Genre of
music which evolved from hard rock in the late 60s. First 'true' metal band were probably Black Sabbath, who were the first to use most of the characteristic features of the genre, such as downtuned guitars (due to an accident suffered by Tony Iommi, the guitarist), use of the 'tri-tone', heavy distortion, use of minor pentatonic scale solos and religious themes.
Metal has evolved from the original 'heavy metal' to now incorporate a whole host of other genres. Many of these simply take the metal 'blueprint', and add elements taken from other genres (for example, Folk Metal will combine the distortion and 'dark' feel of metal with the meandering
melody lines, different instruments and rural themes of folk. However, some use influences not drawn from other genres, and the large number of genres withing metal can be f*cking confusing to an outsider.
So, in an attempt to describe each genre in a sentence...
Heavy Metal - Darker, louder version of
rock with religious themes.
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - The above, but slightly camper.
Power Metal - Super-cheesey, mildly
homo-erotic version of metal, usually with fantasy themes.
Gothic Metal - Either guys trying to sound
like vampires over a tamer version of
normal metal, or operatic female singers doing a full vocal workout over a more melodic style of metal.
Symphonic Metal - Kinda
like normal metal, but with bits of an orchestra shoved in for good measure.
Death Metal - Louder than normal metal, less
melody, and with a singer who sounds
like he has a really bad throat.
Black Metal - Similar to
Death Metal, but more melodic, and, if from Norway, generally with artists imprisoned for burning churches.
Nu-Metal - Commercialised metal, often with hip-hop influences, basically
MTV's attempt to cash in on the genre.
Progressive Metal - Prog
rock, but louder, longer, and generally with even deeper themes, and musicians who may use influences from any other metal genre in their
music.
Doom Metal - Metal, slowed down to produce a slow, unstoppable wall of sound.
Stoner Doom Metal - Doom metal, but they haven't worked out how to change notes.
Glam Metal - Metal, but wearing a dress, and singing about girls.
Speed Metal - Metal played very, VERY fast.
Thrash Metal - A heavier version of Speed metal.
Alternative Metal - A handy genre into which you can shove all the bands you're not too sure about.
Right, that's the
music. Personally a fan of Folk, Progressive and Power metal, but they're all pretty good. Apart from nu-metal. May be hard to get into, but there's something there for everyone.
