Metal music is a
worldwide form of music that has held the attention of younger generations
for over 50 years. Metal music has branched off into different sub
genres, but one thing is the main motivator for the survival of metal
music through all the generations. That is a need for younger generations
to rebel against the status quo, to express themselves and their frustration
of an outdated way of life.
Black Sabbath were the first real metal band, and become the inspiration for
the sub genre Doom Metal. Metal went on through Judas Priest and Iron Maiden,
while other bands such as Motorhead, Iron Maiden Metallica belonged to the sub
genre, infused punk.
Metal bands began to look further from the blues scale that Black Sabbath used
and went on to use diatonic modes. This sparked a new phenomenon that spread
through nearly all of the sub genres of metal.
In the 80s, the sub genre of thrash metal evolved into death metal. Some of
the prominent death metal bands of that time were Possessed and Death. Traditional
metal also began in the 80s and bands like Fates Warning and Queensrysce were
accepted into the mainstream of music.
More sub genres of metal surfaced quickly in the 90s, including Stoner Metal
and Sludge Metal.
Sub Genres Of Metal Music:
Metal, much like rock, is made up of many sub-genres. Metal genres can at times
be difficult to differentiate as they seem similar but have small changes in
overall structural, temperamental, instrumental and vocal changes. This is made
even more difficult to differentiate, as often sub genres are similar to each
other in other genres.
Black Metal: Black metal evolved from thrash metal. Black metal is not
as cold and brutal as thrash, although it is still considered to
be an extreme genre. The sound is a combination of tremolo bass
and vocals are usually screamed or yelled by performers. Themes
of Black metal are usually supernatural or occult in nature.
Death Metal: Death metal is closely related to thrash metal. It tends
to be more brutal in nature, with odd chord progressions and mixed
up time changes. Like many genres of metal, the words of the songs
include themes that relate to the occult and the darker side of
human nature.
Doom Metal: Doom metal emphasizes emotion, melancholy and depression.
Tempos are usually slower with somber harmonies. Doom metal has
the same type of vocals as death and black metal. Classical instruments
are also used a lot in Doom metal to enhance the mood of the music.
Folk Metal: Folk metal started out as a fusion of folk rock, power metal
and black metal. Now it is a term given to folk-themed bands that
use folk based lyrics and themes, including instruments.
Glam Metal: Glam metal was popular in the 80s and was also known as
hair metal. Many of the band members used makeup, similar to the
70s glam rock bands and Idols such as Alice Cooper.
Gothic Metal: Goth Metal had the same style as doom, black and death
metal, but used heavy keyboard sounds with romantic story like words.
Goth metal often used two vocalists.
Grindcore: Grindcore is like thrash metal with tones of hardcore and
punk. Vocals are a lot like death metal and the songs tended to
be very short. Grindcore today is mostly influenced by death metal.
Heavy Metal: Heavy metal is the origin of the genres and where metal
music got its name. Loud rasping vocals and long solos with the
guitar characterize heavy metal. The words of the songs are often
unfocused on any particular theme.
Industrial Metal: Industrial metal uses Distortion of guitar sounds,
synthesizers and drum machines. Industrial is heavily influenced
by techno and industrial music.
Metalcore: Metal core bands use the vocals and beat of American Hardcore
metal with the instruments, such as guitars that are used in European
thrash metal.
Neoclassical Metal: Neo-Classical uses parts of classical music in normal
metal music.
Nu Metal: Nu Metal has very little to do with heavy metal and is largely
influenced by Hip Hop.
Power Metal: Power metal is more upbeat and uses clear vocals. Power
metal uses science fiction or fantasy themes and is inspiring to
the listener.
Progressive Metal: Progressive metal is sophisticated and complex. Vocals
are clean and often lean towards philosophy or politics. Progressive
metal is very much like progressive rock.
Thrash Metal: Thrash Metal is heavy metal combined with hardcore punk.
Thrash is usually complex with many tempo add time changes. The
words are usually yelled, although they remain in tune and melodic.
Thrash was also the first metal genre to use double bass drums in
their music.
lol..
Thrash BY far is My FAVORITE!
And So Is Southern Metal
~Christ Salas
Darkendeyes1@yahoo.com