Post by Shade on Aug 25, 2012 1:42:33 GMT -5
Yes, I know we have Black Metal and Power Metal threads already. But there are more than just those two subgenres of this amazing type of music.
I really started to get into metal a couple years ago, and now it's my favorite genre of music, and just one of my favorite things all around. I like it because it's so diverse and has the potential to be crushingly brutal and yet beautiful at the same time. There are many different subgenres, and subgenres of those subgenres as well, and each one sounds very different from each other. I started with newer and more mainstream bands, and then gradually worked my way to other genres.
To summarize it in general, metal music is a style of music that began in the early 70's and has developed greatly over time. It has roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock. While a lot of bands often add in other instruments, metal has always been based around the simple setup of guitar, bass, drums, and sometimes vocals. The genre is considered to have been started by bands such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple.
The lyrics of metal are oftentimes about dark subject matter, although there are some exceptions. These subjects often transfer over to a band’s image as well. Metal has always been controversial for this, as has a reputation of frightening parents.
Unfortunately, metal has developed a number of stereotypes. For instance, some people will have you believe that metal is the devil’s music, and you will go to Hell for listening to it. Others will say that all metal is Satanic and those who listen/create it are evil devil-worshippers. Some people claim that it takes no talent at all because all it is is noise and screaming about violence and other evil things. Only a couple of those are even remotely true, and even then only sometimes.
Here is a list of the major subgenres of metal. I have also written a little bit about each subgenre and provided a sample. I doubt everything is correct, however. If you know something I don’t, or see something I got wrong somewhere, let me know so I can fix it. This is just my understanding after doing research.
Alternative Metal
Alternative Metal is a genre that formed in the early 90’s as a cross between Alternative Rock and Heavy Metal. It usually contains distorted guitars and unconvential sounds and song structures. Notable examples include System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Alice In Chains, and Faith No More.
Black Metal
Black Metal is a genre that arose during the 80’s, and really got going during the 90’s. Common characteristics of Black Metal is very bad production, high-pitched shrieks, fast tempos, highly distorted guitars, blast beat drumming, and unconventional song structures. A lot of Black Metal is also very atmospheric. Black Metal is notorious for many of its band’s highly satanic and anti-Christian lyrics and imagery (although this is not always the case). Bands usually wear lots of black and white “corpse paint.” They rarely play live shows, although they sometimes do.
The term Black Metal originated from Thrash Metal band Venom’s song “Black Metal.” There were two main waves of Black Metal. The first wave was composed of bands such as Mercyful Fate, Bathory, and Celtic Frost. At this time, Black Metal had not created its own sound, as it would during its second wave, which was based almost entirely in Norway. Notable Norwegian Black Metal bands include Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal, and Darkthrone. Bands like Emperor and Dimmu Borgir created the Symphonic Black Metal subgenre. Norwegian Black Metal is also notorious for its history of murders and church burnings.
Death Metal
Death Metal is a genre that was formed during the 80’s, influenced very heavily by Thrash Metal bands such as Slayer and Kreator. It usually features heavily distorted guitars, complex song structures with multiple tempo changes, blast beat drumming, and low, growling vocals (known as Death Growls). The lyrical content is often about extreme subject matter, including brutal and graphic violence, death, and sometimes Satanism or anti-religion, although this is not always the case. Death Metal is considered to have been created by the bands Possessed and Death. Death also went on to start the Technical Death Metal subgenre. Possessed’s song “Death Metal” is where the genre got its name. Other notable bands in the genre include Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide, and Cannibal Corpse.
Deathcore
While technically a fusion genre between Death Metal and Metalcore, I consider Deathcore to be its own thing. Deathcore makes common use of Death Growl and Pig Squeal vocals, blast beat drumming, and breakdowns. At its heart, it’s a mix of Death Metal and Hardcore Punk. It originated in the mid 90’s and is still going strong today. Notable bands include Whitechapel, Suicide Silence, Veil of Maya and All Shall Perish.
Doom Metal
Doom Metal is a genre that emerged in the early 70’s. It is considered to be the first real subgenre of Metal, and often features slower tempos, low tuned guitars, and a much “thicker” or “heavier” sound. It is heavily inspired by Black Sabbath songs such as “Black Sabbath,” and “Electric Funeral.” Both the music and the lyrics are intended to create a sense of doom, dread and despair. There are many subgenres of Doom Metal, such as Epic Doom, Drone Doom, Funeral Doom, Stoner Doom and Sludge Doom. Notable bands of this genre include Candlemass, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, and Pagan Altar.
