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Speed Metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music. As the name implies the genre is characterised by its focus on fast playing style and because of this it is often considered to be the progenitor of both thrash metal and power metal. In actuality thrash metal was emerging around the same time as speed metal (and had overtaken it within a couple of years), however much of early thrash metal bears trademarks of speed metal as well, including the Big Four thrash metal bands, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. This has led to some to use the two terms interchangeably, however speed metal is considered to allow for more melody and less aggressive playing than thrash metal, containing more influence from the music's roots in traditional heavy metal and less from hardcore punk (though speed metal/punk hybrid artists are not unheard of). Additionally speed metal bands are less likely to use growled or shouted vocals than thrash metal. Speed metal's influence on European style power metal, which emerged in the late eighties, was much greater, with many early Euro power metal bands, including Helloween, Blind Guardian and Rage, starting their careers with more speed metal based sounds before becoming power metal acts.
While the roots of speed metal may be traced back even further with tracks such as Deep Purple's Highway Star or Queen's Stone Cold Crazy often credited as being proto-speed metal, it was traditional heavy metal bands such as Motörhead, Accept and Judas Priest that are considered to have had the most influence on the speed metal sound and can be said to have produced individual speed metal songs (such as Accept's Fast as a Shark) before there were any actual speed metal bands or albums.
Some of the first artists to really kick-start speed metal as a genre were Venom, Running Wild and Atomkraft, with Venom releasing the Welcome to Hell album in 1981, which could be considered the first speed metal album. Though as is common for speed metal, all these bands had elements of other genres in their sound as artists that exclusively or even primarily play speed metal are comparatively rare next to other metal sub-genres, though there are many thrash/speed, power/speed and heavy/speed metal bands in existence, who each may or may not have made some speed metal dominated albums. An early notable band to play a primarily speed metal based music was Exciter, who released their debut album Heavy Metal Maniac in 1983 and have mostly stuck with their speed metal dominant sound ever since, though they have also released speed/heavy and speed/thrash releases. Venom later turned to making more heavy and thrash metal based albums while Running Wild become an early example of Euro style power metal and later a more straight heavy metal based act.
Most well known examples of speed metal, which along with the aforementioned also includes Agent Steel, Angel Dust (early) and Savage Grace, are from the eighties. There has however been something of a speed metal renaissance starting in the late 2000's with examples of newer speed metal bands including Ranger, Demona, Speedwolf and Evil Invaders.
In addition to classic speed metal sounds, the genre has had a notable merger with black metal to create a blackened speed metal sound, typically consisting of speed metal guitar riffs with black metal vocals styles and an altogether dirtier atmosphere compared to straight speed metal bands or other hybrid styles, taking their cues from the early template laid down by Venom. Examples of blackened speed metal bands include Joel Grind, Bulldozing Bastard, Occult Burial and Midnight.
Certain neoclassical metal artists such as Joe Stump and Marty Friedman have also used speed metal to form the basis of their music on certain releases, such as Stump's 2004 album Speed Metal Messiah or Friedman's 1988 album Dragon's Kiss.
On MMA, speed/thrash and speed/power metal releases will typically be placed under thrash and power metal respectively, while speed/heavy releases will be placed under speed metal. Blackened speed metal will usually be included under speed metal with the work of neoclassical based artists will be included under neoclassical metal.
- Genre definition written by 666sharon666.
Sub-genre collaborators (shared with Thrash Metal and Groove Metal): - Vim Fuego (leader)
- Nightfly
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Album · 2014 ·
Speed Metal
UMUR
"Spellcaster" is the eponymously titled second full-length studio album by US, heavy/speed metal act Spellcaster. The album was released through Lone Fir Records in July 2014. It´s the successor to "Under the Spell" from 2011. Three years are a long time waiting for a sophomore studio album, but there have been quite a few lineup changes since the debut album as lead vocalist Thomas Adams has left and guitarist Tyler Loney has taken over the lead vocal duties in addition to playing guitar. Drummer Shad Covert has been replaced by Colin Vranizan and lastly Bryce Adams Vanhoosen has been added as third guitarist thereby maintaining Spellcaster´s quintet format.
Changing lead vocalist is always risky business but since Adams didn´t have the most distinct sounding voice or most powerful delivery, the change on the lead vocalist spot isn´t a major issue. Loney isn´t a particularly distinct sounding vocalist either, but his voice works better with spellcaster´s music. He predominantly sings in mid-range but with a tendency to occasionally sing a little higher, sometimes reminding me of the toneless delivery of Scott Jeffreys in Confessor. The music itself has changed quite a bit since "Under the Spell". It´s still heavy/speed metal but it´s much more varied and the guitar harmonies- and leads are now much more interesting and well performed. The tracks feature tempo changes and there´s generally been put more thought into the compositions.
