Top 10 Best Metal Sub Genres

Thrash is metal perfection because of its versatility. You can place emphasis on a singular aspect such as riffs or soloing, yet still be able to orchestrate masterful compositions. The New Wave of Thrash movement has really reassured that well into its third decade, thrash would forever be stamped as an undying form of music. They say that metal never dies, but with such a strong resurgence of great albums from bands of both classic and new eras, I would say that thrash metal never dies either (not even in the 90's).

It's the best. Kill em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, Rust in Peace, So Far So Good So What, Peace Sells, The New Order, The Legacy, Dark Roots of Earth, Reign in Blood, Arise, Bonded by Blood, and Handle with care are just a small sample of the many great thrash albums in existence. With that said, New Wave of thrash Metal needs to be in the top ten. Not familiar with this subgenre? Listen to the albums Time is Up, Enter the Grave, and Skull. You might be just as impressed as you were with the Big 4.

Thrash metal reigns supreme. Raw and aggressive lyrics without being campy (black metal) or unintelligible noise (death metal), infectious energy and adrenaline, and great guitar riffs. Nothing gets you bouncing off the walls like thrash.

That said, while Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Metallica etc. are considered the big four of the genre, I think Kreator is the perfect example of the genre (just ignore the 90s gothic era, early albums and most recent albums are pure gold).

Noo genre or subgenre is better than thrash metal I mean it's like if punk rock and heavy metal had a love child. It ended the "war" in between metalheads and punk rockers (well eventhough some continue on fighting usually without a good reason). And lets not mention Metallica one of the biggest if not the biggest metal band ever who invented this amazing genre. But yeah this is the best genre of music ever cause like I said heavy metal, punk rock, love child, case closed!

If you listen to any metal in general, there will always be a progressive metal band that you will enjoy. Prog gets its roots from any and every type of genre, not just metal or rock, substandard genres, other etc. In the practice of listening to the genre your more or less opening yourself up to many different influences of music history. You definitely feel it heavier in older prog bands, but the direction progressive music is going is a new and beautiful thing, certainly the most skill attaining. Try out some Rush or Dream Theatre for the oldies of prog, then go listen to some Polyphia or Tesseract, all the way to messugah and sikTh, or if it's your piece of pie, Reflections or Rings of Saturn for those thrashers.

Progressive is the most complex metal genre along with genres like neo-classical metal and progressive death metal. Thrash metal is good. But you won't few things that you'll find in prog metal. Drum solos, the riffs, solos, music arrangements, the lyrics. Nothings beats prog metal in it. It sometimes use fast tempos, sometimes slow tempos. Lots of notes are used in a single song. And of course, more instruments. More ways they play. In a matter of fact, it can be brutal too, or also can be soft.

It's the metal that takes more thought that technical skill. Prog Metal bands almost don't fit into "metal" sometimes, because their sound is not set by clear boundaries. They play the music they choose, and a lot of it happens to be highly expressive and artistic and fits under the bubble of metal. Many great groups, especially Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation.

I just love the overall length and feel of prog metal, although many would be turned off by the length I like to get into things so prog metals perfect for this, also love the lyrical style of it fact that it often has story's or themes, most metal has quite a lot of politics but this is rare in prog metal.

Yeah this exactly the great sub-genre of metal after thrash metal... Yeah of course elements of thrash metal are seen in power metal... What makes it better than its other counter parts like death and black metal is the amazing vocal range... Power metal is by far the best metal sub-genre because of its fantasised themes, guitar riffs, solos and vocals

I love power metal. This genre can be very intellectual and fantasy oriented. The way the melodies blend with the traditional sound of heavy metal is flawless. I really recommend this genre to anyone who likes fast-paced music, great lyrics that can easily be sung, or an original sound that is unlike anything else.