Folk Metal
Folk Metal is a genre of Metal that emerged in Europe during the 90’s. It features heavy metal with the use of folk instruments, such as the violin, and combines it with folk music styles. Sometimes, it also contains traditional singing styles. The other singing styles can range from clean vocals to Death Growls to Black Metal-style shrieks. Lyrics often involve fantasy, mythology, and paganism. The genre really started developing with the emergence of the band Skyclad. Other notable bands in the genre include Korpiklaani, Eluveite, Ensiferum, and Moonsorrow.
Glam Metal
Glam Metal, also called Hair Metal or Pop Metal, is a genre that developed mostly in Las Angeles in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is a subgenre of Metal and Hard Rock, while combining elements of Punk Rock and Pop-influence hooks and guitar. They often feature harmonies and shredding guitar solos. Power ballads are common as well in this genre. The lyrics in this genre are typically much lighter than that of most Metal. The image of Glam Metal is also defining; it borrows heavily from Glam Rock, using very long hair, make up, and gaudy clothing and accessories. Notable examples include Mötley Crüe, Poison, Def Leppard, and Ratt.
Gothic Metal
Gothic Metal is a genre that emerged in Europe during the 90’s. It combines the heaviness of Doom Metal with the dark, melancholy feel of Goth Rock. The adjective “dark” is commonly used to describe it. There is a diverse range of approaches, from a Doom Metal approach to a Black Metal approach to a Symphonic Metal approach. There is also a variety of vocal styles, from shrieks and growls to clean vocals. The lyrics are known for their mournfulness. Notable bands include Moonspell, Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, and Within Temptation.
Grindcore
Grindcore is a genre that developed during the 80’s. It drew influence from the most abrasive forms of music, such as extreme metal, industrial metal, noise music, and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk. It usually features distorted, down-tuned guitars, fast tempos, blast beat drumming, and incomprehensible growls or high-pitched squeaks. One trait of many Grindcore bands is the microsong; songs that are only seconds in length. Lyrics range from political issues to gore (Goregrind), black humor, and sex (Pornogrind). Notable bands include Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Nasum, and Carcass (in their first few albums)
Groove Metal
Groove Metal is a genre that developed during the 90’s. It has many of the same qualities as Thrash metal, except played at mid-tempo, rather than at the blisteringly fast speeds Thrash Metal is famous for. Notable bands include Pantera, Exhorder, Machine Head, and Lamb of God.
Heavy Metal
The one that started it all. The original metal sound. It began in the late 60’s/early 70’s, and was developed more in the 70’s. Then, in the late 70’s/early 80’s, a new wave of Heavy Metal from Britain came around; the NWOBHM, short for New Wave of British Heavy Metal (think Iron Maiden). Notable bands include Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne. A lot of bands often considered to be Hard Rock, such as AC/DC or Van Halen, are sometimes put into this category.
Industrial Metal
Industrial Metal is a genre that developed during the late 80’s and became popular in the 90’s. It draws influence from Industrial music, Thrash Metal, and Hardcore Punk. It uses Thrash Metal and Hardcore Punk style guitar riffs, along with sampling and heavy use of synthesizers and other electronic effects. Notable bands include Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Rammstein.
Melodic Death Metal
This is technically a subgenre of Death Metal, but in my opinion it’s different enough to warrant its own place. Melodic Death Metal originated in Gothenburg, Sweden during the 90’s. It featured many of the same qualities as Death Metal, but with one major difference. The actual music itself was more akin to the sound of NWOBHM bands, rather than Thrash Metal, which regular Death Metal draws inspiration from. Notable bands include In Flames, At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, and Children of Bodom.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a genre that was formed in the 90’s, and gained mainstream popularity during the 2000’s. It is a fusion of Extreme metal and Hardcore Punk. Metalcore includes harsh, screamed vocals, and is distinguished by its heavy use of breakdowns. Notable bands include All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Avenged Sevenfold (in their first two albums).
Neo-Classical Metal
This might be the Metal genre I understand the least about. I read up on it, and this is what I understand. If I’m getting anything wrong, or missing anything important, please let me know.
