The Metal - pt. 1

Two things that I am an absolutely huge nerd about are metal music; pretty much anything with loud, distorted guitars and hard, driving drum beats, and making things into lists. So today I’m going to combine these two things and basically create a database containing a whole lotta different metal subgenres (approx. 68 but my list is not exhaustive). Included will be links to songs that I believe to be indicative of each subgenre as well as VERY brief descriptions of some key characteristics that make each subgenre what it is.

1. Heavy Metal – “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica

Does there really need to be a description here? It’s hard rock…...but edgier.

2. Traditional Heavy Metal – “Into the Void” by Black Sabbath

This is where it all began; heavy metal before heavy metal knew it was a thing.

3. Thrash Metal – “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” by Megadeth

Heavy metal with a sugar rush; faster, more dissonant and rhythmically busier.

4. Teutonic Thrash Metal – “Under Attack” by Destruction

Basically, thrash metal from Germany.

5. Crossover Thrash – “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies

Thrash metal combined with the edge and aggression of Hardcore Punk.

6. Speed Metal – “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead

Often used interchangeably with thrash metal but tends to be slightly more melodic.

7. New Wave of British Heavy Metal (or NWOBHM if you’re lazy) – “Hallowed Be Thy Name” by Iron Maiden

More a movement than a genre but it would feel wrong to not have it here. Its heavy metal that came from the UK in the 80s.

8. Death Metal – “Insane” by Obituary

Thrash metal’s darker little brother, featuring heavy, down-tuned guitars, growled vocals and an emphasis on heavily palm-muted, chugging riffs.

9. Melodic Death Metal – “Trigger” by In Flames

Death metal with more emphasis on melody.

10. Swedish Death Metal – “Guardians of Asgaard” by Amon Amarth

Death metal from its motherland, Sweden.

11. Technical Death Metal – “L’Enfant Sauvage” by Gojira

Death metal 2.0.

12. Blackened Death Metal - “Bartzabel” by Behemoth

Death metal that’s been bastardised by incorporating elements of black metal.

13. Slam Death Metal - “Parasitic Eruption” by Devourment

Death metal + hardcore punk = many much breakdown.

14. Death 'n' Roll - “Soul Survivor” by Gorefest

Death metal that harkens back to 70s hard rock.

15. Death-doom – “Beneath Broken Earth” by Paradise Lost

Aka depressed death metal.

16. Doom Metal - “The Entity” by Count Raven (no, that is not Ozzy Osbourne btw)

Thicc riffs, slow tempos and themes of impending doom to be found here.

17. Black-Doom - “Last Day in Heaven” by Barathrum

A moody amalgamation of the harshness of black metal and the pessimism of doom metal.

18. Epic Doom - “Bewitched” by Candlemass

Doom metal that features a heightened sense of drama, invoked through usage of fantasy themes.

19. Funeral Doom - “Remembrance of the Transcending Moon” by Mournful Congregation

Doom metal that’s forgotten to take its anti-depressants.

20. Drone Metal - “It Took the Night to Believe” by Sunn O)))

Experimental combination of doom metal and drone music.

21. Black Metal - “A Fine Day to Die” by Bathory

Trve Kvlt – harsh and raw often with satanic or pagan references.

22. Unblack Metal - “Invert the Inverted Cross” by Horde

Black metal but good and Christian as opposed to the satanic themes of the genre its derived from.

23. National Socialist Black Metal - “Fourth Reich” by Goatmoon

Basically, black metal by Neo-Nazis

24. War Metal - “Ritual” by Blasphemy

A more chaotic offshoot of blackened death metal.

25. Ambient Black Metal - “The Cleansing” by Wolves in the Throne Room

Shiny, floaty and dreamy while still being black metal.

26. Industrial Black Metal - “Let the Kingdom Come” by Mysticum

Black metal with an industrial, electronic spin.

27. Blackgaze - “Honeycomb” by Deafheaven

A melding of black metal with the ethereal, swirling qualities of shoegaze.

28. Nu Metal - “Duality” by Slipknot

Nigh impossible to refrain from headbanging, such is the infectious rhythm of nu metal.

29. Metalcore - “The End of Heartache” by Killswitch Engage

Amalgamation of extreme metal and hardcore punk, often with heavy, breakdown-like sections and catchy, melodic choruses.

30. Nu Metalcore - “Solar Flare Homicide” by Emmure

The rhythm and electronic elements of nu metal and the emotional edge of metalcore combined in to one angsty package.

31. Christian Metal - “Change the World” by P.O.D.

A few minutes to talk about our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, through the medium of riffage.

32. Progressive Metal - “Catalyst” by Dorje

The complexity and snobbery of pr0g rock, but heavier.