i have to agree with thrice owns,
what ever happend to just enjoyin the music. Now its like as soon as a band gets more popular/famous their new metal or some other type of genre no one likes. System of a down my be new metal but they have a plethora of different genres put into there music. But when toxicity came out and chop suey! got into heavy rotation everyone was like **ck SoaD, when two years ago u were pumpin sweet pea.the **ck, just let the music flow, and stop labeling it. if your gonna label it, label it crap and good mother**ckin s**t.

gd list man, i think that u cudda given melodic black metal its own section and sum key artists were missing but overall pretty gd man.

i think it wouldnt hurt to include love metal, that is a new classification brought by HIM from germany

wow, bout this thread. a lot of good info, but could someone please edit it a bit. such as the bitchfights and bitchfight commentaries. i mean my god. we dont need several pages of petty insults to look at definitions of metal. also, the examples of bands are just that, examples. not every band in the genre will be listed, get over it. also, many metal genres overlap somewhat, so no, u will not agree with every single band placement on the thread, get over that to

anyways, could someone edit thie eventually

one more thing, ive heard several mentions of power metal, could someone explain it?

^^ It;s in here, have a look

[U]Nu-metal[/U]
Bands: Slipknot, Mudvayne, [U]System Of A Down[/U], Papa Roach, P.O.D., Linkin Park, Disturbed.

Dude, System of a Down isnt nu-metal. Nothing about them fits the nu-metal criteria. their traditional metal, man.

[QUOTE=pearljam_10][U]Nu-metal[/U]
Bands: Slipknot, Mudvayne, [U]System Of A Down[/U], Papa Roach, P.O.D., Linkin Park, Disturbed.

Dude, System of a Down isnt nu-metal. Nothing about them fits the nu-metal criteria. their traditional metal, man.[/QUOTE]

[SIZE=4]SYSTEM OF A DOWN ARE FUC[FONT=VERDANA]K[/FONT]ING NU-METAL[/SIZE]

Jesus people, just because you like them doesn't mean they're not. SOAD are a good band, I am not dissing them, but they ARE nu-metal, whether you like it or not. Yes, they are way more experimental than other nu-metal acts and have a middle-eastern cultural influence to their music, which differentiates them from their peers, but at the heart and core of it, they are still nu-metal.

according to most of these people anything that sucks is new metal.

im sorry nu-metal

that was marvelous. i always knew you were knowledgeable about metal, but that was beyond my expectations

no goth/industrial metal? industrial metal is a pretty well known genre now

Where's Megadeth? Good job with or without them

[QUOTE=pearljam_10]
Dude, System of a Down isnt nu-metal. Nothing about them fits the nu-metal criteria. their traditional metal, man.[/QUOTE]

Yeah! Cos they sound so much like Priest, Maiden, Manilla Road, Twisted Tower Dire etc.

This is actually interesting now that you've explained the difference of black and death metal. I must say thanks. Keep it up! God's Planet owes you one ^_^.

who? oh, okay...
 

[QUOTE=deftoned]They're not almost completely different. I warrant Mudvayne are a little different, but they still tour with bands like Linkin Park, and their fanbases are very similar. Slipknot fans are almost always into Mudvayne. Slipknot aren't 'that' heavy, but they're the heaviest of nu-metal bands.[/QUOTE]

yeh, but Metallica were also on the summer sanitarium tour...who a band tours with doesn't really prove anything..

mudvayne own. 'nuf said.

the problem with kids of today is they like a band and they want to call it something its not. a kid will say "i like slipknot. they're speed metal!" or whatever they say and then think theyre cool cuz they like speed metal.

ps godsmack should be in nu-metal category. no doubt

[QUOTE=hafez]no goth/industrial metal? industrial metal is a pretty well known genre now[/QUOTE]
[quote=me]Industrial Metal:
I've often heard industrial metal compared to techno, mainly because it has prevalent use of synthesizers as a major instrument. It takes cues from 80's industrial dance music that was popular in the club scene, and adds metal guitars to create an aggresive effect. Industrial metal is meant to create a very bleak atmoshpere. The lyrics are aggresive and very, very angst-ridden, and the angry atmoshpere is used to further the theme of social alienation. The genre was mainly underground until Nine Inch Nails broke through into the mainstream with the album Pretty Hate Machine.

