What is Heavy Metal?

Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues-rock, psychedelic rock, and acid rock, heavy metal bands developed a thick, massive sound, that is characterized by distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and extreme loudness.

History of Heavy Metal
In 1968, three of the genre's most famous pioneers, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple, were founded.
Several American bands modified heavy metal into more accessible forms during the 1970s. Beginning in the late 1970s, bands in the new wave of British heavy metal followed in a similar vein.

During the 1980s, glam metal became popular with groups such as Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe. Since the mid-1990s, popular styles have expanded the definition of the genre. These include groove metal and nu metal, the latter of which often incorporates elements of grunge and hip hop.