This is really a hard choice but I will have to choose Power Metal. Basic Power metal does not excite me that much but Symphonic Power Metal, Progressive Power Metal, Folk Power Metal, Neoclassical Power Metal etc. Are all among my favorite music styles. The lyrics (fantasy, history, and literature) don't hurt either.

I love power metal! The epic choruses and the technical instrumentation are all incredible. Some of the best power metal bands are Sabaton, DragonForce, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, Sonata Arctica, and so many more!

The vocals are what keeps people away from death metal, which is what I like. Amazing vocals (though not for everyone they do require great skill and ruin the throats of even the most experienced growlers), sharp, piercing and heavy guitar tones on the solos with a heaviness and smashing tone on other guitar parts matched only by (maybe but not really) the heavy and fuzzy tone of stoner doom and sludge. Drums blasting at blisteringly fast speeds and basslines that would make even doom and thrash jealous. With artists such as Chuck, Obituary, Entombed, Nile, Morbid Angel, Bloodbath and Cannibal Corpse as well as many great others, Death Metal reigns supreme.

Very misunderstood genre of music. There are amazing talent bands like Obituary, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, Massacre and Bloodbath.

Obviously, Thrash is amazing, but since death metal is a more underrepresented genre, generally speaking, I'll vote for this. Amazing technical ability and punishing riffs, it's just an extreme expression of emotion, essentially exaggerating the definition of what music is at its core.

If you're into HEAVY music which metal is all about, then go with death metal! It's heavy in all aspekt ypu look at it. Blast beats, low tuned basses and guitars and the awesome vocals. It's the most metal of the metal genres. It's fast, very heavy, has alla kinds of lyrics ranging from gore to history to philosophy. The song structure and melodies can be quite intelligent and beautiful. It's the most DIVERSE genre of metal as well! It can mix witg almost all subgenres. If you don't like death metal you don't know what being a METALHEAD is like. You might be a rocker but not a solid metalhead.

Traditional Heavy metal really does deserve to be higher on this list (at least in the Top 5, something lower is a little shameful). If there would be no Traditional Heavy metal, then - I highly doubt, that there would be ANY metal genre at all.

But you guys have forgot about another great Metal genre, that has done quite a lot for the Heavy Metal music in the 80's. Alongside the Traditional Heavy Metal - Glam metal (also called Pop-metal, and Sleaze metal) deserves to be on this list too.
Maybe, the looks of Glam bands were somewhat ridiculous (yet they were still good-looking), and the lyrical themes were more about something positive/neutral. But you gotta admit, that:
1 - it brought in many fans that are still Headbangers up to this day;
2 - Some of the fans, who started with Glam, have explored further into styles like Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, Neo-classical metal...
3 - It helped make Metal popular (and as I said - it helped to increase the amount of fans, ...more

Traditional metal was when metal was at its most pure and honest forms; making kickass riffs with extreme technical proficiency and powerful vocals.That was all that mattered back then. Most metal subgenres are awesome (prog, thrash, power, death, black etc) but other times, they take metal too far. You don't need a rapper or some weird masks to make good metal; in fact most of the time, that just makes the metal not metal anymore. Nu metal is false metal and shouldn't be close to the top ten let alone be in it.

Guys the best metal bands ever are Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath and they are traditional heavy metal! Thrash is good but not as good as heavy metal and is somewhat overrated.

NOW THIS IS HEAVY METAL
It's a shame that traditional heavy metal is pretty much dead. Nowadays, all moder bands tend to lean towards a certain metal subgenre, instead of doing it the traditional way. Luckily, there are some bands like Craddle of Filth, Three Days Grace, Skillet, Nanowar of Steel and even Nickelback that are able to evoke the old school sound while still pushing the genre forward and doing their own thing.

Melodic Death Metal is literally a combination of Death Metal, traditional metal, new wave british heavy metal, thrash metal, black metal, power metal, gothic metal, Prog and lots more.
Melodic Death Metal is brutal and beutiful bands such as Dark tranquillity, Carcass. Children of bodom, Amon Amarth, Arch enemy, Insomnium, Dissection, In flames, At the gates, the black dahlia murder, Kalmah, darker by design, naglfar and once human are all extremely talented. Melodeath is my favorate ever genre.

