Chinese heavy metal

Chinese heavy metal (中国重金属, pinyin: Zhōngguó Zhòngjīnshǔ; also 中国重金属音乐, Zhōngguó zhòngjīnshǔ yīnyuè, literally "Chinese heavy metal music") is commonly used to describe a wide variety of forms of heavy metal music, in connection with the rock bands and solo artists from the People's Republic of China (Native Chinese-speaking regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau are considered separate scenes).

[2] In the time following the initial success of 'Tang Dynasty' a number of other Chinese heavy metal bands began to emerge throughout China.

The bands emerging during this time period gradually began to adopt a 'heavier' style of music utilizing more western elements in to their music, shown by the band Overload's thrash metal debut record in 1996,[3] but retaining the Chinese lyrical content.

[8] In the following years several foreign bands such as: Edguy, Lacrimosa, Testament, Exodus, In Flames, Nightwish, Dark Tranquility, Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Helloween, Opeth, Lamb Of God, Soulfly, Cannibal Corpse, Iron Maiden have all performed in both Beijing and Shanghai.

[12][13] In August, three Chinese metal bands (Suffocated, Yaksa and The Falling) performed on the Wacken Open Air 2012.