Considered the most brutal section of a metal/metalcore/hardcore song. The breakdown is characterized by a beat much slower than the main verses and chorus of a song, the primary ingredients being a steady beat from the drums (with lots of cymbal and sometimes double-bass) and a chugging rhythm from the guitar.

Originally developed by Atilla the Hun, the breakdown had it's place in warfare for many years. That was, until people began to notice that the Earth's human and animal population had begun to decrease exponentially from direct exposure to breakdowns. Other health complications also arose from indirect exposure such as 4th degree burns, the introduction of the Ebola virus, and terminal bleeding of the ears. For many centuries, the breakdown was outlawed in civilized nations, at least until war broke out in Europe in the late 1930's.

It was used primarily by the axis powers during WWII to rip the faces off of the allies during an approach. When Hitler got word that Nazi forces were using "the breakdown" against the enemy, he called it off saying "No way man, that's too fucking brutal."

It's also a proven historical fact that the atomic bomb explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were staged by the U.S. government. Instead, the government had agreed to blast two very metal breakdowns over the Japanese cities. Knowing that the American public would not condone their actions, there was a big cover up involving the use of atomic weapons.

The breakdown we know today has been manipulated to the point that, under strict government regulations, it can be used in sanctioned locations. With the rise of heavy metal, evolving into what we call "metalcore" music, rock artists have learned the proper ways to display this once deadly technique to the public in a fashion that will kill as few people as possible.