Music can be an inextricable part of our lives; although we tend to label genres according to specific genre labels, good music remains good music no matter what it’s called.
Metal music is no exception – and Sullivan King and Dirtyphonics are masterful at merging metal with EDM! Come watch them perform live at Crush!
Artists who fuse metal with EDM
No matter their genre – rock, alternative metal, EDM – music producers have many tools at their disposal to craft their own distinctive sounds. One way they do this is by blending various genres; this allows artists to experiment with new sounds while pushing the limits of their craft further. When applied to metal and EDM productions specifically, hybrid genres have proven incredibly influential in shaping the landscape of modern music.
Nine Inch Nails and Ministry were pioneers in merging metal with EDM when they introduced electronic elements into their heavy guitar-driven music, but this trend didn’t really gain steam until electronic production became more affordable and accessible; artists started adding metal-inspired guitar riffs, aggressive drum patterns and distorted vocals into EDM tracks to create unique musical blends that satisfy both metal fans and EDM enthusiasts.
This trend has given way to exciting collaborations between artists from different genres. These have included rappers and the metalcore band Asking Alexandria; in their track “Rise Up,” Asking Alexandria combined metalcore with trap beats, bouncy chorus and huge bass drops for maximum impact – tapping into metalcore’s fondness for massive bass drops and synth jabs; Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine added his distinctive funk-rock sound by contributing his signature bassline style.
Deafheaven are another group that have seamlessly blended metal and EDM. Their 2015 album Sunbather brought black metal to its ultimate sonic zenith; its dark atmosphere and surreal imagery perfectly balanced out by euphoric synth melodies and mind-boggling bass drops.
Other prominent musicians have joined this trend of musical crossover, such as dubstep artist SVDDEN DEATH and bass music producer Meduso. Both artists take advantage of the distinct sounds found between metal and EDM to produce genre-defying hits with rapid-fire guitar strums, massive bass drops, and powerful vocals – offering their fans genre-defying hits that span multiple genres.
Metal and EDM both attract devoted fan bases, so it comes as no surprise that they would complement one another well. Both genres share similar rebellious and authentic aesthetics which draws people in. Plus, both offer high-energy live performances.
Goldrush: Wild Card offers the perfect mix of metal and EDM festival experiences this October 4th-5th! Join Sullivan King and other genre-bending artists who have perfected genre-blending for this two-day festival event – tickets are on sale now!
Artists who combine metal with other genres
Undoubtedly, metal today encroaches upon more genres than ever before. While some purists might prefer that bands adhere strictly to their initial foundations’ styles, others find great enjoyment watching different artists push boundaries and explore new sounds. One such unlikely combination may seem outlandish at first, yet can ultimately create something truly captivating and unique. An example is metal’s influence in dubstep: you may have heard more hardcore band songs mixed into EDM sets recently – this may initially seem out-of-place but the heavy dubstep drop that follows intense metal buildup will leave you wanting more! While this example stands out, metal intermingles with many genres.
People typically associate genre fusion with nu-metal bands like Linkin Park and Deftones from the 1990s era of nu-metal, when bands combined elements from hip hop, pop, and other styles with heavier rock/metal elements to create what has come to be known as “thinking man’s metal.” Although this trend has subsided since then, many metal musicians continue to experiment with other genres and find ways of incorporating them into their sound.
One of the most exciting fusions between metal and other genres comes from artists who explore both identities as producers and singers simultaneously, like Devin Oliver of I See Stars who is both a lead vocalist and accomplished electronic producer – this has led to him working with some heavy metal legends, including Tom Morello and Bring Me the Horizon!
Power Metal has long been a mainstay in the metal scene. This hybrid genre blends heavy metal with more progressive rock influences, often featuring fast guitar riffs and melodic vocals. Queensryche’s Rush-influenced Prog Metal style and Fates Warning’s dark, menacing sound are two well-known examples.
While some artists utilize fusions to produce unique sounds, others simply use it as an opportunity to experiment with music they wouldn’t normally explore – this exploration being particularly popular among younger musicians searching for more contemporary sounds.
Exploration has produced some truly outstanding music, and is sure to continue fostering creativity and innovation within metal for years to come. Don’t miss seeing some of these artists at Goldrush: Wild Card on October 4th-5th; get your tickets here.
Artists who fuse metal with other genres
Genres may appear as separate territories with clear-cut lines between them, yet artists have begun blurring those boundaries by incorporating metal-influenced guitar riffs, aggressive drum beats, and harsh vocals into electronic music – whether as full-on metal shows or EDM tracks with heavy metal instrumentation – these collaborations are expanding musical boundaries while broadening audiences for artists.
Bring Me The Horizon is one notable band who have collaborated with vocalists from other genres of rock and metal music to form the Bad Habits single, garnering new audiences through this collaboration and increasing exposure for both bands involved. Such musical genre blending demonstrates the expanding diversity among musical tastes today.
Metal’s combination with other genres has led to a variety of subgenres within metal music. Doom metal, for instance, is a slow and heavy style of metal which invokes feelings of despair; funeral doom metal and stoner doom metal are variations that include more psychedelic or groove-oriented aspects; similarly Epic metal is a subset of traditional metal that emphasizes heroic themes with grandiose imagery – Manowar and Battlelore use anthemic vocals, majestic guitar solos and dramatic song arrangements in creating powerful soundscapes to produce powerful soundscapes – two distinct subgenres within traditional metal music that are sure to please any metal fan!
Black metal, an iconic subgenre of metal music, is often characterized by fast tempos and aggressive distortion. Artists such as Black Sabbath and Ihsahn have taken this genre to its limits with intricate riffs and melodies; additionally, black metal has had an influence on other forms of electronic music like industrial metal and blackgaze.
Artists who fuse metal and other genres of music often draw on their experience in both fields to compose songs that transcend genre boundaries. They understand the power of sound and its effect on listeners, using distorted guitars, loud drum beats, and aggressive vocals that give their music an edge that sets it apart from other musicians.
Technology’s advancement provides musicians with new avenues for experimentation and genre bending. This has led to an explosion of crossovers between electronic music and metal genres; which in turn brings new audiences and allows artists to express themselves more freely than ever before.