Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal song?

A few days before, I was on YouTube and I came across the video of Nik Nocturnal whose title is ” How to write the best metal riffs in 8 minutes“

Following this video, I asked myself the question above.

So I decided to take my computer, and share my thoughts with you! Or rather try to arrange my ideas on this subject and present them to you.

So let’s go

MUSIC

You know that when your head or your foot moves by itself to the rhythm of the music you are listening to, there is something gained. Let’s call it physics or whatever, but the fact is : something in this music, whether it be the cadence? or the chords used have an effect (unconscious or not) on your body when you listen to it.

Speaking of which, are you one of the people (like me) who get chills listening to certain songs? That too, is an indication that the music you are listening to is causing something in you, evoking some kind of emotion.

Besides, we call it the skin orgasm ! (which is more fun than the French version that we can translate as musical shiver)

Anyway, the physical side, whether it is by moving his body or feeling this now famous skin orgasm, is for me a beginning of the answer on what makes a rock/metal song good.

LYRICS

Ah lyrics! There are those who don’t care, and those who attach importance to them.

I agree that lyrics have an effect on the success of a song. I like to know what the artist expresses through it, even if it is by devious ways such as poetry or metaphors. Let’s take a typical example: Bob Dylan doesn’t have what we call hyper-dancing songs, etc. But there is a certain emotion and a real message behind his songs that engages people to appreciate his work.

But I can also understand, at the other end, that you just want to be able to have fun listening to a song without getting bogged down in understanding the lyrics. If you don’t speak the language and everything, it’s a double puzzle. For example, the few times I listened to BabyMetal, I didn’t understand anything they were saying but, actually, I didn’t care.

So, there’s always been this debate and, for me, it always comes down to the same thing: it depends on the people.

But one thing is certain: music has no language!

which brings me to the last point…

CONNECTION TO THE SONG / AUTHENTICITY

This third point is for me the MOST IMPORTANT!

Everything I mentioned above brings us back to this point. The connection you have with the song and the artist’s authenticity in his work.

I could ask you, who is reading this article right now, what are your favorite songs (why do you have to choose only one? it’s atrocious!) and there will be a great chance that they will be different from your friends, close people, etc. because they speak to you personally.

Whether it’s the theme, the way the chords go together or the way the singer sings. All this is deeper than you think. An artist will be adored by some while others do not recognize themselves in the values, themes associated with the song or artist.

So what makes a good rock / metal song ?

In my opinion, there’s not one answer to this question, there are billions. In the end, it all depends on what everyone decides is good or bad, their reaction to it.

It will result in you agreeing with a group of people who more or less share the same ideas. And this is what the media and other statistics base themselves on to find out what the public likes or doesn’t like.

This is my view on the subject! If you have comments or see things differently, I invite you to express yourself (with respect) . I don’t pretend to know everything, and maybe I’m wrong. I just tried to be objective, and this is what came out.

You can also like and share the article if you liked it.

Before leaving, I officially announce that if you like the caricatures on the blog, you can now order your OWN DRAWINGS on the Claire Abe Company website!

If you want to watch, you can click on the button below!

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Metal music

Power metal : when power is the ultimate goal!

Posted on November 29, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We’re back today to talk about a genre that can be complicated to grasp in its nuances: …

Metal music

Black Metal : When the danger became real…

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey you! I’m coming back for a new post! I had to stop things for a while because of a hand in…

Metal music

Today’s Rock and Metal

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey ! It’s been two years now (as I write this post) that I talk to you about the different genres o…

Claire Abe

The post What makes a good rock / metal song ? appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

We’re back today to talk about a genre that can be complicated to grasp in its nuances: Power Metal!

So let’s find out this universe when fantasy meets heavy music !

WHAT IS POWER METAL ?

Power Metal (which I’ll shorten to PM) is a subgenre that appeared in the 80s. This one has two different but very similar styles:

• US Power metal (ou USPM)
• European Power Metal (ou Melodic PM)

The gender can be summarized in a mixt between Traditional Heavy Metal and Speed Metal.

US VS EUROPEAN POWER METAL

Before continuing this article, to avoid confusing you along the way, I will give you a brief overview of the similarities and differences between these two styles.

For this, let’s take a look at the table below!

In the outer columns, you can find the distinct elements of each style. In the middle, which brings them together.

However, today the two are extremely close and artists come from all over the world.

ORIGINS OF POWER METAL

The genre (whatever its origin) begins with the new wave of English Heavy Metal more commonly called NWOBHM.

Then, speed, thrash, and neo-classical metal brought other elements that the PM roughly took (hence the difference explained above).

Through all this info, we can name as inspiration : Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Marcyful Fate, Rainbow, Dio, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Yngwie Malmsteen among others !

As to who highlighted the PM, one that stands out in America as one of the key bands is Manowar. In Europe, it’s Helloween who is credited.

As for the origin of the name, it’s like many other genres uncertain. What we can say is that one of the first uses was made by none other than Metallica for one of their demos in 1982.

POWER METAL CHARACTERISTICS

Music and instrumentation

We want it to be powerful, so speed is a key element! Not necessarily in chord changes, but in arpeggio, solos, or «scratching of strings».

We also use palm mute technique.

This applies to both guitar and bass.

For the drum, we use double bass patterns !

And we add a melodic aspect with either :

• a keyboard
• or an orchestra

Everything must be epic. An anthem where everyone gathers.

Singing

Most often songs are sung with clean vocals (even classical). We sing in the high register. We can hear lots of tenor voices (one can give the example of a band that influenced the genre: Iron Maiden)

But we can find lower voices. And in the more recent bands, we can hear some screams and growls here and there.

Lyrics

Here we talk about fantasy, science fiction, mythology, personal problems, hope, strong emotions, war, history, science, or spirituality.

Appearances

This is where EVERYTHING can happen !

Have you always dreamed of seeing guys dressed only in beast skin? Or are you more into medieval times with dungeons and dragons? Or do you secretly adore men dressed in leather, who wear the codpiece like no other and with pride?

All the craziest outfits can be found in this genre! (Not only, but mostly)

From medieval/ pirate/ viking look, to the futuristic space warrior, through half-man/ half-robots, animated and other fantasies.

The crazier, the better right?

Well, then, some dress normally also…

POWER METAL BANDS/ARTISTS

Power metal artists include :

Manowar, Brocas, Helm, Cirith Ungol, Fates Warning, Metal Curch, Iced Earth, Sanctuary, Crimson Glory, Manilla Road, Savatage, Omen, Hammers of Misfortune for the USPM

Helloween, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Lost Horizon, Running Wild, Pagan’s Mind for the European Power Metal

A well as : Children of Bodom, Angra, Sonata Arctica, Alestorm, Beast In Black, Kamelot, DragonForce, Powerwolf, Galneryus, Hammerfall, Avantasia, Unleash The Archers, Sabaton, Chinchilla or Epica and Nightwish among others.

EVOLUTION

The genre evolved into many different categories such as :

• Symphonic power metal,
• Heavy power metal,
• Folk power metal,
• Power-thrash,
• Progressive power metal,
• Neo-classical power metal,
• or Extreme power metal

Conclusion

Whether you are ashamed or not to listen to this genre, it is undeniably an integral part of metal!

