The Journey into Metal: My Gateways and Discoveries
Metal music has a rich history, and it's fascinating to trace back how individuals get caught up in its world. Whether through a song, a live performance, or a band, the journey into metal can be both exhilarating and enlightening. In this article, I'll share my personal journey and what initially drew me to the genre.
The Early Introduction to Ozzy and Queen
My first encounter with metal could be traced back to an unlikely source: Ozzy Osbourne on the radio. When I was around 8 years old, I heard "Crazy Train" by Black Sabbath on the radio. However, to be honest, it didn't really resonate with me then.
The turning point came a few years later when I was 12. My musical tastes started to evolve significantly after I bought A Kind of Magic, the album by Queen. From that point, guitars and histrionics became the soundtrack to my teenage years. Queen introduced me to the realm of British rock, from which many metal bands would later stem.
The Journey Begins with Bon Jovi
The reason I started venturing into rock bands that were actually categorized as metal initially wasn't through a song but rather a guitar-driven live performance. In 1979, a schoolmate had a spare ticket to attend a Judas Priest concert. This experience blew my mind, and I became a fan of metal ever since.
After the Judas Priest concert, I further delved into the world of metal via Queen, who, despite being classified as rock, often paved the way for metal bands. As I got older, I expanded my horizons to include other fan favorites like Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. My love for metal music only grew from there: I discovered Bon Jovi, and then moved on to Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and eventually delved into bands like Deep Purple, Metallica, Megadeth, WASP, and others.
Metal as a Shared Experience
Another significant point of discovery was when I encountered metal through my sister’s ex-boyfriend. He introduced me to bands like Adema and Korn, which initially caught my attention. These songs and albums opened the door to a broader range of metal music that I previously hadn't explored. Among them, one particular band, Slipknot, had a profound impact on me. The raw and aggressive sound was captivating, and I fell in love with the genre.
Adema's "Betrayed Me" and Papa Roach's "Scars" were among the songs that grabbed my attention. These songs and the bands they featured introduced me not just to the music but to the world of metal fan communities. I started watching music videos on channels like Scuzz and Kerrang!, and from there, it was a gateway to discovering new bands and songs. By the age of 19, I was fully immersed in the world of metal, and since then, it has been more than a decade of exploration and discovery.
Discovering Metal Through Kiss
One album that was pivotal in my transition from rock to metal was Kiss's Creatures of the Night from 1982. Despite being a boy band and not classified strictly as a metal band, Creatures of the Night was indeed a heavy metal album. The songs were powerful, aggressive, andunky, immediately capturing my attention. This album was the first step in the direction of metal music for me. It didn't just change the way I heard rock music but it also piqued my curiosity about a subgenre that I would continue to explore and love for years to come.
The Infinite Universe of Metal
From Kiss to Judas Priest, metal is a vast and diverse genre that appeals to all its listeners in different ways. While some would argue that albums like Creatures of the Night might not be considered true metal, the experience of discovering these bands and their music is what truly matters. Metal has been a significant part of my life for over two decades now, and it continues to evolve with each new discovery. My Spotify flow is a testament to this journey, with a mix of classic rock and metal,interspersed with some 80s electro tracks and random 90s music that still finds its way into my playlists.