Metal Subgenres

The foundation of all metal, characterized by loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and powerful vocals. Pioneered by Black Sabbath in the early 1970s.

An extreme subgenre featuring heavily distorted guitar, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, and dark, often violent lyrical themes. Emerged from thrash metal in the mid-1980s in Florida.

An extreme subgenre characterized by fast tempos, shrieked vocals, heavily distorted high-pitched guitar, and themes of Satanism, occultism, and Nordic paganism. Rooted in Norway's early 1990s underground.

A subgenre known for slow tempos, heavy low-tuned guitars, and a sense of despair or dread. Rooted in early Black Sabbath, doom metal encompasses many styles from traditional to funeral and sludge.

A subgenre characterized by fast tempos, high-pitched clean vocals, guitar solos, and fantasy or science fiction lyrical themes. Prominent in Europe, especially Germany, Scandinavia, and Italy.

Characterized by fast tempos, aggressive musicianship, and socially conscious lyrics. Emerged in the early 1980s in San Francisco and New York, pioneered by Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.

A subgenre combining the heaviness of metal with the complex compositional structures of progressive rock. Features unconventional time signatures, extended instrumental passages, and conceptual albums.