NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Metal music

Metal music is a style of music that is closely related to rock and electric blues, with distorted guitars, loud bass, and generally very powerful drums. The focus on musicianship is much more marked than in forms of rock music, and there is usually a great emphasis on speed and "heaviness". Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that metal music be merged into this article or section. ... Psychedelic music draws its inspiration from the experience of mind-altering drugs such as cannabis, psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and especially LSD. Characteristic features of the style include modal melodies, lengthy instrumental solos, esoteric lyrics and trippy special effects such as reversed, distorted, delayed and/or phased sounds. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... The British blues is a type of blues music that originated in the late 1950s. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A guitar is a stringed musical instrument. ... Bass guitars typically have four strings instead of six as found on regular guitars. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... The term synthesiser is also used to mean frequency synthesiser, an electronic system found in communications. ... A number of overlapping heavy metal genres have developed since the emergence of heavy metal music in the late 1960s. ... Avant garde metal, sometimes called experimental, is a subgenre of heavy metal characterized by large amounts of experimentation and by non-standard sounds, instruments, and song structures. ... It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Folk Metal. ... Classic metal is a genre of heavy metal music which is characterized by thumping fast basslines, fast, but less heavy riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses. ... It has been suggested that Florida death metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that sludge metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Celtic Metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Classic Metal. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Groove metal, half-thrash, or post-thrash is a subgenre of thrash metal which took its current form during the early 1990s. ... It has been suggested that metal music be merged into this article or section. ... Melodic death metal (often referred to as melodeath) is generally considered an offshoot of death metal. ... Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of the heavy metal music heavily influenced by classical music. ... National Socialist black metal, commonly known as Nazi black metal or NSBM, is a subgenre of black metal music concerned with ideas of racial separatism and the Aryan race. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music. ... Progressive metal (shortened to prog, or prog metal when differentiating from progressive rock) is a heavy brand of progressive rock which is characterized by the use of complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate and virtuosic instrumental playing. ... Speed metal is a genre of heavy metal music that is similar to thrash metal, but tends to be more melodic and show less influence of punk music. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ... Viking metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Nu metal. ... Blackened death metal (also called death/black metal) is a fusion genre of extreme metal utilising elements of death metal and black metal with bands usually hailing from Europe. ... Christian metal is a form of heavy metal music with explicitly Christian lyrics and themes. ... Funk metal is a type of music that incorporates hard-driving heavy metal guitar riffs and the pounding bass rhythms characteristic of funk. ... Grindcore is an extreme form of hardcore punk and heavy metal, related to both death metal and crust punk, but historically formed by combining elements of Hardcore Punk and early thrash metal. ... Industrial metal is a musical genre which draws elements from industrial music and heavy metal music. ... Metalcore is a musical genre consisting of a mix between heavy metal and hardcore. ... Nu metal (or aggro metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ... Rapcore today is a fusion of hip hop music with hardcore punk and heavy metal music. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Doom metal. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sludge metal. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Thrashcore, or thrash, is a fast and raw brand of hardcore punk music. ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... // NWOBHM Beginnings The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) emerged in the late 1970s, in part a reaction to the decline of traditional heavy metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. ... Possessed press photo, circa 1987 Bay Area thrash metal, or Bay Area Thrash, referred to a steady following of heavy metal bands in the 1980s who formed and gained international status in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. ... Heavy metal fashion is the style of dress, body modification, make-up, hairstyle, and so on, affected by many fans of heavy metal, or, as they are often called, metalheads. ... This is a timeline of heavy metal or hard rock, from its beginnings in the late 1960s to the present time. ... This is an alphabetical list of heavy metal bands. ... Avant-Garde metal Arcturus Corrosion Of Conformity Crotchduster Darth Vegas Dog Fashion Disco Fantômas Headkase Kayo Dot Maudlin of the Well Mr. ... The graphic designer added the umlaut to the cover of MotÃ¶rheads first album for Ã¦sthetic reasons. ... Music is an art, entertainment, or other human activity which involves organized and audible sound, though definitions vary. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished simply by the amplification of the guitar, or, more rarely, the bass or harmonica. ... A distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. ... Bass guitars typically have four strings instead of six as found on regular guitars. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ...

History

Originally, the term "Heavy Metal" existed as the name that repersented the whole of the Metal genre. Just as "rock and roll" used to represent all of rock. Though over the years this statement is no longer accepted as the name of the genre in totality, and like the term "rock and roll" it is now gathering dust balls in the cupboard. To many fans of the genre the term "Heavy Metal" now represents the dawning of metal, being attached to bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. It is not unusual for this term to be used with newer bands, though this is usually attached to bands who follow similar styles to the metal gods of old.