With its Anthem songs, optimism, and crazy looks, Power metal has established itself over the years and will continue to exist for a very long time.

If you want to discover more, you can listen to the playlist below dedicated to the genre.

Feel free to like and share this post if you find it interesting !

I also remind you that if you want to discover all the caricatures/ drawings of artists on the blog you can access them right here!

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Metal music

Power metal : when power is the ultimate goal!

Posted on November 29, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We’re back today to talk about a genre that can be complicated to grasp in its nuances: …

Metal music

Black Metal : When the danger became real…

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey you! I’m coming back for a new post! I had to stop things for a while because of a hand in…

Metal music

Today’s Rock and Metal

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Claire Abe

Hey ! It’s been two years now (as I write this post) that I talk to you about the different genres o…

Sources :

Loudwire – Who really invented Power Metal – Joe DiVita – juillet 2020 : https://loudwire.com/who-invented-power-metal/

Death Metal Undeground:

Introduction to Power Metal, Part 1 ; origins and influences – Johan Pettersson, March 23 20218 : https://www.deathmetal.org/article/introduction-to-power-metal-part-i-origins-and-influences/

https://www.deathmetal.org/article/of-power-metal-and-other-tales/#european

Metal Music Archives :

Power Metal : https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/power-metal

US Power Metal : https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/us-power-metal

Claire Abe

The post Power metal : when power is the ultimate goal! appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

I’m coming back for a new post!

I had to stop things for a while because of a hand injury (the pain spread to my elbow). All this was on the right side and, of course, I am right-handed!

Anyway, I’m back !

We are here today, a few days from Halloween (I am more Samhain than Halloween but nevermind) to talk about a genre that perfectly matches the dark and gloomy surrounding spirit: Black Metal

I must admit that it’s a musical genre that I rarely listen to. I respect it and find some aspects of black metal super interesting but the sensitive soul in me has a hard time, at times, to get along. At least, at the time I’m writing this post. Things can change.

So, while researching for this post, I learned a lot of things at the same time. It’s a win-win!

That being said, let’s explore what Black Metal is together!

WHAT IS BLACK METAL ?

It is a subgenre from heavy metal that has emerged everywhere in Europe and the world since its appearance. It started in the 1980s and grew in the 1990s.

It’s a genre with a dark, raw, aggressive, and nihilistic musical atmosphere.

BLACK METAL’S ORIGINS

We can say that black metal is derived from death metal and thrash metal.

They are also artists of these genres who are pioneers of black metal. They are part of what we can call the first wave.

In the artists who forged this style, we can find:

• Venom (UK): who gave the genre a name, also influenced with anti-Christian texts, relatively terrifying pseudonyms, and with their «raw» and rudimentary sound.

• Bathory (Sweden): whose influence is also marked by rudimentary means of production, but the scorched cries in the high-pitched register are added.

• Celtic Frost (Switzerland): Influence the genre with covers and texts of infernal connotation

• Mercyful Fate (Denmark) + King Diamond: inspires with black and white makeup as well as occult themes.

BLACK METAL CHARACTERISTICS

Music and instrumentation

We keep many of the same principles as death metal, with some additions and nuances.

Guitars:

We use guitars in the treble, with fast plans, a lot of distortion, using tremolo or alternate picking, and widespread use of harmonic minor scales. We also change the tuning of the instruments.

Drums :

It’s the same layout as death metal, but the bass drum and snare are usually bigger to get a more fat sound. We practice the blast beat and use the double pedal.

The rhythm on the drums is very fast which requires expertise and stamina!

Keyboard :

The keyboard moves back to the foreground. This helps to put in the gloomy atmosphere and evoke dark, cavernous, or inhospitable spaces.

It can also be noted that the artists practice the suppression of the medium frequencies in order to keep only the high and/or low frequencies.

Singing

For the singing, the voice is sharp, high, with lots of screams. Generally, artists use a relatively sharp false chord scream in the high register (in opposition to the low growls). Reverb is often used to highlight the voice.

Lyrics

The most well-known themes are anti-Christian, occult, death, satanism, and all that goes with it.

However, other bands touch on the themes of mythology/ folklore (rather Nordic), paganism, etc.

Appearances

Appearance plays a major role in the black metal universe.

We can recognize people who are fans of the genre thanks to the black and white corpse painting. And when they want a little color, we add red paint or (fake?) blood. All this to look like a corpse in decomposition!

Shows

Black metal shows can be considered as sacred rituals. All this, with the help of their appearances as well as the staging.

Art

The black metal album covers reflect the atmosphere of the genre. Colorimetry level we stay on black and white mostly. As for the images, there may be satanic illustrations, dark and gloomy landscapes, other occult, or forests.

On the other hand, an example of a cover that struck me is The Dawn of the Black Hearts by the band Mayhem, which is one of the most illegally downloaded black metal albums. We find a photo taken of the corpse of the singer by one of the members of the group who found him…

CHURCH BURNINGS AND NEWS ITEMS

Unfortunately, we can’t talk about black metal without talking about the various events that are associated with it and that have put the spotlight on the genre all over the world.

Church burnings :

This is the most well-known.

In the early 1990s, Norway became the epicenter of a series of (voluntary) church burnings. These were made by members of the Norwegian black metal scene. Varg Vikernes, Euronymous, and other members of Mayhem were said to have been involved in these fires. It contributed to the feeling of darkness and controversy that black metal artists are often associated.

These church burnings have attracted the attention of international media by describing the scene as dangerous and extremist.

Ultimately, as a result of these burnings, the black metal scene around the world has been under legal surveillance to ensure that no such event ever happens again.

The controversy of church burnings has divided the black metal community.

On one hand, we have those who condemned these actions by finding them stupid. And on the other, we have those who thought these actions were necessary in order to rebel against societal norms.

Nevertheless, the church burnings were a pivotal moment, highlighting this genre. Above all, it continues to influence what people think of black metal, which is a genre that defies conventions and dark.

Other news items 

Other events have marked thegnere history, such as:

• The suicide of Mayhem’singer (the body on the cover I told you about a few seconds ago. Remember?)

or

• The murder of Euronymous (Mayhem) by Vark Vikernes (Burzum)

SATANISM IN BLACK METAL

Some time ago, I told you about the satanism in metal and everything related to it. And I told you that there were still Satanists in the metal. And here we are!

That being said, I am not saying there are none in other styles. But if there is one genre that we think of when we say “satanism”, it’s black metal.

The events mentioned above prove this. Now are all black metalhead is satanists?

The answer is (drum roll) NO! Not everyone has this ideology. Again, it’s a question of personality. Nevertheless, this satanic image is an integral part of black metal and is used by both Satanists and non-Satanists.

BLACK METAL ARTISTS

There are two waves in black metal. Some will say that there are more. However, I’ll stay on two waves.

1^e wave

The first one, which sounds more like thrash, is composed of artists such as:

Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Sodom, Mercyful Fate or Sarcofago.

2^e wave

The second wave is dominated mediatically speaking by the Norwegian scene with: Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Emperor, Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, among others.