Neo-Classical metal is a genre emerged in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is basically metal that takes heavy influence in style from classical music. At first, it was a style really only adopted by solo performers, such as Yngwie Malmsteen, who is considered by many to be the originator. Recently, whole bands have begun to utilize the style, such as Progressive Metal band Symphony X and Power Metal band Rhapsody of Fire. Notable performers in the genre seem to include Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine.
Nu-Metal
Nu-Metal is a genre that developed in the 90’s. It takes heavy influence from Alternative Metal, and draws influence from a variety of different non-Metal genres, including Rap/Hip Hop as well as Metal. It is syncopated and based on riffs, and is set apart from other genres by its use of breakdowns and lack of guitar solos, as well as use of downtuning and seven string guitars. Vocal styles range from clean singing, rapping, screaming, and death growling, sometimes all in one song. Notable bands include KoRn, Deftones, Slipknot, and Mudvayne.
Power Metal
At the moment, this is my favorite. Power Metal is a genre that started during the 80’s in Europe, and later spread to America. Musically, Power Metal combines elements of Heavy Metal and Speed Metal, and often has symphonic elements as well. It is one of the more complex forms of Metal. Most commonly, the image and lyrics of Power Metal bands deal with fantasy and mythology. Sometimes it gets rather cheesy (Manowar, Rhapsody of Fire, although both of those bands are awesome in my opinion), but a lot of the time it’s completely serious as well. Plus it has dragons. Notable bands Blind Guardian (my favorite band at the moment), Helloween, Stratovarius, and Rhapsody of Fire.
Progressive Metal
Progressive Metal is a genre that developed during the 80’s and 90’s. It combines the aggression of Heavy Metal with the complexity, experimentation, and classical influences of Progressive Rock. It is one of the most diverse and complex subgenres, as it can be divided into countless more subgenres. It is so diverse that two almost completely different bands, such as King’s X and Opeth, can both be labeled Progressive Metal. Notable bands include Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Tool and Opeth.
Speed Metal
Speed Metal started in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is influenced by the NWOBHM movement and Hardcore Punk. It, in turn, inspired several of the subgenres that came after it, such as Thrash and Power Metal. It is described by Allmusic as being “extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding.” There is a debate over whether Thrash and Speed Metal are actually different genres or the same thing. For now, we’ll go with that they’re different (some say Speed Metal is a lot cleaner). Notable bands in the genre include Motörhead, Accept, Anvil, and Exciter.
Symphonic Metal
Symphonic Metal is a genre that began during the 90’s. It is basically Metal with Symphonic elements, often using elements from classic music and keyboards. Its main musical influences are early Gothic Metal, Power Metal, and Classical music. There is often a operatic female vocalist, and sometimes a secondary male vocalist as well. Death Growling is rare, but not unheard of in this genre. Notable bands include Nightwish, Epica, Therion and Haggard.
Thrash Metal
Thrash Metal is a genre that began during the 80’s. It is probably one of the most popular subgenres of Metal. It is known for its fast tempos, complex guitar riffs, double bass drumming, and its aggression. Vocals can be anything from melodic singing to shouting. The Big Four of Thrash are the four most famous Thrash Metal bands, and each has made their mark on not only Thrash Metal but on Metal as a whole. They are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. Notable bands not included in the Big Four are Exodus, Testament, Overkill and Kreator.
Viking Metal
Viking Metal is a subgenre that began in the 80’s/90’s as an offshoot of Black Metal. A major difference, however, is that most of the imagery and lyrics are centered around Vikings and their mythology, rather than Satanism and Anti-Christianity. It also takes heavy influence from Nordic Folk music. It typically uses a chaotic and noisy sound with a slow pace. Notable bands in the genre are some of Bathory, Amon Amarth, Windir, and Falkenbach.
I realize that some of these subgenres aren’t considered by every metalhead to be “true metal.” Well, I have some differing opinions on that. Glam Metal is almost completely Metal in my opinion, just the lightest side to it. And Metalcore is for the most part Metal as well. Nu-Metal is a little different. Ironically, it was actually one of the first Metal genres I got into, and from there I just went to increasingly heavier music (just proof that even if you hate it, it’s good for something). But I think with that genre, some bands are Metal and some bands aren’t. For instance, as much as I like them, I don’t see Linkin Park as Metal. I don’t consider Limp Bizkit Metal either. But I consider bands like KoRn and Slipknot to be Metal, just not the traditional Metal sound.