Key bands: Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Fear Factory, Orgy, Godflesh, etc. etc.[/quote]

:thumb: Enjoy

[QUOTE=sp1n3shankk]the problem with kids of today is they like a band and they want to call it something its not. a kid will say "i like slipknot. they're speed metal!" or whatever they say and then think theyre cool cuz they like speed metal.

ps godsmack should be in nu-metal category. no doubt[/QUOTE]

Therein lies the problem with the nu-metal monkier. It's so all encompassing and vague that nobody really knows what it is. Okay, nobody's going to deny that Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit are nu-metal, but you could actually make a case for, say Slipknot being non-nu-metal. They're definitely not speed metal, but you could almost make a case for them being death metal. I'm inclined to include Godsmack with nu-metal as well. 12 Stones solo as well, and they're much better at it than Godsmack, but they're still considered nu-metal. (somebody had said that because Godsmack attempts solos they're not nu-metal.)

[QUOTE=epifreak2002]Therein lies the problem with the nu-metal monkier. It's so all encompassing and vague that nobody really knows what it is. Okay, nobody's going to deny that Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit are nu-metal, but you could actually make a case for, say Slipknot being non-nu-metal. They're definitely not speed metal, but you could almost make a case for them being death metal. I'm inclined to include Godsmack with nu-metal as well. 12 Stones solo as well, and they're much better at it than Godsmack, but they're still considered nu-metal. (somebody had said that because Godsmack attempts solos they're not nu-metal.)[/QUOTE]
There is NO WAY that Slipknot are death metal. They want to seem to get that image across, whilst still being commercially viable. If they are so "death metal", they have been watered down SO MUCH, to the point of being nu-metal.

[QUOTE=pariah]yeh, but Metallica were also on the summer sanitarium tour...who a band tours with doesn't really prove anything..

mudvayne own. 'nuf said.[/QUOTE]
Dude that wasn't an insult, just because Mudvayne toured with Linkin Park. Have a teary. Metallica's most prospective fan base now is those with Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit fans. We all know St. Anger went nu-metal, and Lars has even said that the peers of the band are now Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, it's "what keeps us going". Whilst this sucks, it's the truth. To remain "fresh", Metallica made a package tour with a lot of kiddie bands. This is why the Deftones left the tour, as they said they wanted to get away from that fanbase and "kiddie band" label that had been on them for years. I don't agree with them dissing Metallica, but I agree with them, because they don't like being labelled with Limp Bizkit, LP etc.

It does prove something, as bands try and tour with other bands whose fans are similar. You won't see a tour of Cannibal Corpse and Radiohead, will you? This is why bands try and get a suitable support act, whose fanbase is generally similar/could crossover. I doubt a Snoop Dogg and Slayer gig would ever happen, this is why it's important for bands to choose their supports wisely.

[QUOTE=deftoned]There is NO WAY that Slipknot are death metal. They want to seem to get that image across, whilst still being commercially viable. If they are so "death metal", they have been watered down SO MUCH, to the point of being nu-metal.[/QUOTE]

I didn't say they [I]were[/I]. I said a case could be made for it. I personally like Slipknot, but I'll be the first to acknowledge that they're nu-metal.

Why is 'nu-metal' a dirty word? I like some artists that are considered nu-metal. Their classification doesn't bother me. Just because I like some of it doesn't mean I'm any less worthy than someone who likes death/black/thrash metal, does it? Why the stigma? Somebody please tell me why so many people are getting riled up over a group of bands. If they don't like them - leave their music be!

