Heavy metal genres: Difference between revisions
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===Groove metal=== |
===Groove metal=== |
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{{main|Groove metal}} |
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Also known as neo-thrash, post-thrash, and half-thrash, it consists of slow or mid-paced and down tuned thrash riffs, blusey guitar solos, greatly emphasized drum work and harsh vocals. [[Pantera]], [[Machine Head]], and [[White Zombie are primary examples of the groove metal style in addition to [[Lamb Of God]] and [[Chimaira]]. |
Also known as neo-thrash, post-thrash, and half-thrash, it consists of slow or mid-paced and down tuned thrash riffs, blusey guitar solos, greatly emphasized drum work and harsh vocals. [[Pantera]], [[Machine Head]], and [[White Zombie]] are primary examples of the groove metal style in addition to [[Lamb Of God]] and [[Chimaira]]. |
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===NWOBHM=== |
===NWOBHM=== |
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Revision as of 04:46, 15 May 2007
A number of overlapping heavy metal genres have developed since the emergence of heavy metal in the late 1960s. Even though metal genres at times are difficult to segregate, they usually show different characteristics in overall structures, instrumental and vocal styles, and tempo. Sometimes a trait of a genre is common in several more genres however, and metal genres are normally grouped by their combination of these traits.
Heavy metal subgenres
Black metal
Evolving from thrash metal, black metal is characterised by a dark, cold atmosphere replacing thrash metal's head-on brutality. Though not as atonal as death metal, it is still considered to be one of the most extreme subgenres of metal. The vocals are usually shrieked, screamed, rasped or grunted, with the lyrical themes often being depressing, Satanic, occult, or anti-Christian 1990s.
Black metal's origins have been put to a few bands (the name "black metal" is usually accredited to Venom, who coined the term with their album entitled Black Metal), though the style itself is thought to have emerged first from Sweden's Bathory and then from Norway; the most influential bands being Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone and Emperor. Black metal is now found throughout the world, with each region seemingly attributing their culture differently to the black metal sound. Fusion between black metal and folk music is also quite common.
Death metal
Death metal is a subsidiary of thrash metal pioneered by Possessed. Possessed, Death, Morbid Angel and other bands pushed to more brutal extremes, with dissonant harmonies, exotic scales, erratic time signature changes and downtuned guitars. Double bass drums are universally implemented, as well as rapid snare drums, 'blast beats', and chaotic cymbal crashes. Vocals are usually growled, but also can be shrieked, yelled, or screamed. Current death metal bands often dabble in neo-classicism, Jazz-fusion, medieval music, or folk and symphonic endeavors. The lyrical content usually deals with the darker, nihilistic side of human imagination, dealing with blood, death, gore, and Satan (like the band Deicide). However, Death Metal is not limited to just blood, death, and gore. It can also range out to philosophy, Mythology (such as the band Nile), and politics.
Doom metal
The subgenre of doom metal differs from others in many ways. Instead of fast paces, pure doom metal uses only mid or slow tempos; the atmosphere emphasizes melancholy feelings. Candlemass is one of the most important bands of the genre and their first album, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus named and defined the genre. Some bands, such as My Dying Bride and Bethlehem, mix death metal or black metal with doom metal using the vocals from death or black and the tempos of doom. Doom metal often uses three octave major scales played on the 7th fret for riffs as well as solos. Several strains of doom also maintain heavy influence from the originators of heavy metal such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.
Folk metal
Folk metal embraces metal bands that are influenced by folklore from varying cultures and origins. Originally started as a mixture of folk rock, power metal and black metal, the term has progressed to encompass many folk-themed metal bands, that use folk based lyrical themes and composition, including instrumentation. Some prominent bands of this genre are Finntroll, Mägo de Oz, and Skyclad.
Glam metal
Glam metal was one of the most popular styles of metal during the 1980s, often referred to by detractors as “Hair metal“. The sound; as the name suggests lies somewhere between the Heavy Metal sound of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and the Glam rock sound of Sweet and KISS. The bands were famous for their use of guitar solos, energetic frontmen and drummers that did not only have technical ability, but the ability to put on an entertaining show; as per Tommy Lee. Many of the bands donned make-up to achieve an androgynous look, similar to that of some 1970s Glam rock bands. Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., and Quiet Riot are examples and references for this kind of music.
Gothic metal
Gothic metal is a genre of heavy metal music that originated during the early 1990s in Europe as an outgrowth of doom-death, a subgenre of doom metal. Musically it combines the guitaring styles of doom metal, black metal and death metal with its own unique use of heavy keyboard atmospherics, romantic and story like lyrics and dual vocalists. Bands include Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil.