• Despite this, groups from different countries can be found:
• Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Varathron, and Thou Art Lord in Greece;
• Master’s Hammer, Root, Tormentor in the East of Europe;
• Abigor, and Samael in central Europe;
• Blasphemy, and Order From Chaos in Canada;
• Mystifier in Brazil;
• Beherit, Archgoat, and Impaled Nazarene in Finland;

or

• Dissection in Sweden

Influential black metal artists

 Among all these artists, some have helped to shape the sound of black metal.

Euronymous (Mayhem) :

He pushed the boundaries of the genre with his aggressive and raw guitar playing.

Euronymous also created the label Deathlike Silent Production. The latter has revolutionized the world of black metal by being involved in the release of several groundbreaking works of the genre. However, it disappeared at the same time as its creator died.

Varg Vikernes (Burzum) :

He’s one of the most influential and controversial in the scene.

Varg Vikernes has created a unique and atmospheric sound that mixes elements of black metal, dark ambient, and Nordic mythology.

He is also known for his involvement in the events mentioned above.

Quorton (Bathory) :

He is widely recognized as one of the genre’s pioneers. His work has played a crucial role in creating the sound and aesthetics of black metal.

Quorton merged elements of black metal, trash metal, and Viking mythology.

This gave raw, aggressive albums. In addition, his influence in songwriting, and his singular voice continue to influence today’s artists.

EVOLUTION

 Over time, different sub-genres of black metal have appeared such as the Symphonic black metal, the blackened death metal, the death doom, or the technical melodic black.

Bands like Behemoth, Nocrophobic or Belphegor have mixed black with death to create an even more aggressive sound.

These different associations allow the genre to reinvent itself and thus persist again and again.

Here is who closes this post on this genre so much criticized but so little understood (and I do confess that I was part of it).

You can find the dedicated playlist below:

Feel free to like and share this post!

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une Histoire Musicale du Rock – Christophe Pirenne

Metalheadcommunity – Burak Gundogdu – Aug 13, 2019 – Black Metal History – Origins, Influences, and the Path of Darkness : https://metalheadcommunity.com/history-of-black-metal/

Regainrecords – History Of The Black Metal Genre Music : https://www.regainrecords.com/history-of-the-black-metal/

My Dark Lifestyle – Sombrons dans les ténèbres du Black Metal : histoire et groupes – 05 mai 2024 : https://www.mydarklifestyle.com/blog/43-Sombrons-dans-les-tenebres-du-Black-Metal—histoire-et-groupes

Reddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/Metal101/comments/1wvldz/eli5_the_waves_of_black_metal/?tl=fr

Claire Abe

The post Black Metal : When the danger became real… appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

It’s been two years now (as I write this post) that I talk to you about the different genres of rock and metal that exist and I try to bring you their main characteristics.

With the objective you can better distinguish the work behind those, and to make you discover (or rediscover) the different facets of rock and metal.

I told you about the birth of rock, the birth of metal but what about these genres today?

That’s exactly what we’re gonna talk about right below!

ROCK AND METAL TODAY

Although both still exist nowadays, for most are still far from the mainstream; the limit between both genres is increasingly blurred.

Indeed, rock and metal are more and more alike. For good reason, rock artists are inspired by metal artists and vice versa. Guitar distortion is common. The use of the double pedal on the drums is also much more present.

One of the only differences is perhaps the form of the songs, more traditional in rock and freestyle in metal. But again, there may be exceptions.

ROCK AND METAL: THE GREAT CONFUSION

It’s getting harder and harder to differentiate between rock, metal and all subgenres. I’ll tell you what’s causing it for me.

PLAYLISTS ON STREAMING PLATFORMS

It’s been several years since I often find metal artists in the playlists dedicated to rock when I do research for my playlists.

So it can be cool to make people discover different genres (I do it for my subscribers’ playlists) but I think of people who only like rock.

Some may not understand why there are “heavy” titles in these playlists. In addition, others may turn away from the genre because they think it is moving in that direction. While there are always, and even more different rock styles.

INFLUENCES

I already talked a bit about the influence of metal artists on rock artists (and vice versa). But there is also the influence of other genres. With all these diverse and varied influences, it’s complicated to categorize groups in a single genre. In addition, a band can have several influences and spread them in different titles or albums. This results in a group having multiple sounds on their own. Ultimately, an artist/band can easily fit into different genres and subgenres of rock and metal.

This fact is becoming more common today.

THE AUDITOR’S PERCEPTION

This point is, for me, the most important.

When you pass on the dark side of the force, like me and many others; that is to say when you start listening to more extreme metal like some metalcore bands, death/ deathcore, black metal, etc.; you realize at some point that rock, hard rock and the like… it’s calm in comparison.

Careful, don’t make me say what I didn’t say. It’s great, but it’s calm.

So if I take my example, some of the songs categorized in rock are for me either pop rock, or electro/ independent music with saturated guitars. Or other things that don’t cross my mind now. But I don’t question the artists’ work in any way.

This leads me to say that the perception of heavy music or not also comes down to what the listener perceives. And that’s where a lot of confusion occurs.

Debates are emerging because of this. For example, some people wonder if Ghost is a metal band, but when we go back in time, in the 80s, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and others were considered metal bands (glam metal).

With the evolution of extreme music, I think for some metal standards have changed with it. And with, some bands formerly considered metal, fell more into the «old school» hard rock/ heavy metal .

And, I remind you, this is entirely subjective to people.

CATEGORIZING ROCK AND METAL, IS THAT RIGHT?

Yes and no.

Yes, because by knowing the basic characteristics of the genres, you can:

• Directed you towards a kind of music that you want, and discover the universe that goes with it,
• As a musician, you can draw inspiration from these «codes» to be able to make a title/ a work influenced by the genre you want.

Now, generally speaking, I am for doing what you want, when you want, with what you want, and not categorizing anything or anyone. Always with respect of course 😉

And if you want to make one day a rock song, and the next day a metal song, go for it!

So I am very mixed on this subject.

That’s why, at the beginning of each article I specify that I «categorize» to give you an idea of the style but that each artist/ group is free to do what he wants.

AI, ROCK, AND METAL

I had to talk about it at some point. This topic divides a lot of people.

Today, there are more and more bands or people using AI (artificial intelligence) to create works in the world of rock and metal. Whether they are bands that revive deceased members or fans who make their favorite artists sing songs they have never sung. Or bands using it for their music videos or album art, etc.

From my perspective, AI can be helpful… but NOT in music and I will even add: NOT in the artistic field in general or very little (I don’t know if this technology is used in special effects or other very USEFUL things).

For me, whether composing, singing, or even drawing, the human aspect must remain. All these examples have a soul, an emotion that AI will not equal.

AI and singing

In terms of using artist voice:

• First, using the voice of deceased artists will not bring them back and I find it a bit dishonest. We don’t know if the artist in question would have wanted that or not.

• Second, for those living, there’s the right to use the voice to take into account.
  Only I find it absurd/ disturbing that we can make anyone talk by making them say what we want?
• And then by using that, artists no longer need to do anything, and thus, end up «unemployed». Which is a shame because, for me (and I’m sure I’m not the only one), the emotion that a person gives off when singing is important.

Moreover, it is an art to sing (or scream), it’s something you learn ;p

AI and music/ composition

The same goes for composing music. Anyone can compose their music (it can be positive) but the instruments and the practice of these, what do we do? That’s the beauty of a title. Even imperfections make the work unique and beautiful.

