The Hidden History of Metal Genres – Let’s Dive In!
When people hear the word “metal,” most imagine something loud, angry, and full of noise.
But did you know that behind the screaming and distortion, metal music holds a rich, layered history with countless subgenres that have evolved over decades?
Some of these genres are so underground that even many metal fans haven’t fully explored them.
So today, let’s take a journey through the lesser-known history of metal genres — from its roots to its most bizarre and brutal branches.
🎸 1. The Birth of Metal – The Late 60s & 70s
The term “metal” didn’t exist right away.
But the early seeds were planted by bands like:
- Black Sabbath – dark riffs and themes of doom
- Led Zeppelin – bluesy heaviness with powerful vocals
- Deep Purple & Judas Priest – speed, leather, and aggression
This era is now referred to as proto-metal or classic heavy metal, setting the tone for everything that followed.
⚔️ 2. The 80s Explosion – Thrash, Speed & Glam
In the 1980s, metal split into many directions:
- Thrash Metal – fast, political, aggressive
Examples: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax - Speed Metal – a faster version of traditional heavy metal
Examples: Exciter, early Helloween - Glam Metal – flashy fashion and catchy hooks
Examples: Mötley Crüe, Poison, Twisted Sister - Power Metal – epic, fantasy-driven lyrics with soaring vocals
Examples: Manowar, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius
This era built the metal culture we know — patches, denim jackets, and headbanging glory.
💀 3. Death and Black Metal – The 90s Darkness
In the late ’80s to early ’90s, metal took a darker, more extreme turn:
- Death Metal – guttural vocals, complex riffs, brutal speed
Examples: Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary - Black Metal – shrieking vocals, lo-fi sound, satanic or nature-inspired themes
Examples: Mayhem, Emperor, Darkthrone
These genres were raw, controversial, and heavily underground, but formed a passionate global following.
Indonesia, for example, has its own legendary underground death and black metal scenes — growing independently of the West.
🔮 4. Weird and Wonderful – The Experimental Side
Now here’s the part most people don’t know:
Metal isn’t just loud and angry — it’s also weird, artistic, and deeply experimental.
Some lesser-known subgenres include:
- Doom Metal – slow, heavy, depressive
Examples: Candlemass, My Dying Bride - Folk Metal – combines metal with traditional instruments
Examples: Eluveitie, Finntroll - Drone Metal – ultra-slow, minimalistic, ambient
Examples: Sunn O))) — yes, that’s the band name - Post-Metal – emotional, instrumental, cinematic
Examples: Isis, Cult of Luna, Russian Circles - Mathcore – chaotic rhythms, technical madness
Examples: The Dillinger Escape Plan
These genres show that metal is more than rage — it’s also art, emotion, and exploration.
🌍 5. Global Metal – Beyond the US & Europe
Metal isn’t just a Western phenomenon.
Countries like:
- Indonesia – famous for brutal death metal scenes in Bandung and Yogyakarta
- Japan – creative blends like babymetal and visual kei
- India, Iran, and South America – rising metal bands using local languages and themes
The genre has become a global language of resistance, passion, and identity.
🧠 Final Words: Metal Is More Than One Sound
From bluesy roots to avant-garde noise walls — metal has evolved into a complex family of genres, each with its own philosophy, style, and emotion.
So next time someone says “metal all sounds the same,”
just smile — and ask them:
“Have you ever heard of atmospheric blackened folk drone doom?”
They probably haven’t.
But now you have.