Metal Evolution


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 , which included the acclaimed "Heavy Metal Family Tree."

Summary

Metal Evolution is broken down into episodes about a different piece of metal history. The series includes interviews with and about Alice Cooper, Slash, Lemmy, Rob Zombie, members of Megadeth, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Slayer, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, The Stooges, ZZ Top, Soundgarden, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Rage Against the Machine, Alice in Chains, Korn, Slipknot, Lamb of God and more.

History

The series was created after feedback about Metal: A Headbanger's Journey debuted. "Some people said they wished that film was eight hours long," Dunn said. The "Heavy Metal Family Tree" from the documentary heavily influenced the Metal Evolution series, with the Banger Films official blog noting that using the 26-subgenre chart as a "road map, host/producer and metalhead turned anthropologist Sam Dunn, crisscrossed the globe exploring the vast history of heavy metal across its 40+ year history and beyond."

Episodes

Heavy Metal Family Tree

For Metal Evolution, Sam Dunn presented a new, updated version of his "Heavy Metal Family Tree," a 26-subgenre chart that mapped out metal's various subgenres that have spawned over the course of its 40-year history. This new, more elaborate version included a "Pre-History of Metal" field that listed non-metal musicians that had an influence on heavy metal. It also listed additional bands as examples of the various styles of metal. Some of the subgenres were shown over the course of the series.
;Pre-History of Metal
;Progressive Rock
;Early Metal US
;Early Metal UK
;Shock Rock
;Original Punk
;Progressive Metal
;Power Metal
;New Wave of British Heavy Metal
;Hardcore
;Doom Metal
;Glam Metal
;Grunge
;Thrash Metal
;First Wave of Black Metal
;Industrial Metal
;Hard Alternative
;Post-Grunge
;Metalcore
;Death Metal
;Grindcore
;Black Metal
;Goth Metal
;Nu Metal
;New Wave of American Metal
;Swedish Extreme Metal