And we talk about the theft of artists’ art on socials to create AI works?

Restrictions and other things have been established to inform and delineate the use of AI which is a good start. Now, we’re not safe from dishonest people.

I am sure that the latter can do great things in different areas, but in art, the human should remain master.

Besides, I did not listen to the releases that used IA and I watched ONE video made with it and I did not like it so, my opinion remains the same, for the moment at least.

ROCK AND METAL TODAY: SOCIALS AND FANS

To be honest, I added this part after listening to a video on Youtube of Rockfeed with Ronnie Radkie (a very interesting video by the way, that I put you here if you are interested). And in my opinion, much (if not most) of what is said is right.

Society and people’s mentality have changed over the last few years. So I will not say that everyone is or does like the others, but I will express my opinion although I live in a cave lol.

For me, a lot has changed and/or disappeared:

No more respect for privacy, nor the choices of artists

The video reminded me that because of this kind of behavior, artists leave social networks because it was no longer healthy for them. Now social media and mental health is a whole other debate.

But seriously, people who go looking for birth certificates of Sleep Token members to satisfy their curiosity or the almost daily harassment of others on social networks?!   I understand it must be unbearable in the long run. Put yourself in their shoes for two minutes.

And let’s not talk either that everything you say can turn against you because you don’t have the same point of view on one event, etc. as the other.

Today, you have to censor yourself so you don’t have problems.

Because you’re going to talk about something with your opinion and people you don’t know at all for some are gonna feel targeted, triggered, hurt, and will categorize you as a bad person or an enemy.

I censor myself at times to avoid hurting people’s feelings. Although I try to be as authentic as possible.

Not to mention the angry fans about the artistic direction taken by some bands/artists.

Yet having different points of view doesn’t make you a bad person. This is what we call being humain and you can respect someone who doesn’t necessarily have the same way of thinking as you. The good and the bad are only a matter of perspective. We are not asking everyone to think the same way. It would be very boring otherwise.

And this allows me to transition to the second point:

Artists are humans like you and me!

Crazy right ?!

So iI find it funny when hundreds of people are upset because a band/artist cancels a show/tour. Or because at some point a singer sings less well at a concert, etc.

First, let’s face it, the first to be disgusted are the artists, in either of the two scenarios. But if it’s for their health, it’s the most important. Whether it’s physical or mental health. Is it me, or is there an obvious lack of empathy from fans at some points? Especially if it is someone you admire/adore, all the more reason for the person to take care of themselves.

However, there are adorable and incredible fans, full of empathy and kindness. And I would like to end this on a positive note as it must always be put forward from my point of view.

CONCLUSION

We are in a period of great musical freedom, which is a good thing in most cases. Artists are no longer restricted and can experiment as much as they want. Or not, everyone is free to do what they want. And that’s what’s great!

This is why some people currently use the name «modern metal» for metal created nowadays. That way, they don’t label artists too much anymore.

For rock, well it’s still rock, sorry guys.

So yes, the boundary between rock and metal is even more blurred than at the beginning. But isn’t the most important thing simply to love what you listen to?

Then there will always be people saying, “It was better before”. And that’s their choice.

On this blog, I continue to categorize so that I can direct you to what I am talking about. But from my point of view, I think it’s great to no longer correspond to a single thing.

Also, I hope that this place serves as a benevolent platform for the rock and metal scenes that sometimes lack. As I repeat and will repeat, everyone has their own opinions about life. This does not mean that we cannot respect each other and gather on what unites us.

That concludes this post!

Feel free to like and share it.

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Claire Abe

The post Today’s Rock and Metal appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Rock, metal and classical music, some might say there is a world between these genres. But is that the case?

In this post, we will see the place that classical music has in rock and metal. And spoiler: it is more present than you think!

So, let’s prepare scores, revive Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Wagner, Vivaldi, etc. and discover together what is happening!

PS: this post (which I find very interesting personally) is a little longer than usual. So get comfy and enjoy your reading!

THE LINK(S) BETWEEN CLASSICAL MUSIC, ROCK AND METAL

If I tell you that there is more than one link between classical music, rock and metal; what is your reaction?

If you have been reading this blog for a long time, you will tell me that it does not surprise you. But if you have just discovered me, then know that I am not crazy… well it remains to be proven, but it is a completely different subject 😜

The links between rock/metal and classical music include:

The power and tension of music 

For me, there are only two categories where you can feel the music deep in your guts and with which you can imagine yourself going on an epic ride: classical music and rock/metal.

Virtuosity

And this in every sense of the word.

Musicians

It started with the guitarists who were inspired by classical works for their songs. The first to do so was Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow and others). Subsequently, other big names followed, such as Angus Young (AC/DC) who uses classical music as inspiration for his solos or Yngwie Malmsteen who is considered the inventor of neo-classical metal.

But also a virtuosity of all other instruments. As Florent Duployer (drummer in Kakothanasy and Anachronism) said, metal materials quickly abandoned the traditional verse-chorus form. Songs have a freer form. They are often composed of blocks that overlap with each other. This way requires a very good technique from each musician.

Singers

Although the two singing styles are totally different, it can be said that in both cases:

• The voice is powerful and dramatic.

• It takes a lot of work and training for both techniques. I talk a little more here!

Also, for the anecdote, some classical music tunes are used for the entrance on stage of rock and metal bands. Strauss’ Thus Spoke Zarathustra has been exploited on numerous occasions by artists such as Dream Theater, Green Day or Elvis Presley.

Moreover, for some time now, we can see (and listen) that some metal artists use a classic influence title in intro of their albums!

SINCE WHEN IS THE LINK BETWEEN CLASSICAL MUSIC AND ROCK/METAL PRESENT?

It is from the late 1960s that we can see the link. Precisely, with Ritchie Blackmore and those who will follow him. But, you will see in the rest of the article that it has been for longer that rock and metal artists and musicians are influenced by classical music.

Also, the first time a rock/metal band went on stage with an orchestra was in 1969 with Deep Purple. Since then, the process is often done.

However, this is fine when the orchestra adds something to the music. Another dimension. If it’s to make the same chords as guitars, it loses all its interest.

THE FUSION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND ROCK/METAL

We can’t talk about rock, metal and classical music without mentioning the obvious examples of this mix.

Symphonic metal and Neo-classical metal

But it’s not funny, because there’s obviously a link between the two…

No, I want to be a little more vicious than that!

So let’s move on. Where I’ll tell you about the influence and use of classical music in rock and metal works that are NOT symphonic metal (or in part, we accept death and symphonic black metal. I’m generous about that)

INFLUENCE AND USE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN ROCK AND METAL

The most interesting part of this post!

I’ll also begin by citing groups known for their love and influence of classical music. To finish with the “lesser” known.

Also, in this part, I will note the similarity between two works. Some are completely verified, others a little less.

Muse

There are dozens of titles of classical influence. Matthew Bellamy never hid his love of classical music. His influences include Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Lizt, Beethoven and Rachmaninov.  

We can mention :

• A Reference to the song Mon Cœur s’Ouvre à Ta Voix of the opera Samson and Dalila of Saint-Saëns in their title I Belong To You.