Though at the same time the two terms metal and heavy metal are used in conjunction with each other, and used to refer to the same thing.

Origins

The creation of the term "heavy metal" has been discussed many times throughout the years, though is believed to have been putatively coined by the 60s rock band Steppenwolf in their most popular song, "Born to Be Wild" with the line "heavy metal thunder...". Various accounts have the term first being applied to a style of music in description of Psychedelic Rock acts like Cream or The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The genre's inception, however, did not occur until the release of Black Sabbath's eponymous first album, which combined thundering basslines, irregular song structures, and, most importantly, heavily distorted, power-chord-laden and often down-tuned or palm-muted guitar riffs to form the first true metal album. Black Sabbath's influences can facilely be traced back to the bluesy hard rock of bands like Led Zeppelin and Cream, but modern metal as a whole owes as much to the modal hard rock of Deep Purple (as well as guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's subsequent band, Rainbow) and early Progressive Rock bands like King Crimson and Jethro Tull that laid the musical foundations for future innovators. Steppenwolf album cover Steppenwolf is a 1960s and 1970s rock n roll band, best known for the hits Born to Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride. They were named after the novel Steppenwolf by German author Hermann Hesse. ... Born to be Wild is a song by the band Steppenwolf, initially released in 1968, but subsequently released on about 100 different collections, the first one being the movie Easy Rider. ... Psychedelic music draws its inspiration from the experience of mind-altering drugs such as cannabis, psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and especially LSD. Characteristic features of the style include modal melodies, lengthy instrumental solos, esoteric lyrics and trippy special effects such as reversed, distorted, delayed and/or phased sounds. ... Cream was a seminal 1960s British rock band which featured guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. ... Jimi Hendrix James Marshall Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer who is widely considered to be the most important electric guitarist in the history of popular music. ... This article is about the British heavy metal band. ... Led Zeppelin was a English rock band that became one of the most popular and influential musical ensembles ever. ... Cream was a seminal 1960s British rock band which featured guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. ... Hard rock is a form of rock and roll music which finds its closest roots in early 1960s garage rock. ... This article is about the rock group. ... Blackmore (background) with 1982 Rainbow lineup. ... . ... Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other progressive genres) is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s, reached the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, and continues as a musical form to this day. ... The famous cover of King Crimsons debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), painted by Barry Godber. ... Jethro Tulls fourth album, Aqualung Progressive rock band Jethro Tull was formed in Blackpool, England in the 1960s. ...

Evolution

Black Sabbath is considered by many to be the seminal and first real heavy metal band (which in recent years has increasingly become known as Traditional Metal or Classic Metal), as well as being an inspiration for the Doom Metal sub-genre with their first three albums. Metal then progressed through Judas Priest and Power Metal progenitors Iron Maiden and Dio on the one hand, while bands such as Motörhead, Paul Di'Anno-era Iron Maiden, and early thrash like Overkill and Metallica infused punk aesthetics and extreme speed into Black Sabbath's template on the other. Beginning with Judas Priest, metal bands quickly began to look beyond Sabbath's almost exclusive use of the blues scale to incorporate diatonic modes into their solos. This has since spread throughout virtually all sub-genres of metal (some Doom, following in Sabbath's footsteps, being the main exception) and along with an overriding sense of musicianship are the main contributions classical and jazz (via progressive rock) have made to the genre. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath album cover Used on Wikipedia under fair use guidelines: Low resolution copy of the album cover RedWolf 00:34, Sep 11, 2004 (UTC) This is an album cover. ... Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath album cover Used on Wikipedia under fair use guidelines: Low resolution copy of the album cover RedWolf 00:34, Sep 11, 2004 (UTC) This is an album cover. ... Black Sabbath is the self-titled debut album of the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath released in the UK on Friday the 13th, February 1970. ... This article is about the British heavy metal band. ... Classic metal is a genre of heavy metal music which is characterized by thumping fast basslines, fast, but less heavy riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Iron Maiden is a British heavy metal band from East London. ... Dio is a heavy metal band led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in October 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath. ... MotÃ¶rhead is an iconic British heavy metal band. ... Paul DiAnno Paul Andrews (born May 17, 1958) was the third vocalist in the now legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden from 1977 to 1981. ... Overkill is one of the first Thrash Metal bands, formed in the early 1980s in New Jersey (but often attributed to New York City), and very active ever since. ... Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in October 1981. ... In Music theory, the diatonic major scale (also known as the Guido scale), from the Greek diatonikos or to stretch out, is a fundamental building block of the European-influenced musical tradition. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ...

