{"id":47032,"date":"2024-08-31T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-31T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/38ac1e40-4b53-4e34-9b74-c9e900b9f993"},"modified":"2024-08-31T11:07:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T09:07:15","slug":"volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Volume and virtuosity: 11 heavy metal tracks inspired by classical music"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 31 August 2024 at 08:30 AM<\/p>

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While heavy metal and classical music may seem to be thousands of miles apart musically, a closer listen will reveal that the two share much in common. Heavy metal music is defined by ear shattering volume, virtuosic displays of technical skill, the interplay of dynamics and productions of epic proportions… all of which are similarly found in the classical canon.\u00a0<\/p>

Classical themes and melodies are commonly cited in the heavy metal genre: the world of classical music has provided and continues to provide a wealth of inspiration for metal musicians. Here are just 11 examples of the finest classically inspired heavy metal ever committed to tape…<\/p>

When Bach met the Beach Boys: 11 timeless pop songs inspired by classical music<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
‘Black Sabbath’ (1970) \u2013 Black Sabbath<\/h2>
The British godfathers of heavy metal carved the genre into stone, with one of the most iconic and influential guitar riffs of all time \u2013 which itself is based on Gustav Holst<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s \u2018Mars, the Bringer of War\u2019 from his The Planets<\/a><\/em><\/strong> orchestral suite. <\/p>
Holst\u2019s use of the sinister and dark sounding tritone Diabolus in Musica<\/em> (devil in music), proved to be the catalyst to the group defining its sound. This in turn confirms without a shadow of doubt, that Holst had already set in stone the building blocks for what became heavy metal 50 years later.\u00a0<\/p>
<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The original video for Black Sabbath’s ‘Black Sabbath’<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-am-i-evil-1980-diamond-head\">‘Am I Evil?’ (1980) \u2013 Diamond Head<\/h2><p>Holst is again referenced in \u2018Am I Evil?\u2019 by English heavy metal outfit Diamond Head. The group\u2019s desire to create a song that would be heavier and faster than before, led them to turn to not only their metal forefathers Black Sabbath, but to Holst as well for their inspiration. The song begins with the pounding beat of drums and guitars before segueing into yet again, \u2018Mars, the Bringer of War\u2019, further certifying Holst\u2019s integral role in the development of heavy metal. <\/p><p>\u2018Am I Evil?\u2019 would also sow the seeds in birthing a rash of sub-genres such as thrash metal. And just like the eight-minute long \u2018Mars, the Bringer of War\u2019, \u2018Am I Evil?\u2019, also clocks in similarly at just under eight minutes.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-of-holst\">Best of Holst: 6 essential works<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-metal-heart-1985-accept\">‘Metal Heart’ (1985) \u2013 Accept<\/h2><p>Coming from the land that gave the world some of the world\u2019s greatest composers, German heavy metal outfit Accept, also paid homage to their classical forefathers with the title track to their 1985 album\u00a0<em>Metal Heart<\/em>, which itself is based around the melodies of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/tchaikovsky\">Tchaikovsky<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s<em> Marche slave<\/em> in B-flat minor and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/ludwig-van-beethoven\">Beethoven<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s \u2018F\u00fcr Elise\u2019 (Bagatelle No. 25). And in a nice acknowledgement to their classical brethren, the group proudly credit the two composers on the album\u2019s credits too by writing; \u2018Metal Heart is inspired by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Ludwig van Beethoven\u2019.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/rachel-barton-pine\">From Mozart to Megadeth: how violinist Rachel Barton Pine is converting heavy metal fans to classical music<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-play-with-me-1989-extreme\">‘Play With Me’ (1989) – Extreme<\/h2><p>Funk-metallers Extreme may be more well known for their acoustic ballad \u2018More Than Words\u2019, but the group\u2019s guitarist Nuno Bettencourt\u2019s playing was informed by a swathe of classical music influences. This is showcased in all its glory on the group\u2019s song \u2018Play With Me\u2019, which kicks off with a frenetic six-string take on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/mozart\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/a><\/strong>‘s ‘Rondo Alla Turca\u2019 from his Piano Sonata No. 11. <\/p><p>It\u2019s short and sweet \u2013 only five seconds long – but states its point solidly, capturing the freewheeling spirit of Mozart who amongst the metal fraternity is considered to be the first rock star. The song was also given a run in the movie\u00a0<em>Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure<\/em>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Play With Me\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nDWjWfLU2kQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Extreme’s ‘Play With Me’<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-divine-wings-of-tragedy-1996-symphony-x\">‘The Divine Wings of Tragedy’ (1996) \u2013 Symphony X<\/h2><p>American prog-metal purveyors Symphony X have regularly incorporated classical pieces into their music. This is largely due to the group\u2019s primary songsmith and guitarist Michael Romeo. Introduced to the works of the classical masters at a young age, these became his musical textbook while he was learning his instrument. <\/p><p>One track that particularly showcases this influence is the epic 20-minute title track to the group’s 1996 album,\u00a0<em>The Divine Wings of Tragedy\u00a0<\/em>which plunders Holst\u2019s \u2018Mars, Bringer of War\u2019 and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/johann-sebastian-bach\">JS Bach<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/a-guide-to-bachs-mass-in-b-minor-and-its-best-recordings\">Mass in B minor<\/a><\/strong> throughout.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-will-the-sun-rise-1996-stratovarius\">‘Will The Sun Rise’ (1996) \u2013 Stratovarius<\/h2><p>Finnish power metal group Stratovarius are another band hugely influenced by classical music, particularly with composers from the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/baroque-music-guide\">Baroque<\/a><\/strong> era, as exemplified on \u2018Will the Sun Rise?