extreme metal
Intense sonic assault
Extreme metal is an umbrella term for the heaviest, fastest, and most aggressive subgenres of heavy metal music, including death metal, black metal, thrash metal, and grindcore.
These styles push beyond conventional metal through techniques like blast beats, harsh or screamed vocals, heavily distorted guitars, and dark or transgressive lyrical themes.
The festival lineup featured extreme metal acts from Norway and Sweden.
The term distinguishes these intense forms from mainstream or classic heavy metal.
Aggressive, ultrafast metal subgenre
- metalcoreExtreme fusion genre
- deathcoreExtreme metal-metalcore hybrid
- crust punkHarsh punk-metal fusion genre
Twisting from original state
- growlsLow threatening vocalizations
- shrieksSharp, piercing cries
- gutturalProduced in throat
- screamingLoud, shrill vocalizing
riffs · breakdowns · dissonance · feedback · cacophony · atonality · harsh · brutal
Below ground or countercultural
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- zinesAmateur self-published booklets
- tape tradingSharing unauthorized recordings by mail
- DIY ethicBelief in personal creation
cult following · demos · bootlegs · indie labels · word-of-mouth · house shows · counter-culture · obscure
Speedy, or skip eating
- gallopSwiftest quadruped gait
- breakneckRecklessly high speed
- freneticWildly agitated, fast
- double-bassLargest bowed string instrument
shred · tempo · speed · thrash · acceleration · slow · crushing · plodding
Total absence of light
- deathCessation of life
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- occultConcealed from view
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
blasphemy · gore · misanthropy · apocalypse · warfare · paganism · brutality · suffering
Concert crowd-collision zone
- headbangingViolent rhythmic skull movement
- circle pitCrowd running in formation
- wall of deathCylindrical stunt-riding enclosure
- stage divingLeaping into concert crowds
crowd surfing · devil horns · slamming · frenzy · sweat · barricade · setlist · encore
grindcore
Aggressive, ultrafast metal subgenre
- metalcoreExtreme fusion genre
- deathcoreExtreme metal-metalcore hybrid
- crust punkHarsh punk-metal fusion genre
distortion
Twisting from original state
screaming · riffs · breakdowns · dissonance · feedback · cacophony · atonality · harsh · brutal · thunderous
underground
Below ground or countercultural
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- zinesAmateur self-published booklets
- tape tradingSharing unauthorized recordings by mail
DIY ethic · cult following · demos · bootlegs · indie labels · word-of-mouth · house shows · counter-culture · obscure · grassroots
fast
Speedy, or skip eating
double-bass · shred · tempo · speed · thrash · acceleration · slow · crushing · plodding · dirge
darkness
Total absence of light
Satan · blasphemy · gore · misanthropy · apocalypse · warfare · paganism · brutality · suffering · chaos
moshpit
Concert crowd-collision zone
- headbangingViolent rhythmic skull movement
- circle pitCrowd running in formation
- wall of deathCylindrical stunt-riding enclosure
stage diving · crowd surfing · devil horns · slamming · frenzy · sweat · barricade · setlist · encore · merch table
extreme metalsoft rock
Low-durability sedimentary formation
easy listening · smooth jazz · adult contemporary · ambient music · lounge music
extreme metalpop music
Catchy, commercial song genre
mainstream pop · bubblegum pop · Top 40 · teen pop · easy listening
extreme metalsmooth jazz
Mellow, polished instrumental genre
a cappella · classical music · soft rock · orchestral music · singer-songwriter
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