• A great influence of the composer Sergey Rachmaninov that inspires most of Bellamy’s piano solos including Rachmaninov’s Piano Concert n°2 op 18 which is widely exploited in songs such as: Space Dementia, Megalomania, Ruled by Secrecy or the piano part of Butterflies and Hurricanes.

• Reference to Nocturne n°2 op.9 by Chopin is present in Collateral Damage and Etude op.10 n°1 inspired the first notes of Bliss.

• The 1st movement of Tchaikovsky’s Concerto for Piano n°1 op.23 is used in Hoodoo

• They were inspired by Edward Elgar’s Nimrod theme for The Globalist

• The band even created a 3-part track called Exogenesis Symphony. It’s a reference to a 3-movement symphony whose introduction of the latter recalls Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Children of Bodom

We go from prog rock/ alt rock of Muse to death metal with Children of Bodom!
You’ll see us go through many different genres of rock and metal. A real musical rollercoaster !

Back to the band. First, the former frontman of Children of Bodom, Alexi Laino (RIP) was a big fan of Vivaldi. But this is not the only influence!

We can hear :

• Bach’s Invention n°13 in A Minor in Red Light In My Eyes pt.1

• Mozart’s Piano Concerto n°20 in D Minor in Black Widow

• Mozart’ Symphony n°25 and Confutatis in Red Light In My Eyes pt. 2

• Mozart’s Queen of the Night aria from the opera The Enchanted Flute (one of the most famous classical arias) in Hatebreeder

• Or Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor in The Nail

Symphony X

Progressive metal band, there is also a lot of classical influence in their compositions. Like:

Bach’s Prelude and Fugue n°2 in C Minor in Out Of The Ashes

• Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto n°1 in D Minor and Verdi’s Dies Irae in Fool’s Paradise

• Bach’s Kyrie Eleison in Smoke and Mirrors

Or Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra in Fallen

Queen

This is no surprise to anyone (or nearly anyone). Freddie Mercury is a classical music lover. And its influence can be found in:

• Bohemian Rhapsody (Of course!). One cannot miss such a classic (lol) influence of the classical world in rock. With these lyrical parts and its melody, there is no doubt about this fact.

• The intro of It’s a Hard Life is also influenced by the classic with the influence of Vesti La Giubba by Leoncavallo

The Beatles

Hey, after metal and rock, we go to the British Invasion, YAY!

And this may come as a surprise to you, but some of the Beatles’ well-known songs have been influenced by classical music. Like:

• Bach’s Bouree in E Minor is used as the basis for writing BlackBird by Paul McCartney. He “reversed” the chord to arrive at the arpeggio present in the song.

• John Lennon was inspired by Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata (see above) for Because

• George Martin was inspired by Invention n°12 in A Major for the piano solo in the song In My Life.

Bach’s Brandenburg n°2 in F Major inspired the title Penny Lane with the melody of the Piccolo trumpet.

Elvis Presley

Yes, it goes back to that!

First, Elvis covered Caruso’s O Sole Mio. That’s the most obvious link. But did you know that:

• Can’t Help Falling In Love with you is a “cover” of Jean-Paul-Égide Martini’s song Plaisir d’Amour

• And Surrender is inspired by Ernesto de Curtis Torna a Surriento

Now, you know the truth !

Other cases

And that is just an overview. We can also mention:

• Mars, The Bringer of War influenced Led Zeppelin for Friends and Black Sabbath’s Black Sabbath with its melody composed of tritons,
• The synth solo of the intro of Light My Fire of the Doors was influenced by Invention n°8 in Bach’s F Major,
• Genesis’ Horizons is inspired by the Suite for Cello #1 in D Minor,
• Radiohead’s Exit Music was inspired by Chopin’s E Minor Prelude,
• A Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum is influenced by Air On Bach’s String,
• Lacrymosa d’Evanescence is totally based on Mozart’s Lacrimosa,
• Accept’s Metal Heart is influenced by Tchaikovsky’s Slavic March and Beethoven’s Letter to Elise,
• Kamelot’s Forever is inspired by Grieg’s Song of Solveig,
• Last Rites by Megadeth is influenced by Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach,
• Rush 2112 is inspired by 1812 Tchaikovsky’s Overture,
• The band Savatage released an album entitled Hail Of the Mountain King (Dans l’Antre du Roi de la Montagne in French) inspired by the work of the same name of Grieg.
  PS: Afterwards, the band members formed the rock orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• The Wizard’s Last Rhymes by Rhapsody On Fire is influenced by Dvorak’s 4th Movement New World Symphony.
• Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor was also used by Van Halen

We can also talk about the classical training of artists (whether singing, instruments) such as Cliff Burton (Metallica), David Draiman (Disturbed) or Ardek (Carach Angren)!

And I still pass many other obvious ones like Tarja Turunen (Tarja, ex Nightwish), Dianne Van den Giersbergen (Dianne, Ex Libris, ex Xandria), Floor Jansen (Nightwish, After Forever), Simone Simons (Epica), Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), Amanda Somerville, Elton John, etc.

Also, how not to mention one of the most obvious links between classical and metal: Apocalyptica! Who is a metal band composed of 99% classical instruments (and particularly cellos).

BUT WHAT ABOUT COPYRIGHTS?

Most of the classical pieces were composed centuries ago. And by law, a piece enters the public domain 70 years after the author’s death.

Knowing this, the majority of classical pieces of music are in the public domain and are free of rights. And this also explains the influence of classical music in rock and metal (and other genres as well).

Classical music has a relatively important place in rock and metal.

For me, it is two categories of music that are closest in the current music. They also each have their specificities but are similar in many approaches.

Moreover many metalheads love classical music and there are probably some fans of classical music who love rock/ metal!

That concludes this post (a bit long)!

Feel free to like and share it.

See you soon!

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

La musique classique et le métal, des univers musicaux pas si éloignés – RTS – 5 octobre 2018 : https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/musiques/9893117-la-musique-classique-et-le-metal-des-univers-musicaux-pas-si-eloignes.html

Opéra National de Bordeaux – les grands airs classiques et lyriques dans le rock – 19/05/2020 : https://www.opera-bordeaux.com/episode-4-les-grands-airs-classiques-et-lyriques-dans-le-rock-16439

Music’s Shoot – Le Metal et la musique classique – Mai 7, 2018 par Thomas Gall : https://musicsshoot.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/le-metal-et-la-musique-classique/

Metalliquoi ? – Episode 14 : Le Metal et la Musique Classique [REUPLOAD] : https://youtu.be/oIUNn55RHAM?si=L85VHcD5XntaSjRv

The 30 SICKEST Uses Of Classical Music In METAL Ever – Bradley Hall : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n8FBQmVOGw

28 Songs That Are Based On Classical Music – David Bennett Piano : https://youtu.be/qA-tkCRwNVM?si=CyCwCGfy9824Iugz

14 Songs That ‘Rip Off’ Classical Music – David Bennett Piano : https://youtu.be/yknBXOSlFQs?si=EBKfz1mRGSlPysXQ

Claire Abe

The post Classical music in rock and metal music appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Today, we’re going to talk about heavy, violent, and extreme music. Here, we really get into the hard part, guys. And this genre is DEATH METAL!

