Explainers

Boris guitarist Wata playing beside an amplifier while Takeshi plays a double-neck guitar and bass, both lit pink and purple

The Doom Metal Chords

Ilse Brandt · Aug 17, 2026

The members of Gorefest

What Is Death and Roll?

Rafael Quintero · Aug 16, 2026

Wolf Hoffmann of Accept playing guitar at Hellfest, 2024. Photo: Ryan Hildrew

Why Metal Loves the Minor Key

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 15, 2026

Horde on stage as silhouettes in blue light

Christian Black Metal, or Unblack

Eirik Solvang · Aug 14, 2026

The sleeve of Dance of December Souls, Katatonia, 1993

Black Metal vs Doom Metal

Ilse Brandt · Aug 13, 2026

Cannibal Corpse on stage

What Is Death Metal?

Rafael Quintero · Aug 13, 2026

The five members of Evoken in black on the steps of a derelict building with peeling white paint, in sepia

Is Doom Metal Extreme Metal?

Ilse Brandt · Aug 13, 2026

Helloween in a band portrait from their early years

Speed Metal vs Thrash Metal: What Is the Difference?

Declan Rourke · Aug 12, 2026

Jules Radino of Blue Oyster Cult behind the kit in Glasgow in 2022, the hook and cross painted on the bass drum head

The Heavy Metal Symbols

Declan Rourke · Aug 12, 2026

Bruce Dickinson at History, Toronto, 16 September 2025. Photo: Taylor Cameron

The Air Raid Siren Style

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 10, 2026

Slipknot on stage

Is Slipknot Thrash Metal? (And Other Bands That Aren't)

Declan Rourke · Aug 9, 2026

Grave on stage in 1991

Nordic Death Metal: What the Four Countries Shared

Andrzej Sawicki · Aug 9, 2026

Warbringer on stage in 2023

Thrash in 2026: The State of the Genre (annual)

Declan Rourke · Aug 7, 2026

Aborted performing live on stage

Death Metal vs Deathcore

Rafael Quintero · Aug 6, 2026

Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden playing guitar at The O2 Arena, London, 2018. Photo: Steve Ritchie

Phrygian and the Dark Modes

Declan Rourke with Julien Vasseur · Aug 6, 2026

The three members of Primitive Man standing among bare trees and dry grass at dusk, lit red against a blue sky

Doom Metal Tuning

Ilse Brandt · Aug 6, 2026

A mastering room with a cutting lathe on the left and two screens carrying waveform and spectrum readouts

The Loudness War in Metal

Declan Rourke with Curtis Vance · Aug 5, 2026

A packed club floor with a stage diver

Hardcore vs Thrash: What Is the Difference?

Jonah Pike · Aug 4, 2026