Metalution Part 5: Continuing Metal and Further Progression (1972)

1972 and Metal continues with a handful of bands beginning with a February release from new metal dabblers Bang. Their first album is mostly hard/heavy rock, however their debut self titled album opens with a Doom Metal track extremely reminiscent of the sound established by Black Sabbath. Although there are similarities to their sound and that of Black Sabbath’s, This single song is the only one that can be classified as metal. Their sound is consistently rooted in a more rock style of playing despite their similarities to the Fathers of Metal.

Classics From Deep Purple

The following month Deep Purple would release their next album Machine Head. Continuing to walk in both worlds still being established, just under half the album (3/7) tracks can be classified as Early Heavy Metal. Those tracks being “Highway Star”, “Pictures of Home”, and “Smoke on the Water”. Out of the Three “Pictures of Home” would be a lesser known track, but “Highway Star” and “Smoke on the Water” would both become Early Heavy Metal classics with “Smoke on the Water” being one of the most well known and recognizable riffs in all of metal proving Tony Iommi wasn’t the only man who could create memorable metal riffs. Between him and Ritchie Blackmore a strong foundation for the genre of metal was established with their similar yet unique approach to guitar. “Highway Star” if not for the organ would fit in very well with Traditional Heavy Metal that would be played by later bands such as Judas Priest with its upbeat tempo and steady chugging.

Another From Uriah Heep

May of 1972 Uriah Heep Released their fourth album “Demons & Wizards”. This one was mostly a Hard Rock album with a few Progressive Hard Rock Songs. This album does hold one Early Heavy Metal song with the track “Rainbow Demon”. This song will be the last of seeing Uriah Heep for a long period as they would generally drift in a more poppy direction with only occasionally dipping their toes in anything resembling metal after the 1970’s.

Early Progressive Metal from Captain Beyond

Captain Beyond is not a band mostly people probably know. It was a supergroup made up of members from bands probably much more recognizable including guitarist and bassist from Acid Rock band Iron Butterfly, a drummer from Johnny Winter’s band, and former Deep Purple singer who fronted the band during their psychedelic rock early days. They formed Captain Beyond and released their first album in July of 1972. A good chunk of the album can be catagorized as Progressive Traditional Heavy Metal or Progressive Early Heavy Metal with a single track being Traditional Heavy Metal. Other tracks range from Progressive Hard Rock, Rock, Progressive Rock and possibly even some Space Rock. Out of the three albums to be released from Captain Beyond, this would be the only one to feature any metal. For a band that isn’t often talked about you might think they aren’t so important, however I first discovered this band through researching the influences of Mercyful Fate who are known for their technical style of playing and have themselves influenced many prominent metal bands. Out of all the influences named by Mercyful Fate, it is Captain Beyond’s progressive sound which most resembles the technical side of Mercyful Fate.

Black Sabbath Vol. 4

Black Sabbath, continuing to establish the foundations of heavy metal, released their fourth album Vol. 4. And speaking of progressive metal, This album opens with what I would consider Black Sabbath’s first foray into progressive metal with “Wheels of Confusion/The Straightner” classifiable as Progressive Early Heavy Metal.

The second track “Tomorrow’s Dream” with use of a tambourine makes it an Early Heavy Metal song. Perhaps one of the most unique songs compared to the rest of the catalog of Black Sabbath tracks, “Changes”, a piano cantata, shows a softer side to the band. “Supernaut” Returns the album to the Early Heavy Metal sound, classified as such due to the random percussion instruments during the bridge. The remainder of the album outside the interlude guitar track “Laguna Sunrise” is a mix of Doom Metal and Early Doom Metal.

The Sadness of Doom

There is generally two types of sounds that categorizes the Doom Metal sound. The first has been well established by Black Sabbath song’s for their feel of foreboding doom, and eerie feel of impending evil. However there is a second type of doom metal which does not personify fear of a doom to come, but instead a sadness, sorrow, or grief. There are a plethora of Doom Metal bands that which are rooted in these emotions instead, but both emotional evocations are the key to a song being classified as Doom Metal.
”Snowblind” Is the first Black Sabbath song to represent the latter of the two styles. It is most expressed with the section at 1:38 which is a much more sorrowful section dominated by arpeggiated chords and a soulful Ozzy Osbourne. On a side note the song’s outro makes use of keyboards to add symphonic elements to the song.

The album closes on one of Sabbath’s heaviest tracks ever with “Under The Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes”