Click above image to launch program in new window.

New! The Subgenre Interactive is finished and online. I've been working on this for a few months now, and it's basically a "Metal for Dummies" guide to metal's many subgenres. Click the images above to launch the program and try it out yourself.

The History of Metal is a large scale multimedia on paper drawing detailing the origins, growth, and breadth of heavy metal music. Specifically, I will attempt to identify every heavy metal band that ever existed, as well as identify different subgenres within metal, and place them on a timeline that will extend from the 1970's to present day. In addition, I plan to have an interactive web-based version of the drawing created in Flash, modeled closely to the paper version. I anticipate that this project, in its entirety, will take at least a few years to complete.

I've been a fan of heavy metal music since I was a teenager, but until now I haven't taken the time to delve into the history and genealogy of this unique music genre. I took on this project largely to educate myself and others about heavy metal, as well as to bring attention to what I consider to be one of the most complex and enduring facets of musical culture.

If you are interested in contributing your knowledge and experience to this project, please use my blog and/or the contact page on this site to contact me directly.

Mike Hill