"Spellcaster" is a well produced release, featuring a powerful, detailed, and professional sounding production, which perfectly suits the material. This is arguably a high quality production job. While neither the band´s 2010 EP nor "Under the Spell" made my blood boil, "Spellcaster" is another story. This is a band coming into their own and showing the world what they are made of. Had the vocals been a bit more interesting and varied this could have been an excellent release. It´s overall still a good quality release though and a nice sophomore full-length studio album from spellcaster. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
Album · 2011 ·
Speed Metal
UMUR
"Under the Spell" is the debut full-length studio album by US heavy/speed metal ac Spellcaster. The album was released through Heavy Artillery Records in July 2011. Spellcaster formed in 2009 and released the "Spells of Speed" EP in January 2010. The three tracks from the EP ("Chainsaw Champion", "Locked On", and "Spellcaster") have been re-recorded and included on "Under the Spell".
Stylistically it´s therefore no surprise that Spellcaster continue the heavy/speed metal style found on the "Spells of Speed" EP. It´s energetic and raw yet still melodic heavy metal with the occasional harder edged speed metal element thrown in. Lead vocalist Thomas Adams typically sings in mid-range but he can deliver a piercing high pitched scream when that is called for. He is a decent singer, but his vocals are the weak link on this release. His voice is not distinct sounding and lacks a bit of grit and punch. The instrumental part of the music is well performed and there are some nice harmony and lead guitar parts during the album´s playing time which should be counted among the highlights of the band´s music.
"Under the Spell" is a well produced release, featuring a powerful, clear, and detailed sound production and upon conclusion it´s a good quality heavy/speed metal release, although you won´t find anything you haven´t heard before on 80s releases by artists like Attacker, Savage Grace, and Abattoir. This is just a bit more polished and packed in a contemporary sounding production job. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
EP · 2010 ·
Speed Metal
UMUR
"Spells of Speed" is an EP release by US heavy/speed metal act Spellcaster. The EP was independently released in January 2010. spellcaster formed in 2009 and "Spells of Speed" is their first release.
The 3 tracks, 17.20 minutes long EP features a relatively standard heavy/speed metal style, which is raw, hard rocking, and effective, but which doesn´t add anything new to the genre or sets Spellcaster apart from other similar artists. Lead vocalist Thomas Adams has a decent voice and delivery and the band are well playing. The songwriting is alright but again nothing exceptional for the genre. The influences from early- to mid-80s heavy metal and speed metal artists are obvious ("Locked On" is for example strongly influenced by 1982-1983 Metallica).
"Spells of Speed" features a raw, powerful, and detailed sound production, which may be a little rough around the edges, but not in a negative way. The rawness of the sound production actually suits the material really well. Upon conclusion "Spells of Speed" is a decent quality heavy/speed metal release and there´s some promise here, although Spellcaster still needed to work hard to reach a higher level of quality and uniqueness. A 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating is warranted.
EP · 1985 ·
Speed Metal
UMUR
"Helloween" is an eponymously titled EP release by German speed/power metal act Helloween. The EP was released through Noise Records in March 1985. Helloween formed in 1978 under the Gentry monicker and went through a couple of band name changes (Second Hell and Iron Fist) before settling on Helloween in 1984. They released the "Death Metal Demo" that same year and in late 1984 the two tracks from the demo appeared on the "Death Metal" split release along with material from Running Wild, Hellhammer, and Dark Avenger.
The EP features 5 tracks and a total playing time of 26:28 minutes, so there is arguably enough quantity for the money, and there´s certainly nothing wrong with the quality either. Stylistically Helloween play a fast-paced, raw yet still melodic and occasionally neo-classical influenced speed metal style. Lead vocalist/guitarist Kai Hansen has a rather distinct sounding voice and delivery. He can sing both mid-range and extremely high pitched screaming vocals. He´s an interesting singer, because as a starting point his voice isn´t that powerful or pleasant sounding (he often sounds a little strained when singing), but somehow he still manages to produce sounds which suit the material well.
The instrumental work is relatively impressive considering the young age of the band and the fact that this EP is their first label release. Fast-paced tight drumming, a sharp sounding bass, and two guitarists churning out both ultra fast-paced speed/thrashy riffing, but also loads of melodic lead guitar lines and harmonies. There´s no arguing that Helloween were already a very well playing unit even this early on.
The first four tracks on the EP are all energetic, powerful, and fast-paced speed metal songs with an epic atmosphere, although the 6:38 minutes long "Victim of Fate" is slightly more complex featuring more dynamics and variation then the other three tracks. The EP concludes with the power ballad turns speed metal track "Cry for Freedom", which does come off slightly awkward, but not in an uncharming fashion. The whole thing reeks old school credibility and an adventurous touch, and those are great qualities.
The sound production is relatively well sounding for the time and genre, but it does sound a little dated today. Of course the unpolished and pretty raw sound production only adds to the authentic atmosphere of the release. In retrospect this became a groundbreaking speed metal release but the strained vocals and sometimes clumsy songwriting do drag my rating down a bit. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
