Types of Heavy Metal Music

Heavy metal is a well known generic of music that is rising in popularity over the last few decades. The roots of heavy metal are from UK and United States. The earliest developments in this genre can be traced back to 1960s. Heavy metal music usually involves loud guitars, dense drum and strong vocals. There are several types of metal music which may have one or more of the features mentioned above. Electric guitar is a popular music instrument featured in most heavy metal genres. Following are some of the well known types of metal music:

a) Death Metal- It is an extreme version of heavy metal genre. It is very intense and is extremely popular among younger population. It uses heavy guitar music, deep vocals, etc. Death metal subgenre originated in 1980s and is known to have evolved from early black metal and thrash metal subgenres. Death metal achieved its initial popularity in early 1990s with bands like Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel becoming popular. The most popular death metal bands are Death, Deicide, Slayer, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth etc. Death metal is popular worldwide and especially so in Sweden, Brazil, Japan, Poland, United States and United Kingdom.

b) Black metal- Black metal is another extreme subgenre of metal music. It usually involves tremolo picking, heavy bass and the usual heavy guitar music accompanying most heavy metal music versions. Subgenres of Black metal include Viking Metal, War metal etc. Black metal gained its popularity in Scandinavian countries in 1990s. Top black metal bands include Gorgoroth, 1349, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Immortal, Nifelheim etc. 

c) Doom Metal- Doom metal is a genre of metal music that uses slower tempos, low-guitar tunes and uses thicker sounds than other metal music genres. Usually the music and the lyrics evoke a sense of doom, despair and anxiety. Bass guitar, electric guitar and drums are most commonly used by Doom metal bands. It is popular in United States and Europe. Doom metal is heavily influenced by 1970s music. The subgenres of doom metal are epic doom, traditional doom, funeral doom etc. The most popular doom metal bands are Candlemass, Trouble, Thergothon, Electric Wizard, Shape of Despair, St Vitus etc. 

d) Gothic Metal- Gothic metal combines the doom metal and gothic rock genres. The Gothic metal entered heavy metal music with the release of an album named Gothic by the band Paradise Lost. In United States, popular like Cradle of Filth, Lacuna Coil, HIM have achieved popularity. Gothic Metal is particularly popular in Finland where several bands like Posioncry, Lullacry etc have achieved popularity. 

e) Thrash Metal- Thrash metal genre of metal music is usually characterized by aggression and fast tempo. Common instruments used in thrash metal include lead guitar, rhythm guitar, drums etc. The most popular thrash metal bands are called Big 4 and include Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer. Thrash Metal is extremely popular in United States, United Kingdom and Germany.

f) Groove Metal- Groove metal is also referred to as post-thrash. It takes the intense qualities of thrash metal and plays it at an intermediate tempo. It is commonly used to refer to styles of bands like Exhorder and Pantera. Popular bands belonging to Groove metal are Lamb of God, Sepultura, Soulfly, Machine Head, etc. 

g) Glam metal- Glam metal is also referred by other names like hair metal, pop metal etc. It combines hard rock and heavy metal styles. It evolved in early 1970s in United States. Popular Glam metal bands are Trixter, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Celtic Frost, etc. 

h) Power Metal - Power metal involves features of both speed metal and traditional metal genres. The cultural origins of power metal are from Mid 1980s music, Finnish and German music. Common instruments used in Power metal are electric guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Top power metal bands are Blind Guardian, DragonForce, Sabaton, Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, Helloween etc. 

i) Speed Metal- Speed Metal is a subgenre of metal music which originated in 1970s. It has punk rock roots. It is an extremely fast and technical form of metal music. Motorhead and Venom are two most popular speed metal bands. Common instruments used in Speed metal include electric guitar, bass, drums etc. Other top speed metal bands include DragonForce, Avenged Sevenfold, Judas Priest etc. 

j) Stoner Rock- Stoner rock usually combines several forms of heavy metal music such as doom metal, blues rock, acid rock etc. It is usually characterized by mid-tempos, melodic vocal music, etc. The top stoner rock bands are Kyuss, Orange Goblin, Mondo Generator, The Desert Sessions etc. 

Above are some popular genres of heavy metal. Several of the above have had influences over one another. These genres are evolving continuously and have varying popularity levels.