Genre Histories

Antaeus on stage

French Black Metal

Eirik Solvang · Mar 6, 2026

Jody Turner of Rock Goddess playing bass on stage at Headbangers Open Air in July 2015

The Women of the NWOBHM

Declan Rourke · Mar 6, 2026

The sleeve of the Emperor and Hordanes Land split, 1993

Helvete: The Basement Record Shop

Eirik Solvang · Mar 5, 2026

Iron Maiden's five members, the Paul Di'Anno-era line-up with Steve Harris and Dave Murray, crowded around a pub table, laughing and holding pints, an Iron Maiden backstage laminate on one jacket Chapter 1

What Power Metal Is, and Where It Came From

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 5, 2026

Fleetwood Mac rehearsing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969, Peter Green at the microphone with his Les Paul

The Blues Roots of Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Mar 4, 2026

Sonata Arctica's five members standing together among tall stone monuments in a promotional portrait made for the band's thirtieth anniversary Overview

Swords Raised at Full Speed: The History of Power Metal, from Hamburg to the World

Julien Vasseur · Mar 2, 2026

Sinister in front of a mural

Dutch Death Metal: Pestilence, Asphyx and Gorefest

Andrzej Sawicki · Mar 1, 2026

Megadeth band members posing in a black and white photo from the 1980s

Technical Thrash: Watchtower, Coroner, Mekong Delta

Declan Rourke · Feb 26, 2026

Mark Gallagher of Raven playing a Flying V on stage at Wacken Open Air in August 2024

The NWOBHM Singles and the Independent Labels

Declan Rourke · Feb 24, 2026

Hideki Ishima of Flower Travellin' Band playing his sitarla on stage in Brooklyn in 2008

Proto-Metal: The Records Before the Name

Declan Rourke · Feb 23, 2026

Dimmu Borgir posing together

Black Metal in the 2000s

Eirik Solvang · Feb 22, 2026

Motorhead backstage at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco, during the 1982 Iron Fist tour

The Heavy Metal Family Tree

Declan Rourke · Feb 21, 2026

Alice in Chains guitarist mid-motion at the Central Tavern, Seattle, 1990, long exposure blurring the drum kit and crowd behind him

What Killed Hair Metal

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Feb 17, 2026

The sleeve of Vampires of Black Imperial Blood, Mütiilation, 1995

Les Legions Noires: The French Cult

Eirik Solvang · Feb 16, 2026

Robb Weir and the bassist of Tygers of Pan Tang performing live on stage at The Patriot Home of Rock, Rotherham, 4 August 2023, guitar and bass in hand under blue and red stage lighting

NWOBHM '79 Revisited

Declan Rourke · Feb 16, 2026

Entrails on stage

The Old School Death Metal Revival

Rafael Quintero · Feb 14, 2026

Mgła, hooded and faceless, standing in smoke Chapter 7

After the Second Wave: 2000 to Now

Eirik Solvang · Feb 14, 2026

The Kingdom Come album sleeve by Sir Lord Baltimore, a ghostly sailing ship of bones on a dark green sea

Proto Doom: The Records Made Before the Word Existed

Ilse Brandt · Feb 13, 2026