That’s about it. Wow, that was long. Again, if I missed/got anything wrong, let me know nicely. Anyway, go nuts!
I really started to get into metal a couple years ago, and now it's my favorite genre of music, and just one of my favorite things all around. I like it because it's so diverse and has the potential to be crushingly brutal and yet beautiful at the same time. There are many different subgenres, and subgenres of those subgenres as well, and each one sounds very different from each other. I started with newer and more mainstream bands, and then gradually worked my way to other genres.
To summarize it in general, metal music is a style of music that began in the early 70's and has developed greatly over time. It has roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock. While a lot of bands often add in other instruments, metal has always been based around the simple setup of guitar, bass, drums, and sometimes vocals. The genre is considered to have been started by bands such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple.
The lyrics of metal are oftentimes about dark subject matter, although there are some exceptions. These subjects often transfer over to a band’s image as well. Metal has always been controversial for this, as has a reputation of frightening parents.
Unfortunately, metal has developed a number of stereotypes. For instance, some people will have you believe that metal is the devil’s music, and you will go to Hell for listening to it. Others will say that all metal is Satanic and those who listen/create it are evil devil-worshippers. Some people claim that it takes no talent at all because all it is is noise and screaming about violence and other evil things. Only a couple of those are even remotely true, and even then only sometimes.
Here is a list of the major subgenres of metal. I have also written a little bit about each subgenre and provided a sample. I doubt everything is correct, however. If you know something I don’t, or see something I got wrong somewhere, let me know so I can fix it. This is just my understanding after doing research.
Alternative Metal
Alternative Metal is a genre that formed in the early 90’s as a cross between Alternative Rock and Heavy Metal. It usually contains distorted guitars and unconvential sounds and song structures. Notable examples include System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Alice In Chains, and Faith No More.
Black Metal
Black Metal is a genre that arose during the 80’s, and really got going during the 90’s. Common characteristics of Black Metal is very bad production, high-pitched shrieks, fast tempos, highly distorted guitars, blast beat drumming, and unconventional song structures. A lot of Black Metal is also very atmospheric. Black Metal is notorious for many of its band’s highly satanic and anti-Christian lyrics and imagery (although this is not always the case). Bands usually wear lots of black and white “corpse paint.” They rarely play live shows, although they sometimes do.
The term Black Metal originated from Thrash Metal band Venom’s song “Black Metal.” There were two main waves of Black Metal. The first wave was composed of bands such as Mercyful Fate, Bathory, and Celtic Frost. At this time, Black Metal had not created its own sound, as it would during its second wave, which was based almost entirely in Norway. Notable Norwegian Black Metal bands include Mayhem, Burzum, Immortal, and Darkthrone. Bands like Emperor and Dimmu Borgir created the Symphonic Black Metal subgenre. Norwegian Black Metal is also notorious for its history of murders and church burnings.
Death Metal
Death Metal is a genre that was formed during the 80’s, influenced very heavily by Thrash Metal bands such as Slayer and Kreator. It usually features heavily distorted guitars, complex song structures with multiple tempo changes, blast beat drumming, and low, growling vocals (known as Death Growls). The lyrical content is often about extreme subject matter, including brutal and graphic violence, death, and sometimes Satanism or anti-religion, although this is not always the case. Death Metal is considered to have been created by the bands Possessed and Death. Death also went on to start the Technical Death Metal subgenre. Possessed’s song “Death Metal” is where the genre got its name. Other notable bands in the genre include Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide, and Cannibal Corpse.
Deathcore
While technically a fusion genre between Death Metal and Metalcore, I consider Deathcore to be its own thing. Deathcore makes common use of Death Growl and Pig Squeal vocals, blast beat drumming, and breakdowns. At its heart, it’s a mix of Death Metal and Hardcore Punk. It originated in the mid 90’s and is still going strong today. Notable bands include Whitechapel, Suicide Silence, Veil of Maya and All Shall Perish.
Doom Metal
Doom Metal is a genre that emerged in the early 70’s. It is considered to be the first real subgenre of Metal, and often features slower tempos, low tuned guitars, and a much “thicker” or “heavier” sound. It is heavily inspired by Black Sabbath songs such as “Black Sabbath,” and “Electric Funeral.” Both the music and the lyrics are intended to create a sense of doom, dread and despair. There are many subgenres of Doom Metal, such as Epic Doom, Drone Doom, Funeral Doom, Stoner Doom and Sludge Doom. Notable bands of this genre include Candlemass, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, and Pagan Altar.
