In December 2001, I began researching the history of Heavy Metal. As a result of this research I decided to compile a collection of songs from each significant band, to showcase their talent.
Spanning 1968 to 1997, the Metal Roots collection features around 200 of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in the heavy metal genre and its sub-genres. One album has been selected from each band that was widely considered to demonstrate early signs of their outstanding ability and influence. From that album, a song has been selected to represent the album (not necessarily the most well known song too). These songs, when put together, give an aural history of heavy metal - demonstrating the sound of metal evolving.
This is not a 'greatest hits of heavy metal'. Wherever appropriate, lesser known tracks were selected on purpose to showcase music from the artist that holds up to what they achieved on the respective album.
Metal Roots does not claim to be an authoritative history of heavy metal and it is not concerned with who was the first heavy metal band. This site is just one perspective about the history and evolution of heavy metal and I hope you find something of interest here.
-Grant Wilson
Credits
Thanks to the following people and websites that were helpful during the research of this project:
AllMusic.com reviewers: Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Richie Unterberger, Steve Huey, Greg Prato, William Ruhlmann, Jason Ankeny, William Ruhlmann, Jason Ankeny, Bruce Eder, John Dougan, Ed Rivadavia and others.
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It features more than 200 of the most influential and groundbreaking artists in the Heavy Metal genre and its sub-genres. Spanning 1966 to 1997, I selected recordings that exhibit the early signs of each artist's talent. Some of the artists featured have released much bigger hits than those selected, but this compilation was designed to showcase recordings from the earliest period where they proved to be pioneers of their genre, and influential in the evolution of Heavy Metal. Wherever possible, lesser known tracks have been selected, over the popular hits, if they were equally able to showcase the bands talent. Metal Roots was compiled in December, 2001. It features more than 200 of the most influential and groundbreaking artists in the Heavy Metal genre and its sub-genres. Spanning 1966 to 1997, I selected recordings that exhibit the early signs of each artist's talent.Some of the artists featured have released much bigger hits than those selected, but this compilation was designed to showcase recordings from the earliest period where they proved to be pioneers of their genre, and influential in the evolution of Heavy Metal. Wherever possible, lesser known tracks have been selected, over the popular hits, if they were equally able to showcase the bands talent. Cream, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes, MC5, Steppenwolf, Black Cat Bones, The, Black Widow, Free, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Budgie, Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, UFO, Aerosmith, Queen, Bad Company, Kiss, Rush, AC/DC, Rainbow, Runaways, The, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Scorpions, Motorhead, Angel Witch, Saxon, Girlschool, Ozzy Osbourne, Samson, Praying Mantis, Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Demon, Raven, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sweet Savage, Motley Crue, Discharge, Whitesnake, Anvil, Venom, Loudness, Krokus, Quiet Riot, Def Leppard, Accept, Exciter, Metallica, Queensryche, Slayer, W.A.S.P., Dio, Trouble, Dokken, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Steve Vai, VoiVod, Cult, The, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pentagram, Anthrax, Exodus, Megadeth, Metal Church, Saint Vitus, Bathory, Dark Angel, Poison, Possessed, Samhain, Kreator, Nuclear Assault, Candlemass, Flotsam and Jetsam, Joe Satriani, Napalm Death, White Lion, Overkill, Faster Pussycat, Guns , Sodom, Testament, Kix, Vixen, Crimson Glory, Ministry, Fates Warning, Lita Ford, Destruction, Soundgarden, Carcass, Winger, Godflesh, Faith No More, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Obituary, G.U.N., L.A. Guns, Pestilence, Phantom Blue, Rigor Mortis, Treponem Pal, Bad English, Mother Love Bone, Mr Big, Nine Inch Nails, Warrant, Massacra, Pantera, Death, Atheist, Love/Hate, Cinderella, L7, Tesla, Sacred Reich, Alice in Chains, Danzig, Deicide, Extreme, Benediction, Warrior Soul, Tiamat, Coroner, Skid Row, Nirvana, Believer, Cannibal Corpse, Dismember, Entombed, Paradise Lost, Smashing Pumpkins, The, Fudge Tunnel, Malevolent Creation, Pearl Jam, Pitchshifter, Skin Chamber, Suffocation, Galactic Cowboys, The, Unleashed, White Zombie, Darkthrone, Dream Theater, Rollins Band, The, Therion, Amorphis, Hypocrisy, Kyuss, My Dying Bride, Scorn, Burzum, Cynic, Sleep, Big Chief, Edge of Sanity, Immortal, Tool, Type O Negative, Angra, Cemetary, Varathron, Offspring, The, Count Raven, At the Gates, Cradle of Filth, Crematory, Graveland, Machine Head, Stone Temple Pilots, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Dark Tranquility, Cathedral, Fear Factory, Emperor, Gathering, The, In Flames, Moonspell, Arcturus, Sentenced, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Nothingface, Jeff