15 Songs That Were Heavy Metal Before The Genre Even Existed
Heavy metal didn’t just appear out of nowhere in the 1970s.
Before Black Sabbath helped codify heavy metal in the early 1970s, plenty of artists were already chasing louder guitars and harder-hitting grooves.
These pioneering songs set the stage for everything metal would become, proving that raw power and attitude existed long before anyone gave it a name.
Note: Genre labels and “first ever” claims often depend on critical interpretation, regional scenes, and evolving definitions.
So the selections here reflect widely discussed examples of proto-metal heaviness rather than a definitive historical verdict.
1. You Really Got Me By The Kinks
Guitarist Dave Davies created the famous distortion by cutting his amp’s speaker cone with a razor blade and poking it, chasing a rougher tone for the riff.
This experiment resulted in a riff so raw and aggressive that it became a blueprint for hard rock and metal guitarists everywhere!
Does anyone wonder if hearing this blast through radio speakers in 1964 felt like a sonic earthquake compared to everything else on the charts?
Can a fuzzy, punchy guitar line that inspired countless bands to embrace distortion be seen as anything less than a revolution in music?
2. My Generation By The Who
Few songs capture youthful rebellion quite like this explosive anthem from 1965.
Roger Daltrey’s stutter wasn’t just a gimmick – it was a rallying cry for kids who felt misunderstood and ready to smash through expectations.
Pete Townshend’s power chords and John Entwistle’s rumbling bass created a wall of sound that felt heavier than anything pop music had delivered before.
If metal is about defiance and raw energy, this track nailed it years ahead of schedule.
3. Train Kept A-Rollin’ By The Yardbirds
Originally a jazz-blues number, The Yardbirds transformed it into a high-speed rock juggernaut that left audiences breathless.
Jeff Beck’s blistering guitar work added an edge that made the song feel dangerous and unpredictable, like a runaway locomotive barreling down the tracks.
Later, Aerosmith recorded a major version, and many other artists followed, underlining the song’s lasting pull on heavier rock.
When you hear that relentless rhythm, it’s easy to see why this became a proto-metal classic.
4. Shapes Of Things By The Yardbirds
While most mid-60s pop songs stuck to safe formulas, The Yardbirds dared to explore experimental guitar effects and psychedelic themes.
Jeff Beck’s feedback-drenched solo sounds like it’s tearing through the fabric of the song itself, creating an atmosphere of controlled chaos.
The lyrics touch on environmental concerns and existential dread, topics that metal bands would revisit decades later.
This track proved that heavy music could be thought-provoking and sonically adventurous at the same time.
5. Purple Haze By The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar – he bent it to his will, coaxing sounds from the instrument that seemed impossible.
Purple Haze opens with one of rock’s most iconic riffs, a dissonant blast that immediately grabs your attention and refuses to let go!
Between the fuzzy distortion, wild solos, and psychedelic lyrics, this song redefined the very limits of the electric guitar.
Metal owes a huge debt to Hendrix for proving that raw innovation and crushing heaviness could coexist beautifully.
6. Sunshine Of Your Love By Cream
Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker combined blues tradition with amplified power to create something entirely new.
That unforgettable riff was simple yet hypnotic.
It became a cornerstone of hard rock and proved that less can be more when delivered with confidence!
The heavy groove and extended instrumental sections gave listeners a taste of what metal’s epic compositions would later offer.
Traditionally, blues was played with restraint, but Cream cranked everything up and never looked back.
7. Born To Be Wild By Steppenwolf
Perhaps no song captures the spirit of freedom and rebellion quite like this 1968 anthem.
Steppenwolf literally coined the phrase “heavy metal thunder” in the lyrics, giving the genre its name years before it officially existed.
The driving rhythm and roaring vocals made it the perfect soundtrack for motorcycle rides and countercultural movements.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine metal history without this track’s influence – it practically wrote the genre’s mission statement before anyone knew there would be one.
8. Helter Skelter By The Beatles
Paul McCartney heard that The Who claimed to have recorded the loudest, dirtiest song ever, so he set out to top them.
What emerged was a chaotic, screaming rock monster that shocked Beatles fans expecting another catchy pop tune.
The distorted guitars, pounding drums, and raw vocal delivery made this one of the heaviest tracks of 1968.
Maybe it’s surprising that the Fab Four created a proto-metal masterpiece, but it shows that innovation knows no boundaries.
9. Summertime Blues By Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer took Eddie Cochran’s rockabilly classic and turned it into a sledgehammer of sound.
Their 1968 version is so loud, distorted, and aggressive that it’s often cited as an early heavy metal or proto-metal recording because of its sheer volume and distortion.
The band used massive stacks of amplifiers cranked to ear-splitting volumes.
This created a wall of noise that rattled windows and shook floors.
This track is ground zero for anyone who wants to hear what proto-metal sounded like at its rawest.
10. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida By Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly proved that rock songs could be as sprawling and ambitious as classical compositions with this psychedelic epic clocking in at over 17 minutes.
Heavy organ riffs and an extended drum solo created an immersive experience that kept listeners hooked from start to finish!
Musicians learned from this track that bigger could be better when done with conviction and creativity.
Theatrical and adventurous elements shown by Iron Butterfly paved the way for progressive rock and later prog-metal bands.
11. Whole Lotta Love By Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page’s riff is one of the most recognizable in rock history, combining blues roots with a modern, heavy edge.
Robert Plant’s vocals soar and growl with primal intensity, while the song’s experimental middle section takes listeners on a sonic journey through echo and distortion.
Led Zeppelin perfected the art of blending melody with power, creating a template that metal bands would follow for decades.
Actually, many argue this song is where hard rock crossed the line into true metal territory.
12. 21st Century Schizoid Man By King Crimson
In 1969, King Crimson burst onto the scene with a complex, aggressive masterpiece that defied easy categorization.
Through jarring time signatures, distorted saxophone, and lyrics about war and madness, the band delivered a performance of ferocious intensity!
Technical skill meets brutal execution in guitar work that proves heaviness and musical sophistication are not mutually exclusive.
Decades later, progressive metal bands would point to this specific track as a major influence on their own sound and approach.
13. The Nile Song By Pink Floyd
While Pink Floyd is known for atmospheric soundscapes, this 1969 track shows they could rock with the best of them.
The Nile Song erupts with distorted guitars and aggressive vocals that sound nothing like their more famous psychedelic work.
David Gilmour’s searing guitar tone and the song’s relentless energy make it a hidden gem in the proto-metal catalog.
Surprisingly, this proves that even the most experimental bands could deliver pure, unapologetic heaviness when they wanted to.
14. I Wanna Be Your Dog By The Stooges
Iggy Pop and The Stooges stripped rock down to its most primitive, aggressive core with this 1969 anthem.
The repetitive, hypnotic riff and snarling vocals created a raw, confrontational sound that influenced punk and metal equally.
There’s no polish or pretense here – just pure, unfiltered attitude delivered with maximum impact.
Rarely has a song felt so dangerous and unpredictable, capturing the rebellious spirit that both punk and metal would embrace wholeheartedly.
15. Kick Out The Jams By MC5
Opening their live album with an intentionally censored, shock-the-room shout, MC5 shocked radio stations and thrilled rebellious listeners everywhere.
Raw energy and a sharp political edge combined with uncompromising volume to create an anthem for anyone tired of the status quo!
Fierce and unpolished guitar work perfectly matched the revolutionary message and attitude of the band.
Proof that heavy music could serve as a powerful tool for social change and youthful defiance remains the ultimate legacy of this track.
