
catered to those who deviated from the mainstream pop culture and gave them an alternative to
lighter rock, jazz and blues while continuing to push boundaries, involving other themes such as
existentialism, mythology, religion, and death. On the other hand, rock catered to the fun-loving,
carefree liveliness of the 80’s, centering around general lighthearted themes such as love,
rebellion, and masculinity that were catchy and relatable but overall lacking in the intensity that
metal was widely recognized for.
While most metal genres derived from rock genres, their acclaim came slower as
audiences adjusted to the louder, faster, and more distorted sound, with distinct differences in
instrumentals and structure. Rock, for example, uses bass or electric guitars with cleaner tones,
drums, synthesizers, and vocals as the primary instruments for a melodic sound, which is a
fusion of well-known musical composition from blues, folk, and jazz. Metal, on the other hand,
is distinguished by its driving rhythms and complex guitar solos, usually with dual electric
guitars, aggressive drums, overall loudness and overlapping distortion and reverb. In terms of
structure, rock songs tend to have a simple breakdown with a recognizable chorus and consistent
arrangement throughout the track. On the contrary, metal is typically riff-based, and metal
compositions frequently use certain riffing techniques to frame each section. Although some
metal is very consistent and follows the same simplicity of rock, most metal songs are complex
and demonstrate a range and deeper engagement with its audiences beyond marketability.
Both genres had a strong influence on music, but in contrasting ways. Rock musicians
had bold stage presences, but metal musicians made a point of taking their live performance to
another level. Glam Metal bands like Judas Priest and KISS introduced the audacious leather and
chains, based heavily on the appearance of bikers, as well as the long effeminate hair that
became popular amongst Thrash and Heavy Metal musicians, such as Metallica and Slayer, as a
point of opposing the conformist pressure of the era. Additionally, metal musicians on stage
heavily used daring theatrics like pyrotechnics, sparks, and even moving drum kits or platforms
that rock musicians used in moderation. This led to high-energy exchanges between the audience
and the band, called ‘moshing,’ where crowds would form a ‘mosh pit’ directly in front of the
stage and expel their energy through rough physical dancing, pushing, and running. Rock music
did not have the power and intensity that metal had to inspire mosh pits, but rock bands often had
the appeal of their frontmen and focused more on the body language and interaction between
members. However, most live stunts applied in one genre were not mutually exclusive to the
other genres, and often had overlaps between them. For example, the combination of rock music
with highly theatrical live performances was referred to as ‘Shock rock,’ bridging the gap
between heavy metal and hard rock live performance. Furthermore, both genres implemented the
symbol of devil horns as a hand gesture, first introduced by the 1971 Occult Rock band Coven in
the context of satanism. It was later popularized in the heavy metal scene by Ronnie James Dio.
Later, in European countries like Norway, Germany, and Sweden, Death and Black metal
influenced the surfacing of the heaviest genres of metal, delving deeper and darker than ever
before. Musicians would employ live shock-value tactics that stirred conversation and had the
purpose of spreading a message or entertaining audiences in an offensive way that rock did not
have the courage to attempt. This involved bizarre, grotesque imagery, on stage self-harm,
animal carcasses, and disturbing lyricism. Most American rock veered away from these themes
and preached about community and connection with their audience in a far more tame, emphatic
way as a means of spreading their message.
Traditionally, the distinction between rock and metal music boils down to conformity.
Metal has kept its intensity and niche appeal, drawing devoted fans with its uncompromising
soundscapes and conceptual depth, while rock has expanded into a wide range of subgenres and
continues to be a cultural mainstay. Rock was the first to make use of rebellion and took the
initiative to shape metal into what it is now: a staple of experimental, nonconformist music,
opening the doors to a diverse range of sounds, cultures, and ideals that is constantly changing,
improving, and entertaining audiences around the world.
Works Cited
Hudson, Stephen S. “Compound AABA Form and Style Distinction in Heavy Metal.” Music
Theory Online, 1 Mar. 2021, mtosmt.org/issues/mto.21.27.1/mto.21.27.1.hudson.html.
Joanne. “Rock vs. Metal: How Are These Music Genres Different?” Studio72, 12 June 2023
Polcaro, By Rafael. “Rob Halford Recalls Why Judas Priest Started Using Leather.” Rock And
Roll Garage, 10 Nov. 2020, rockandrollgarage.com/rob-Halford-recalls-why-judas-prieststarted-using-leather/.
“Sign of the Horns.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2023,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_horns#