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Five types of metal emerged in the 1980s: Thrash, or Speed Metal, Power Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, and Hair Metal.
As Metal gained in popularity, many musicians jumped into the scene looking to make metal their own. Bands like Metallica and Slayer revolutionized the genre by adding faster guitar riffs, and faster drumming, determining what is now called speed, or thrash metal.
Power Metal emerged from the Progressive Rock movement of the 1970s and often featured very complex lyrics and chord progressions, and often featured virtuoso quality musicians and the use of keyboards. Some notable artists here are Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell, DIO, Helloween, Hammerfall, and later on into the 1990s emerged Dream Theater, Blind Guardian, and Gamma Ray.
Bands looking for fast, yet deep-sounding riffs and growling lyrics developed a style called Death Metal, which was first introduced by bands such as Methods of Destruction, Testament, Pestilence, and later popularized by bands such as Cannibal Corpse.
Black Metal emerged from the roots of Power and Death Metal, combining the technical talents of Power metal with the dark, brooding sounds of Death Metal. Lyrical themes such as satanism, the occult, and racism were common. Venom firsted coined the phrase with their album called "Black Metal" and later on bands such as Emperor and Mayhem perfected the genre. This is often considered, along with some death metal, to be the most extreme form of Metal to exist.
The last and final metal genre to emerge in the 1980s was what is called Hair Metal. These bands were in the industry simply for the fame and fortune of being a rock star, which included not only the money and prestige, but also drugs, material posessions, and of course, the groupies. Many of these bands enjoyed a brief stint of success only to fade quickly into the background. Many of them sported long, frizzy hair and tight clothing designed ton sexually excite the audience. The subject matter was lighter than other genres, mostly sex and partying. The music was simple, easy to play, and easy for the audience to catch on to. As fickle as the genre may seem, several bands of this period have made a lasting impression on the genre as a whole, such as Poison, Motley Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister, and Cinderella.
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