4 Classic Albums That Influenced the Beginning of Heavy Metal

Heavy metal’s origins began in the late 1960s, though it didn’t begin to really kick off until the 1980s. An extension and evolution of rock and roll, heavy metal was influenced by quite a few different sounds, bands, songs, and albums through the years. We’re particularly fond of these four albums, each of which are hailed as some of the best records that influenced heavy metal as a genre. Let’s take a look!

1. ‘Loveless’ by My Bloody Valentine

Loveless is definitely shoegaze outfit My Bloody Valentine’s greatest album, and the 1991 record came out when heavy metal was already very much a thing. Regardless, Loveless has inspired the evolutions of metal that followed its release. 

The way Kevin Shields plays the guitar on this album is on a whole different level. It presented a whole realm of new possibilities to rock and metal musicians at the time. The record features walls of sound that incorporate distortion and delay, which have become common elements in heavy metal and black metal music today.

2. ‘Fresh Cream’ by Cream

The debut supergroup album that started it all, Fresh Cream was released back in 1966 and featured the musical talents of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. 

The foundation of this record is blues and psychedelic rock. However, songs like “Spoonful” featured stylistic choices that would later influence the heavy metal sound. Specifically, “Spoonful” features the then-pioneering use of fuzz, feedback, and echo. According to Clapton, that song was inspired by his first time meeting Jimi Hendrix.

3. ‘Pornography’ by The Cure

Many gothic rock albums influenced heavy metal in some ways, but few come close to the influence Pornography by The Cure had on the genre in 1982. 

This record’s focus, at least emotionally, is on pain and suffering. That pain can be felt in the poetic lyrics and overall sound design of the album. It’s beautifully crafted, and you can hear The Cure’s influence on industrial metal albums that followed in the 1990s.

4. ‘Unknown Pleasures’ by Joy Division

Out of all the albums that influenced heavy metal on our list, Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division inspired so many more genres than just metal. Their influence on culture, as a whole, is substantial… even today. 

This 1979 record explored the bleak human condition in a way that became the standard in heavy metal music that followed. Bands like Hellhammer and Neurosis have hailed these post-punk rockers as inspirations, too.

Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns

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