Follow me and let’s dive together in a dark, aggressive, and even gore universe. Sensitive soul abstains!

WHAT IS DEATH METAL ?

Death metal is a subgenre (extreme) of metal. He appeared in the mid-80s in the USA, but he quickly moved internationally with a certain interest in this genre in Europe and more particularly in the Nordic countries. It can also be found in South America.

DEATH METAL ORIGINS

Death takes its source mainly in trash metal but also hardcore punk. Indeed, several bands paved the way for what was to come:

• Slayer is the only one in the Big Four of Thrash Metal bands to address such provocative themes as the terrible acts of Auschwitz-Birkenau or Satanism. All this in a frontal way.
• Venom also very quickly turned to lyrics with occult themes.
• Possessed had titled their first demo Death Metal in 1984.

But it’s to another band that we attribute the creation of the real first album of Death metal. And the name of it will surprise you (you have to hear the sarcasm there 😊). The band creator/ «godfather» of Death metal is called… Death.

DEATH METAL CHARACTERISTICS

The first and most obvious feature is the dark, violent, and gory side of the genre. Not everyone will like it, it’s a fact.

Music and instrumentation

It’s a bidding war genre. And you can hear it!

On drums, blast beats appear. For the drummer, this practice is sports and requires a lot of energy. From now on, the rhythmic basis of the songs is 4 times faster than traditional hard rock. We must now offer a clear game in all this «noise». This is where the Noise gate arrives.

For guitarists, the same problem of sharpness arises. To offer a game that is both fast and precise, they use palm mutting and mostly power chords. Guitars are usually tuned several tones lower. All this coupled, it is what we can commonly call chung. Because it sounds like chung-chung-chung-chung-chung. It’s a percussive sound. At the same time, we’re looking for a very rough sound.

The bass, on the other hand, is very deep. And sometimes you hardly hear it. Maybe that’s where the debate comes from: “Does a band really need a bass player?”

I won’t dwell on that.

Singing

99% of the time, the vocals will be screams. Mostly growls (or false chord scream). The goal is to go as low and as dirty as possible. It’s then good to specify that it’s very complicated (not to say impossible) to understand the lyrics if you don’t have them in front of you or if you don’t know them.

Which is great for me, because I like death music, but I hate gore etc. So I just listen to the music without worrying about the rest 😜.

Production

The typical early death metal sound production takes place in Tampas, Florida (USA). Especially at the Morrisound studio. The sound is very produced, clean, with many middle frequencies, a sharp drum sound, and an almost inaudible bass. This sound will serve as a basis for what the genre will become.

Diffusion

In the very beginning, the distribution of songs was hand to hand, through a small market of cassettes of the genre. In the end, more elaborate structures emerged.

Well today, with the internet, it’s easy to find a death metal album.

As for the gigs, at the very beginning of the genre, venues refused to host them because of the violence and fights that occurred in the public.

Some venues were doing business with Death Metal, but the latter were small, with a bad sound system and no stage.

Most of the time, the bands performed in gardens, halls, or any random places that accepted them.

Lyrics

Without surprise, lyrics of the genre are dark, creepy, and gory… but not only!

Themes covered include (of course) death, violence, Satanism, the occult, horror, and all nihilistic philosophy.

But other death bands pick topics like the environment, human psychology (often the dark side), the meaning of life, science fiction, dystopia, history, technology, and more.

Album covers

Death metal album covers also play an important role in the genre. The art that is chosen brings another dimension, another depth to the universe of artists.

DEATH METAL BANDS

In addition to the above-mentioned names, we can include :

Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Arch Enemy, Crypta, Gojira, Opeth, Behemoth, Nervosa among others.

EVOLUTION

Death metal still exists in force. It has influenced many artists. It’s a genre with many subcategories. Moreover, from the beginning of the genre, there were sub-genres such as brutal death metal, melodic death metal, technical death metal, progressive death metal or grindcore.

Today, we can add a very well-known subgenre which is deathcore.

And the genre never ceases to influence artists of other genres of metal. I am thinking in particular of metalcore, symphonic metal, and nu-metal.

That’s what closes this post!

You can find a playlist dedicated to death just below.

Also, you can find all the caricatures/drawings right here.

See you !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une Histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Heavy Metal 101 :The History of Death Metal – Loudwire : https://loudwire.com/heavy-metal-101-history-of-death-metal/

Death in Transition – A Brief History of the Evolution of Death Metal – Jonathan Adams : https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2017/01/25/death-in-transition-a-brief-history-of-the-evolution-of-death-metal/

Le Death Metal : Un voyage sombre et puissant dans l’univers musical – Karabooking : https://karabooking.fr/le-death-metal-un-voyage-sombre-et-puissant-dans-lunivers-musical/

Claire Abe

The post Death Metal : when extreme takes sense appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Howdy !

Welcome to this special and spicy Valentine’s Day post.

If you are an observer, you already know that if you are under 18, it is more than advisable that you do not read this.

Well now that we are BETWEEN ADULTS, there’s obviously a somewhat controversial topic that I will discuss on this blog directly related to rock and metal, which goes very well for this event. It’s one of the most «risky» topics that I will do on this blog.

*Drum roll to try to do a minimum of suspense even if you have already read the title of the post*

SEX !

It’s well known: Sex, Drugs and Rock N’ Roll baby ! 😜

The subject of sex/sexuality is both taboo and very present in today’s society. And this same subject is present from the beginning of rock and metal music.

That’s why today, we will see the place of sex, sexuality in rock and metal!

So, let’s enter a world where all musical fantasies can come true!

WHEN DID SEX AND ROCK/METAL MERGE?

Good question, right ?

Well, when you think back in the ’50s, Elvis Presley’s hip sway or Jerry Lee Lewis singing Great Balls of Fire drove hordes of young women crazy (young women including maybe your grandmother, your great-grandmother or your mother – I do not know your age 😉) you can tell yourself that from the beginning sex is involved in this. Whether in words or gestures.

Then as it shocked the parents, etc., and that rock is about rebellion, loving to provoke, I recall, well, it was certain that it would be one of the big elements of the genre. Well today it certainly makes you laugh to know that Elvis embodied sex when you see where we arrived, but it was a very different time.

Now, when we think about some bands, we also think about the strip club, etc., it’s part of the imagery of the bands and also a little bit of rock and metal. I think of glam metal bands that were famous for that.

And more than that, today you can find very sexually explicit video clips where orgies and bdsm practice mix. Now, not all rock and metal bands make these kinds of videos either.

For me, it’s still in metal where the imagery of sex has evolved and started to take a little more space. Although now the boundary between rock and metal is very blurred.

WHY MIX SEX AND ROCK/ METAL?

As said before, it shocks, it provokes, everything rock and metal love.

But on the other hand, it helps to accept that part of us. Or even help us develop it.

Because, as a reminder, it is a primary need of the human being to have sexual relations, since at the beginning (a long time ago) it was mainly to ensure the survival of the species. Now, things have changed a little, but the basis is there. 😉

Then, after a century of programming people to say that «sex is bad», «no sex before marriage especially» and other very patriarchal kinds of things that I will not debate here, well, when people have desires that are more or less off the beaten track (It must be said that already at a certain time assume his sexual desire was already taboo, so it is not necessary to go very far), some of them feel discomfort. And that’s where rock and metal come in and say, “Hey, it’s okay. You’re not alone.”

