As usual, the entireity of Glam/theatrical is overlooked (Lord Sutch, Alice Cooper, Coven, or even The Heavy Metal Kids!), there's little mention of American psyche (Doors, Fifty Foot Hose, etc), just the predictable Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge - and, as is to be expected in any poorly researched history of metal, Surf music isn't even hinted at (except maybe through the Sonics, who weren't really Surf, but used the Surf music style).

 

And what about plain, old-fashioned rock and roll? Or even the music that preceeded Rock and roll, such as "Train Kept a Rollin" (first released in 1951)? "Good Rockin' Tonight" (first released in 1946/7) - these pre-date rock and roll, and are foundation songs in early and highly influential metal bands' catalogues - Montrose, Motorhead, etc.

 

The Kinks? I'd like to chat to the person who first suggested them as potential roots of heavy metal... Just because Van Halen covered them - VH also covered Martha Reeves, but does she get a look in?

 

I also think people should be less concerned with trying to invent new "genres" (especially when the "genetics" are so very closely related), and look at the bigger picture. This way you get even more music to listen to!

 

Predictable maybe Mark but spot on nevertheless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is it with all this division into different countries?  I mean, let's face it, death metal, power metal and black metal are what they are, no matter where you go, right?

My next issue is, how the hell did dark ambient make it into the map? I can assure you that I've listened to enough of it to know it shouldn't be there! The nearest thing I saw to metal in dark ambient was a couple of black metal bands that did a few ambient sounding pieces AS WELL AS ordinary black metal, but even at that, the stuff those bands were doing was waaaaay too melodic to class as dark ambient based. Most dark ambient sounds like some variation on electronica, sound effects and/or minimalism. Honestly, I don't even really listen to much black metal but from the pieces I have heard (usually the more ambient works, funnily enough) there is just no way that I'd equate black metal with stuff like Atrium Carceri, Raison D' Etre, latter end Tzolk'in and Lustmord...no way at all.

 

I asked them if they'd pick up any points in this thread rather than privately, so I truly hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship - that map really is awesome, but I'd like the history to be as accurate and complete as possible - metal has a fine, long pedigree that it should be extremely proud of

It's a good site. :)