In the 1990s, new subgenres like groove metal, nu metal and alternative metal emerged to broaden metal music’s appeal.
1980s Glam Metal quickly gave way to the fast riffs and socially conscious lyrics of bands such as Slayer, Megadeth and METALLICA who pioneered modern heavy metal.
Thrash Metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music and features loud volume levels, distortion effects and an aggressive attitude. Bands typically play at fast tempos with complex low-register guitar riffs that include low register solos; double bass drumming is common as are shouted or melodic vocals; even though its roots lie with hardcore punk and NWOBHM roots it has its own sound that stands apart from speed metal or groove metal genres.
Thrash metal stands out for its political and social commentary. It often addresses violence, death and war – reflecting its origins within American conservative government under Richard Nixon – leading youth to express their fantasies of destruction through the medium of thrash music. Furthermore, its lyrics often speak about violence, death and madness – giving thrash a unique edge that sets it apart from other genres.
Early thrash metal bands were heavily influenced by both British Heavy Metal and other genres of heavy metal music, such as Venom which combined elements from speed metal, black metal and speed metal into their music; their album covers often featured depictions of skulls or gore. Such bands helped develop what has come to be associated with metal music today: its dark undercurrent.
As thrash metal gained greater popularity, its edge began to diminish. Many original bands became disenchanted and disengaged, while many new bands joined without offering anything special – resulting in an abundance of subpar thrash metal music.
At the close of the 1980s, thrash metal reached its pinnacle, with classic albums by Metallica (Master of Puppets), Slayer (Reign in Blood), Anthrax (Among the Living), Megadeth (Peace Sells but Who’s Buying), Blind Illusion and Forbidden helping define this subgenre of thrash called Tech thrash; this style characterized by mid-paced groove riffs, melodic guitar leads, and technical musicianship in comparison with traditional thrash metal.
Groove Metal
Groove Metal, first popularized during the early 1990s, draws heavily from Thrash Metal while emphasizing heavyness over speed. Groove-based music often includes mid-tempo syncopated rhythms with powerful guitar riffs; vocals often include screaming, growling or hoarse singing vocals; many bands use bass distortion to further augment their sound, creating heavier yet more funky tracks.
Hardcore Punk and Southern rock styles often blend with groove metal to form an eclectic musical soundscape. Some bands incorporate funk or blues-influenced bass lines while others use more conventional drumming techniques like blast beats or double bass drumming techniques to produce groove metal music. Furthermore, groove metal bands may use nontraditional time signatures or polyrhythms.
Pantera is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of groove metal music. After leaving behind their glam metal roots in the late ’80s and opting to develop their distinctive groove-based sound instead, they quickly earned global acclaim due to their powerful rhythm section, masterful guitar work from Dimebag Darrell and brutal vocals by Phil Anselmo; making them one of the most influential heavy metal bands ever.
Exhorder and Sepultura were two other bands instrumental in popularizing Groove Metal music. Both initially played Thrash Metal music but soon after began adding more Groove Metal elements into their sound – especially on Pantera’s album “Vulgar Display of Power” and Sepultura’s Chaos A.D.”.
Groove metal also served as a bridge between traditional forms of metal and the emerging Nu Metal genre, drawing from both. Nu Metal bands such as Soulfly and Lamb of God drew influence from Groove Metal; additionally, its use can also be found within Polyrhythmic subgenre of Metalcore which combines groove metal with other musical styles like Funk and Jazz.
Groove Metal remains a vital element of today’s Heavy Metal scene, with new bands emerging and exploring this particular genre. Influences from funk, hardcore punk and Southern rock inform its current wave of musicians who are taking up groove metal as their own sound.
Alternative Metal
Metal was at its zenith of popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Led by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Dave Grohl’s rock-metal Foo Fighters, its mainstream appeal spread quickly. Groove metal became increasingly popular, while more extreme genres such as black metal or death metal continued to scare off parents while excite young fans alike.
Sound of this music is heavy, distorted and often features electronic elements. It is performed loudly at loud volumes by a skilled musician. Lyrical themes may address issues related to alienation, violence, drug abuse or suicide among adolescents as well as contemporary urban society such as class division, economic inequality, race relations or political conflict.
Musically, punk is defined by driving bass drum beats and powerful guitar riffs played through distortion effects for a distinctive sound. Drumming often uses syncopation while chord progressions tend to be sharp – although some bands have explored melodic variations.
Alternative metal is a more eclectic style of music than its counterpart traditional metal, drawing inspiration from various genres like grunge, industrial and hardcore punk as well as funk and rap influences – Faith No More and Red Hot Chili Peppers have both included these styles into their sound.
Decades later, alternative metal was still widely popular thanks to bands like Disturbed, Godsmack and System of a Down. Additionally, nu metal – an offshoot of this style of music which adds hip hop and funk influences into alternative metal sounds – also rose in popularity.
Metal music’s fanbase largely comprises white males; however, metal is becoming more mainstream with groups such as Tosin Abasi’s Animals as Leaders becoming popular across Africa and Latin America. Additionally, the genre is hugely popular among adolescents both within Europe and in America where many teens identify themselves as metalheads.
While heavy metal music has long been associated with alienating adolescents, some scholars have discovered it can also foster feelings of social belonging. Deena Weinstein suggests that heavy metal has created a unique youth community characterized by heavy metal music and tattoos with logos/imagery from this genre as its basis. She asserts this community also shares common culture and lifestyle; therefore it provides a sense of social inclusion.
Nu Metal
Nu metal is an amalgamation of genres to form an original sound. Combining hip hop, alternative rock, funk and industrial music into heavy metal music creates a sound that is both aggressive and danceable; for instance bands such as Limp Bizkit and Slipknot are great examples of this style with their combination of downtuned guitars, distorted vocals and lyrics from both metal and rap to attract younger listeners searching for their musical identity.
Although nu metal may be difficult to define due to its wide sonic spectrum, some key characteristics include downtuned distorted guitars with liberal palm muting and high pitch screaming vocals that occasionally speed up, rap-influenced drum grooves and tempo changes, the use of non-musical sounds samples instruments as well as malevolent masks or face paint as part of its aesthetic and the inclusion of these in its image as well. Many bands also explore controversial topics through its lyrics.
Nu metal was an increasingly popular genre during the 1990s, as many established heavy metal bands adopted its style with various degrees of success. Bands such as Korn and Deftones enjoyed mainstream success with their first nu metal albums which earned critical acclaim and record sales, while nu metal also gave rise to several subgenres as well as being influential among alternative metal artists such as Coal Chamber and Sepultura.
By 2003, however, nu metal had lost much of its appeal and began its downward spiral in terms of popularity. Limp Bizkit, Deftones and System of a Down’s more commercial and blander sound combined with allegations of sexism in their lyrics caused many listeners to lose interest in nu metal music altogether.
Nu metal has had an indelible mark on heavy metal music’s history and evolution. Many bands that made up its core remain relevant today; additionally, its influence has inspired younger musicians who use elements from it in their own compositions. Given our current cultural climate of two-decade cycles, nu metal could possibly reemerge at some point in the near future.