Classic/Traditional Metal:
This is not quite a sub-genre, but a classification of an era. For Example, Black Sabbath can be considered a Doom-Metal band; Iron Maiden was the main inspiration behind Power-Metal, etc. The only thing that is common b/w these bands is that they precede Thrash. Whatever be the case, this was the time when the basics of Metal were defined.
Notable albums:
The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
Stained Class by Judas Priest
Paranoid By Black Sabbath
The White Album by Diamond Head
Thrash Metal (aka Speed Metal):
Thrash is by far the most influential sub-genre of metal started by a few bands from Bay area and LA. They took the sensibilities of NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) and fused them with the aggressiveness of Hardcore Punk. The end result was a totally fast (Hence the name Speed Metal) and aggressive style. It existed in two forms itself: The technical mastery of Metallica, Megadeth and Testament and the extremely fast and loud sounds of Slayer and Exodus. Sadly, Thrash was put to death by its own creators.
Notable Albums:
Master of Puppets by Metallica
Rust in Peace by Megadeth
Reign in Blood by Slayer
Bonded by blood by Exodus
the Legacy by Testament
Vulgar Display of Power Pantera
Arise by Sepultura
Power Metal:
The only style of metal which has no influence of thrash in it. It is the direct derivative of classic heavy metal. The main characteristics of all power metal is that everything is based on melody(as defined by Iron Maiden’s music) and fantasy lyrics. It is due to this fantasy lyrics that many metalheads find this style as cheesy. None the less, many bands in this genre show technical brilliance to a great extent.
Notable Albums:
Nightfall in Middle Earth by Blind Guardian
Burnt Offerings by Iced earth
Politics of Ecstasy by Nevermore
Keeper of the Seven Keys, pt.1 by Helloween
Hair-Metal (aka Pop-Metal aka Glam-Metal aka Butt-Rock):
I was thinking about excluding this. I believe it’s the excessive use of hair-spray by these bands that has damaged the ozone layer so much. Sadly, bands like Van Halen and Guns n Roses are considered hair metal by many.
Notable albums:
Metal Health - Quiet Riot
5150 - Stryper
Death-Metal:
This is the daddy of all sub-genres. It took off where thrash left and raised the bar even higher. Early Death-Metal is mainly characterized by really fast riffs and vibrato growled vocals and the lyrical themes are mostly about death and gore. Later, in the 90’s Art-Rock influences were incorporated (without compromising the ferociousness of the music, I must add).
Notable Albums:
Seven Churches by Possessed
Scream Bloody Gore by Death
Blessed are the sick by Morbid Angel
Infinite Thought Patterns by Death
None so Vile by Cryptopsy
Doom-Metal:
This is the exact Anti-Thesis of Death Metal. The vocals are clean(except when its death/doom) and the riffs are very, very slow(albeit heavy). I called Black Sabbath a Doom Metal band because their lyrical themes always had a sense of impending doom. I would like to say that, Doom Metal does not promote suicide.
Notable Albums:
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus by Candlemass
Plastic Green Head by Trouble
Eternity by Anathema
Ethereal Mirror by Cathedral
Draconian Times by Paradise Lost
Black-Metal:
The most evilest of all forms of music. If just want to know the evilness (They can make poseurs like Slipknot pee in their pants), just run artist searches for Mayhem, Burzum and Emperor on
http://allmusic.com. On the musical side, the emphasis is more on creating atmosphere and the lyrical themes are mostly about Satanism. Also every black metal band used “corpse-paint”(Kiss style face paint) on stage. I, myself, find the “Black” image as quite cheesy.
Notable Albums:
Black Metal by Venom
Die Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem
Filosofem by Burzum
In the Nightside Eclipse by Emperor
Grindcore aka Metalcore aka Noisecore aka Applecore aka Ninjacore aka Insertwhatevercore :
One part Metal plus Two parts Punk equals Kick @$$. The cool thing about this genre is that most of the songs have complex structures despite being extremely loud.
Notable Albums:
From Enslavement to Obliteration by Napalm Death
Symphonies of Sickness by Carcass
Prowler in the yard by Pig Destroyer
Calculating Infinity by Dillinger Escape Plan
Irony is a dead scene[EP] by Dillinger Escape Plan (Feat. Mike Patton)
Melodic-Death Metal(aka Swedish Death Metal aka Gothenburg Metal)
In the mid-90’s a few bands from the Swedish City of Gothenburg fused the melodic sensibilities of Power Metal and the ferociousness of Death Metal. The end result was a sound that carry most of the pros but discarded most of the cons
Notable Albums:
Slaughter of the souls by At the gates
The jester race by In Flames
The Gallery by Dark Tranquility
Wages of Sin by Arch enemy
Progressive Metal:
Progressive-Metal (Prog. Metal for short) has often been referred to as “The Jazz of Heavy Metal” and “Thinking Man’s Metal”. In fact most of my favorite bands are classified as Prog. Most bands who do get classified as this have no similarity with each other except that they have really complex song structure and good command over their instruments. Many bands have implemented Prog. Elements in different sub-genres of metal. For Example, Opeth with their Prog. Melo-Death and Symphony X with their Prog. Power.
Notable Albums:
Scenes from a memory by Dream theater
Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche
Still Life by Opeth
Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X
Future Breed Machine by Meshuggah
The Sham Mirrors by Arcturus
Nu-Metal (aka Crap Metal):
Notable Albums:
L.D. 50 by Mudvayne