Beck Group, The, Rage Against The Machine, King Diamond, Suicidal Tendencies, Twisted Sister, Manowar, Celtic Frost, Helloween, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes, MC5, Steppenwolf, Black Cat Bones, The, Black Widow, Free, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Budgie, Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, UFO, Aerosmith, Queen, Bad Company, Kiss, Rush, AC/DC, Rainbow, Runaways, The, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Scorpions, Motorhead, Angel Witch, Saxon, Girlschool, Ozzy Osbourne, Samson, Praying Mantis, Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Demon, Raven, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sweet Savage, Motley Crue, Discharge, Whitesnake, Anvil, Venom, Loudness, Krokus, Quiet Riot, Def Leppard, Accept, Exciter, Metallica, Queensryche, Slayer, W.A.S.P., Dio, Trouble, Dokken, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Steve Vai, VoiVod, Cult, The, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pentagram, Anthrax, Exodus, Megadeth, Metal Church, Saint Vitus, Bathory, Dark Angel, Poison, Possessed, Samhain, Kreator, Nuclear Assault, Candlemass, Flotsam and Jetsam, Joe Satriani, Napalm Death, White Lion, Overkill, Faster Pussycat, Guns , Sodom, Testament, Kix, Vixen, Crimson Glory, Ministry, Fates Warning, Lita Ford, Destruction, Soundgarden, Carcass, Winger, Godflesh, Faith No More, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Obituary, G.U.N., L.A. Guns, Pestilence, Phantom Blue, Rigor Mortis, Treponem Pal, Bad English, Mother Love Bone, Mr Big, Nine Inch Nails, Warrant, Massacra, Pantera, Death, Atheist, Love/Hate, Cinderella, L7, Tesla, Sacred Reich, Alice in Chains, Danzig, Deicide, Extreme, Benediction, Warrior Soul, Tiamat, Coroner, Skid Row, Nirvana, Believer, Cannibal Corpse, Dismember, Entombed, Paradise Lost, Smashing Pumpkins, The, Fudge Tunnel, Malevolent Creation, Pearl Jam, Pitchshifter, Skin Chamber, Suffocation, Galactic Cowboys, The, Unleashed, White Zombie, Darkthrone, Dream Theater, Rollins Band, The, Therion, Amorphis, Hypocrisy, Kyuss, My Dying Bride, Scorn, Burzum, Cynic, Sleep, Big Chief, Edge of Sanity, Immortal, Tool, Type O Negative, Angra, Cemetary, Varathron, Offspring, The, Count Raven, At the Gates, Cradle of Filth, Crematory, Graveland, Machine Head, Stone Temple Pilots, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Dark Tranquility, Cathedral, Fear Factory, Emperor, Gathering, The, In Flames, Moonspell, Arcturus, Sentenced, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Nothingface, Jeff Beck Group, The, Rage Against The Machine, King Diamond, Suicidal Tendencies, Twisted Sister, Manowar, Celtic Frost, Helloween, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes, MC5, Steppenwolf, Black Cat Bones, The, Black Widow, Free, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Budgie, Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, UFO, Aerosmith, Queen, Bad Company, Kiss, Rush, AC/DC, Rainbow, Runaways, The, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Scorpions, Motorhead, Angel Witch, Saxon, Girlschool, Ozzy Osbourne, Samson, Praying Mantis, Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Demon, Raven, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sweet Savage, Motley Crue, Discharge, Whitesnake, Anvil, Venom, Loudness, Krokus, Quiet Riot, Def Leppard, Accept, Exciter, Metallica, Queensryche, Slayer, W.A.S.P., Dio, Trouble, Dokken, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Steve Vai, VoiVod, Cult, The, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pentagram, Anthrax, Exodus, Megadeth, Metal Church, Saint Vitus, Bathory, Dark Angel, Poison, Possessed, Samhain, Kreator, Nuclear Assault, Candlemass, Flotsam and Jetsam, Joe Satriani, Napalm Death, White Lion, Overkill, Faster Pussycat, Guns , Sodom, Testament, Kix, Vixen, Crimson Glory, Ministry, Fates Warning, Lita Ford, Destruction, Soundgarden, Carcass, Winger, Godflesh, Faith No More, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Obituary, G.U.N., L.A. Guns, Pestilence, Phantom Blue, Rigor Mortis, Treponem Pal, Bad English, Mother Love Bone, Mr Big, Nine Inch Nails, Warrant, Massacra, Pantera, Death, Atheist, Love/Hate, Cinderella, L7, Tesla, Sacred Reich, Alice in Chains, Danzig, Deicide, Extreme, Benediction, Warrior Soul, Tiamat, Coroner, Skid Row, Nirvana, Believer, Cannibal Corpse, Dismember, Entombed, Paradise Lost, Smashing Pumpkins, The, Fudge Tunnel, Malevolent Creation, Pearl Jam, Pitchshifter, Skin Chamber, Suffocation, Galactic Cowboys, The, Unleashed, White Zombie, Darkthrone, Dream Theater, Rollins Band, The, Therion, Amorphis, Hypocrisy, Kyuss, My Dying Bride, Scorn, Burzum, Cynic, Sleep, Big Chief, Edge of Sanity, Immortal, Tool, Type O Negative, Angra, Cemetary, Varathron, Offspring, The, Count Raven, At the Gates, Cradle of Filth, Crematory, Graveland, Machine Head, Stone Temple Pilots, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Dark Tranquility, Cathedral, Fear Factory, Emperor, Gathering, The, In Flames, Moonspell, Arcturus, Sentenced, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Nothingface, Jeff Beck Group, The, Rage Against The Machine, King Diamond, Suicidal Tendencies, Twisted Sister, Manowar, Celtic Frost, Helloween
