Genre Histories

Behemoth on stage in Japan

Polish Black Metal

Andrzej Sawicki · Jan 10, 2026

The members of Possessed

How Death Metal Emerged From Thrash

Rafael Quintero · Jan 9, 2026

Deep Purple posed with their guitars and bass in a London recording studio in 1970: Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord and Ian Paice Chapter 1

What Heavy Metal Actually Is, and Where It Began

Declan Rourke · Jan 8, 2026

Iron Maiden backstage in 1985, sweaty after a show, with one member holding a draped Union Jack flag Overview

Before It Had Fifty Names: The Story of Heavy Metal, from Birmingham to Everywhere

Declan Rourke · Jan 5, 2026

Extreme Noise Terror performing live on stage

The UK Death Metal Scene: Bolt Thrower, Benediction and Earache

Andrzej Sawicki · Jan 3, 2026

Infernal War in a black and white band portrait Chapter 5

France, Poland, Greece, Iceland and the Scenes That Followed

Eirik Solvang with Andrzej Sawicki · Jan 3, 2026

My Dying Bride performing in purple light in front of their backdrop, two guitarists at the front of the stage Chapter 5

Death Doom: Peaceville, Winter and the Slowest Extremity

Ilse Brandt · Dec 28, 2025

Emperor performing live on stage

Fantoft and the Photograph That Followed It

Eirik Solvang · Dec 27, 2025

Cannibal Corpse performing live on stage

Tampa: The City That Recorded a Genre

Rafael Quintero · Dec 27, 2025

Vader on stage on the tour that marked the band's fortieth year Chapter 5

Britain, the Netherlands, Poland and the Rest of the World

Rafael Quintero with Andrzej Sawicki · Dec 27, 2025

Nifelheim on stage

The Swedish Black Metal Scene

Eirik Solvang · Dec 20, 2025

Exodus in a band portrait Chapter 8

The Fall and the Revival (1991–Now)

Declan Rourke · Dec 14, 2025

The members of Internal Bleeding

New York Death Metal

Rafael Quintero · Dec 13, 2025

Nifelheim on stage in studs and spikes Chapter 4

Sweden, Finland and the Rest of the North

Eirik Solvang · Dec 13, 2025

Eyehategod playing a club stage, three guitarists and the singer lit in red, the crowd filling the foreground Chapter 4

Sludge Metal: New Orleans, the Melvins and the Ugly Half of Doom

Ilse Brandt · Dec 7, 2025

Morpheus Descends on a New York street at night Chapter 4

New York, Brutality and the Rise of Slam

Rafael Quintero · Dec 6, 2025

Hades Almighty playing a festival stage under their banner

The Norwegian Church Burnings: What Happened, in Order

Eirik Solvang · Nov 29, 2025

Mordred in a band portrait outside a club Chapter 7

The Golden Years (1986–1990)

Declan Rourke · Nov 29, 2025