\u2019 Sounding like a speeding train out of control, it shifts gear midway, and goes into full-blown, frenzied classical mode, as guitar and keyboard duel away on JS Bach\u2019s Violin <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/musical-terms\/what-concerto\">Concerto<\/a><\/strong> in A minor.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"STRATOVARIUS 'Will The Sun Rise' Live@Pakkahuone, Tampere 17.9.2015\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1641l65EQ_M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stratovarius play ‘Will The Sun Rise’<\/figcaption><\/figure><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/bach-beginners-recordings-help-you-discover-bach\">Bach for beginners: the recordings to help you discover Bach<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-red-light-in-my-eyes-pts-1-amp-2-1997-children-of-bodom\">‘Red Light in My Eyes’, Pts 1 & 2 (1997) \u2013 Children of Bodom<\/h2><p>Also hailing from Finland, Children of Bodom are more on the melodic death metal end of the musical scale. On this particular track, they mine the catalogues of both Bach and Mozart. Split into two parts, it comes off their 1997 debut album,\u00a0<em>Something Wild<\/em>. <\/p><p>At the start of Part 1, it makes use of Bach\u2019s Invention No. 13 in A minor, while Part 2 begins with a guitar intro taken from Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, before arriving at the 0:27 minute mark, where the keyboard part elicits Mozart’s ‘Confutatis’ sequence from his <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/story-behind-mozarts-requiem\">Requiem<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/10-mozart-myths\">10 Mozart myths debunked: from being buried in a pauper’s grave to a penchant for wearing brightly coloured wigs<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-wizard-s-last-rhymes-2001-rhapsody\">‘The Wizard’s Last Rhymes’ (2001) \u2013 Rhapsody<\/h2><p>Italian symphonic metal group Rhapsody (now renamed Rhapsody of Fire) is heavily influenced by the greats of classical music, running the gamut from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/antonio-vivaldi\">Vivaldi<\/a><\/strong> to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/niccolo-paganini\">Paganini<\/a><\/strong> and beyond. They even had famed Hammer horror actor Christopher Lee appear on their 2004 album,\u00a0<em>Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p><p>I\u2019m choosing the track, \u2018The Wizard’s Last Rhymes\u2019, the majestic closing number to their 2001 album\u00a0<em>\u00a0Rain of a Thousand Flames<\/em> which quotes the melody from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/antonin-dvorak\">Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k<\/a><\/strong>‘s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/the-best-recordings-of-dvoraks-symphony-no-9-from-the-new-world\">Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World’<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-forever-2001-kamelot\">‘Forever’ (2001) \u2013 Kamelot<\/h2><p>American symphonic power metal group Kamelot also dig deep into the classical music catalogue. Their song \u2018Forever\u2019 from their 2001 album\u00a0<em>Karma<\/em>\u00a0takes the inspiration for its main melody from \u2018Solveig\u2019s Song\u2019, from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/composers\/edvard-grieg\">Edvard Grieg<\/a><\/strong>‘s <em>Peer Gynt<\/em>.<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/five-essential-works-grieg\">The best works by Grieg<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-air-2002-yngwie-j-malmsteen\">‘Air’ (2002) \u2013 Yngwie J Malmsteen<\/h2><p>Hearing the sounds of Paganini\u2019s 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, while in his early teens, led Swedish heavy metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen to marry his love of all things classical to his guitar-driven heavy metal. Or for want of a better word; neo-classical metal. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yngwie Malmsteen - 'Air' Aria Suite N\u00b0 3 (J.S. Bach)\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xJsVNmkCqW8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yngwie Malmsteen’s ‘Air’<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>One of Malmsteen\u2019s constant musical references is JS Bach, with whom Malmsteen is so enamoured with that in a 2019 interview with UK\u2019s <em>Total Rock Radio<\/em> he stated, ‘To me, Bach is like, the closest thing to God.’ He showcases his immense love for Bach on 2002\u2019s ‘Air’, a blazing metalized cover of Bach\u2019s \u2018Air on the G String\u2019 (from his Orchestral Suite No. 3)<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/six-best-works-paganini\">6 of the best works by Paganini<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lacrymosa-2006-evanescence\">‘Lacrymosa’ (2006) – Evanescence<\/h2><p>Amy Lee, lead vocalist with Goth metal merchants Evanescence, first become smitten with Mozart\u2019s music at the age of nine, after watching the 1984 film adaption of Mozart\u2019s life, <em>Amadeus<\/em>. This led to Lee developing a lifelong appreciation of all that classical music had to offer. <\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/amadeus-the-greatest-film-about-classical-music\">Amadeus – the greatest classical music film ever made?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>This was highlighted on her group\u2019s 2006 song \u2018Lacrymosa\u2019 where she pays homage to Mozart by assimilating the \u2018Lacrimosa\u2019 segment from Mozart’s Requiem into the song \u2013 one of Lee\u2019s personal favourite pieces. Lee and co. later reworked the song for their 2017 album,\u00a0<em>Synthesis<\/em>, where it was given an orchestral makeover, with the parent album topping the US Billboard Classical Albums chart. And with Evanescence\u2019s much younger demographic, it also helped introduce the name of Mozart to a whole new generation of music lovers.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Published: Saturday, 31 August 2024 at 08:30 AM While heavy metal and classical music may seem to be thousands of miles apart musically, a closer listen will reveal that the two share much in common. Heavy metal music is defined by ear shattering volume, virtuosic displays of technical skill, the interplay of dynamics and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":47033,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music.jpg",1200,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music.jpg",1200,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/08\/volume-and-virtuosity-11-heavy-metal-tracks-inspired-by-classical-music.jpg",1200,800,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Published: Saturday, 31 August 2024 at 08:30 AM While heavy metal and classical music may seem to be thousands of miles apart musically, a closer listen will reveal that the two share much in common. 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