Metal

Classic Metal

Black Sabbath stands as the epitome of classic metal, embodying the genre’s essence with their demonic riffs and occult-inspired imagery. As pioneers, they set the standard for subsequent metal acts.

Heavy Metal

As the foundational subgenre, heavy metal draws inspiration from its predecessors, maintaining a consistent level of distortion, speed, and intensity. Bands like KISS and Judas Priest exemplify this genre’s raw energy and sonic power.

Power Metal

Defined by its fantastical themes and soaring vocals, power metal transports listeners into realms of dragons and mythical creatures. Bands like HammerFall and DragonForce excel in delivering epic, melodic compositions that capture the imagination.

Avant-Garde Metal

Pushing the boundaries of convention, avant-garde metal represents a bold exploration of uncharted musical territory. Embracing unconventional instruments and experimental sounds, bands like Vintersorg, Peccatum, and Mr. Bungle defy expectations, offering a truly unique auditory experience.

Thrash Metal

Thrash metal emerged as a powerful offshoot of heavy metal, ramping up the intensity, speed, and lyrical aggression to unprecedented levels. Bands like Metallica and Megadeth pioneered this energetic subgenre, showcasing blistering guitar solos and adrenaline-fueled performances that elevated shredding to an art form.

Glam Metal

Once synonymous with glitz and glamour, glam metal, often dubbed “hair metal,” ruled the rock scene with its flashy aesthetics and infectious hooks.

Bands like Van Halen, Dokken, and Alice Cooper captivated audiences with their larger-than-life personas and anthemic tunes, although their conservative approach sometimes hindered their artistic evolution compared to their more controversial counterparts.

Alternative Metal

Alternative metal emerged in the mid-1980s as a fusion of heavy metal and alternative rock, gradually gaining popularity in the following decade.

Defined by its mid-paced rhythms, down-tuned riffs, and experimental song structures, alternative metal bands like Alice in Chains and Three Days Grace infused their music with melodic vocals and unconventional arrangements, pushing the boundaries of traditional metal.

Death Metal

Combining elements of thrash and black metal, death metal took aggression to new extremes with its guttural vocals, relentless drumming, and macabre lyrical themes. Acts like Kreator and Death pushed the genre’s boundaries, delivering a sonic assault that captivated audiences with its raw intensity and dark subject matter.

Symphonic Metal

Blending metal with symphonic elements, symphonic metal added orchestral flair to the genre, incorporating keyboards and string instruments to create a grandiose sonic landscape. Bands like Nightwish and Within Temptation masterfully integrated classical motifs with metal sensibilities, offering audiences a truly immersive musical experience.

Black Metal

At the core of black metal lies its signature distortion, an integral element defining its sound. While mainstream media may shy away due to controversial themes revolving around iconoclasm and religion, bands like Darkthrone, Emperor, and Mayhem continue to enthrall audiences with their eerie compositions.

Rap Metal

Blending hip-hop’s rhythmic prowess with metal’s raw energy, rap-metal bands offer a unique fusion. Often confused with nu-metal or rapcore, this genre boasts front rappers and intense lyrical deliveries, distinct from the melodic strains of nu-metal.

Groove Metal

Characterized by massive riffs and swaggering rhythms, groove metal saw its zenith with bands like Pantera, Lamb of God, and Sepultura. Dimebag Darrell’s legendary guitar prowess further cemented this genre’s status as a force to be reckoned with.

Industrial Metal

Fusing heavy guitars with industrial rock elements, industrial metal crafts a haunting sonic landscape. Bands like Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails infuse their music with distorted synths, creating a sinister ambiance that captivates listeners.

Progressive Metal

With its intricate song structures and technical virtuosity, progressive metal pushes the boundaries of musical expression. Bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X seamlessly blend diverse influences, creating immersive sonic experiences.

Nu Metal

Korn pioneered the nu metal movement, infusing hip-hop beats with metal’s ferocity. Slipknot, System of a Down, and Deftones further expanded the genre’s sonic palette, blending aggression with innovation. Some of additional examples are: Memphis May Fire, Wage War, Etern Fire.