Grindcore
Grindcore is influenced by thrash metal, and also hardcore and punk, taking its name from the "grinding" sound made by the atonal riffs 'grinding' into one another. The style is characterised by a vocal style similar to death metal, rapid fire "blast beats" from double-kick drums and short songs. There are grindcore bands that are more hardcore than metal, but most bands today are heavily influenced by death metal. The heaviness of Grindcore is slightly comparable to the heaviness of death or black metal. Some examples of grindcore can be found in bands like Carcass, Cock and Ball Torture, Pig Destroyer, or Napalm Death.
Industrial metal
Industrial metal (also referred to as noise metal and cyber metal) fuses elements of industrial music and other electronic genres such as House music by using electronic instruments such as Synthesizers and drum machines alongside more purely heavy metal instruments such as Guitars and Bass and a vocal style combining elements of both genres. Fear Factory and Rammstein have both made it particularly big in this genre.
Metalcore
Metalcore is defined usually by bands whose music combines both the raw vocals and beat of American hardcore (generally within the Northeast US) with the guitars more often used in European thrash metal and melodic death metal. Some good examples of this genre are Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Atreyu, Haste the Day, and Avenged Sevenfold.
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal incorporates elements from classical music, into the normal heavy metal sound, including tempos, instrument usage, and even melodies. Yngwie J. Malmsteen is a known proponent of this branch of metal.
Nu metal
Nu metal is a style that combines elements of heavy metal, hip hop and alternative rock music, with a downtuned guitar technique. There is some contention between metal fans, that, given nu metal's alternative rock ties, calling it a metal genre can be considered a misnomer. Bands like (hed) Planet Earth, Linkin Park and Slipknot are good examples. Korn, Deftones, Limp Bizkit and Coal Chamber are seen as some of the first bands in the genre.
Power metal
Power metal is more upbeat than most metal genres, taking heavy influence from thrash metal and heavy metal, with more progression replacing the electro-blues style, more virtuosity in the guitar leads and solos, and stressing, jaunty tempos. Power Metal often emphasizes clean, melodic, high-pitched vocals and fast pacing that is mostly driven by double bass drumming and melodic lead guitar. The rhythm guitar is defined by straight power chord progressions. Power metal leans toward the positive, happy side of life, seeking to empower the listener and inspire joy and courage. Power metal usually carries fantasy or science fiction themes. Most power metal bands (e.g. Nightwish) are from continental Europe, though a small number (e.g., Jag Panzer, Kamelot, and Manowar) hail from North America.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a fusion between progressive rock and heavy metal. It's one of heavy metal's most complex genres (along with other technical metal genres), due to its use of unusual and dynamic time signatures, long compositions, complex compositional structures, and virtuosic instrumental playing, where instrumental solos are detailed and extended. Vocals, if present, are melodic and lyrics are often philosophical, spiritual, and/or political. Forerunners in this genre include Tool, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Pain of Salvation, Fates Warning, Evergrey, Savatage, Opeth and Queensrÿche.
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that uses traditional heavy metal song structures and riffing but with faster tempos and driving rhythms. It is usually just as melodic as traditional heavy metal. Speed metal emerged when traditional heavy metal bands started writing an occasional fast song. It kicked off as an established genre when bands wrote the majority of their songs in this style. It is considered an offshoot of power metal, and most bands in the genre are considered power metal.
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal varies in form. It most commonly refers to bands that use orchestral elements in their music. These elements include full orchestras, opera themes, vocals or keyboarding akin to that of opera or symphony music, and a softer and more upbeat nature than other metal genres. The bands Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Epica fall under this sub-genre. Often, symphonic metal can be a combination of other sub-genres of metal, such as Rhapsody of Fire, who are a symphonic power metal band or Dimmu Borgir, a black metal band.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal originated, and remains, NWOBHM[1][2][3] with tempos influenced more predominantly by hardcore punk. Thrash metal songs are usually fairly complex, and frequently contain constant time and tempo changes. Thrash metal replaces melody with brutality and speed, with the use of ample distortion. Thrash was the first subgenre to widely use double bass drums in metal. Vocals in thrash metal are usually yelled, screamed, or snarled, though, at the same time, melodic.
As is true for many of the terms in this list, the moniker "thrash metal" was not always embraced by its supposed representatives; early on, Metallica referred to themselves as "power metal" (conflicting with the above definition of this term). Conversely, many bands, like Kreator, have been labeled as hate metal.[4]
Cross-genre references
Many terms are used to group bands from across genres that share a common trait. These terms are used loosely when used, and in some places may or not be used at all. They normally group bands of several genres together into a group due to a shared trait that is not normally a feature of any of the genres of metal the individual bands are part of.[citation needed]
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a cross-genre term used to describe metal bands and metal influenced bands, which some fans consider to be unique or experimental, as well as bands of the nu metal genre that lack hip hop influence. Some examples are System of a Down, Marilyn Manson and Tool.
