I want to get into metal! Where do I start?

[de la mocha]

I'm starting to notice metal more and more lately interacting online, in music stores and even in magazines I glance at. But I know nothing at all about metal. And I mean nothing, being a minority and all. So where do I start? How do I get my feet wet. Here are my concerns:

1) I know there are many different types of metal but I don't want to get into that demon worshipping, devil stuff. That stuff scares me.

2) I want to start at both ends. The classic stuff so I know where it all started, and also the modern stuff.

3) I need a band where I can hear the bass! I absolutely hate listening to music where the bass is non existant against a blaring guitar or two!

4) This may help, but right now I listen to motown, 70's funk, jazz, reggea, classic rock, psychedelic (my favorite genre), and experimental. I hate hip hop. Also, my favorite bass on earth is my fender precision with flatwound strings. This is just a little background on my I guess to point me in the right direction. Thanks!

[*smb]

Start with Black Sabbath. Get their albums in order. Their first record was where it all began IMO... (raises anti-flaming shield)

Modern metal is very varied. Since you like psychedelic and experimental I recommend Tool. Try Lateralus - it's a really good modern rock album.

[jsbass]

Metallica, Voivod, Flotsam & Jetsam, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Megadeth, Diamond Head.. all good metal stuff to check out.

[ARCtrooper225]

Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Black Label Society, Pantera, Sepultura,
and BTW...Did I say Iron Maiden yet?

[arbitrary]

I enjoy the Mastadon, some Converge is good as well.

[Against Will]

Have you heard Bad Brains yet? They're not metal (well...there best stuff isn't), but their influence on metal is hard to overestimate. They also incorporate a lot of reggae into their sound...so if you don't dig that harder stuff you at least have an album with some good rock-dub mixes.

Motorhead is another important gateway metal band is just a great rock group in their own right.

Also, for more modern Municipal Waste is some really crazy crossover stuff that's fun and great for parties.

The bass on the above to can be kind of hard to hear at times because it's really trebbly and growly, but it's really good.

Not to be pressuring you or anything, but the devil-worshipping stuff isn't anything to be afraid of. I know it used to be freaked out by it too, but you realize that most of the bands (well, most of the good ones) aren't really Satan-worshipping and you stop taking their stuff so seriously in that respect. You get to find some really great work and musical ideas in those albums because despite any of the stereotypes, a lot of the guys are really good musicians.

[war_n_peace]

You ought to hit jsbass up and get in the Metal Bass Club

[Embryodead]

Opeth, Mastodon, Pain Of Salvation, Dream Theater, Amon Amarth, At The Gates, Dark Tranquility, Katatonia, Megadeth, King Diamond, Outworld, Symphony X

[bongomania]

If you want to hear "classic metal", I would push you toward Sabbath, Judas Priest, Dio, and Manowar. Priest and Dio each have very good 2-CD anthologies out- even as a fan, I am happy just having those.

If you like Sabbath you'll probably like doom/stoner/sludge metal; I'd recommend Electric Wizard, Kyuss, and High on Fire.

[Spector_Ray]

Originally Posted by *smb

Start with Black Sabbath. Get their albums in order. Their first record was where it all began IMO... (raises anti-flaming shield)

Modern metal is very varied. Since you like psychedelic and experimental I recommend Tool. Try Lateralus - it's a really good modern rock album.

You won't get any flaming from me! Sabbath is to metal as Fender is to bass.

[Peter Squire]

For some direction, try to hunt down the DVD doco "Metal - A Headbangers Journey". Its very good, goes through origins of metal, all the myriad sub-genres and the accompanying lifestyle.

[Spector_Ray]

Originally Posted by Peter Squire

For some direction, try to hunt down the DVD doco "Metal - A Headbangers Journey". Its very good, goes through origins of metal, all the myriad sub-genres and the accompanying lifestyle.

Great advice. And if you want to know why the '80s metal became a joke, rent "The Decline of Western Civilization - The Metal Years". However, I did like Seduce. I'm a sucker for power trios.

