Explainers

The five members of Edguy standing together on a dark stage under blue spotlight beams

What Makes a Song Power Metal

Julien Vasseur · Mar 11, 2026

Possessed performing live on stage

When Did Death Metal Start?

Rafael Quintero · Mar 10, 2026

James Hetfield singing into a microphone stand and playing guitar on a dark club stage

Why Is It Called Power Metal? From a 1982 Demo Tape to a Genre

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 10, 2026

Autopsy, Chris Reifert second from the left, backstage

What Does OSDM Mean?

Rafael Quintero · Mar 9, 2026

Accept playing an open air stage, the singer crouched at the microphone in a camouflage top, two guitarists either side of him and the drummer on a riser behind

Where Did Power Metal Originate?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 9, 2026

The five members of Jag Panzer in black leather, seated and standing in front of stacked flight cases for a studio portrait

When Did Power Metal Start?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 8, 2026

The four members of Elder standing in overgrown parkland in front of a ruined classical colonnade

Psychedelic Doom Metal

Ilse Brandt · Mar 8, 2026

Dimmu Borgir performing live on stage

Black Metal Subgenres Explained

Eirik Solvang · Mar 7, 2026

Gorguts performing live on stage

Technical Death Metal Explained

Rafael Quintero · Mar 7, 2026

Phil Anselmo and Zakk Wylde performing with the reformed Pantera lineup, OVO Arena Wembley, London, 25 February 2025

Was Pantera a Glam Metal Band?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Mar 7, 2026

Manilla Road playing a small club stage, a lit sign with the band name hanging above the drum kit, guitarist and bassist either side of it

Who Invented Power Metal?

Julien Vasseur with Declan Rourke · Mar 6, 2026

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