GENRES DATABASE

Speed metal is a type of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s. Its origins can be traced from a merging of New Wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) and hardcore punk, resulting in a fast, abrasive and technically demanding music.

Instrumentally speed metal is less abrasive and more melodic than thrash metal, showing that the hardcore punk influence takes the lesser role. However, while still remaining faster and more aggressive than traditional heavy metal, speed metal prefers virtuoso soloing and short instrumental passages. Speed metal vocals are more expressive but less likely to employ 'harsh' vocals than traditional thrash metal songs. Speed metal eventually influenced, in part, the evolution of thrash metal. Although there is a tendency to merge the two genres, many argue their separation.

Speed metal was not recognized by the RRCA (now Diskery) database until 2014. As bands are discovered that meet this description they will be moved under this title from their current position. Due to the controversial nature of either to merge or not merge thrash bands with speed, the selection will be up to the database operator and that decision will be considered final.

File record #: 37