Avant-garde metal
Avant-garde metal (sometimes called experimental metal), is a cross-genre grouping which contains bands from multiple genres of metal that exhibit experimentation through non-standard sounds, instruments, and song structures akin to the genre of metal they are rooted in.
Blackened death metal
Blackened death metal is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal. Many of the bands start out as full on black metal outfits and end up adopting death metal influences and fusing the two together.
Blackened thrash metal
Blackened thrash metal is a fusion genre which fuses thrash metal with elements of black metal or vice versa.
Celtic metal
Celtic metal is a cross-genre grouping which contains bands from multiple genres of metal that contain strong connections to Celtic music and imagery.
Christian metal
Christian metal is another cross-genre grouping which contains metal bands that introduce Christian themes into their lyrics. Often the Christian themes are melded with the subjects of the genre the band is rooted in, often giving a supposedly Christian take on the subject matter. Some examples are Zao, Underoath, Blindside, Norma Jean and Disciple.
Classic metal
Classic metal is a name given to the original form of heavy metal music characterised by thumping fast bass lines, fast, crisp and somewhat heavy and more melodic riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses, this era of metal bands boomed in the early to mid 1980s.
Dark metal
Dark metal concerns bands across genres that use what is considered to be a darker atmosphere than is normal for the genre they are in. Bands of this type are normally symphonic metal, gothic metal, doom metal and black metal bands.
Epic metal
Epic metal is a cross-genre name given to bands with fantasy-inspired lyrics and a symphonic feel. Bands of this grouping often belong to gothic metal, power metal and symphonic metal genres.
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a cross-genre reference to some heavier and aggressive styles of metal including black metal, death metal, grindcore and thrash metal.
Groove metal
Also known as neo-thrash, post-thrash, and half-thrash, it consists of slow or mid-paced and down tuned thrash riffs, blusey guitar solos, greatly emphasized drum work and harsh vocals. Pantera, Machine Head, and White Zombie are primary examples of the groove metal style in addition to Lamb Of God and Chimaira.
NWOBHM
The 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal' (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) is a term used to describe British heavy metal artists that emerged in the late 1970s/early 1980s in the wake of the 'original wave' of British traditional metal artists, and as a reaction against pop and punk. NWOBHM was hugely popular and has been influential to most metal genres since. The key bands of this genre are Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon (band) and Def Leppard.
Post-metal
This movement is largely American, but also includes some Japanese bands. Instrumental bands like Mono, Pelican, and Explosions in the Sky write lengthy, frequently changing songs (typically five or six per album) that can range from post-emo guitar rock to full-on black metal. Other related bands like Isis, Sunn O))) and Earth are in some ways closer to doom metal but share the same fanbase.
Rapcore
Rapcore (sometimes called Rap metal) is a cross-genre reference to metal bands that institute the vocal and lyrical form of rap. It is normally used in association with the term 'alternative metal' to differentiate between nu metal bands that contain hip-hop influence, and those that do not. It is also used occasionally to refer to bands that have worked alongside hip-hop artists on tracks before. Some modern examples are Body Count, Limp Bizkit, Crazy Town, Linkin Park, and P.O.D..
Stoner metal
Stoner metal, also known as sludge metal, refers to bands who use low, bassy riffs and elements of heavy metal, doom metal and psychedelica. The Black Sabbath song "Sweet Leaf" is often regarded as the template for stoner metal. While not all fans are marijuana users, the tag "stoner" has stuck.
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of black metal, typically with musical compositions more complex than early Norwegian black metal. Having songs with lyrics about vikings or the various histories and legends of the Nordic countries has nothing to do with classifying a band as Viking metal. It is a complex subgenre with subtle cross-over elements, such as native folk music styles or melodeath. Thyrfing and Ensiferum are examples of this genre.
Related genres
The genres listed here are sometimes mistaken as metal genres, or have association with metal genres through influencing, or being influenced by them.
Blues rock
Blues rock is a genre which many early heavy metal performers such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin were rooted solidly in.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a progression from blues rock and early psychedelia, and a precursor to heavy metal. (Heavy metal evolved from the style during the 1970s) It was pioneered in the mid to late 1960s. It is hard to distinguish hard rock from early heavy metal due to some artists such as Queen, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, and AC/DC fitting into the description of both genres.