Ah, the breakdown. Probably the single biggest bone of contention to be included within a heavy metal song. Often derided, mocked and vilified, but there is no doubting its impact on bringing heavy music to a wider audience. Part of its rejection is that the incorporation of breakdowns into heavy metal, mostly from the punk and hardcore scene have often led to the reduction in the use of guitar solos.
The guitar solo has been part of heavy metal long before metal existed. Ever since the birth of rock ‘n’ roll back in the 1950s, individual expression on guitar has been pumped through our speakers. There really is nothing quite like an emotional guitar solo. Try listening to a B.B. King or David Gilmour solo without turning into an emotional wreck. In the 80s, following the influence of the likes of Richie Blackmore, shred guitar was born. The emotional side of the solo was slowly replaced with mind bending speed and technical proficiency. Heavy metal was littered with some of the worlds most gifted guitarists. Glam, thrash, death, entire songs just based around a blistering solo.
Then came the 1990s, and the guitar solo lost its appeal. Grunge and other alt-rock genres took centre stage, which often took a significantly rawer approach. Whilst not necessarily rejecting the use of guitar solos, they were more an integral part of the track – rather than taking centre stage. Heavy metal took a huge shift during this time too. Glam was dead. Thrash was pushed to the periphery when the big players moved to the hard rock stage. Groove metal was growing in the underground but was really the only major form of metal surviving.
Influences from the New York and British hardcore scenes, which had been filtering through metal scene for a while, exploded to life in the 1990s and especially in the early noughties. The biggest influence from these scenes is the incorporation of the breakdown. A stripped back, thumping groove traditionally in place of where the guitar solo would reside. Two of the main culprits in this switch just happen to be the most controversial of all metal genres – metalcore and nu-metal. There is a reason this switch led to heavy music reaching as big a mainstream audience. But first we should look at defining the breakdown and the guitar solo.
The (not-so) humble Guitar Solo
As the name suggests, a solo in a song is when a particular instrument expresses an element of individuality that stands out and above the rest of the composition. This could be any instrument, but here we are specifically talking about the guitar. Typically in a song you will see guitars playing rhythm and lead lines. Rhythm lines (or playing rhythm guitar) play the chords or riffs that focus on setting the pattern of the song, often mimicked by the bass guitar and drums.
Lead guitar is typically given to playing lead lines over the top of the rhythm. These lines stand out above the rhythm, but generally follow the pattern of the rhythm still and are used to add flavour to the pattern. The guitar solo on the other hand is typically undertaken by the lead guitarist. But specifically breaks away from the rhythm pattern and really does its own thing. A chance for a guitarist to showcase technical showmanship, or fire a sharp injection of emotion into the paying.
Metal behemoths Metallica have been smashing out legendary solos since the thrash boom of the 80s. The outro to Fade to Black is one of metal’s defining solos. Gratuitous use of a Wah-Wah pedal is often a mandatory accompaniment (especially for a certain Mr Kirk Hammett).
So the often defining portion of a heavy metal song is the 3rd quarter ripping guitar solo. However the breakthrough genres forming at the tail end of the 1990s had other ideas….
The bone shattering Breakdown
So think about the previous section on the guitar solo, being a standout piece of individual showmanship as a centrepiece to the track. Well a breakdown this is not. Taking place often when you would expect a solo – after the second chorus/interlude do you see the breakdown appear in its place. At it’s core we are breaking down the song – i.e. stripping it down to basics.
Typically this section will strip out almost all of the complexity, the tempo will slow dramatically – often to half tempo and the song will get (subjectively) ‘heavier’. This was heavily influenced by hardcore punk music, which has the breakdown as a defining characteristic. The rise of nu-metal and metalcore during the end of the 1990s was a major part of bringing breakdowns to the masses. Nu-metal tends to simply replace a guitar solo with a breakdown, where metalcore often contains the typical guitar solo section, often followed immediately by a breakdown to extra intensify the contrasting style.
Where guitar solos show off the supreme technical capabilities of the guitarist, in the confines of a sweat filled mosh pit, the breakdown arguably has a significantly greater impact in the live arena. There aren’t many things in life more exhilarating then flailing around like a drugged up lunatic when the breakdown kicks in. Injuries are a significant and notable side effect.
Look no further than to nu-metal legends Korn for a textbook breakdown on their mega-hit Freak On a Leash.
However don’t let the purist hatred of the ‘core’ genres lead to you believe the breakdown’s only reside here. There are some legendary breakdowns that have existed outside of these. Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse has a breakdown forged from pure putridity. Pantera‘s Domination has a glorious breakdown sandwiched between two typically insane Dimebag solos. Flying Whales by Gojira makes you wait over 6 pulse pounding and utterly glorious minutes before crushing your ears with a brutally heavy breakdown. It’s not just the ‘despised’ genres that get to have all the fun!
Mortal Enemies, or Loving Companions?
The wizardry of the guitar solo, or the devastation of the breakdown, which is victorious? There isn’t much in music that can touch the raw emotion that can emanate from a perfectly executed guitar solo. It has and always will be a defining characteristic in rock and metal music. However, the simple pleasure of a pulverising breakdown, especially in a live club or gig situation is savagery at its pinnacle.
The easiest conclusion here is that there is ample room for both. A precision placed solo or breakdown works equally as well depending on the context. You simply couldn’t have a metalcore song without a crushing breakdown, and a jarringly fast thrash song without a mind-being solo would be paradoxical. I though will not succumb to the temptation of the simple solution. A champion must prevail. The guitar solo is an exemplary staple of the heavy metal world, but – controversial as it may be, nothing can defeat a pure unadulterated, bone shattering breakdown.
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