Metal Genres

[Vexbeast]

Okay~ Because a) I need to expand my metal collection, and b) I want to be able to partake in discussions on the topic of metal, I need someone to layman-term the genres for me.

I've been through the wikipedia descriptions, but they either don't stick, or go right over my head. O.o

I'm pretty sure I'm fine on funk-metal, heavy-metal, nu-metal, symphonic-metal and thrash-metal.

But progressive, power, death, doom, and various things I've forgotten or haven't even heard about that no doubt someone will be happy to school me on... <.<

So, little help?

 

[Ermine]

Well, plenty of people here like metal, particularly symphonic and progressive metal, so you came to the right place.

First of all, what metal bands do you like. I just want to know what you're interested in so I don't list and describe every metal genre I've heard of, e.g. troll metal, and silly stuff like that.

 

[Vexbeast]

From the genres I'm not sure about, I have: Acid Bath (only like the metal-ballads), ...And Oceans, Arch Enemy, Kittie...

Had some really trippy stuff from another band but I deleted it. :/

Also had Dimmu Borgir, but now I only have the piano piece... Sorgen's Kammer, I think it's called.

I actually had a LOT of metal that I got off my scary black-metal friend, but I ended up deleting most of it for space. Wasn't overly partial to most of it though.


From the rest, some of my favourites are: Adema, Drowning Pool, POD (early), Limp Bizkit (Three Dollar Bill Y'all, and the more mellow newer songs. The heavy songs mostly lost their edge after that album.) Linkin Park, Tool, Epica, Versailles, Blindspott (first album), Stylus...

Rammstein too, but I've never been one to think of industrial as metal.

I think that about sums it up.

 

[Vegard Pompey]

...And Oceans

GREAT band. So anyway, this is how I tell the genres apart, and how I feel about them... Warning, opinions ahead!

Death Metal - Kinda like thrash metal but more "extreme", often uses guttural growls. It's usually all about speed and riffs and stuff and most of it bores the shit out of me. Oh, and they tune their guitars really low for the most part.

Black Metal - Often slower and more atmospheric than death metal, and if it isn't, it is crap that I can't be bothered with. Often uses lots of distortion and reverb.

Melodic Black Metal - Like black metal, but with less distortion and more melody. Often uses clean vocals and melody. Early ...And Oceans goes in this category.

Symphonic Black Metal - Self explanatory, right? Dimmu Borgir goes here.

Doom Metal - Very, very, very slow doomy metal. Think of Black Sabbath's self-titled song. That is the prime example of a doom metal song.

Power Metal - Split into two categories, American Power Metal and European Power Metal. USPM mixes traditional heavy metal with thrash metal and... that's pretty much it. EuroPM (sometimes also referred to as "Flower Metal") is very melodic and upbeat. Mainly uses clean vocals and often features keyboards.

Progressive Metal - More of an attribute than a genre. Complicated song structures, unusual time signatures... Often jazz influenced.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

Isn't black metal faster than death in many cases

 

[Ermine]

Actually, there's plenty of slow and fast black metal and death metal. The main difference I've found is that black metal prefers high pitched screams while death metal prefers growling.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

yes, the sound of black metal is more piercing. but more atmospheric and palatable maintaining the speed.

death metal on the whole is fecking awful. though the scandinavian and floridian bands are much more creative. the brutal death scene is absolute shite.

black metal, particularly the melodic and symphonic, is for the most part better than death. it is deeper and more layered.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

Kids these days......

Just give me some good ol' fashioned Motorhead.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

Motorhead are undeniably fantastic

 

[Vegard Pompey]

Isn't black metal faster than death in many cases

Yes, you may be right, but it was a biased description and most of the black metal I listen to is slow atmospheric stuff (a.k.a. Burzum clones)

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

i'm mostly into stuff like Dissection, Immortal, Emperor. still atmospheric but thrashier

 

[Vegard Pompey]

Well I hate pretty much all thrash except more progressive stuff like Voivod... And Megadeth's Rust In Peace album is good too.

 

[Ermine]

^Me too. I also like "...And Justice for All" and "Death Magnetic" from Metallica. The new album was a nice trip back to their thrash past, though it's much more refined now along with some progressive elements.

 

[Anthile]

I never liked Metallica, nor I like Thrash Metal much, but a thread about it without even mentioning Watchtower or Mekong Delta? Huh?

 

[zxc]

Check out Dolorian, a pretty obscure doom metal band from Finland. Very moody and atmospheric songs; try their first and second albums (When all the laughter has gone, and Dolorian (self-titled)) depending on what type of vocals you prefer: first album is mostly screamed, second album is all whispered...

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

watchtower are pretty good, but.....

Mekong delta?!

 

[travelnjones]

For progressive metal I would recommend the following

Voivod= Nothing face or The outer limits. Very heavy and odd. Utterly unique

Dream Theater=Change of Seasons EP

Iron Maiden= Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Zero Hour=specs of burnt beyond

Fates Warning=Awaken the Guardian and any Ray Alder era

Rush=Caress of Steel first prog metal record

Symphony X=V

Opeth is very confusing

 

[Myth]

I need Water,food,oxygen,resting and Black label society