HEAVY METAL music
is alive and well. We've put together a list covering
some of the primary styles that fall under the heading of
"METAL", with a sampling of some of the bands that
fall into those categories. Hopefully this will help to
give you a nice overview of the many forms of metal,
expose you to how vast and diverse metal is,
and introduce you to some of the key bands that make up
the metal genre.
Not all metal bands fall into a distinct
category. Many of them cross-over amongst the various styles
and some like METALLICA have morphed from one style
into a newer one altogether (they want from all out thrash
to more main-stream traditional metal).
Obviously we won't be able to categorize
all of the metal bands out there, but we've tried to include
some of the ones that have made the biggest mark in their
particular style of metal.
Feel free to write us at Power
Play Records and let us know about the bands you are
listening to.
THRASH METAL
(Also
known as SPEED METAL) - THRASH hit it's stride
and made quite a showing in the mid to late 1980's. Known
for it's rapid fire attack and high speed 16th note guitar
strumming thrash blisters fans with a technical skill
that is breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
Some THRASH METAL
bands include: METALLICA / MEGADETH / ANTHRAX / SLAYER /
EXODUS / KREATOR / TESTAMENT / ANNIHILATOR / CORONER / DARK
ANGEL / DEATH ANGEL / DESTRUCTION / EXCITER / OVERKILL /
FLOTSAM & JETSAM / FORBIDDEN / CELTIC FROST / NUCLEAR ASSAULT
/ PANTERA / RAGE / SODOM
POWER METAL
- Similar in speed
and technicality to thrash, POWER METAL is
a bit cleaner and more polised sounding than thrash metal.
The power metal sound is also based a bit more heavily
on melodies and harmonious technical playing than just raw
speed.
Some POWER
METAL bands include: ICED EARTH / HAMMERFALL / NEVERMORE
/ BLIND GUARDIAN / HELLOWEEN / IRON MAIDEN / JAG PANZER
/ RUNNING WILD / STRATOVARIUS
DEATH METAL -
Death
Metal is a bit more primal and
brutal sounding than either thrash or power metal.
The vocals are often undistinguishable and are usually
bellowed and roared. The tempo of the music rages at an
incredible warp speed. Over the past two decades the typical
sounds of death metal have changed. In the 1980's
death was typically more guttural and barked, while
in the 90's the sound introduced more guitar melody and
even sometimes clean vocals.
Some DEATH
METAL bands include: MORBID ANGEL/ DEICIDE / DISMEMBER
/ AT THE GATES / DEATH / ENTOMBED / GORGUTS / IN FLAMES
/ MACABRE / MASSACRE / POSSESSED / CARNIVORE
BLACK METAL
- (The
term "black metal" was inspired by the 1982 VENOM album
of the same name). Black Metal groups (like death
metal) can generally be broken down into two camps based
on the time frame. The 80's style black metal was
traditional speed metal with satanic lyrics.
In the 1990's a new incarnation of black metal evolved
(mostly by bands from Norway and Sweden). The new black
metal made all other forms of metal seem tame with blast
beats (ultra fast snare and kick drum patterns), frantic
guitar riffing, along with howling and screaming vocals!
Another trait common to black metal bands is the
on stage use of "corpse paint" which is black and white
face paint. You've probably seen vocalist King Diamond (Mercyful
Fate) made up with corpse paint and sporting an inverted
black cross on his forehead.
Some BLACK
METAL bands include: BATHORY / MERCYFUL FATE / CRADLE
OF FILTH / EMPEROR / DIMMU BORGIR / MAYHEM / BURZUM / DARKTHRONE
/ IMMORTAL / ENTHRONED / MARDUK / SATYRICON
DOOM METAL
- Doom
metal was inspired by Black Sabbath's Tony
Iommi and his massive, turgid guitar playing style.
Rather than racing at break neck speed, Doom metal took
on a slightly different direction than most metal with it's
typically slow tempos and deep menacing vocals. Many Gothic
influences were incorporated giving Doom it's
unique style.
Some DOOM
METAL bands include: BLACK SABBATH / CELTIC FROST /
CANDLEMASS / THE SISTERS OF MERCY / ANATHEMA / PARADISE
LOST / MY DYING BRIDE
OTHER METAL VARIATIONS:
SYMPHONIC METAL -
SKYLARK / EDGUY / ANGRA
/ EDDY ANTONINI / REQUIEM
N.W.O.B.H.M. (New Wave
of British Heavy Metal) SAXON
/ ANGEL WITCH / THE TYGERS OF PAN TANG
INDUSTRIAL MINISTRY
/ FEAR FACTORY / MACHINE HEAD / SLIPKNOT
GRIND CORE -
NAPALM DEATH
HARD CORE -
D.R.I. / CRO-MAGS
GOTHIC -
NIGHTFALL
PROGRESSIVE - DREAM
THEATER / VOIVOD
GORE CORE -
CANNIBAL
CORPSE / CARCASS / SIX FEET UNDER
PAGAN METAL - GRAVELAND
/ ENCHANTED / WAYLANDER
CHRISTIAN METAL - STRYPER
/ PETRA
VIKING METAL -
ENSLAVED / EINHERJER
VAMPIRE METAL - THEATRE
DES VAMPIRE
FOLK METAL - CRUACHAN
DARK METAL - BETHLEHEM
