Unknown Affinities Between Metal and Classical Music / Claiming a Heritage, Cousins in The Epic (1)

by Laurent Bellemare

On January 29 and 30, the world premieres of Voivod Symphonique take place, a rare public event that juxtaposes classical “high culture” with the underground world of metal. Yet there are many links between these two European traditions, both in terms of music and history. Nevertheless, even the most erudite of scholars, and orchestral musicians in particular, remain largely unaware of this connection. To demystify the context in which this extraordinary collaboration culminates, our collaborator and musicologist Laurent Bellemare presents a brilliant comparative overview of the similarities between these two worlds.

Claiming an inheritance

With barely 60 years of existence, metal has made giant leaps in its stylistic and technical evolution, a trend exacerbated by the technological society of the 21st century. Repudiated by official institutions and marginalized in mass culture, this raw, inaccessible music had been drinking in classical European references from the outset, both compositional and extra-musical.

While the first hard rock/metal bands tended to have blues-rock roots (Cream, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin), Judas Priest and Iron Maiden showed a clear technical shift. This rigorous execution and increasingly detailed compositional work went hand in hand with a less systematic use of blues pentatonism – 5-note scales typical of the blues.

There was also increased lyricism and harmonization in the guitar arrangements, enriched by increasingly complex, faster drumming.

Under the influence of progressive rock on metal, waves of bands such as Queensrÿche and Dream Theater catalyzed this new interest in complex, longitudinal forms. Rather than repeating simple patterns, metal developed material.

Cousins in the epic

Beyond the music, let’s now identify the thematic similarities between the metal and classical worlds. Since the birth of the rock sub-genre, metal bands have freely drawn inspiration from Judeo-Christian mythology, whether through overt blasphemy or subversive misappropriation of its symbols, as Black Sabbath, Venom and Slayer have done.

The fantastical worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P. Lovecraft also figure prominently in metal texts.

Symphonic metaphors abound, from Megadeth’s classic thrash metal Symphony of Destruction to goregrind icons Carcass’ Symphonies of Sickness.

The association with the symphony orchestra, another symbol of sonic power and triumphant grandeur, is also corroborated in the cult documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey (2008), in which the orchestral romanticism of Richard Wagner is seen as the spiritual ancestor of metal.

Latest 360 Content

FIJM | Anomalie and Lewis: Two hour Jam by Two Heavy Hitters

FIJM | Anomalie and Lewis: Two hour Jam by Two Heavy Hitters

FIJM | Kojo Melché Roney, Born to Drum

FIJM | Kojo Melché Roney, Born to Drum

FIJM 2025 | King Makaya triumphs again

FIJM 2025 | King Makaya triumphs again

FIJM | It’s About Time to Ackowledge Peter Evans Fabulous Playing

FIJM | It’s About Time to Ackowledge Peter Evans Fabulous Playing

FIJM | Yasmin Williams: Reinventing The Guitar!

FIJM | Yasmin Williams: Reinventing The Guitar!

FIJM | Natalia Lafourcade Sparks a Place des Arts Gone Mexican

FIJM | Natalia Lafourcade Sparks a Place des Arts Gone Mexican

FIJM | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

FIJM | Clown Core: the theatre of extremes, between Pennywise and Krusty

Domaine Forget | A Summer of Discovery

Domaine Forget | A Summer of Discovery

FIJM | Wynton & JLCO: Something of an Opening Ceremony

FIJM | Wynton & JLCO: Something of an Opening Ceremony

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

SUONI | Kalmunity: STARS SHINE DARKLY in a night of powerful words, words of love and raging roars, healing grooves and dissent manners

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Suoni 2025 | Farida Amadou ++: an apotheosis of adrenaline discharge

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Serge Fiori’s Imprint (1952-2025)

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Suoni 2025 | Bozzini + Sarah Hennies: contrasts in post-minimalism

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Suoni | Contemporary Improvisation, Latin American Discovery

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Subscribe to our newsletter