In the early and mid 1980s the burgeoning sub-genre of thrash began to split further into Death Metal, led by Possessed and Death, and Black Metal (a term coined by Venom, who despite which lacked most integral characteristics of the genre, such as the buzz-saw vocals), in which Bathory (generally considered the first 'true' black metal act) and Mayhem were key players early. Progressive Metal, a fusion of the progressive stylings of bands like Rush and King Crimson and Traditional Metal began in the '80s, too, behind innovators like Fates Warning and later Queensrÿche, who enjoyed substantial mainstream acceptance and success in the hair metal era. Melo-Death, in many ways similar instrumentally to Iron Maiden, but with high-pitched death vocals instead of semi-operatic, arose out of the Gothenburg scene circa 1990, with Dark Tranquillity (and vocalist Anders Friden's later band, In Flames) and At the Gates at the forefront. The modern forms of Doom Metal and Power Metal came into existence around the same time period with Candlemass and Helloween, respectively. ImageMetadata File history File links Venomblackmetal. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Venomblackmetal. ... The Venom album that birthed the term black metal. The album was produced in 1982. ... Classic Possessed Line-up, clockwise from top: Mike Sus, Larry LaLonde, Jeff Becerra, and Mike Torrao Possessed were a heavy metal band formed in 1982, in El Sobrante, California (Slightly North of San Francisco), and have often been credited for creating and paving the way for death metal. ... Death logo Death was an influential death metal band from North America that was founded in 1983 and dissolved in 1999. ... Venom is a Black Metal band, formed in 1979, in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Venom were a big influence to early death, black, and thrash metal bands at the time, and are pioneers of the genre of black metal. ... Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, and is regarded as one of the forefathers of the black metal and viking metal genres. ... The word mayhem can mean:- consisting of the act of maiming. ... Rush is a Canadian progressive rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist and vocalist Geddy Lee (real name Gary Lee Weinrib), guitarist Alex Lifeson (real name Alexander Zivojinovich), and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart (pronounced: Peert, as in fear) (IPA: ). Since the release of their eponymous debut in 1974, the band became... The famous cover of King Crimsons debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), painted by Barry Godber. ... Fates Warning are an influential heavy metal band from Connecticut, USA. Though their early works are more in the vein of traditional Iron Maiden-influenced heavy metal, by Awaken the Guardian (1986) they, along with Dream Theater and QueensrÃ¿che, had become one of the pioneering bands of the then... QueensrÃ¿che (pronounced queens-rike) is a progressive metal band formed in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Bellevue in 1981. ... Scandinavian death metal concerns the death metal bands of Scandinavian origin. ... Dark Tranquillity is a melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. ... Anders Frid n is the lead vocalist of Swedish melodic death metal bands In Flames and Passenger. ... In Flames is a Swedish melodic death metal band from the city of Gothenburg which is considered by many one of the referentials from the genre. ... At the Gates are a now defunct Swedish melodic death metal band who are considered by many to have had a great influence upon the genre. ... Candlemass is a Swedish Doom metal band established in the 1980s by Leif Edling (bass), its leader and songwriter. ... Helloween is a German speed metal/heavy metal/power metal band founded in the early 80s by members of the two bands Ironfist and Powerfool. ...

Evolution continued at a rapid pace throughout the nineties, notably the Stoner Metal and Sludge Metal (both sub-sub-genres of Doom) movements, which drew heavily from Stoner Rock band Kyuss, and industrial bands such as Fear Factory that assimilated synthesizers into a more traditional Death Metal sound. Black, Death and derivatives are the predominant styles in most metal scenes today, but it is progressive acts like Dream Theater and Opeth that (aside from metalcore, and aging thrash and classic metal bands) garner the highest record sales. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sludge metal. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sludge metal. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sludge metal. ... Kyuss (pronounce: KIGH-us; original name was Sons of Kyuss until the release of their first album) was an influential stoner rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. ... Fear Factory is an American death metal/industrial metal band, that has toured with Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Slayer and Rammstein, performed at three Ozzfests, had singles in the Mainstream Rock Top 40 and albums in the Billboard top 40, top 100 and top 200. ... Dream Theater is a progressive metal band formed by three students at the Berklee College of Music in the mid-1980s. ... Opeth is a progressive death metal band from Sweden. ...