Wise Words deftoned. People don't really realize that Metallica isn't the Fan-Loving band of the Eighties and Early 90's. If any bands are severly dedicated to their fans, it's Slayer and Anthrax. Those bands know that without their dedicated fans from the times of Reign and South of Heaven, then they're nothing. The same goes for Anthrax. It's a shame Metallica compromised their sound to appeal to this pansy kids who think Linkin Park is a metal band. Epifreak also made a good point that the term Nu-Metal is far too vague to describe a band. Soulfly, Static X, Godsmack, and Spineshank were branded that way since they came out in the late 90's, early new millenium, when they follow traditional Metal guidlines, such as brutal lyrics, heavy guitar, and great music. I don't really know if Slipknot fits in Nu-Metal, especially with their upcoming album, which is probobly going to sound like Slayer's God Hates Us All musically. If Slipknot is anything, they're a mixture of the Rap rythyms of Mallcore with a little, but not much, thrash thrown into the mix. Any way you put it, Nu-Metal is way too broad, and way too easy to stamp on a band that doesn't deserve that title.

SOAD is not nu-metal. Serj does not rap at all.

What about alternative metal and math metal?

[QUOTE=illicit citizen]SOAD is not nu-metal. Serj does not rap at all.

What about alternative metal and math metal?[/QUOTE]
These morons are getting out of hand....

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, READ THE THREAD BEFORE YOU POST.

what would korn be classified as

Nu-metal

[QUOTE=Kaden]:thumb: Enjoy[/QUOTE]

thanks kaden but i wanted legions to do it so that people wouldn't always ask "what exactly is industrial". also, nice job, but you didn't mention the use of actual tools, etc.

great list but there's also grindcore with gorerotted,napalm death, mortician who sucks, but is grindcore,early carcass,and you can mention grave,but that's a little more death.

[QUOTE=Twisted Angel Corpse]great list but there's also grindcore with gorerotted,napalm death, mortician who sucks, but is grindcore,early carcass,and you can mention grave,but that's a little more death.[/QUOTE]

Read through the thread, and you will find a grind definition.

[QUOTE=LegionsofMarduk]At the request of the mods, I'm making this thread to get stickied. Seeing as how there are numerous threads asking "What's the difference between genre X and genre Y?", hopefully this will curb some of those. NOTE: This is a very general guideline and not a definitive carved in stone definition. While I may put a band in with one genre, that doesn't mean that they might not fit into more than one sub-genre. I think most people here know my main area of interest is death and black metal so if you disagree with some of my opinions or band lists...fine.

[U]Traditional heavy Metal[/U]
This is kind of a "catch all". There are plenty of sub-genres, but there are lots of bands that don't fit any sub-genre and can't really be called anything except "heavy metal". This can be basically anything from the old school British heavy metal invation to the newer stuff coming out today (not to be confused with nu-metal). This is what most people think of when they hear "Power metal" or such terms. Lots of different styles can be considered traditional heavy metal. Some bands: Iron Maiden, Judas Preist, Iced Earth, Godsmack, Manowar, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall etc etc etc etc.

[U]Thrash metal[/U]
Thrash really started to come into play in the early 1980's. It was in one way, an answer to the more popular "hair metal" bands of the time. Thrash grew out of older metal such as Black Sabbath combined with chunkier riffs, speed, agrresive vocals, and even some punk. Thrash metal is concentrated more heavily on speed and aggression than it's predacessors. Key bands: Metallica (old stuff), Slayer, Anthrax, Kreator, Sodom, Megadeth, Exodus, Overkill, Nuclear Assault, Sabbat (UK), Darkane etc etc.

[U]Doom Metal[/U]
Where thrash metal concentrates on being fast and aggressive, doom concentrates on being slower, lower and groovier. Many consider Black Sabbath to be the fathers of doom. Typically the music is slow and heavy. Guitars are tuned down and the vocals are usually clean, although growls do slip in on occasion. Also, while death and black metal are generally more aggressive lyrically, doom metal is very meloncholic, depressive and gives an extremly dark vibe. The music can range quite a bit from the extremely slloooooow all clean vocals, to the faster (but still relatively slow) doom/death bands. Check out [url]http://www.doom-metal.com[/url] for some good information and a pretty large list of bands. Key bands: Candlemass, St. Vitus, Unsilence, My Dying Bride, Katatonia, Paradise Lost etc etc.

