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Metal Evolution

Metal Evolution

★ 8.1/10•2011•41m•12•Documentary
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Metal Evolution is a 2011 documentary series directed by anthropologist and film-maker Sam Dunn and director, producer and music supervisor Scot McFadyen about heavy metal subgenres, with new episodes airing every Friday at 10pm EST on MuchMore and Saturday at 10pm EST on VH1 Classic. Its origins come from Dunn's first documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, which included the acclaimed "Heavy Metal Family Tree."

Sam Dunn · Director

Scot McFadyen · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime41m
LanguageEN
First Air DateNov 11, 2011

Episodes

Episode 1 - Pre-MetalE141m

Pre-Metal

The history of heavy metal is charted. The premiere chronicles the origins of the genre, from pioneering music in Memphis to the Kinks in England.

Nov 11, 2011

Episode 2 - Early Metal Part 1: US DivisionE241m

Early Metal Part 1: US Division

Episode 2 traces the development of early metal in the United States from the guitar histrionics of Dick Dale to the protopunk madness of The Stooges and MC5.

Nov 19, 2011

Episode 3 - Early Metal Part 2: UK DivisionE341m

Early Metal Part 2: UK Division

Pouncing on the power of heavy metal, the UK wasn't about to cede the rock & roll dominance that nation held over America since the insanity of The Beatles and the subsequent British Invasion.

Dec 2, 2011

Episode 4 - New Wave of British Heavy MetalE441m

New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal marks no less than the establishment of hard rock’s very first heavy metal army. Loud ‘n’ proud of it, this jean-jacketed legion of headbanging air guitarists snarled back at punk ,expressed impatience with prog, and purposefully declared a banishment of ballads.

Dec 9, 2011

Episode 5 - Glam MetalE541m

Glam Metal

Purveyors of glam such as Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil and Michael Anthony of Van Halen, will divulge their side of the story, revealing the attitudes, influences and decisions which guided them during those heady days of rampant excess on L.A.’s storied Sunset Strip. Contemporary musicians like Scott Ian from Anthrax and Slash from Guns N’ Roses will discuss the reasons behind the vilification of glam—the notion that glam reduced Metal to caricature, drawing on a shallow combination of pop cliché and sophomoric sexual pandering for its inspiration.

Dec 16, 2011

Episode 6 - ThrashE641m

Thrash

Next in the evolution of Metal comes a virulent strain called thrash, with the likes of Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax wreaking vengeance on hook and melody through a rhythmic discipline executed at breakneck tempos topped by harshly barked vocals.

Dec 31, 2011

Episode 7 - GrungeE741m

Grunge

An exploration of the grunge genre and how its rise precipitated the downfall of telegenic glam metal.

Jan 7, 2012

Episode 8 - Nu MetalE841m

Nu Metal

In Episode 8, Sam Dunn chronicles the rise and fall of nu-metal; starting with its ancestry: pivotal artists like Rage Against The Machine, Faith No More and Tool and their fiery amalgam of hard, heavy distorted rock and post-Prince funk. From there, Sam turns his attention to pioneering nu metal artists like Korn and Deftones, who produced the kind of cathartic, anti-authority anthems that found affinity with thousands of seething, repressed suburban kids. Through their own brand of heavy, groove-oriented, but brazenly hip-hop-influenced sounds, these bands managed to achieve both popularity and credibility within the metal community. But nu metal's moment in the sun didn't last long...

Jan 14, 2012

Episode 9 - Shock RockE941m

Shock Rock

Two central questions are raised: "Historically, where did the urge to shock an audience come from?" and "What are the antecedents of shock in rock music?" Starting with the ringmaster of mayhem himself, Alice Cooper, an artist who drew heavily on such diverse influences as Expressionist horror film and circus sideshows, we'll revisit a world of guillotines and gallows, electrocutions and sorcery.

Jan 21, 2012

Episode 10 - Power MetalE1041m

Power Metal

Sam investigates Heavy Metal's most enduring sub-genre, power metal, and dissects its musical foundations, from the unmistakable influence of German classical composers like Wagner and Liszt to the patented twin-lead guitar attack of power metal architects Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing from Judas Priest. Ep 10 asks the questions: "Why is power metal so huge in Europe?," "What are its roots?" and "Why does it still prosper today?".

Jan 28, 2012

Episode 11 - Progressive MetalE1141m

Progressive Metal

Many rock academics have proclaimed that the truly progressive musicianship of the last 20 years has been found right here in the world of heavy metal, rather than obvious locales such as jazz, fusion or progressive rock. Much of this jaw-dropping virtuosity occurs within what's known as progressive metal, a genre that takes root with the likes of Rush in the '70s, Queensryche and Fates Warning in the '80s, and Dream Theater in the '90s. Since then, the genre has exploded with creativity, spawning mind-bending, genre-defying acts and Ep 11 looks at the extreme musicianship of these bands, as well as their often extreme literary prowess and conceptual strength.

Feb 4, 2012

Episode 12 - Extreme Metal: The Lost EpisodeE1241m

Extreme Metal: The Lost Episode

Produced after the original series aired, this episode covers Florida Death Metal, Norwegian Black Metal, Grindcore, and other extreme subgenres. The episode was produced with the help of donations through IndieGoGo.

Apr 15, 2014

Actors

Sam Dunn

Sam Dunn

Himself

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