Tehom wrote:
What the fuck is alternative metal
even though I came to my own conclusions and opinions independently, I think the RYM guide to genres pretty much gets it right and considering how many metalheads hang out there and that it is user-controlled content, it's pretty much as accurate as it's gonna get without media/personal bias and especially marketing determining things:
Quote:
Alternative Metal edit
Alternative Metal is a loosely defined sub-genre of Metal that began in the late 1980s and reached its peak in the early 90s. It is characterized by mixing Metal (most notably heavy riffs) with other styles such as Hip Hop (Rage Against the Machine), Funk (Primus), Grunge (Soundgarden), and other genres not traditionally associated with Metal.
By the mid 1990s Alternative Metal's sound became more standardized, thus resulting in what is now called Nu Metal, however, some bands are still classified as Alternative Metal today (such as System of a Down). This is typically due to them being closer in sound to Alternative Rock or their lack of the Hip Hop influences associated with Nu Metal.
Funk Metal edit
Funk metal is a sub-genre of alternative metal that began in the late 1980s. It is characterized by a mix of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk style bass, and sometimes hip-hop style rhymes.
Nu Metal edit
Nu Metal is a form of Alternative Metal that began around the mid-1990s. Musically, there is a large emphasis placed on rhythm. The guitar is often used almost exclusively as a rhythm instrument, relying more on techniques like syncopation, palm muting, drop-D tuning and power chords than the more intricate lead guitar work of traditional Metal styles. The rhythm section frequently displays elements of Funk, Hip Hop, and Metal, and often eschews techniques more prevalent in extreme Metal such as double bass drumming in favour of a more groove-oriented sound. Some bands also employ a DJ on turntables as part of their lineup to further emphasize these elements.
Lyrically, Nu Metal often deals with themes of angst and hostility and the vocals are usually aggressive, though not to the point where the lyrics become indiscernible. Stylistically, the vocals can be in the form of rapping, singing, or a shouting/screaming style similar to Hardcore Punk or extreme Metal. Many bands combine several of these styles and alternate between them within songs.
Production also plays a part in the Nu Metal sound, often favouring a "clean" and polished production style with liberal use of distortion and post-processing effects to both music and vocals to further enhance the atmosphere of the music. Ross Robinson is a notable producer in the genre and had a hand in the production of many staple Nu Metal releases by artists like Korn, Deftones, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit.
Rap Metal edit
Rap Metal is a form of Alternative Metal that features a rapper as a vocalist. Rap metal instrumentation is typically formed around metal riffs and a live drum kit played in a groove-oriented fashion at a mid-tempo pace; much less emphasis on staccato attacks and fast tempos that are common in other metal genres. The genre shares many similarities with Rap Rock, but generally the music is heavier and more aggressive. Rap Metal was influential in the creation of the Nu Metal genre, but sonically they are distinguishable since Nu Metal does not necessarily always have rap vocals. Some key innovators include Rage Against the Machine and Body Count.
