Introduction

Abstract This introductory chapter introduces the concept of heaviness, which is defines as a listener’s experience of embodied impact. It defines the scope of the book, heavy metal, and introduces questions about the genre’s origins. It also explains an overview of the book’s methods and approach—using music theory, phenomenology, performances studies, and embodied cognitive science to capture and analyze aspects of the listening experience; and using music analysis and historical musicology tools to map out the emergence and development of key ideas and practices within metal style and practice. Finally, it contains a short description of each chapter, and explains how the chapters are organized into three parts: What is Heaviness? Where Did Heaviness Come From? and, How is Heaviness Created and What Does It Feel Like?