Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by
Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music.
Origins
Motörhead is often credited as the first band to invent/play speed metal.Some of speed metal's earlier influences include Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave", Deep Purple's "Fireball" and Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" (which was eventually covered by the thrash metal band Metallica), from their 1974 album
Sheer Heart Attack, and Deep Purple's song "Highway Star", from their album
Machine Head. The latter was called 'early speed metal' by Robb Reiner of speed metal band Anvil.
Speed metal eventually evolved into thrash metal.
Although many tend to equate the two subgenres, others argue that there is a distinct difference between them. In his book
Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal, Ian Christe
states that "...thrash metal relies more on long, wrenching rhythmic
breaks, while speed metal... is a cleaner and more musically intricate
subcategory, still loyal to the dueling melodies of classic metal."Speed metal's sound varied between various regional scenes. European bands leaned towards the sound of bands like Venom and Motörhead.
Japanese bands had a more melodic sound that resembled power metal.
North American bands had a faster, more aggressive sound that would
later influence the thrash metal movement.
