The first song to use the words 'heavy metal' in 1968

“Heavy metal” entered music as a phrase long before it became a literal description of metal. The term’s first notable use is tied to Steppenwolf’s 1968 hit “Born to Be Wild,” which at the time was seen as hard rock or, at best, proto-metal. Its second-verse lyric references “heavy metal thunder,” turning the words into a sonic and cultural tag rather than an industrial material. While later bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin helped define the darker mainstream, Steppenwolf’s songwriting is credited with voicing the phrase early—apparently inspired by the roar of engines and the freedom of the open road.