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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[link]

Motörhead is often credited as the first band to invent/play speed metal.^[1] 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,^[2] 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.^[3] Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown", first released in January 1969, could also be said to be an early template for speed metal as mentioned in Mac Randall's.^[4]

Speed metal eventually evolved into thrash metal.^[5] 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."

Regional differences[link]

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.^[5]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Speed metal

• List of speed metal bands

References[link]

v t e Heavy metal Subgenres Alternative metal Black metal Cello rock Celtic metal Christian metal Crossover thrash Crust punk Deathgrind Death metal Death 'n' roll Deathcore Death/doom Djent Doom metal Drone metal Extreme metal Experimental metal Folk metal Funeral doom Funk metal Glam metal Goregrind Gothic metal Grindcore Groove metal Grunge Industrial metal Mathcore Medieval metal Melodic death metal Metalcore Neo-classical metal Nintendocore Nu metal Pagan metal Pornogrind Post-metal Power metal Progressive metal Rap metal Sludge metal Speed metal Stoner metal Symphonic black metal Symphonic metal Technical death metal Thrash metal Traditional heavy metal Unblack metal Viking metal Notable scenes New Wave of British Heavy Metal Mediterranean scene Norwegian black metal Swedish death metal Gothenburg metal Bay Area thrash metal Brazilian thrash metal Teutonic thrash metal Australian heavy metal New Orleans heavy metal New Wave of American Heavy Metal Neue Deutsche Härte Culture Heavy metal subculture Fashion Subgenres Bands Festivals Umlaut Headbanging Sign of the horns Portal

Joe Stump (born September 18, 1960) is an American guitarist and composer. He plays neo-classical metal,^[1] in a style similar to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. He has released albums with his band, Reign of Terror, and as a solo artist. He also plays the lead guitar for the symphonic metal band HolyHell.^[2] Stump is a professional shredder,^[3] and Guitar One Magazine voted him 6th position among the Top 10 fastest shredders of all time.^[4] Stump has taught for many years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.^[5]

Discography[link]

Solo[link]

• Guitar Dominance! (1993)
• Night Of The Living Shred (1994)
• Supersonic Shred Machine (1996)
• Rapid Fire Rondo (1998)
• 2001: A Shred Odyssey (2001)
• Midwest Shredfest (2001)
• Dark Gifts - Rare And Unreleased Tracks (2001)
• Armed And Ready (2003)
• Speed Metal Messiah (2004)
• Guitar Master (2004)
• Virtuostic Vendetta (2009)

With Reign of Terror[link]

• Light In The Sky (1996)
• Second Coming (1999)
• Sacred Ground (2001)
• Conquer & Divide (2003)

With Shooting Hemlock[link]

• Clockwatcher (1997)

With HolyHell[link]

• Apokalypse (EP) (2007)
• HolyHell (2009)

Gear[link]

Stump endorses and uses ESP Guitars, which feature scalloped fretboards. He also uses Marshall amplifiers, Rhino amplifiers and Engl amplifiers.

He also uses the following pedals listed below:

• DOD 250 overdrive pre-amp.

• Dunlop crybaby wah-wah.

• Bob Gjika Hot Box tube preamp.

• Boss NS-2 Noise gate.

• Boss DD-3 digital delay.

• Korg SDD - 2000 digital delay.

• Boss CE-3 chorus.

• Boss CS-2 compressor/sustainer.

• Boss BF-2 Flanger.

• Boss octave box.

Stump uses Ernie Ball strings gauge 008, .011, .014, .024, .032, .048 and 1.5mm Dunlop Delrin picks.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Joe Stump's official homepage
• Joe Stump interview

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Deströyer 666
Live at Hole In The Sky, Bergen Metal Fest 2007
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Black metal, death metal, thrash metal
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Modern Invasion Music Merciless Records The Ajna Offensive Season of Mist Iron Pegasus Records
Associated acts	Bestial Warlust, Hobbs' Angel of Death, Sinister, Gospel of the Horns, Razor of Occam
Website	www.destroyer666.net
Members
K. K. Warslut Shrapnel Matt Razor Mersus

Deströyer 666 is a black-death-thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K. K. Warslut (aka Keith William Bennows). The group originated in Melbourne, Australia and by 2001 had relocated to Europe.