Folk Metal
Folk Metal is a genre of Metal that emerged in Europe during the 90’s. It features heavy metal with the use of folk instruments, such as the violin, and combines it with folk music styles. Sometimes, it also contains traditional singing styles. The other singing styles can range from clean vocals to Death Growls to Black Metal-style shrieks. Lyrics often involve fantasy, mythology, and paganism. The genre really started developing with the emergence of the band Skyclad. Other notable bands in the genre include Korpiklaani, Eluveite, Ensiferum, and Moonsorrow.
Glam Metal
Glam Metal, also called Hair Metal or Pop Metal, is a genre that developed mostly in Las Angeles in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is a subgenre of Metal and Hard Rock, while combining elements of Punk Rock and Pop-influence hooks and guitar. They often feature harmonies and shredding guitar solos. Power ballads are common as well in this genre. The lyrics in this genre are typically much lighter than that of most Metal. The image of Glam Metal is also defining; it borrows heavily from Glam Rock, using very long hair, make up, and gaudy clothing and accessories. Notable examples include Mötley Crüe, Poison, Def Leppard, and Ratt.
Gothic Metal
Gothic Metal is a genre that emerged in Europe during the 90’s. It combines the heaviness of Doom Metal with the dark, melancholy feel of Goth Rock. The adjective “dark” is commonly used to describe it. There is a diverse range of approaches, from a Doom Metal approach to a Black Metal approach to a Symphonic Metal approach. There is also a variety of vocal styles, from shrieks and growls to clean vocals. The lyrics are known for their mournfulness. Notable bands include Moonspell, Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, and Within Temptation.
Grindcore
Grindcore is a genre that developed during the 80’s. It drew influence from the most abrasive forms of music, such as extreme metal, industrial metal, noise music, and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk. It usually features distorted, down-tuned guitars, fast tempos, blast beat drumming, and incomprehensible growls or high-pitched squeaks. One trait of many Grindcore bands is the microsong; songs that are only seconds in length. Lyrics range from political issues to gore (Goregrind), black humor, and sex (Pornogrind). Notable bands include Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Nasum, and Carcass (in their first few albums)
Groove Metal
Groove Metal is a genre that developed during the 90’s. It has many of the same qualities as Thrash metal, except played at mid-tempo, rather than at the blisteringly fast speeds Thrash Metal is famous for. Notable bands include Pantera, Exhorder, Machine Head, and Lamb of God.
Heavy Metal
The one that started it all. The original metal sound. It began in the late 60’s/early 70’s, and was developed more in the 70’s. Then, in the late 70’s/early 80’s, a new wave of Heavy Metal from Britain came around; the NWOBHM, short for New Wave of British Heavy Metal (think Iron Maiden). Notable bands include Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne. A lot of bands often considered to be Hard Rock, such as AC/DC or Van Halen, are sometimes put into this category.
Industrial Metal
Industrial Metal is a genre that developed during the late 80’s and became popular in the 90’s. It draws influence from Industrial music, Thrash Metal, and Hardcore Punk. It uses Thrash Metal and Hardcore Punk style guitar riffs, along with sampling and heavy use of synthesizers and other electronic effects. Notable bands include Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Rammstein.
Melodic Death Metal
This is technically a subgenre of Death Metal, but in my opinion it’s different enough to warrant its own place. Melodic Death Metal originated in Gothenburg, Sweden during the 90’s. It featured many of the same qualities as Death Metal, but with one major difference. The actual music itself was more akin to the sound of NWOBHM bands, rather than Thrash Metal, which regular Death Metal draws inspiration from. Notable bands include In Flames, At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, and Children of Bodom.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a genre that was formed in the 90’s, and gained mainstream popularity during the 2000’s. It is a fusion of Extreme metal and Hardcore Punk. Metalcore includes harsh, screamed vocals, and is distinguished by its heavy use of breakdowns. Notable bands include All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Avenged Sevenfold (in their first two albums).
Neo-Classical Metal
This might be the Metal genre I understand the least about. I read up on it, and this is what I understand. If I’m getting anything wrong, or missing anything important, please let me know.
