Metal music

:For more information on Metal, see Heavy metal music

Subgenres

Metal music is made up of a number of subgenres, similar to rock music as whole. Even though Metal genres are sometimes difficult to segregate, they show different characteristics in overall structures, instrument styles (particularly vocals), and tempo. The main subgenres are Classic Metal, Doom Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash, Melo-Death, Progressive Metal and Power Metal. Smaller sub-genres include Gothic Metal, Folk Metal and Industrial Metal as well as others like Speed Metal and Viking Metal whose independent existence is the subject of much debate. Some subgenres that many neophytes and mainstream sources generally group with metal are not considered part of metal by most critics or fans of the genre. Those genres are hair metal and nu-metal, among others. Grindcore is also sometimes considered a Metal subgenre, although it is derived primarily from Punk, evolving as an extreme form of Hardcore Punk. It should be noted that while Heavy Metal is often considered a subgenre of metal, one also sometimes sees the term Heavy Metal used synonymously with Metal in general.

Related Topics:
Subgenres - Classic Metal - Melo-Death - Progressive Metal - Power Metal - Gothic Metal - Folk Metal - Industrial Metal - Speed Metal - Viking Metal - Hair metal - Nu-metal - Grindcore - Punk - Hardcore Punk - Heavy Metal

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Thrash

Thrash is essentially the Traditional Metal of Motörhead combined with the speed and aggresiveness of Hardcore bands such as Black Flag taken to even higher levels. Fast, heavily distorted riffs with a hollowed-out (lacking in mids) tone on the lower strings of the guitar and double bass rolls on the drums define the genre. Thrash can often but not invariably be identified by the vocals, which are gritty and intense but clean, unlike those of Death and Black Metal bands, and typically lack the vibrato of Power Metal. Testament and Kreator are prime examples of the genre.

Related Topics:
Black Flag - Testament - Kreator

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Death metal

The central characteristic of Death Metal that differentiates it from Thrash is the vocals, which are vibrato-soaked "growls" or "grunts" projected from the abdomen rather than the throat. Aside from that, early death metal musicians thickened the scooped-out tone of thrash, added some groove and blastbeats, took the speed and technical riffs of thrash bands like Slayer to even more extreme levels. Lyrics frequently broach on normally taboo subjects such as death and the perverse (or any combination thereof), although this is in no way exclusive to or a defining characteristic of the genre. Good examples include Cryptopsy and Origin.

Related Topics:
Blastbeats - Slayer - Cryptopsy - Origin

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Black metal

Whereas death metal became faster and more aggressive than thrash through experimentation, black metal was a conscious effort to push music to its audible limits, namely, making it as extreme and abrasive as humanly possible. More emphasis is put on atmospheric effect, and musicianship and complexity are often sacrificed to this end, as solos are often absent and riffs tremolo-picked. Blastbeats are the norm, vocals are shrieked, lyrics use Pagan or Norse imagery, and production is often left intentionally "poor". Emperor and Darkthrone have stuck to this formula with relative consistency.

Related Topics:
Pagan - Norse - Emperor - Darkthrone

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Doom metal

In reaction to the perpetual increase in speed of death and black metal, doom metal took the opposite direction in slowing down immensly. Musically and lyrically the focus is shifted from aggression towards depression. Melody is often more prominent and riffs take a more minimalistic approach. Occasional bursts of speed are nevertheless not uncommon. The vocals vary from clean - Solitude Aeturnus and Candlemass take this approach - to deep grunted - as for example used by Disembowelment.

Related Topics:
Solitude Aeturnus - Candlemass - Disembowelment

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