Metal musicians utilize various techniques to craft their sound, such as scales that add an air of foreboding and tension; musical modes add depth and complexity;
Metal songs typically employ an energy cycle (Pillsbury 2006) in their intro and reintro, though this term can refer to any section in a song which builds and releases energy at different hierarchical levels.
Verse
Verse is the section of a song which furthers its story and emotion, often consisting of the majority of lyrics within. Additionally, verses may feature repeated melodic or rhythmic ideas for repetition throughout. There is no set length for verses – great songs may feature between one to four.
Rock music verses typically follow the formula “verse-chorus-bridge”, and can appear anywhere within a song. Additionally, they may use variations on “compound AABA”, whereby verse/chorus cycles form A supersection and bridge-like sections such as B section fill out B supersection of song structure.
Verse are typically longer than choruses and can range in meter from 4/4 to more complex meters such as 7/8 or 5/4, adding depth with syncopations or unconventional rhythms such as those found in metal bands which often use compound time signatures and irregular rhythms to create an intense musical experience for their listeners.
Metal lyrics cover an expansive range of topics, but its dark aesthetic typically emphasizes death, destruction and violence. This often comes together with distorted guitar sound and high-pitched vocals for maximum impact. A typical metal band’s instrumentation typically consists of electric guitar, bass and drums; more fantasy based bands may add keyboards or synthesizers as well.
Metal songs typically feature chord progressions based around a 4/4 time signature and played at very fast speeds, often featuring intricate rhythmic structures with irregular and unpredictable beats. Many metal groups boast highly experienced musicians capable of producing complex rhythms.
Chorus
The chorus serves as the centerpiece of any song’s melodic and harmonic structure, typically featuring an energetic buildup that releases in a rhythmic cycle, distinct chord progression that may include power chords in minor keys, shouting/growling vocalists accompanied by powerful and abrasive sounds, which often trigger emotions such as anger, fear or sorrow in listeners.
Metal music differs from most genres in that it relies on repeated riffs with distinctive melodic identities rather than traditional melodies, often composed from chord arrangements using specific scales like pentatonic or blues scales. Many metal songs feature loud electric guitars, bass lines, and drum beats as well as their signature stage presence and imagery which convey aggression and power.
Moore describes metal music as formulaic; however, this should not be taken negatively. A common formula used in song structure for metal songs is AABAABAABAAB and this repetition gives metal songs a familiar yet recognizable feel, making it easier for fans and musicians alike to discuss songs they enjoy together.
Metal’s formulaic form makes its music easier to analyze in comparison with other genres, enabling analysis on many levels. For instance, most metal songs feature an energy cycle where verse and chorus build to a crescendo; similar cycles can also be felt within individual riffs and notes.
Conversely, certain metal styles such as black and death metal do not utilize the verse/chorus form; Smialek notes that this seems unusual at first glance but instead represents an older form’s return to this format.
Bridge
Metal music has amassed an avid following worldwide. The genre’s dark themes and intense sound has caused some misperceptions about its nature; yet metal has played an influential role in modern musical culture and shaped societies, social movements, and cultural identities throughout its history.
Metal music is distinguished by its dense and distorted textures. Guitar chords often use scales with minor second or (b2) to create dissonant chords; bass and rhythm guitars often utilize low, guttural rhythms while lead guitars often play high-pitched melodies to complete this unique sound of metal music.
Black metal and death metal are among several subgenres of heavy metal music, each offering their own distinct feel and sound. While some bands utilize more traditional song structures, most iconic bands use an AABA form compositional style characterized by repetitive riffs. This compositional style has had an enormous influence in rock and pop genres alike.
Metal musicians were once predominantly men; however, female bands have increasingly become popular over time. Female-fronted metal performances, particularly within power metal and symphonic metal subgenres (such as Nightwish, Delain, and Within Temptation) have seen female singers like Nightwish, Delain and Within Temptation emerge more frequently as has its riff-based compositional style of metal which encourages more women to participate and make heavy metal an inclusive and accessible genre for all genders.
Compound AABA form is the core structure for most metal songs and the one most musicians and fans refer to when discussing songs they enjoy listening to. Some bands may expand this structure into a more intricate arrangement featuring distinct sections like bridges that span multiple distinct songs in an arrangement like this.
Intervals
Metal songs typically revolve around repeating riffs – musical motifs with distinct rhythmic and melodic identities – which are often accompanied by power chords (dominant seventh chords formed with root, fifth, and octave of note), often with distortion or slowdown to increase tension and make the music sound more aggressive.
Many metal bands incorporate vocals into their songs, from singing or growling (a low, growly sound that mimics animal growls) to screaming (an aggressive noise that complements metal’s mood) and screaming – among many other styles.
Metal music stands out by using complex intervals in both bass and melody lines to add tension that adds intensity and creates its unique sound. Many metal bands also employ chromatic scales that add dissonance for added drama.
Some scholars characterize metal music as formulaic, noting its songs follow a standard format known as compound AABA. But this doesn’t need to be seen as negative; its pervasiveness actually helps listeners visualize distinct emotional and social spaces within the genre.
Metal songs differ significantly from their rock counterparts in other ways as well. For instance, many rock songs feature bridge sections which contrast with the chorus by altering its tone or subject matter; in metal however, such bridges tend to be short and dependent upon A sections, making them less distinct standalone sections.
Metal’s riff-based structure also makes improvisation an effortless part of its sound, enabling bands to easily vary the tempo, introduce new sounds, and create dynamics – keeping audiences interested and involved with the music. Riffs may also incorporate different scales for added variety and depth: for instance Slayer’s “Raining Blood” features passages using Phrygian dominant scale which has sinister and exotic overtones while Dream Theater’s “The Dance of Eternity” utilizes reduced scale which evoke tension and dread in listeners.
Keys
Metal music is characterized by distortion-laden electric guitars, deep bass lines, heavy drums and screaming vocals. The style often utilizes texture-based repetition of riffs and instruments in order to alter the overall feel of songs; additionally it often utilizes harmonic complexity by employing multiple scales and modes within one song.
While metal’s exact sonic characteristics vary depending on its subgenre, certain core elements have become iconic of its sound. Black metal typically employs non-diatonic minor chords and tritones for an aggressive yet dissonant aesthetic while power metal uses baroque-influenced secondary dominants and diminished seventh chords to add brightness to its progressions. Like rock songs, metal’s AABA structures often feature buildup intros, pre-verses, and re-intros.
One of the hallmarks of metal is its emphasis on a chorus-verse energy cycle, creating dramatic contrast between light-hearted verses and the emotional climax of the chorus. This gives metal its signature sense of urgency and immediacy that matches up perfectly with lyrics that deal with war, violence, hatred, death and depression.
Though metal bands rarely improvise onstage, its musicians excel at creating musical tension and stirring emotions with subtlety of notes and chord progressions. More frequently than with mainstream rock, metal songs tend to go beyond a standard 4/4 time signature with complex meters such as asymmetric or compound time signatures, making it harder for audiences to understand its overall formal structure or identify an unambiguous verse-chorus pair.