Christian Metal

Exploring Christian themes within a metal framework, bands like Demon Hunter and Jerusalem deliver powerful messages through their music. Regardless of style, Christian metal emphasizes lyrical content over musical conventions.

Doom Metal

Defined by its slow, melancholic pace, doom metal captures themes of gloom and despair. Acts like Paradise Lost and Candlemass excel in crafting haunting melodies that resonate with listeners seeking darker musical experiences.

Stoner Metal

Stoner metal offers a psychedelic twist to traditional metal, characterized by its slower tempo and bluesy undertones. Bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Mastodon infuse retro-rock vibes into their soundscapes, occasionally incorporating marijuana imagery for added effect.

Viking Metal

Drawing from black metal and Nordic folk music, Viking metal transports listeners to the era of Vikings, steeped in Norse mythology and paganism. Bathory, Thyrfing, and Burzum are among the notable bands crafting anthemic choruses and heavy guitar riffs that epitomize the genre’s grandeur.

Sludge Metal

With a moniker as evocative as its sound, sludge metal shares similarities with doom but adds a groove-centric flair reminiscent of a slower Pantera. Bands like Crowbar and Eyehategod deliver downtempo rhythms infused with raw intensity, defining the essence of sludge metal.

Gothic Metal

Gothic metal marries the melancholic melodies of gothic rock with the heaviness of doom metal, creating a hauntingly atmospheric experience. Lacuna Coil and Paradise Lost excel in crafting dark, ethereal soundscapes that resonate with listeners seeking a blend of beauty and darkness.

Post Metal

Blurring the lines between metal and rock, post-metal offers a more introspective and atmospheric journey. Bands like Cult of Luna and Katatonia delve into personal themes with poetic lyricism, creating music that transcends traditional metal boundaries.

Symphonic Metal

Symphonic metal infuses power metal with orchestral elements, adding layers of melodrama and grandeur to the genre. Nightwish and Within Temptation showcase a fusion of classical motifs and metal sensibilities, creating epic soundscapes that captivate audiences worldwide.

Funk Metal

Combining alternative metal with funk influences, funk metal infuses jazzy rhythms and soulful vibes into the metal landscape. Bands like Rage Against the Machine and Mordred epitomize the genre’s dynamic fusion, offering a fresh and vibrant take on traditional metal conventions.

War Metal

War metal, also known as bestial or war black metal, exudes chaos and aggression with its discordant and aggressive sound. Bands like Impiety, Blasphemy, and Possessed epitomize this intense and relentless style, delivering a sonic onslaught that resonates with fans of extreme metal.

Prog Metal

Prog metal, with its extended song lengths and unconventional time signatures, pushes the boundaries of traditional metal. Influenced by bands like King Crimson and Meshuggah, artists like Devin Townsend, Opeth, and Mastodon explore complex musical landscapes, captivating listeners with their innovative approach to songwriting.

Crust Punk

Crust punk, also known simply as crust, channels grungy aesthetics and rebellious energy, with lyrics delving into societal issues and environmental concerns. Born in England in the 1980s, bands like Doom and Amebix infuse fast-paced, bass-heavy music with raw authenticity, carving out a niche in the metal scene.

Metalcore

Metalcore blends aggression with precision, offering cleaner vocals and polished production while retaining heavy and aggressive elements. Bands like Citizen Soldier, Etern Fire and Like A Storm exemplify this dynamic genre, captivating audiences with their powerful performances and infectious energy.

Djent

Djent, characterized by its percussive guitar sound and complex riffs, pushes the boundaries of progressive metal and metalcore. Bands like Periphery, Haken, and Tesseract showcase intricate musicianship and unorthodox time signatures, creating a mesmerizing sonic experience that defies convention.

Kawaii Metal

Kawaii metal, meaning “cute metal,” fuses the catchy melodies of J-pop with the heaviness of metal, creating a unique and captivating genre. Bands like Babymetal and Ladybaby combine power metal music with traditional Japanese pop aesthetics, captivating audiences with their infectious energy and playful approach to metal.