Melodic Death Metal is home to some of my favourite bands ever (At the Gates, In Flames, Children Of Bodom, Arch Enemy etc.) So of course I absolutely adore it!

Great melodies and harmonies, great displays of raw power, great instrumentation. It works well in quick and slow tempos. Musicians are usually very skilled. You can find emotional and meaningful lyrics. I prefer when they are not very intense with the growls, though.

What started it for me. Probably my favourite genre ever. Bands like In Flames (old), Dark Tranquillity, At the Gates from the old legendary ones and the new ones like Insomnium, Sylosis, As I lay dying and Amorphis.

Black metal is underrated. People automatically assume the music sucks because of the infamous actions by black metal musicians. Yes, a lot of black metal musicians have idiotic views, and a lot of the fans are mouth breathers too. But take personality out of the question. Varg Vikernes is a genius. The first four Burzum albums feature an ambient, avant-garde atmospheric style of black metal that he developed when he was just seventeen.

Bands like Darkthrone blended death metal with black metal on "a Blaze in the Northern Sky" to create the best album of the unholy trinity. Their album "The Underground Resistance" also features a traditional metal sound reminiscent of Motörhead.

Bands like Emperor and Dimmu Borgir (true black metal! 1! 1! 1!) incorporated symphonic elements into the music. And bands like Agalloch have their own blend of folkish black metal.

There's something for everyone. Black metal can be blended with almost anything. If you hate this genre ...more

Black metal deserves to be in the top 3. it does not concentrate on singular themes such as death metal. it is one of the most versatile genres of metal. black metal is like water with any kind of liquor. that's because elements of black metal works with any genre of metal. it is very underrated due to satanic elements in its songs, but as I said, the versatility of black metal does not concentrate only on satanism, you can literally write about anything in it...genres like DSBM (depressive suicidal black metal) can actually save lives. It did save mine. I consider black metal the most honest genre of music, more honest than any of the crappy genres of this generation.

Another genre I'm rather mixed on but leaning more toward like. Not every Black Metal band is satanic and there are plenty of good Black Metal songs.
Not to mention, Black Metal is one of the most diverse genres in all of Metal, you have Atmospheric bands like Burzum and Agalloch, the Symphonic bands like Dimmu Borgir, the hipster bands like Deafheaven which often take influences from Shoegaze and so on.

The most insane and obscure genre.. Gothic, doom and black metal are the king of genres is the black metal, This should be #1.. Go to hell dogmatic Christians, does not fill, I prefer die for a salvation than a hope. Up for the black metal.

Horrible examples listed below. None of these actually represent alternative metal. Alt metal is radio friendly edge riddled music that is synonymous with pop to an extent. Get some proper taste, this should've been a lot lower in this hackney list.

One of the most controversial genres. The thing is, if you say System of a Down, Primus, Faith no More, Deftones, etc. are not metal, it's hard to put them somewhere. To me, alt metal is still metal, and I think Metal_Treasure is judging alt-metal fans to quickly on this one. Genres can stretch far, and you can view metal as integrating many things. To me, Jerry was a racecar drive by Primus has metal elements, and it's generally called "alt-metal". Same goes for most alt-metal songs. I don't see why there is all this hate. It's still derivative of the metal movement in the end.

While I don't like how many alternative fans are pretty much emo posers complaining about how they suffer that don't understand half of the meaning of the lyrics, the genre itself is pretty good and original, and has some of the best songs and bands of the heavy metal genre in general. It's also a great genre to introduce people to metal in general, along with nu metal, thrash metal, power metal and glam metal. Probably the best begginer genres.

Heavy metal, thrash metal, Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden and all that is good music, but alternative metal is so much more alternative, you know... More complex, deeper meaning and lyrics. Not just usual fast-paced metal with a lot of frenetic solos and stuff. My vision is that this genre has songs which kind of takes their time, so to say.