Subgenres

Metal music is made up of a large number of subgenres, similar to rock music as whole. Even though Metal genres at times are difficult to segregate, they usually show different characteristics in overall structures, instrumental and vocal styles, and tempo. Sometimes a trait of a genre is common in several more genres however, and metal genres are normally grouped by their combination of these traits. A genre is any of the traditional divisions of art forms from a single field of activity into various kinds according to criteria particular to that form. ...

Black Metal

Evolving from thrash metal, black metal has a dark, cold atmosphere replacing the head-on brutality of thrash metal. Though not as brutal as death it is still considered to be on the more extreme wing of the metal scales. The bass is usually played in tremolo, vocals are usually shrieked, screamed, rasped or grunted, with the lyrical themes being very often (though not always) satanist, occult, or anti-Christian in nature. The production quality of the music is often very poor, most likely an established tradition of opposing the commercial record and music industry back in the subgenre's hayday, from the late '80s to the early '90s. It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Black metal's origins have been put to a few bands (the name black metal, is usually acredited to Venom, who coined the term, with their album called Black Metal), though the style itself is thought to have came out of Norway and many of the members of the scene were known to have been involved with the church burnings that took place in Norway in the 1990s. Black Metal is now found throughout the world, with each region seemingly attributing their culture differently to the Black Metal sound. The Venom album that birthed the term black metal. The album was produced in 1982. ...

Death metal

Death metal is a subsidary of thrash metal pushed to more brutal extremes, with strange chord progressions, exotic scales and erratic time changes. Double bass drums are universally implemented, as well as rapid snare drums, blast beats, and chaotic cymbal crashes. Vocals are usually growled, but also can be shrieked, yelled, or screamed. Current death metal bands often dabble in neo-classicism, Jazz-fusion, medieval music, or folk and symphonic endeavors. The lyrical content usually deals with the darker side of human imagination, dealing with blood, death, gore, and satan. However, Death Metal is not limited to just blood, death, and gore. It can also range out to philosophy and even politics. It has been suggested that Florida death metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Doom metal

While most other metal genres emphasize fast tempos and technical proficiency, doom metal stresses emotion – usually melancholy, depression, and tragic irony. Doom Metal plays slower/mid tempos, with down tuned riffs and dark, somber, melodic harmonies. Most Doom Metal makes use of Death and Black Metal vocals, but clean ones are also often used to enhance the sullen atmosphere and dark mood of the music. Classical instruments are often used as well, like the piano or violin. It has been suggested that sludge metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Folk metal

Folk metal embraces metal bands that are influenced by folklore from varying cultures and origins. Originally started as a mixture of folk rock, power metal and black metal, the term has progressed to encompass many folk-themed metal bands, that use folk based lyrical themes andmposition, including instrumentation. It has been suggested that Celtic Metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Celtic Metal be merged into this article or section. ... Bob Dylans folk-rock album, Blonde On Blonde Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music. ... It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Glam Metal

Glam metal was a popular style of metal in the 1980’s referred to by detractors as “Hair metal“. The sound; as the name suggests lies somewhere between the metal sound of Black Sabbath and the glam sound of the Sweet. Many of the bands donned make-up to achieve an androgynous look, similar to that of 70’s Glam rock bands such as Alice Cooper. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Classic Metal. ... This article is about the British heavy metal band. ... Sweet, on the cover of their 1974 Desolation Boulevard LP. From left to right: Andy Scott, Steve Priest, Brian Connolly, & Mick Tucker. ... Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948), is a rock singer and musician. ...

Gothic Metal

Gothic metal is a genre that synthesis the guitaring styles of doom metal, black metal and death metal with its own unique use of heavy keyboard atmospherics, romantic and story like lyrics and dual vocalists. This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... It has been suggested that sludge metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Florida death metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Grindcore

Grindcore is influenced by thrash metal, and also hardcore and punk, taking its name from the "grinding" sound made by the atonal riffs 'grinding' into one another. The style is characterised by a vocal style similar to death metal, rapid fire "blast beats" from double-kick drums and short songs. There are grindcore bands that are more hardcore than metal, but most bands today are heavily influenced by death metal. Grindcore is an extreme form of hardcore punk and heavy metal, related to both death metal and crust punk, but historically formed by combining elements of Hardcore Punk and early thrash metal. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Atonality in a general sense describes music that departs from the system of tonal hierarchies that are said to characterized the sound of classical European music from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries. ... In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a rock music or jazz composition. ... It has been suggested that Florida death metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal is the original type of Metal Music, from which metal music derived its name, which started in the mid '70s. The genre is personified by rasping vocals and long guitar solos. Lyrically the genre has no true focus, covering varying subjects with no set ideology, however heavy Metal bands are often a known joke towards these subjects and do not take themselfs seriously. Because this genre started all the Metal music movement, some people think that Heavy Metal and Metal are the same thing. Others however, assert that this assumption is outdated and wrong, since the words Heavy Metal are more frequently used to define that type of Metal Music played by bands mainly in the late 1970s, and 1980s, that is borderlined with Hard Rock.

