Explainers

Peter Baltes, Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann in the control room at Dierks Studios, Stommeln, January 2025

How Heavy Metal Is Recorded: The Studios, the Producers and the Sound

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · Mar 5, 2026

A pit seen from a balcony

Why Is It Called Thrash Metal? Kerrang!, Malcolm Dome and a Song Called "Metal Thrashing Mad"

Declan Rourke · Mar 3, 2026

Killswitch Engage on the Sydney waterfront with the Harbour Bridge behind them, on their first Australian tour supporting Anthrax, April 2004

Heavy Metal vs Metalcore

Declan Rourke · Mar 3, 2026

The AC/DC logo displayed on the video screen above the stage at Wembley Stadium, London, July 2024, on the PWR/UP tour

The Heavy Metal Font

Declan Rourke · Mar 2, 2026

Pelican, the instrumental post-metal band, posed together outdoors at night under purple stage lighting

Instrumental Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Mar 1, 2026

The three members of YOB standing on dark rocks by the sea with the sun setting behind them

The Doom Metal Subgenres, and Where Each One Draws Its Line

Ilse Brandt · Mar 1, 2026

Carcass's Heartwork, Atheist's Unquestionable Presence and At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul

Death Metal Subgenres Explained

Rafael Quintero · Feb 28, 2026

Ratt's singer backstage in a studded leather vest and leather pants with the rest of the band, big teased hair and sunglasses

Heavy Metal Against Everything It Gets Confused With

Declan Rourke · Feb 26, 2026

Warren DeMartini of Ratt playing his Flying V guitar live at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, during the Invasion Celebration reunion show, 5 April 2025

What Is Hair Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Feb 25, 2026

Skinless on stage

What Is Slam Death Metal?

Rafael Quintero · Feb 24, 2026

Wolves in the Throne Room on stage at With Full Force in 2018

Cascadian Black Metal

Eirik Solvang · Feb 24, 2026

Anathema performing on a wide concert stage, the singer at the centre microphone and guitarists either side, green laser beams behind them

Gothic Doom Metal

Ilse Brandt · Feb 22, 2026

Venom band portrait in black and white, three members in black band t-shirts and leather making devil-horn and fist gestures

The Culture: Album Covers, Fashion and the Heavy Metal Look

Declan Rourke · Feb 19, 2026

Dark Tranquillity in a band portrait

Melodic Death Metal and the Gothenburg Sound

Rafael Quintero · Feb 17, 2026

Accept in a band portrait

When Did Thrash Metal Start?

Declan Rourke · Feb 16, 2026

Dark Funeral on stage in Beijing

Swedish vs Norwegian Black Metal

Eirik Solvang · Feb 16, 2026

The four members of Bethlehem in black leather standing on a green steel footbridge over a canal

Black Doom Metal

Ilse Brandt · Feb 15, 2026

Meshuggah performing at Bloodstock Festival, August 2023

The Heavy Metal Genre Chart, Mapped

Declan Rourke · Feb 14, 2026