How is Groove Metal so far down on this list? Listen to these amazing bands: Lamb Of God, Pantera, Machine Head and you'll see how awesome this sub genre is! it needs to be at least in the top 10!

I think Groove metal is the best because it actually has a GROOVE to it, so it's the most fun to headbang to. Pantera invented breakdowns and they actually had awesome groovy breakdowns, Lamb of God also have some amazing groovy breakdowns, but I think that a lot of Metalcore breakdowns have just gone too far and I wouldn't consider many of them to even be music anymore.

The most skilled metal heros play this style. The most complicated songs are in this style.
Come on! This is the best metal at the moment, there isn't a band harder and more skilled than Lamb of God or Machine Head, or more complete than Mastodon or Gojira. Groove metal is the way for the metal to turn back to his great age.

Yes I'm writing this to whoever above me just declared lamb of god a better technical band than such geniuses of dream theaters level. I mean really we all know that prog metal is where its at and your completely oblivious to the scene if you refuse to believe that it is the best.

Doom metal is truly a magnificent subgenre, it towers over others for many reasons. The atmosphere of most doom makes it sound so full, so much larger than other genres, especially on longer tracks you can be immersed into different worlds. While much of these other sub genres center on technicality in speed or complexity, or in some cases vocals, doom is less entertainment factor and more of colossal works of art that make for very unique experiences.

The melodic and epic nature of doom metal takes me back to my youth listening to Sabbath. I enjoy the heavy bass and down tuned guitars. I have always enjoyed deeper sounding notes like those from a cello or upright bass as opposed to viola or violins. Such a great sound with a lot of groove and funk to it.

I enjoy some faster and more complex metal here and there but metal doesn't have to be fast or intricate to be good or even heavy. From the oldies like Black Sabbath to the more contemporary bands like Pallbearer, Doom Metal is a prime example of this.

12? Doom metal is not only the first metal genre technically speaking but it still sounds amazing to this day. Don't get me wrong I love thrash death etc (not Nu metal) but what's better than sitting back and listening to some sabbath or pentagram.

I don't know, but a lot of people call metal and heavy metal to be the same. But in my eyes, I see A LOT of differences in it.

Metal isn't a subgenre of rock, it's its own subgenre. But heavy metal, yes.

Heavy metal isn't a sub genre of metal or rock, it's the same thing as metal.

The pioneers of the genre. Why wouldn't you vote for them?

Meh, the examples listed here are bad and it inspiring djent, nu, and alt isn't a good thing. If anything that is a petty reason to disregard the genre.

Industrial metal was huge some time ago, and has inspired all of the newly introduced genres such as Djent, Nu, and Alternative. Go back to the roots and make industrial metal a thing again!

Marilyn Manson and Rammstein make great Industrial Metal. Also check out Celldweller and Blue Stahli who are multi instrumentalist solo artists who make Industrial Metal too.

The most variable, rich and easy to listen. With huge influence of electronic music ( as the name shows) gives some of the best current metal bands.

Speed metal is different from thrash and other fast metal subgenres (death metal). Speed metal vocals are clean, often gorgeous. Speed metal is less influenced by hardcore punk than thrash - so speed metal is less abrasive and more melodic than thrash. Also, speed metal vocals are different from thrash vocals - speed metal singers don't spit the words and they really sing despite the fast tempo, which is more difficult. Example: 'Majesty' by Blind Guardian.
The first speed metal songs were written by Ritchie Blackmore circa 1970 - Deep Purple classics like: Highway Star, Fireball; and Rainbow classics like: Kill The King, A Light In The Black, Death Alley Driver. Later we have: Accept, Anvil, Exciter, Helloween, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Paragon, Primal Fear... Mostly German power metal bands develop this subgenre; also DragonForce (UK).