Industrial Metal

Industrial metal features elements of industrial music, techno, and heavy, distorted guitars. Synthesizers and drum machines are heavily used in this sub-genre. Industrial metal is a musical genre which draws elements from industrial music and heavy metal music. ... Techno is a form of electronic music that emerged in the mid-1980s and primarily refers to a particular style founded in Germany and developed in and around Detroit and subsequently adopted by European producers. ... The term synthesiser is also used to mean frequency synthesiser, an electronic system found in communications. ... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. ...

Metalcore

Metalcore is defined usually by bands whose music combines both the raw vocals and beat of American hardcore (generally within the Northeast US) with the guitars more often used in European thrash metal and melodic death metal. Metalcore is a musical genre consisting of a mix between heavy metal and hardcore. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

Neo-Classical Metal

Neo-classical metal incorporates elements from classical music, into the normal heavy metal sound, including tempo's, instrument usage, and even melodies. Yngwie J. Malmsteen is a known proponent of this branch of metal. Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of the heavy metal music heavily influenced by classical music. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Yngwie Johann Malmsteen, pronounced INGvay (born Lars Yngve Johann LannerbÃ¤ck, June 30, 1963) is a virtuoso guitarist from Sweden who achieved widespread acclaim in the 1980s due to his technical proficiency and fusion of classical music elements with heavy rock guitar. ...

Nu Metal

Nu metal often features a pronounced hip hop influence, and guitar technique which is often different from other metal genres. It is widely argued that nu-metal is a misnomer, stating the genre has very little to do with heavy metal. Nu metal (or aggro metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ... Hip hop music (also referred to as rap or rap music) is a style of popular music. ... Look up Misnomer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A misnomer is a misleading name for a thing. ...

Power metal

Power metal is a more upbeat genre than most metal genres, taking heavy influence from thrash metal and heavy metal, with more progression replacing the electro-blues style, more virtuosity in the guitar leads and solos, and stressing, jaunty tempos. Power Metal often emphasizes on clean, melodic, high-pitched vocals, fast pacing that is mostly driven by double kick drumming and melodic lead guitar. The rhythm guitar is defined by straight power chord progressions. Power metal leans towards the positive, happy side of life seeking to empower the listener and inspire joy and courage. Power metal usually has fantasy or science fiction themes though this is not always the case. The subgenre is sometimes not accepted by some metal enthusiasts because it is often in the commercial light and as such is not underground music. Most power metal bands are continental European, though this is not always the case with bands like Jag Panzer, Iced Earth and a few others coming from the U.S. Power metal is a style of heavy metal music. ... Fantasy is a genre of art, literature, film, television, and music that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of either plot, theme, setting, or all three. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Jag Panzer is a North American power metal band. ... Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combines influences from thrash metal, power metal, NWOBHM with gothic touches, and is one of the few modern bands still producing true heavy metal and refusing to follow trends. ...

Progressive metal

Progressive metal focuses on sophistication and complexity through constant time and tempo changes, and solos with heavy emphasis on extended instrumental segments. Vocals are generally melodic, with lyrics often touching on philosophical, spiritual, and/or political themes, and instrument virtuosity is a must. Progressive Metal is normally seen to be closely related to progressive rock, commonly through earlier works of Queensrÿche and Rush. Progressive metal (shortened to prog, or prog metal when differentiating from progressive rock) is a heavy brand of progressive rock which is characterized by the use of complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate and virtuosic instrumental playing. ... Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other progressive genres) is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s, reached the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, and continues as a musical form to this day. ... QueensrÃ¿che (pronounced queens-rike) is a progressive metal band formed in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Bellevue in 1981. ... Rush is a Canadian progressive rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist and vocalist Geddy Lee (real name Gary Lee Weinrib), guitarist Alex Lifeson (real name Alexander Zivojinovich), and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart (pronounced: Peert, as in fear) (IPA: ). Since the release of their eponymous debut in 1974, the band became...

