Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

Where do you draw the line between what's considered hard rock and heavy metal?

Back in the day Steppenwolf was considered a heavy metal band for instance - cue the immortal line from Born to be Wild: "Heavy Metal Thunder".

I see that in the database here quite a few acts that many would describe as hard rock (Blue Oyster Cult for instance) are added in, hence the question.

Oh, Slayer and other "modern" acts are indisputable.

But Aerosmith are added in here, Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple. Should we also expect Steppenwolf - or perhaps Nazareth or even Jethro Tull? The latter of which actually earned a metal wards prize in the late 80's ;-)

I asked M@x to add BOC, but am not particularly convinced about the 'traditional HM' tag. BOC, just like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, are not really heavy metal, though they may have influenced the genre.

Anyway, if I may offer a suggestion, another metal site called the BNR Metal Pages has a Hard Rock category for acts such as Aerosmith, BOC; DP, LZ, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and the like - check here if you want:
http://www.bnrmetal.com/v2/genre.php?ID=H

On the other hand, in Traditional Metal they have, among many others, Judas Priest and UFO (the latter a bit of an odd choice IMHO):

http://www.bnrmetal.com/v2/genre.php?ID==

Black Sabbath, Budgie, Metallica, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Led Zep, G n R, and so on.

I have a similar question regarding the term Alternative Metal.  Is this the same as Nu Metal, or is it an overlapping or entirely different category?

bonnek wrote: BNR Metal Pages! Man I have spent internet time there. On the issue, metal starts with Black Sabbath, followed by Priest and everything after. Zeppelin, Heep, Purple and the bands they inspired in the 70's weren't evil enough.

I don't think Sabbath, Deep Purple or Zeppelin are Heavy Metal at all... too many bluesy and proggy moments in all of them. As far as I can see, Heavy Metal begins with Judas Priest and Motorhead.

Grunge has some heavy metal influence even if it is stretchy from a metal point of view?

Hmmm,

I see Deep Purple in all forms that have been mentioned, Prog, Blues, Funk, Jazz/Fusion, hard Rock
and Metal.  Think of some of the "Riffage" Blackmore and Lord would Harmonize with, and that the
songs would turn into alot of different catagories, thats why I always classify them as a Prog or
Post-Prog Metal Band, seeing that they "progressed" the idea of Hard Rock at that time.
I wonder, as I dont have that specific memory as a Kid then, was the moniker "Heavy Metal" even
used, I remember some of this music termed as "Acid Rock" as well, but that may be ignorance on
part with Critics that didnt know what to properly call it.
As far as early Metal or "seeds"  go, lets not forget MC5, Blue Cheer and Iggy Pop and the Stooges,
not only Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, but the Punk Movement (Remember, Punk is not percise, its meant
to be "No holds bared" and raw, and its structure is built around Rock and Roll Blues, that why
"Nazi Punk" makes no sense to me ).  But Sabbath are definately an early form of Metal (there is
debate that "Pentagram" was the 1st though with the brand of Doom Metal- the U.S. Band).
And its wild that Iron Maiden when they started were very influenced by Punk, and you can here it
on their debut.  Just like from Punk and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal to "Crossover" to Thrash.
Its gotta' come from somewhere kids .

Just my opinion on it all .

By the way, I have a REALLY hard time with the term "Hair Metal", God I hate that, that means "Anyone"
with long hair is considered that? Grunge had long-hairs too, it doesnt seem like a catagory, just a
mocking of us with long hair and a fashion statement . . . blaaaAAAAaHHH!
but I degress (or deflate).


Edited by MAVIIIVAM - 17 Jul 2010 at 5:48am

The mixture of rock and steel is called Concrete. Maybe, we should call it concrete music. Just kidding.