[U]Death Metal[/U]
Death metal is the opposite end of the spectrum from doom metal. There are a few different schools of death metal. Generally speaking though, the music is fast, aggressive, low. The bass line is usually more pronounced than in other metal sub-genres. The vocal style is trademark to death metal. Usually vocals are growled or grunted. Blast beat drums are very prevalent. The most common misconception is that death metal is all about death and gore and killing and the likes. This is most certainly not the case. While many bands do sing about this type of thing, there are tons of great bands that do not limit themselves to lyrics like that. Lyrics can range to include religion, spirituality, fantasy and beyond. The music can range from the very aggressive and brutal (Aborted, Iniquity, Suffocation) to the more melodic (Ebony Tears, At The Gates) to the very technical (Atheist, Cynic). Key bands: Lykathea Aflame, Mithras, Morbid Angel, Behemoth (older stuff was black metal), Opeth, Immolation, Blood Red Throne, Entombed, Unleashed, Sinners Bleed.

[U]Melodic death metal[/U]
An obvious sub-genre to death metal, it's becoming popular enough that I think it deserves it's own little section. Basically, it incorporates more melody. What it lacks in brutallity, it more than makes up for in melodic grooves. The vocals are typically not as harsh, there may or may not be as many blast beats. Key Bands: At The Gates, In Flames, Ebony Tears, Carcass (Heartwork mainly), Aeternus, Amon Amarth, Kalmah, Norther.

[U]Black Metal[/U]
My own personaly favorite and particular area of expertise. Black metal and death metal are quite closely related. While death is focused on the shear brutallity, black metal is focused more on creating atmosphere. The music is typically higher pitched with less of a bass line. Some bands incorporate the use of keyboards or synthesizers. The production is quite often pretty bad giving it a raw or "trOO necro" quality. Tremelo picking abounds, blast beats are not as prevalent as in death metal but are still there quite often. The vocals are generally high pitched shreiked or screamed. The music can range from the "trOO necro" bands (Darkthrone) to the more melodic (Naglfar) to the very sophisticated orchestral atmospheric (Arcturus). A common misconception about black metal is that all the bands are Satanist and sing about Satan. While many bands are Satanic or anti-christian (note the distinct difference), that is not the case with all black metal bands. Lyrics can range from Satanic to fantasy to witchcraft to just about anything. Many black metal bands are very paganistic in ideology and see the christian church as an intruder in their native lands, leading to the very deep seeded hatred for christianity. Unfortunately, black metal also has a sub-genre known as NSBM. National Socialist Black Metal. While I do listen to quite a few of those bands because I like the music, lyrically many black metal bands are very racist against not only Blacks or Jews, but anyone of non-aryan decent. Key bands: Burzum, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Nargaroth, Emperor, Bathory, Immortal, Beherit, Graveland, Gorgoroth, Moonblood, Samael.

[U]Progressive metal[/U]
A newer genre (relatively speaking), prog metal incorporates the general aggression of heavy metal with the progressive rock sound of the late 70's. Generally speaking, the music has lots of different aspects including key and time changes, unique riffing and such. The level of musicianship is typically extremly high. Dream Theater is by far the most popular band in this genre. The music is generally quite technical. Key Bands: Dream Theater, Queensryche, Spiral Architect, Spastic Ink, Aghora, Gordian Knot, Racer X.