The integration of sexual imagery is one of the reasons why rock and metal bands were considered «satanistic»; simply because they had rather explicit lyrics.

Moreover, the excesses of certain personalities have contributed to rock and metal being seen as a very sexualized genre.

And finally, sex sells. And for centuries…

ARE ALL TYPES OF SEXUALITIES REPRESENTED?

I think so.

We can find sexy songs for all preferences, in all genres.

Whether with very sensual sounds, a sensual voice or lyrics more than explicit on the fantasies of each other.

Or artists who assume their sexual orientations perfectly. There is a spokesperson for everyone.

Also, for the anecdote, in some songs, we can hear moans more than explicit, simulated, or real. If you are interested, I put you the link to an article that lists them right here.

IS ROCK/METAL RHYME WITH BDSM?

Of course, when you arrive in the rock and metal world, you can ask yourself the question (I never asked myself this, but I can understand that some do).

With the influence of punk and gothic: we have a mixture of leather, latex (and other fetish clothes) of punk and lace, the darkness of gothic. This perfectly describes the caricature of the guy/ or girl practicing BDSM. But that’s the image you get when you don’t know rock/metal or BDSM.

When you add to that videos of the type of Whore of In This Moment with wips, masks, and sexy outfits, the very famous Closer of Nine Inch Nails (then covered by In This Moment), and everything that there is between with very intense sounds, some, unfortunately, will not think further and will link the two directly.

Let’s dot the i’s and cross the t’s: it is not because you listen to rock and metal that you are necessarily an arduous practitioner of BDSM. Let us stop the nonsense. That being the case, I am not saying that some people are not attracted to this practice.

It’s always the same story, everyone does what he wants, when he wants, and with whom he wants (always with consent of course).

I will stop here for now because there would be a lot to cover and while writing all this, I think that it can be a good subject for a future post. 😝

ROCK, METAL AND SCANDALS

Rock and metal have always been linked to various scandals more or less important (and more or less true, we know how the tabloids can invent a lot of things to sell).

Although the rock and metal scene is generally benevolent, there are still exceptions, unfortunately. As in all music genres.

For a few years now, we have seen well-known rock and metal artists accused of sexual harassment or even rape.

Fans are not left out, either. Some time ago, the same kind of scandal was related to major metal festivals. So moral things, always be careful! It’s a matter of person and not of genre of music. 😕

We come to the end of this special Valentine’s Day post. I have prepared a playlist specifically for the occasion, which you can find below. And believe it, we have experts in sexy songs!

PS: Even if you’re single, it’s always nice to have music to get in the mood 😉

See you soon for another post!

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Claire Abe

The post Sex, rock and metal – Valentine’s Day special appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

First, I wish you a happy and wonderful New Year (I write this at the end of January 2024. Normally, we can wish it all of January, so logically, I’m not late).

Today, we meet for a special post.

In this one, I will be transparent and explain the topics related to rock or metal that I will not discuss on the blog (or in a very distant future because you should never say ever).

Because although I am open-minded, some subjects are, from my point of view, very complicated to talk about.

So let’s get started!

POLITICS and everything related to it

Yes, it’s a very complicated subject from my point of view. Let me explain why:

It’s a very personal subject. It’s directly related to a person’s values. And, we are billions on this planet to have values either similar or different. I have my vision of things, it doesn’t mean you have the same vision as mine. And I respect that. But if I write a post on this subject, that I remain as neutral as possible, I can be criticized for not having an opinion.

And in the objectives of this blog, I wish to gather around rock and metal music, to create a safe space where everyone can have the opinions they want and be respected as much as their neighbor. Because all that matters here is music.

RELIGION

This is the logical continuation and for similar reasons to the previous point.

Then you can tell me «Yes, but you did a post on satanism, blah blah blah».

Yes, I did. Because this is one of the most frequent topics concerning rock and metal. But everyone has the religion he wants (or does not have any, always at choice).

And although there are genres with a religion in it (I think of Christian rock and metal), after reflection, I do not know if I will write on it or if I do, I will remain very superficial.

And at last,

ALBUMS AND SONGS REVIEWS

We can see on different blogs, etc., many reviews of albums and songs of recent artists (or not). I don’t see myself doing that. For several reasons:

1. I did not study music (apart from guitar lessons and singing lessons). When I speak of musical studies, I speak of conservatory or musicology studies. And for this, I cannot properly analyze a musical work, if I don’t have a certain base of deep knowledge of music.

2. The complexity of analyzing pieces with neutrality. Because the goal is still to be as impartial as possible (well, that’s my opinion). But if you don’t like what you’re listening to, it’s harder to find positive things and vice versa. If you love the band you need to analyze, you may lack objectivity about what could be improved.

3. It releases a lot of new songs/albums at every moment, and I have parallel projects that are close to my heart as well. So I don’t want to prioritize listening to musical works over things I’m passionate about… like singing.

I leave that part to qualified people in that area.

Here is the list of topics that will not appear on this blog (or maybe in 50 years lol).

Hoping that you have understood that here respect for everyone and sharing are key. As well as a minimum of quality on what I make you discover. And that it is these reasons that make me avoid these subjects.

I wish you a beautiful day (or night, or evening – I don’t know when you’ll read this).

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Claire Abe

The post Subjects that I won’t talk about on this blog appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

This is the season! Halloween / Samhain (whatever you like) is coming back.

Last year, I talked about horror movies within the rock and metal community. You can read the post here !

This year, I’ll talk about paranormal/supernatural matters in rock and metal (ghosts, fairies, witches, and so on).

Although the two are linked (because we find those subjects in horror movies), we can also separate them (which is good for me who does not like this kind of movies, even if some stories still scare me a little 😂). 

So let’s dive in!

Paranormal, supernatural in rock and metal music

When you listen to any kind of rock and metal, you can hear stories of ghosts, mermaids, fairies, etc. But where does that come from?

If we go back in time, we can see that in the different mythologies, paranormal elements are present: 

• Gods and goddesses have powers of their own, 
• Sirens bewitch sailors and then drown them, 
• Fairies play tricks on humans,
• Gorgons petrifying those who watch them
• … .

I will write a more in-depth post on all that is mythology in rock and metal in the future 😊

Then tales and legends began to appear:

The tales that most know (those of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Andersen, Charles Perrault, etc.) but also other tales (ex: the stories of Lovecraft or the well-known Dante’s Inferno) and urban legends. There, a little more frightening things were invited: 

• a white lady wandering along the roads,
• the Slender Man,
• the people with black eyes,
• and other stories/legends of ghosts, witches, fairies or otherworldly monsters

Some stories may be based on facts that actually happened (or not). But all are transmitted by word of mouth at first, then on the internet. A place where, if you are interested, you will find everything you want about it.

Then these stories influenced movies, books, video games and, of course, music! 

Moreover, in many rock and metal genre, one can find as inspiration for the texts of their songs mythology and legends.

Also, artists who love horror film, as explained here, are usually fond of this kind of story, because, as said earlier, some of them are taken up in this kind of film.

Now, this is not a generality. When you are an artist, inspiration is always good to take. In any subject. And these tales, legends, and their variations, are a good source of inspiration.