I don't pretend to know everything, but when Anthrax and Flotsam and Jetsam entered the scene, where I'm from they were definitely speed metal bands in Kerrang, Metal Hammer etc. They incorporated thrash elements with NWOBHM elements like twin-leads and operatic vocals. Even Dragonforce are frenetically paced, so I still think it's an enjoyable bastard child of thrash. Dunno.

Anthrax are seen as a thrash band, but they're not. They're a speed metal band, as well as Flotsam and Jotsam who are regarded as a thrash band, but they were a speed metal band. Speed metal is a sub genre of thrash.

Speed metal is so much fun, with great vocalists and lyrics! It's cleaner than thrash metal but still fast, it's pretty underrated

From what I've heard this is my favorite metal subgenre. Honestly I suspect for most pop fans this would be the kind of metal they would have the best chance of liking given that it isn't super heavy but focuses more on sounding grand and epic. Plus it has the best vocals in metal. Maybe that's just me projecting though.

Many people associate symphonic metal with female fronted bands and that's why they think it's gay. But there are bands and albums with male vox and I like some of them because this subgenre is the most epic and impressive one.

Symphonic metal is also very demanding and complex - bands with no top notch musicianship can't do this subgenre. Give a listen to some Blind Guardian songs - Sacred Worlds, The Ninth Wave, Wheel of Time, Holy Grail. People who like prog metal or/and power metal would quickly relate to these songs.

In my opinion, this is definitely one of the most creative genres. Not just in metal, but in general. In rock and metal there are always limitations to what you can musically do, but when you bring in classical instruments that problem is solved. Overall, this genre has the ability to have some of the most unique melodies.

Symphonies are the basis of all music. This makes Symphonic metal my favorite metal sub genre. Not only that, but there is usually a story arch or overall concept to symphonic metal, and not just random heavy music. Still love other metal subgenres though.

This is what metal is about! I know "true" metalheads would rather see this sub genre burn into the ground; but that's because they haven't given it a chance. Those who listen to metal aren't exactly the type for conforming to social norms... myself included. That's why this sub genre is hated on so much by so many in the metal scene; non-metalheads listen to this sub genre too! I can't help but laugh at the hypocrisy. One wants not to fit into social norms, but conforms to metal social "norms" and hates on a sub genre in which they couldn't even name a handful of songs and artist.

Metalcore contains it all and then some! Breakdowns that make you want to scream and vocals that make you want to breakdown. This sub genre will make you feel, move, sing and scream. Rather I'm feeling down, pumped to lift, working/studying, riding down the street with my wife or ready to break my fist on someones face; Metalcore is always the right choice.

I don't exactly know what attracts me to metalcore (other than the vocals), but I love the styles of every instrument in metalcore (especially guitar and drums). I love bands such as Asking Alexandria (their older stuff), Killswitch Engage, and Black Veil Brides. There are also some other great metalcore bands I've never listened to much such as August Burns Red, Of Mice and Men, Bullet For My Valentine, and plenty more.

Easily one of the better subgenres if you are listening to the right band. The bands like As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage and early Avenged Sevenfold is what its all about. Too many emo poser bands have ruined this subgenre. For every real metalcore band there's about ten poser bands. This is supposed to be mostly metal and part hardcore but some bands get the ratio wrong and its bad.

Many metalcore bands are found in the Christian Metal scene. Not all, but many are. There is definitely a Christian Metal movement, but it probably infiltrates its way into every genre of metal, not just one. Yes, it's a belief system but it's definitely out there.

Why is this under deathcore? I think a lot of people are hesitant to give this form of metal a chance mainly due to its name. I know I was (thought it sounded kinda hippie). However, this is an amazing form of metal that takes more delicate instruments and rhythms and fuses them into metal to make... I don't have a description for it. People just need to go look up Equilibrium and Ensiferum for a start. Eluveitie and Wolfchant, too.

