An outgrowth of loud blues-rock in the late 1960s, heavy metal got its name from Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" and was the forerunner of all other forms of metal. Often simple, three-chord music, it relies on loud guitar riffs and powerful drums. While it began as a rebellion, it became highly commercially viable. Representative Artists: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC.
2026 note
Read more: the ListenSmart article on this style.