Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple are all considered pioneers of hard rock music, having emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s with their distinct heavy guitar riffs, powerful vocals, and energetic live performances.

Screaming is a common vocal technique used in heavy metal music, characterized by high-pitched, intense, and often distorted vocals that add to the aggressive and powerful sound of the genre.

Distorted guitar riffs are a defining characteristic of heavy metal music, creating a thick, heavy, and aggressive sound. These riffs are often played with high gain and distortion effects, resulting in a powerful and intense sonic experience.

Symphonic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of classical music, such as orchestral arrangements, choirs, and complex song structures. This subgenre often features soaring melodies, epic soundscapes, and a blend of heavy metal aggression with classical sophistication.

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax are all considered pioneers of thrash metal music, having emerged in the early 1980s with their fast-paced, aggressive, and technically proficient style of heavy metal.

Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of doom metal and stoner rock, resulting in a slow, heavy, and brooding sound. This subgenre often features distorted guitars, down-tuned tunings, and lyrics that explore dark and pessimistic themes.

Venom, Bathory, and Celtic Frost are all considered pioneers of black metal music, having emerged in the early 1980s with their raw, aggressive, and anti-religious sound. These bands laid the foundation for the development of black metal as a distinct subgenre of heavy metal.

Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of progressive rock and jazz fusion, resulting in complex song structures, odd time signatures, and extended instrumental passages. This subgenre often features highly skilled musicianship and a blend of heavy metal aggression with progressive rock's experimental and technical approach.

Helloween, Manowar, and Blind Guardian are all considered pioneers of power metal music, having emerged in the early 1980s with their uplifting, melodic, and energetic sound. These bands laid the foundation for the development of power metal as a distinct subgenre of heavy metal.

Deathcore is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of death metal and grindcore, resulting in a brutal, aggressive, and often chaotic sound. This subgenre often features guttural vocals, blast beats, and lyrics that explore dark and violent themes.

Death, Possessed, and Obituary are all considered pioneers of death metal music, having emerged in the early 1980s with their aggressive, guttural vocals, fast tempos, and complex song structures. These bands laid the foundation for the development of death metal as a distinct subgenre of heavy metal.

Industrial metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of industrial music and electronic music, resulting in a harsh, aggressive, and often experimental sound. This subgenre often features distorted guitars, electronic beats, and lyrics that explore themes of technology, alienation, and social decay.

Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and Fear Factory are all considered pioneers of industrial metal music, having emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s with their unique blend of heavy metal aggression and industrial music's harsh, electronic soundscapes.

Folk metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that incorporates elements of folk music and traditional music, resulting in a unique blend of heavy metal aggression and traditional melodies, instruments, and rhythms. This subgenre often features acoustic guitars, folk instruments, and lyrics that explore themes of history, mythology, and nature.

Finntroll, Korpiklaani, and Eluveitie are all considered pioneers of folk metal music, having emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s with their unique blend of heavy metal aggression and traditional folk music elements.