Excellent genre, so diverse and unique. Getting all the folk influences from all the different styles of folk music around the world combined with the heavy/aggressiveness of metal is quite the journey.

One of my favourite genres of metal as it can crossover with other genres better than any other. Genre has so many great bands like Ensiferum, Turisas and Finntroll.

Hey, where's Skyclad and Elvenking? Those are two folk metal bands I really like. Listen to Penny Dreadful by Skyclad and the cover version by Elvenking.

Mastodon and High on Fire and Melvins all kill it with the ultra heavy riffs, when I think "Heavy riff" sludge metal comes above all others. thrash and death metal both come the closest, but sludge is thicker and heavier and easier to headband to

In my opinion, sludge metal deserves to be higher on the list. Bands like the Melvins, Electric Wizard, Sleep, Kyuss, Weedeater, and countless other great sludge metal bands. Low-tuned guitars, repetitive yet amazing riffs, and fascinating lyrics. Some sludge metal has dark, ominous lyrics, some has lyrics about wed, and some has lyrics about weird, fantasy-type settings.

The most unappreciated metal subgenera of all time. It's stop disgusting and moody and it's sexy!

None of the bands listed here are sludge. Do some research posers. Kyuss ain't sludge.

Absolutely incredible. It takes death metal, which is already an amazing genre, and makes it 10x better. Some of the best metal bands out there today are technical death metal bands! Bands like Nile, Beyond Creation, Necrophagist, Dying Fetus, and Suffocation are incredible bands. Do yourself a favor and listen to the amazing music that is technical death metal.

Technical Death Metal is DM at its finest. This sub-genre contains some of the most talented players and most unique yet heavy bands like Obscura, Revocation, and Nile. Technical Death Metal is an elite metal genre.

It's like mixing Dream Theater with Cannibal Corpse, and its perfect! Check out all bands in metal though!

Awesome genre. Has bands like Gojira, Death and Obscura. It's filled with unconventional songstructures and heavy riffs and awesome beats.

By far the best metal subgenre, it combines the greatest music genre with great guitars and melodies.

Guys of guitar virtuoso type. Yngwie alone would make me put this subgenre on my personal Top 10 list.

So it's a solo guitarist genre? I can play Am I Evil? So I'm in. That's not a genre. Bands please. Deathrow? Artillery? DragonForce?

Wasn't Jeff Loomis doing some on his solo records?

People who can't hang with Deathcore don't know what their talking about. They don't slow down and actually listen to it, and so they claim it all sounds the same. That could be said for any genre really, and there are distinct differences in Deathcore bands. Compare Emmure (my personal favorite) with Suicide Silence. Although they are some of the more similar of bands in this genre, there have very distinct differences.

Deathcore is the worst metal subgenre ever, and shouldn't be on this list at all let alone top 20. Literally every deathcore band in existence is the EXACT same thing: horrible pig squeals, generic chug-chug riffs and breakdowns for the sake of breakdowns. There is not one decent deathcore band in existence.

Yeah, Within The Ruins, Born of Osiris are heavy showmanship, but what's it all about? Metal for metal's sake? Do they stand for anything? Despite all the flamboyance of all the modern metal bands, do they stand for naught? Perhaps metal is garbage, no matter how well executed.

Added because I think it's overhated. Yes, some bands are bad, but bands like Thy Art is Murder don't make it all about cramming in breakdowns and actually make their music aggressive, and when their breakdowns do hit, they hit harder than Chris Brown.

Theatre of tragedy, type o negative, Paradise lost, Unsun, Moi Dix Mois, Tristania, Elis, Darkwell, Sirenia, Theatres des vampires and much more. Gothic metal combines the lyrics from gothic rock with the sound of metal, finished with some industrial or classical effects. It's a shame that nowadays every metal band that tries to be a little bit dark or symphonic immediately is called goth. Nightwish is symphonic, Evanescence is Nu-metal, and HIM is it's own genre, they are great bands from itself and don't need to be classified.