Last time, we looked at how metal has fractured into a million different genres, sub-genres, and sub-sub-genres.
For example, have you heard of “blackened crust?” This is a combination of an intense form of punk that’s been mated to black metal. Not for the timid. Drone doom is slow, low, and scary, occasionally punctuated by blood-curdling screams. I love this label: Heavy negative wizard metal. This brings together old-school British metal from the early 80s, power metal, black metal, and fantasy sci-fi.
There’s jazz metal, which is just like it sounds. Imagine lots of improvisation featuring heavy guitars, saxophones, and trumpets. Kawaii metal is a Japanese invention that brings together J-pop with aggressive guitar riffs. And if you’re looking to go back in time, there’s medieval metal, which not only features big guitars but also ancient instruments like a hurdy-gurdy, frame drums, and dudelsacks.
Ain’t music evolution wild?
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices
