Bobbyisms: Heavy metal 101: A primer for non-metal fans

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
The Black Dahlia Murder will be at Rum Runners in London on November 1.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. Long before alternative or indie music entered anyone's sonic vocabulary, heavy metal was the undisputed king of the misunderstood genres.

When it was first born in England from the heavier blues rock of the late 1960s, ‘heavy metal' was a confusing term. It was difficult to set metal against rock music, particularly as many of the trailblazing artists of the time had their roots in rock bands as well.

By the spring of 1988, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences introduced the first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Although considered a lock for the prize, Metallica was passed over in favour of Jethro Tull, a rock band fronted by guitarist and flautist Ian Anderson. That sounds drastically mismatched, but is not an exaggeration; 20 years after its humble beginnings, and even after crossing the Atlantic, metal could hardly get a fair shake.

Now it seems as though there are as many different sub-genres as there are guitars manufactured with Floyd Rose locking tremolo systems every year. Regardless of what particular flavour you begin with, however — from deep stoner rock to the blackest of Nordic variants — there is something in metal for everyone.

For years, metal remained a mysterious art form to outsiders, pioneered by the experimental, begotten by the hardcore fans. In its many forms, it is heralded most and loudest by guitar technique geeks. Sure, there will always be a percentage of the audience drawn to the dynamic power of the genre, perhaps to raw vocals or unimaginable drumming.

But at its heart, metal is about guitar. Behind every metal band in the world, there is at least one guitar player who aspired to master the instrument: pursuing brilliant composition, innovative technique and a unique voice, both instantly distinguishable and utterly inimitable like an obsession. These guitarists work their whole lives to achieve their vision of nirvana with their guitar, and pore exactingly over every note they play. Needless to say, metal is complex.

With their huge guitar sounds, blisteringly sharp technique and crushing rhythm section, The Black Dahlia Murder — performing at Rum Runners on November 1 — is a perfect example of this concept in action.

The band — frontman Trevor Strnad, guitarists Brian Eschbach and Ryan Knight, bassist Max Lavelle and drummer Alan Cassidy — are still supporting Everblack, released by Metal Blade Records in June. Debuting at number 32 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, Everblack is the band's sixth full-length album and the first to feature new members Cassidy and Lavelle.

The Into the Everblack 2013 tour kicked off last week in Cleveland, and features fellow American groups Skeletonwitch, Fallujah and Noisem. Additionally, each band is celebrating a release this year; Fallujah released their EP Nomadic back in April, Noisem released Agony Defined in June. And Skeletonwitch is celebrating a new album only days old — their latest studio album Serpents Unleashed.

Add all of that up and you get a metal show shaping up to be a night to remember. Don't miss this event just because you mightn't listen to much heavy metal, just get ready to be amazed by feats you didn't know were capable on guitar.

For more on The Black Dahlia Murder or their new album Everblack, visit their official page on Facebook or follow @bdmmetal on Twitter. Advance tickets for their licensed/all ages show at Rum Runners this week are $17, available in person at Grooves Records, London Music Hall and The Early Bird or online through ticketdriver.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.

And for more of the latest music news, views and shows coming to London, consider following this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms. Did I use the word “metal” too many times? You'd be amazed how hard it is not to. Be safe this Halloween, I'm out of words.