Viking metal is a type of heavy metal music that focuses on themes from Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age. This style of music is very varied, with some people thinking of it as a term that includes many different music styles, not just one genre. It is most often black metal, but it also includes sounds from Nordic folk music.
Folk metal is a mix of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that began in Europe during the 1990s. It is known for using folk instruments and, to a smaller degree, traditional singing styles, such as those found in Dutch Heidevolk, Danish Sylvatica, and Spanish Stone of Erech. Sometimes, the music also includes soft sounds similar to those in folk rock.
Industrial metal is a mix of heavy metal and industrial music. It often uses repeated guitar sounds, recorded sounds, synthesizer or electronic music patterns, and distorted singing. Well-known industrial metal bands include Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, Rammstein, KMFDM, and Godflesh.
Groove metal is a type of heavy metal music that started in the early 1990s. It comes from thrash metal but is played more slowly, with strong, repeating guitar patterns. Bands like Exhorder, Prong, and Bad Brains helped create this style in the late 1980s.
Sludge metal, also called sludge doom or simply sludge, is a type of heavy metal music that mixes elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. This genre usually has slow music speeds, guitars that are tuned very low, and lyrics that talk about negative topics like poverty, drug use, and pollution. The sound of sludge metal began with California hardcore punk bands in the early-to-mid-1980s, such as Black Flag, Flipper, and Fang.
Stoner rock, also called stoner metal or stoner doom, is a type of rock music that mixes elements from doom metal, psychedelic rock, and acid rock. It began in the early 1990s and was first created by Kyuss and Sleep.
Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a mix of genres that combines the intense energy of heavy metal with the dark and mysterious feelings of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal varies, as bands use the gothic style in different heavy metal forms. This genre began in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom, growing from death-doom, which is a mix of death metal and doom metal.
Symphonic metal is a type of music that combines elements of heavy metal with symphonic or orchestral styles. It describes any metal band that uses instruments and sounds from classical music, such as orchestras, choirs, or keyboards. This style includes the loud drums and guitars typical of metal music, along with musical elements from classical compositions.
Power metal is a type of heavy metal music that combines elements of traditional heavy metal and speed metal, often using symphonic music. It usually has a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound compared to the heavy and dissonant sounds found in extreme metal. Power metal bands often create songs that are easy to sing along to, with themes based on fantasy stories and strong, memorable choruses.
Progressive metal, often called prog metal, is a mix of music styles that combines heavy metal and progressive rock. It uses the loud, aggressive sound of heavy metal with the complex, creative, or classical-style music of progressive rock. The music usually shows the very skilled playing of the musicians.