History[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

K. K. Warslut formed Deströyer 666 following his departure from the black metal band Bestial Warlust. Initially the project was a solo venture but eventually a black-death-thrash metal band was formed in 1994 in Melbourne. The group's debut EP, Violence is the Prince of this World featured Warslut on guitar, bass and vocals, with Matt Skitz (aka Matt Sanders) from Damaged and Criss Volcano from Abominator on drums. The song "The Eternal Glory of War" was later re-recorded for their 2000 album Phoenix Rising.

Following their debut release, Deströyer 666 had a line-up of Warslut; bassist Bullet Eater (aka Phil Gresik, ex-Bestial Warlust, Hobbs' Angel of Death, Mass Confusion); Gospel of the Horns' drummer Mark Howitzer; and guitarist Shrapnel (aka Ian Gray). They recorded the group's first studio album, Unchain the Wolves (1997). Soon after Howitzer was replaced by Deceiver and during 1999 Deströyer 666 recorded Phoenix Rising, though it was not released until more than a year later.

During 2000, Deströyer 666 toured Europe extensively. Dutch drummer Erich de Windt of Sinister and Prostitute Disfigurement joined the band after the recording of the EP King of Kings. Gresik left to be replaced by Simon Berserker (aka Simon Turner). Phoenix Rising was released by Season of Mist in November. De Windt was replaced by German drummer Mersus in 2001 and Deströyer 666 toured through Europe again with Immolation and Deranged, after which the band left Australia to relocate to Europe. Warslut settled in Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Shrapnel began living in London.

The 2002 album Cold Steel... for an Iron Age featured cover art, which the band has since disavowed, claiming they never approved it.^[1] A reissue of the album was scheduled for late 2005 but as of May 2009, it had not appeared. It is supposed to feature all new artwork as well as bonus songs. The next album, Defiance, was released in June 2009. It is their first album where none of the music was composed by Warslut, whereas he has concentrated on the lyrics as usual with the music composed by Shrapnel and Matt Razor. The album has been very well received by both fans and critics to keep Deströyer 666 well in the bracket of the cult act they have become.

In 2010 the group released a compilation album, "To the Devil His Due" which contains all of the tracks previously available only on 7" vinyl EPs. Deströyer 666's lyrical themes deal with blasphemy, nihilism, Nietzsche and warlike subjects.

Notable tours and shows[link]

In 2003, the group undertook an Australian tour that year that culminated in a headlining appearance at the Metal for the Brain festival. Their first North American tour occurred during September and October 2006.^[2]

Starting from the first of January 2010, Deströyer 666 returned to their homeland in Australia, first playing Screamfest and then extensively touring the country, including Tasmania. They had not played the continent since 2004.

2010 saw further touring and noteworthy live appearances. They were a highlight at Norway's Inferno Festival in March and followed on a very busy and successful year with a US tour alongside Enthroned and a lengthy European jaunt with Watain.

On September 9, 2010 Destroyer 666 confirmed that the band will return to their lairs to refuel, regain and compose the next album SIEGE.

In 2011 they were scheduled to tour with German thrash legends Destruction in the United States, however due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to drop off the tour.

Discography[link]

• Unchain the Wolves - (1997)
• Phoenix Rising - (2000)
• Cold Steel... for an Iron Age - (2002) (re-issued in 2005)
• Defiance - (2009)
• To The Devil His Due - (2011)
• SIEGE - (TBD)

Sources[link]

1. ^ Metalobsession.net
2. ^ Roadrunnerrecords.com

External links[link]

• Official website