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5 groundbreaking metal songs that shaped the 1970s

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As a child of the ’70s, I was fortunate to grow up in the golden age of rock and roll. Unlike the ’50s, which marked its infancy, or the ’60s that witnessed its adolescence and early adulthood, the ’70s were the era when rock truly found its niche within the genre, making it my generation’s time to fully embrace and appreciate this musical phenomenon.

From individual tracks to full albums – from novelty tunes to mainstream hits – this is a common progression that we see. If you follow The Beatles’ journey, you can clearly observe this transformation. They swiftly transitioned from light, fast-paced love songs to mature, deep compositions such as “A Day in the Life” and side two of Abbey Road, which happened quite unexpectedly quickly.

Over time, this genre branched out into various sub-genres. Some of these followed existing trends, while others chose a different path, distancing themselves from mainstream development. Interestingly, metal managed to do both – it expanded on complex, extended song structures, yet at the same time, it ridiculed some of the intellectual snobbery that was becoming prevalent within the genre.

Metal music delivered a raw, powerful impact. Some tunes had a bluesy feel, while others hinted at classical structure. Often, its literary influences could be traced back to fantasy or science fiction genres. Essentially, it needed to be fast, loud, and forceful. Moreover, throughout the ’70s, it was primarily associated with males.

5 iconic metal songs that shaped a decade of hard rock

These tunes significantly influenced metal music since its inception. By the next decade, it became one of the most commercially successful musical genres globally. However, its artists often failed to garner critical praise. Despite this, they have yet to receive the recognition they deserve according to esteemed institutions like the Grammys and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Instead, a majority of their fans might prefer spending an evening blasting ear-piercing heavy metal tunes over relaxing to anything that carries a whiff of softness.

“Paranoid” by Black Sabbath (1970)

Talking about mellow tunes, Ozzy and his bandmates significantly impacted the metal genre by releasing this mega-hit, which became popular almost everywhere except in the United States. However, it did manage to chart in the U.S., though its success was much more limited compared to Europe and Australia. In America, numerous teenage bands attempted to play it, often with less than stellar results.

As a music enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact “Paranoid” had on me. It wasn’t just about Geezer Butler’s mind-blowing guitar work, it was also about his powerful bass lines that truly made a difference. In essence, this iconic song taught us all to appreciate the crucial role of the bass in shaping music.

“Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin (1971)

It’s well-known that this space is intended for “Stairway to Heaven.” This song was everywhere and became iconic, representing not only a band but an entire genre of music. “Stairway” often takes the top spot in many classic rock station countdowns during holidays. However, I won’t pick it because it’s been extensively discussed. Moreover, I believe there were superior tracks on their fourth album, which is often called Led Zeppelin IV.

In essence, “Rock and Roll” from the same album became more popular in the USA, but this was largely due to differences in release dates. Interestingly, “Stairway” wasn’t issued as a single in America. The infectious energy of “Rock and Roll” truly encapsulates rock euphoria. Each band member is fully engaged and at their best.

Kicking off with John Bonham’s powerful cymbal rhythm and John Paul Jones’ strong bassline, accompanied by Jimmy Page’s memorable guitar work, including his signature riffs and solos, and Robert Plant’s lively vocals, each member shines at their peak performance level. Later on, they surprise us with a dynamic piano performance, which was skillfully provided by Ian Stewart, a renowned keyboardist from the legendary Rolling Stones.

If you’re going to title your song “Rock and Roll,” you’d best know what you are doing.

“Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple (1972)

Let’s make this straightforward. The tune that broke barriers between metal and pop genres is the one we’re referring to. Its opening guitar riff, renowned for being the most iconic of its decade (possibly ever), stands out. Originally released in 1972, it didn’t gain significant popularity as a single until the year after.

“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC (1979)

Towards the end of the given decade, as a style known as “new wave” started gaining traction, you could still encounter raw, hard-hitting rock music. The most impressive new advocate of this genre originated from Australia. Although they had achieved multiple hits domestically, it was their song “Highway to Hell,” off the album with the same title, that propelled them into fame in America.

The powerful strumming of Malcolm Young lays the foundation for Bon Scott’s rowdy, supernatural vocals. Later on, Angus, Malcolm’s brother, contributes his guitar solos to the song. The track achieved platinum status. The album produced many other top hits and paved the way for AC/DC’s enduring success.

Regrettably, Scott, who passed away due to acute alcohol poisoning six months following the release of “Highway to Hell,” was not part of it.

Or:
Unfortunately, when “Highway to Hell” was released, Scott had already passed away from acute alcohol poisoning six months prior.

“Overkill” by Motorhead (1979)

Initially, we kicked off with Black Sabbath’s groundbreaking metal anthem “Paranoid,” released in 1970. Despite numerous high-quality metal songs emerging throughout that decade, I’ll conclude by highlighting a significant oversight in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Motorhead.

Lemmy Kilmister was the epitome of metal. An exceptional songwriter, skilled bass player, and capable vocalist, he brought together a group that would leave any venue echoing long after they had left. Fast Eddie Clarke on guitar and Philthy Animal Phil Taylor on drums played with a melodic intensity that few have been able to match since those days.

It appears that metal, or rather the music genre, had been heating up. John Bonham’s demise would mark a pause for Led Zeppelin, but other bands continued to produce loud and fast music for many years afterwards. The most influential metal band of all time was on the verge of emergence in Los Angeles, while various sub-genres were sprouting. These genres essentially took root from the seeds sown in the 1970s.

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2025-05-02 13:00

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