[U]Nu-metal[/U]
Nu-metal is the newest craze to hit mainstream rock radio. Without trying to bash it too much, generally speaking the music structure is very simplistic. Lyrics cover subjects that are close to todays teens (depression, abuse, drugs etc). There are very few guitar solos and the one's that are there are typically very simple and short. Vocals can range from the more metal influenced to a fusion of metal and rap. Guitars are often downtuned or drop tuned. This genre is generally not very popular among listeners of other metal music, but it is the newest craze and therefore very promoted and heavily played on the radio. Bands: Slipknot, Mudvayne, System Of A Down, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Linkin Park, Disturbed.


Again...this is NOT a definitive list. It not by any stretch of the imagination complete. I'm sure if we really wanted to we could come up with a good 20 or so more sub-genres. It is meant as a [i]general[/i] guideline for the noob who's just getting into metal that otherwise would have posted a "What's the difference" thread. Feel free to agree or disagree. With any genre, there are bands that cross over and blur the lines. Your best bet if you're new to any genre of metal is to go out find a list of bands in the genre you're interested in. Download a couple songs from a bunch of different bands and then make your own distinctions.[/QUOTE] in black metal u forgot to name cradle of filth

[QUOTE=Twisted Angel Corpse]great list but there's also grindcore with gorerotted,napalm death, mortician who sucks, but is grindcore,early carcass,and you can mention grave,but that's a little more death.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't call Gorerotted, Mortician or Grave grindcore.

Grindcore has roots in the 80's hardcore punk scene while those bands are just plain death metal.

Grindcore is:

old Extreme Noise Terror
Sore Throat
Nausea
Terrorizer
Nausea

[QUOTE=SelfKsEreveloution]in black metal u forgot to name cradle of filth[/QUOTE]

Applicable comment, but did you really [B]need[/B] to quote the whole original post to say it?

Anyway, given the definition for industrial given here, might Static X fit better with industrial than nu-metal?

i remembered reading about Math-Metal, they labelled MuDvAyNe that...
laterz... :upset:

[QUOTE=deftoned]Dude that wasn't an insult, just because Mudvayne toured with Linkin Park. Have a teary. Metallica's most prospective fan base now is those with Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit fans. We all know St. Anger went nu-metal, and Lars has even said that the peers of the band are now Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, it's "what keeps us going". Whilst this sucks, it's the truth. To remain "fresh", Metallica made a package tour with a lot of kiddie bands. This is why the Deftones left the tour, as they said they wanted to get away from that fanbase and "kiddie band" label that had been on them for years. I don't agree with them dissing Metallica, but I agree with them, because they don't like being labelled with Limp Bizkit, LP etc.

It does prove something, as bands try and tour with other bands whose fans are similar. You won't see a tour of Cannibal Corpse and Radiohead, will you? This is why bands try and get a suitable support act, whose fanbase is generally similar/could crossover. I doubt a Snoop Dogg and Slayer gig would ever happen, this is why it's important for bands to choose their supports wisely.[/QUOTE]

...fair enough. well said.

very very good. but i thought led zeppelin should have been on traditional heavy metal because they were the last true heavy metal band.

no they don't
 

[QUOTE=Cardboard Headgear]Yes they do.

EDIT: to the guy talking about System of a Down.[/QUOTE]

Bull crap system of a down is the abnout as far from nu-metal as u can get :evil:
Korn is nu-metal :thumb:

[QUOTE=EbayRules]very very good. but i thought led zeppelin should have been on traditional heavy metal because they were the last true heavy metal band.[/QUOTE]
:confused: What about Iron Maiden? I've never even considered Led Zeppelin a metal band...
Come to think of it, I've never heard anyone call Zeppelin a metal band. And didn't the majority of metal start after Zeppelin? The more I think about it, the more retarded that statement seems.

[quote=i_rock]Bull crap system of a down is the abnout as far from nu-metal as u can get:evil:[/quote]
What about Barry Manilow?

[QUOTE=i_rock]Bull crap system of a down is the abnout as far from nu-metal as u can get :evil: :[/QUOTE]
Yeah man, and Radiohead must be death metal... :rolleyes: SOAD are nu-metal, that's not an insult, it's just the truth.