Symphonic Metal

Symphonic metal varies in form. It is known most commonly to be said to refer to any bands that use orchestral elements in their music. These include full orchestras, opera themes, vocals or keyboarding akin to that of opera or symphony music, and a more upbeat and soft nature than other metal genres. This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...

Thrash metal

Thrash metal originated, and remains, heavy metal with tempos influenced more predominantly by hardcore punk. Thrash Metal also caused the tritonal chord to be heavily associated with Metal and intensity a key ingredient throughout most Metal genres. Thrash Metal songs are usually fairly complex, and frequently contain constant time and tempo changes. Thrash Metal replaces melody with brutality and speed, with the use of ample distortion. Thrash also started the use of double bass drums in Metal. Vocals are usually yelled, screamed, or snarled, though, at the same time, melodic. Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

As is true for many of the terms in this list, the moniker "thrash metal" was not always embraced by its supposed representatives; early on, Metallica referred to themselves as "power metal" (conflicting with the above definition of this term). Conversely, many bands, like Kreator, came up with equally obscure classifications for themselves, such as hate metal. Kreator is a popular thrash metal band from Essen, Germany. ... Obscure style of heavy metal involving fast tempo and screeching/growling vocals, bordering on (although chronologically preceding) death metal. ...

Cross-Genre References

Many terms are used to group bands from across genres that share a common trait. These terms are used loosely when used, and in some places may or not be used at all. They normally group bands of several genres together into a group due to a shared trait that is not normally a feature of any of the genres of metal the individual bands are part of.

Alternative Metal

Avantgarde Metal

Avant garde metal, sometimes called experimental, is a subgenre of heavy metal characterized by large amounts of experimentation and by non-standard sounds, instruments, and song structures. ...

Celtic Metal

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Folk Metal. ...

Christian Metal

Christian metal is a form of heavy metal music with explicitly Christian lyrics and themes. ...

Classic Metal

Classic metal is a genre of heavy metal music which is characterized by thumping fast basslines, fast, but less heavy riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses. ... In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a rock music or jazz composition. ...

Dark Metal

Dark Metal is a subjective term used to describe European heavy metal bands in the 1990s who began as death or black metal and progressed with some traits of gothic doom metal, which included synthesizer use, acoustic guitar experimentation and/or operatic female vocals. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... It has been suggested that sludge metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ...

Epic Metal

This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...

Extreme Metal

Extreme metal is a broad term of heavy metal music genres that are characterized by more aggressive styles, such as Black metal, Death metal, Grindcore, and Thrash metal. ... It has been suggested that Pagan metal be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Florida death metal be merged into this article or section. ... Grindcore is an extreme form of hardcore punk and heavy metal, related to both death metal and crust punk, but historically formed by combining elements of Hardcore Punk and early thrash metal. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ...

NWOBHM

// NWOBHM Beginnings The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) emerged in the late 1970s, in part a reaction to the decline of traditional heavy metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. ... Traditional metal is the earliest form of metal music. ...

Party Metal

Party metal or pop metal is a genre of heavy metal music influenced by pop music and overlapping with the hard rock, hair metal and classic metal genres of the 1980s. ...

Rap Metal

Rap metal is a musical genre that takes influence from both rap music and heavy metal music. ...

Speed Metal

Speed metal is a genre of heavy metal music that is similar to thrash metal, but tends to be more melodic and show less influence of punk music. ...

Tech Metal

It has been suggested that math metal be merged into this article or section. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational device used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each bar and which note value (minim, crotchet, eighth note and so on) constitutes one beat. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... In music, a consonance (Latin consonare, sounding together) is a harmony, chord, or interval considered stable, as opposed to a dissonance, which is considered unstable. ... Atonality in a general sense describes music that departs from the system of tonal hierarchies that are said to characterized the sound of classical European music from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries. ... In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a rock music or jazz composition. ...

Viking Metal

Related Genres

The genres listed hered are sometimes mistaken as metal genres, or have association with metal genres through influencing, or being influenced by them.

Blues Rock

Blues-rock, or Blues Rock, is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll. ...

Hard Rock

Hard rock is a form of rock and roll music which finds its closest roots in early 1960s garage rock. ... Blues-rock, or Blues Rock, is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll. ... Psychedelia is a term describing a category of music, visual art, fashion, and culture that is associated originally with the high 1960s, hippies, and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, California. ... This article is about the rock group. ... Thin Lizzy in 1975 Thin Lizzy was an Irish rock group, formed in Dublin in 1969. ... AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band. ...

External links

Encyclopedia > Metal music

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