[Joe Gress]

Sound of the Beast by Ian Christe was a really good history of metal.
Off topic, does anyone else here listen to Bloody Roots on Sirius?

[ColtraneWorship]

IMHO, learn ALL that has been written by Steve Harris, the bassman (and main composer) of Iron Maiden. Technically speaking, this guy is a monster, so get to learn those riffs, you will get ALOT of hand strenght and technique. After that, just go for the band/style you like most.

[lemur821]

I don't want to turn this into a nitpicky genre debate, but I think it's important to notice at least a few distinctions. I'd divide it up into something like classic metal (Sabbath et al.), death metal (and black metal... your Opeth and the like), modern -core genres (Between the Buried and me, Sikth, and more who are less awesome), and doom/sludge (Electric Wizard will crush your mind). And power metal, of course (Dragon Force! Lost Horizon... I don't know this genre so well). I think there were a few years in between somewhere that we don't talk about.

My reason is that these five are distinct enough that a person might like one but not the others, so it's not fair to judge one by listening to another. I like the -cores myself, but ymmv. There are probably more that I overlooked. You don't want to get caught up in genres too much, but metal is such a wide umbrella. It's like if you wanted to get into "classical" music. That's a thousand years of genres there! Metal isn't quite that old (unless you consider it the song of the cosmos which has only recently been discovered by man), but it's a similar problem. It's not too hard to sample five or six genres to get an idea of what they are like. All you need are some band names and youtube, and away you go!

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by de la mocha

1) I know there are many different types of metal but I don't want to get into that demon worshipping, devil stuff. That stuff scares me.

Google "Satanic Metal +bands" and start compiling your list

Speaking from personal experience I prefer listening to Morbid Angel and it's exploration/expression of satanic cultism over anything Slipknot and similar recent bands have put out because IMO the new breed deliberately choose questionable, easily sold and personal one on one "stab you, shoot you, get you back" type lyrics. I find those lyrics get into my head and affect my mood a lot more than tributes/references to ancient cities and beliefs. IMHO of course...

Originally Posted by de la mocha

2) I want to start at both ends. The classic stuff so I know where it all started, and also the modern stuff.

Most peoples suggestions of Sabbath, Maiden, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Metallica etc will see you right.
System of a Down play an interesting mix...with your listend influences check out the song Radio/Video, they use some unusual beats for metal in that song.

Originally Posted by de la mocha

3) I need a band where I can hear the bass! I absolutely hate listening to music where the bass is non existant against a blaring guitar or two!

Good luck finding a group of metal musicians who agree enough to let you care, IME most don't...unless they have a specific bass tone in mind and almost want to set it for you.

[*smb]

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

You won't get any flaming from me! Sabbath is to metal as Fender is to bass.

Well there's another long debated issue...so it's a good analogy. Anyway it's nice to see the Sabbath love here.

Originally Posted by bongomania

If you like Sabbath you'll probably like doom/stoner/sludge metal; I'd recommend Electric Wizard, Kyuss, and High on Fire.

I second all these recomendations. Kyuss are the reason I play bass.

[George Looney]

Where to start ?
Growing your hair ... obviously

[Spector_Ray]

Originally Posted by de la mocha

3) I need a band where I can hear the bass! I absolutely hate listening to music where the bass is non existant against a blaring guitar or two!

I tend to agree with you there. I was 13 when I started playing bass in 1983. Now say what you will about 80's hair bands, but in the early 80's, those early bands' sounds were screaming! Edit: I'm mainly talking about the NWOBHM and a few choice American bands. There were no 7 string guitars and downtuning dominating the song. You could actually hear a bass and learn the lines by ear much easier. These guys made the songe heavy by playing! Somewhere along the lines, the guitar started to be tuned lower and started drowning the bass in songs. What's the point of having a bass in a song when the guitar is being tuned down so low? It starts sounding really muddy after a while unless you start klikkety klacking like Fieldy.
Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind is one of my favorites of all. There's something about analog recording and E or Eb tuning that sounds awesome to me.

[baba]

Recent metal suggestions:

Mastodon
Dillinger Escape Plan
Opeth