Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music originating in the early 1980s, rooted in the NWOBHM. It is described by the Allmusic site as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music. Also according to Allmusic, speed metal eventually toned down its intense tempos and evolved into thrash metal.
Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" from their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack presaged speed metal, being eventually covered by Metallica. The fi...
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Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music originating in the early 1980s, rooted in the NWOBHM. It is described by the Allmusic site as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music. Also according to Allmusic, speed metal eventually toned down its intense tempos and evolved into thrash metal.
Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" from their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack presaged speed metal, being eventually covered by Metallica. The first speed metal song, as fans of the genre say, is Highway Star, by Deep Purple, from their 1972 album Machine Head. Also, Rainbow's Kill the King, from 1978 album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, is believed to be one of the first speed metal songs along with Light in the Black from Rising Album. Two of the most influential bands to the genre were English groups Motörhead, and Judas Priest.
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