[QUOTE=ludz]Great List, But:

I think there should be definitions for the "cores". Hardcore, Metalcore etc.

I think, and many people will agree with me, that Nu-Metal should be called something else. I like Crossover. And System of a Down shouldn't be on that list. Not by a long shot. People only call them Nu-Metal because they came out the same time as all those other bands. Except for the down-tuned guitars they don't fit into that group.[/QUOTE]


Crossover works for me. I listen to a lot of different genres, and I also like the whole crossover thing. I agree that SOAD is not really at home in nu metal. And SOAD is just one example. But who cares, it's just a name to describe a sound. If you like it, just listen to it.

I dont think id consider SOAD nu-metal but all in all very good

korn would be in nu metal, right?

[QUOTE=the sock]korn would be in nu metal, right?[/QUOTE]
yes indeed.

[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]
I HAVE TO AGRZEE TOTALL
Y

^^^ Cool, but did you have to quote the entire post?

Haha thats awesome man, good work. Thats actually very helpfull, as it can get confusing. Thanks for clearin that up! :thumb:

well done, I must say :)

[QUOTE=saturn-ascends]I have always considered Tool to be verging into the progressive scene due to their drawn-out, and complex songs and of course, Carey's fantastic ability on the kit.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, Tool definitely push the boundaries, but I wouldn't really call them similar to Dream Theater or Symphony X, as they basically wank alot. Tool has more of an impact on the listener. I like Dream Theater alot, but its just musical wankery. With Tool you get alot of the music; it can inspire you artistically, spiritually, and just improve you look on life. :thumb:

Why are people so obsessed with labeling genres and sub-genres of music? why does a band have to fit into such a neat little package? This is one thing that has always bothered me about the music world.

Cool List But What about Power Groove How different is that to other metal?

nice list! great job there man. i was just wondering - where does black sabbath fit in on that list? i no u have them on there for something, but i'm not sure if that's were they fit in or what. thanks for the great list

Black Sabbath are heavy metal plain and simple. They are impossible to categorise as they were the first real heavy metal band. The closest musical style nowadays is doom.

pretty good list but i disagree with bands such as slipknot and mudvayne bein grouped with linkin park, p.o.d etc... theyre almost completly different

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.

i primarily listen to **** like cradle of filth, opeth, cannibal corpse etc but i still really like mudvayne and slipknot. you cant say people who listen to slipknot and mudvayne and other nu-metal like korn etc also listen to crap like papa roach and linkin park, or even those christians from p.o.d. and since when did mudvayne tour with linkin park??

Nu-metal and Old Metal are the two main ones.
Nu-Metal is based entirely around rythem with no riffs e.g. Slipknot.
Old metal is guitar based Metal e.g. Ozzy.

[QUOTE=MAGGOT_951753]i primarily listen to **** like cradle of filth, opeth, cannibal corpse etc but i still really like mudvayne and slipknot. you cant say people who listen to slipknot and mudvayne and other nu-metal like korn etc also listen to crap like papa roach and linkin park, or even those christians from p.o.d. and since when did mudvayne tour with linkin park??[/QUOTE]
No, if you listen to some nu-metal bands that doesn't automatically mean you listen to all of them. This is what I mean when I say people take genres too seriously.

I try to avoid generes.
It's pointless, because people get bent out of shape if they change a bit.
And people judge everyone on what they call their music.
It's retarded.

[QUOTE=MAGGOT_951753]since when did mudvayne tour with linkin park??[/QUOTE]
Summer Sanitarium.

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