Neo-Classical metal is a genre emerged in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is basically metal that takes heavy influence in style from classical music. At first, it was a style really only adopted by solo performers, such as Yngwie Malmsteen, who is considered by many to be the originator. Recently, whole bands have begun to utilize the style, such as Progressive Metal band Symphony X and Power Metal band Rhapsody of Fire. Notable performers in the genre seem to include Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine.
Nu-Metal
Nu-Metal is a genre that developed in the 90’s. It takes heavy influence from Alternative Metal, and draws influence from a variety of different non-Metal genres, including Rap/Hip Hop as well as Metal. It is syncopated and based on riffs, and is set apart from other genres by its use of breakdowns and lack of guitar solos, as well as use of downtuning and seven string guitars. Vocal styles range from clean singing, rapping, screaming, and death growling, sometimes all in one song. Notable bands include KoRn, Deftones, Slipknot, and Mudvayne.
Power Metal
At the moment, this is my favorite. Power Metal is a genre that started during the 80’s in Europe, and later spread to America. Musically, Power Metal combines elements of Heavy Metal and Speed Metal, and often has symphonic elements as well. It is one of the more complex forms of Metal. Most commonly, the image and lyrics of Power Metal bands deal with fantasy and mythology. Sometimes it gets rather cheesy (Manowar, Rhapsody of Fire, although both of those bands are awesome in my opinion), but a lot of the time it’s completely serious as well. Plus it has dragons. Notable bands Blind Guardian (my favorite band at the moment), Helloween, Stratovarius, and Rhapsody of Fire.
Progressive Metal
Progressive Metal is a genre that developed during the 80’s and 90’s. It combines the aggression of Heavy Metal with the complexity, experimentation, and classical influences of Progressive Rock. It is one of the most diverse and complex subgenres, as it can be divided into countless more subgenres. It is so diverse that two almost completely different bands, such as King’s X and Opeth, can both be labeled Progressive Metal. Notable bands include Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Tool and Opeth.
Speed Metal
Speed Metal started in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It is influenced by the NWOBHM movement and Hardcore Punk. It, in turn, inspired several of the subgenres that came after it, such as Thrash and Power Metal. It is described by Allmusic as being “extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding.” There is a debate over whether Thrash and Speed Metal are actually different genres or the same thing. For now, we’ll go with that they’re different (some say Speed Metal is a lot cleaner). Notable bands in the genre include Motörhead, Accept, Anvil, and Exciter.
Symphonic Metal
Symphonic Metal is a genre that began during the 90’s. It is basically Metal with Symphonic elements, often using elements from classic music and keyboards. Its main musical influences are early Gothic Metal, Power Metal, and Classical music. There is often a operatic female vocalist, and sometimes a secondary male vocalist as well. Death Growling is rare, but not unheard of in this genre. Notable bands include Nightwish, Epica, Therion and Haggard.
Thrash Metal
Thrash Metal is a genre that began during the 80’s. It is probably one of the most popular subgenres of Metal. It is known for its fast tempos, complex guitar riffs, double bass drumming, and its aggression. Vocals can be anything from melodic singing to shouting. The Big Four of Thrash are the four most famous Thrash Metal bands, and each has made their mark on not only Thrash Metal but on Metal as a whole. They are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. Notable bands not included in the Big Four are Exodus, Testament, Overkill and Kreator.
Viking Metal
Viking Metal is a subgenre that began in the 80’s/90’s as an offshoot of Black Metal. A major difference, however, is that most of the imagery and lyrics are centered around Vikings and their mythology, rather than Satanism and Anti-Christianity. It also takes heavy influence from Nordic Folk music. It typically uses a chaotic and noisy sound with a slow pace. Notable bands in the genre are some of Bathory, Amon Amarth, Windir, and Falkenbach.
I realize that some of these subgenres aren’t considered by every metalhead to be “true metal.” Well, I have some differing opinions on that. Glam Metal is almost completely Metal in my opinion, just the lightest side to it. And Metalcore is for the most part Metal as well. Nu-Metal is a little different. Ironically, it was actually one of the first Metal genres I got into, and from there I just went to increasingly heavier music (just proof that even if you hate it, it’s good for something). But I think with that genre, some bands are Metal and some bands aren’t. For instance, as much as I like them, I don’t see Linkin Park as Metal. I don’t consider Limp Bizkit Metal either. But I consider bands like KoRn and Slipknot to be Metal, just not the traditional Metal sound.
That’s about it. Wow, that was long. Again, if I missed/got anything wrong, let me know nicely. Anyway, go nuts!