Heavy metal (thing)

Heavy Metal is a kind of Rock music with loud, distorted guitars, and often - harsh, angst - ridden vocals. Black Sabbath is said to have created the genre in the 70's. Over the years, many varieties, forms and sub genres of Heavy Metal have emerged. The following are the different forms (to my knowledge) of Heavy Metal:

• Deathcore: The most extreme form of Heavy Metal. Blisteringly fast tempos, extreme vocals. Lyrically, it deals with dark subjects, such as Death and Satanism. Black Metal, Death Metal, Grindcore and Doom Metal all fall into this category. Key artists: Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Lock Up, and Cradle Of Filth.

• Hair Metal: Less intense then other forms of Heavy Metal, it is so called because Hair Metal musicians had big hair. It sprung up in the 80's, but fell into decadence in the early 90's. Key artists: Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison, and Scorpions.

• Nu-Metal or New Metal: Newest form of Heavy Metal, with more "groove" than traditional forms of Heavy Metal. Rap influenced vocals, down tuned guitars and an "angry" attitude characterize Nu Metal. Might also include multiple vocalists, DJs and sampling artists. The pioneering works of Nu Metal are Korn's, in the mid 90's. Key artists: Korn, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, P.O.D., StainD and The Deftones.

• Stoner Rock: Laid back and relaxed and at the same time aggressiveness come to mind when listening to Stoner Rock. The tempo is slow but because the guitars are down tuned and have more distortion, the music still sounds heavy. It originated in the late 90's. Key artists: Queens Of The Stone Age, Fu Manchu and Kyuss.

• Traditional Heavy Metal: With Black Sabbath being credited for inventing the genre in the 70's, many new forms of this loud, aggressive style of Rock would be created in the years to come. Key artists: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne.

• Thrash / Speed Metal: Fast and hard. That's all. Key artists: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Pantera.

• Industrial Metal: Combines electronic sounds to create a fusion of Techno and Heavy Metal known as Industrial Metal. Key artists: Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, and Static - X.

• Progressive Metal: A fusion of Heavy Metal and Progressive Rock. Key artists: Dream Theater, and Symphony X.