Here I propose you a Halloween playlist dedicated to paranormal/supernatural subjects!

Urban Legends linked to rock and metal

Also, did you know that rock and metal had their own urban legends?

Here is a list of some of them.

• Some artists have sold their souls to the devil to get where they are.

• The “27 club”: several great personalities (including rock) died at the age of 27: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, …

• Some artists/bands would have encouraged listeners to do terrible things (suicide, murder, etc) by listening to their songs backwards.

• Buddy Holly’s death was predicted. First, Buddy Holly and his wife had premonitory “dreams”. His wife dreamed of fireballs crashing on earth, leaving smoking craters. As for the person concerned, he dreamed that he was on a plane with his wife and brother.
  
  Later (before the accident), a tarot reader contacted Buddy Holly’s manager to warn him that Holly would die on February 3.

• Paul McCartney would have died and been replaced by a double.
• The curse of Fleetwood Mac guitarists who ALL had more or less serious problems in their lives.
• The curse of the white lighter (linked to the club of 27 one) because the majority of the artists belonging to the latter used a lighter of white color.
• King Diamond’s song The Family Ghost is said to be haunted. Two words from the song appeared out of nowhere. Neither the singer nor the sound engineer know where it comes from.

That closes this Halloween/ Samhain special post.

Feel free to like and share if you enjoyed!

See you soon!

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

13 Rock + Metal Curses, Myths + Legends — Explained – Joe DiVita : https://loudwire.com/rock-metal-curses-myths-legends-explained/

The Most Infamous Rock and Roll Urban Legends – Mike Rothschild : https://www.ranker.com/list/rock-and-roll-urban-legends/mike-rothschild

Des malédictions vraiment effrayantes dans l’industrie de la musique : https://fuzz-music.com/fr/the-most-interesting-curses-of-the-music-industry/

Claire Abe

The post Paranormal/ supernatural matters in rock and metal appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Hey !

Today, we will talk about a metal genre that has divided (and continues to divide) rock and metal lovers: symphonic metal!

One of the genres I particularly like, although I got into it rather late.

WHAT IS SYMPHONIC METAL ?

Symphonic metal appeared towards the end of the 90s in Europe (mostly from the north). It is a genre that brings together metal and lyrical orchestration.

But it is also a genre that is debated! And this for several reasons.

The first is that it divides music lovers. People listening to classical music/ opera find this genre too dark and too «extreme» for them. As for the “true” metal guys, it’s too soft and dull for them. In short, they don’t consider this genre as metal.

The second reason is that some consider it a subgenre of metal, while others speak of a genre of its own, where you can put all kinds of metal that use an orchestra or elements echoing symphonies.

There would then exist dozens of different symphonic metal: symphonic power metal, symphonic alternative metal, symphonic metalcore, symphonic trash metal and so on.

I’ll talk to you about my perspective on the point later in the post.

ORIGINS OF SYMPHONIC METAL

You can already listen to the mix of classical and metal music with Black Sabbath. But, personally, I do not consider this to be the origins of symphonic metal, more as an inspiration to what will follow.

A song considered the first being symphonic metal is the cover of Dies Irae by the trash metal band Believer.

This song will greatly influence the albums of Waltari Yeah! Yeah! Die! Die!, and Therion.

We can also find influences of death metal and gothic metal.

SYMPHONIC METAL CHARACTERISTICS

Music and instrumentation

Earlier, I already talked about the debate between «is symphonic metal a subgenre or a genre in its own right?».

From my point of view, which some also share, for a band to be qualified as symphonic metal there must be a large place dedicated to the orchestra/ symphony. A band that occasionally uses this element is not necessarily a symphonic metal band.

So for me, that’s one of the big features of the genre. Although, we distinguish the metal sound too.

The two combined form a feeling of power, and drama, to support an epic sound. This sound obviously comes from classical music, but also from the cinematic world. With the influence of great composers like Hans Zimmer or Danny Elfman.

Bands formation

We have the formation of a «basic» metal band:

• Guitarist(s)
• Bass player
• Drummer
• Keyboardist (very important in symphonic metal)
• Singer

But you can also find a whole orchestra with choirs.

However, some groups do without orchestra (because it has a cost), they use the synth or do it by computer to simulate the orchestra effect.

Singing

When we talk about symphonic metal, we can quickly make the link with singing. And especially lyrical singing.

Symphonic metal is famous for its (female) singers. But, in contrast with the singers with a more or less lyrical technique (because some just use their clear voices) is most of the time a singer who uses growls and other screams.

The singing of symphonic metal is often considered as «the Beauty and the Beast» with both techniques responding to each other.

If you want to learn more about singing techniques, I invite you to read this post!

Lyrics

In the themes addressed in the songs, we can find sci-fi (some are inspired by movies and science fiction books), mythology, or spirituality.

Shows

It has been said that symphonic metal music is powerful. But it’s not just that element that gives that impression. The visual of the shows strongly helps.

Shows have many lighting effects, pyrotechnics, and different staging.

These include many giant screens, fireworks, flamethrowers, smoke/confetti cannons and sometimes dancers and/or acrobats.

SYMPHONIC METAL BANDS/ARTISTS

The first two big bands of the genre, which appeared in the late 90s, are Within Temptation and Nightwish.

At the same time, other genres of artists emerged.  Musicians have pushed their fascination with opera and rock/metal to the point of making their own rock operas/metal operas. These renowned musicians from the rock and metal world imagine and create these works and ask dozens of renowned rock and metal vocalists to sing their songs.

To name just two, there are Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayeron) and Tobias Sammet (Avantasia)

Following these artists, we can quote among others : : Vision of Atlantis, Xandria, Apocalyptica, Lacuna Coil, Kamelot, Sirenia, Eluveitie, Epica, Amaranthe, Rhapsody of Fire, Delain, Therion, Ad Infinitum, Edenbridge, Lunatica, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ReVamp, After Forever, Beyond the Black ou Evanescence.

EVOLUTION

This genre took time to be recognized as such, and now it is one of the most popular genres! This is because it is more accessible and «commercial» than other genres of metal.

So no, symphonic metal has, on the contrary, evolved and also influences other existing metal genres.

That completes this post! Do not hesitate to love and share if you like.

You can also find all the caricatures of the blog right here!

I leave you with a playlist dedicated to the genre below.

See you soon!

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Metal Music Archives – Symphonic Metal : https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/subgenre/symphonic-metal

Open Edition Journals – Le cas du metal symphonique, entre dégénérescence d’un art de l’extrême et exaltation du culte de la puissance – Jason Julliot : https://journals.openedition.org/criminocorpus/4127

Albert’s Beginner’s Guide to Symphonic Metal : https://symphonicmetal.mit.edu/

Metal Hammer – “We all want to leave a mark on the planet”: the epic story of the birth of Symphonic Metal – Rich Hobson : https://www.loudersound.com/features/symphonic-metal-nightwish-within-temptation-history

Rock Monsters Romania – The History Of Subgenres: Symphonic Metal – Radu Mihai : https://rockmonsters.wordpress.com/2018/06/24/the-history-of-subgenres-symphonic-metal/

Claire Abe

The post Symphonic metal : the combination of metal and classical music appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.