Beginner’s Guide to Heavy Metal, Part 6: The Origins of Symphonic Metal
This is especially for readers who love classical music, are metal-curious — but don’t like the screaming!
Anthony Overs has mentioned that symphonic metal can be seen as a “gateway drug” for people who might otherwise be intimidated by metal or its associated stereotypes. Read on — or better yet — play these links to see why he’s right.
Genre definitions can be useful for telling someone roughly what to expect from a new artist or piece of music. We’ve been using genres to organize the world of metal into digestible bites. But genres can also become shackles. Too many musicians and bands find themselves trapped by genre. This is often imposed on them by their fans, some of whom don’t want their favorite artists straying from what hooked them in the first place.
That is unfortunate because the most creative things happen when people stray across preconceived boundaries. This can be true whether they are artists, athletes, or scientists. They just have to have the courage to do it. Some of the most beautiful songs happen where supposedly different genres collide. And then there are situations where genres don’t exist, so the artists must invent them.
