Explainers

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

Metallica at Carlini Station, Antarctica, 2013. Photo: Ross Halfin

Heavy Metal Trivia

Declan Rourke · Feb 15, 2026

Meshuggah performing at Bloodstock Festival, August 2023

The Heavy Metal Genre Chart, Mapped

Declan Rourke · Feb 14, 2026

Hellhammer's Apocalyptic Raids beside Sarcofago's I.N.R.I.

Who Invented Black Metal?

Eirik Solvang · Feb 13, 2026

Pantera posing together

Groove Metal: Pantera and the Thrash That Slowed Down

Declan Rourke · Feb 13, 2026

Alice Cooper raising a white top hat on a stage extension surrounded by the crowd, Ol' Black Eyes Is Back tour, November 2019

The Heavy Metal Subgenres, and Where Each One Splits Off

Declan Rourke · Feb 12, 2026

Sweet performing on Top of the Pops, London, 1975, in full glam rock regalia

Glam Metal vs Hair Metal: Same Thing?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Feb 10, 2026

The sleeve of Bergtatt, Ulver, 1995

Why Did Black Metal Start in Norway?

Eirik Solvang · Feb 9, 2026

Napalm Death performing live on stage

How Death Metal Got Its Name

Rafael Quintero · Feb 8, 2026

A crowd pressed to the barrier with fists and horns raised at a metal show in Helsinki in November 2019

Why People Love Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Feb 8, 2026

Mötley Crüe backstage with Ozzy Osbourne on the Bark at the Moon Tour, March 1984

Is Mötley Crüe Glam Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Feb 4, 2026

Green Lung performing on an outdoor festival stage in front of a large painted banner, the crowd in the foreground

Stoner Doom: Where the Two Words Meet

Ilse Brandt · Feb 3, 2026

Saxon on stage at the Eventim Apollo in London in November 2025, Biff Byford at the microphone with Marshall stacks behind

What Makes Music Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Feb 2, 2026

Exodus performing at a club show

Who Was the First Thrash Metal Band?

Declan Rourke · Feb 2, 2026

Jon Bon Jovi performing live before a massive festival crowd, 1980s

Is Bon Jovi Hair Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Jan 31, 2026

Girlschool's four original members leaning on a railing in front of gig posters for Dingwalls and Brecknock, London, around 1980

Is Motörhead NWOBHM?

Declan Rourke · Jan 30, 2026