20 Music Genres That Might Be Worth a Listen

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1. Symphonic Metal

 

A melodic genre that combines heavy distorted guitar riffs of heavy metal with traditional instrumentals, booming orchestras, wide vocal ranges, and classical-sounding music. Depending on the band's style, the song may incorporate synths, full symphonic orchestras, choirs, and sometimes even opera-style singing. Metal fans who hate cookie-monster death growls or fry screams will easily be able to find this genre enjoyable. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBUK9uLSvbo

2. Hard Trance

 

Trance is a genre of electronic music that developed in Germany (early 1990s) characterized by strong, hard kicks, fully resonant basses, repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that distinctly builds up and down throughout a track. At a tempo of 130-180 beats per minute (BPM), a typical song begins with a progressive beat (a beat which becomes an increasingly more complex beat throughout the song), leads to a "build up" beat, and then to a "hook" or "theme". Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qErUMB4FAXU

3. Melodic Metal

 

A genre of metal combining some elements of death metal (like heavy riffing) with elements of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and Power Metal (more classical riffing). Melodic Death Metal or "Melodeath", in short, is basically an amalgamation of #7 and #14 on this list. The style originated and developed in Sweden and the United Kingdom during the early and mid-1990s. Some bands strictly use death-growls, but many other melodic metal bands still include clean vocals. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqmnJTRZcgo

4. Dubstep/Drumstep

 

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music originating in London ( late 1990s) developing from a lineage of related styles such as 2-step garage, broken beat, and Dnb. The music generally features syncopated drum and percussion patterns with bass lines that contain prominent sub bass frequencies. Usually includes a melodic build to a "drop" of distorted bass lines, melodic chord progressions, or dissonant breakdowns. The word "Drumstep" refers to a combination of dubstep elements with DnB to form a whole new beat and tempo. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m9PJqt-Bd0

5. Folk Metal

 

Yes, this actually exists. "Folk metal" (Including but not limited to "Samurai Metal", "Pirate Metal", "Pagan Metal", "Celt Metal", and occasionally "Viking Metal") is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterized by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMu1E3K-KjA

6. Hardstyle

 

Hardstyle is a genre of electronic dance music (integrating various hardcore/hard techno styles) with origins in the Netherlands during the early 2000s. A Hardstyle beat generally consists of distorted sharp kick-drum sounds (~150bpm), faded bass lines, and finally, a signature dissonant distorted synth "theme" or melodic "hook" in the middle of the song following the drop-build. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVpvikQ1FgQ

7. Power Metal

 

Power metal is a "fantasy-style" genre concentrated around medieval, renaissance, folk, and science fiction themes. Power Metal has origins way back in the 1970s drawing from the lyrical styles of Iron Maiden and Rainbow (RIP Dio). It combines characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal to create a more theatrical, dramatic, and emotionally "uplifting" sound (in contrast to death metal). Guitar chords are anthem-like, melodically harmonizing with frequently used keyboards. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asjz_Kzw5yY

8. IDM/Glitch

 

Before you scroll past this one due to the name, I should let you know that "Glitch" doesn't automatically indicate that it contains cacophonous toilet-noises in place of melody. "Glitch" and "Glitch-Hop" are subsets of IDM ("intelligent dance music") which relies on individualistic experimentation rather than adhering to specific "rules" and characteristics associated with the rest of EDM genres. Glitch does adhere to an "aesthetic of failure" and deliberate use of audio malfunctioning, but can still incorporate melody. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glK1FlzZvGg

9. Industrial Rock

 

Emerging from the late 1980s, this genre draws influence from both Industrial dance music and hard rock/metal, using distorted guitar riffing, sampling, synths, sequencer hooks, and distorted vocals. The genre has also occasionally concentrated around dark, morbid, or dystopian themes due to influence from the black metal scene during the early 2000s. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbRl79o7fAw

10. House

 

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a prominent kick drum on every beat, repetitive 4/4 melodies, off-beat hi-hats, and synthesized basslines. Great for beginners looking to get into electronic music due to its minimalistic nature, presence in mainstream radio, visible integration into "pop", and uplifting "soulful themes". Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQirm4nvN4o

11. DnB

 

Emerging in England during the early 1990s, DnB or "Drum and Bass" is characterized by rapid breakbeats (typically between 150–180 beats per minute) and heavy bass/sub-bass lines. The "bass line" and lighter melodies are usually created with sampled sources or synthesizers. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol__7L1y-a0

12. Djent/Progressive

 

A style of heavy metal music that developed as a spinoff of traditional progressive metal. The word "djent" is an onomatopoeia for the distinctive high-gain, distorted palm-muted, low pitch guitar sound most notably employed by bands like Meshuggah and Sikth. It also incorporates drawn out "drone" sounds or progressive guiltar leads over the palm muting rhythms. Many djent bands also substitute slower soloing for the "drone" riffing in more mainstream Djent bands. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yieKHp_j9VE

14. Death Metal/TechDeath

 

This genre employs "heavy" distorted low-tuned guitars played with highly-technical palm muting and tremolo picking, frequent time-sig changes (TechDeath), deep growling vocals, and powerful double kick drumming (Blast beats). Any present melodies are usually played in minor keys, abrupt tempo, and chromatic chord progressions. For this list I've toned down the quanitity of Tech Met to make it easier to listen to. Either way, the lyrical themes of death metal strive to be "Br00tal", invoking slasher film-stylized mutilation, Lovecraftian horror, Viking mythology, and extreme violence (dissection, torture, cannibalism, and necrophilia). Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duqZwRsu-O8

15. Virtuosic (Neoclassical & Experimental Rock)

 

Virtuosic rock pushes genre boundaries, common composition, and performance technique. Guitar-virtuosos attempt to individualize their music with strange instrumental tunings, compositional styles, and fusing elements of exotic musical genres. Genre-wise, artists like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Joe Satriani defy the norms of socially-acceptable styles and push genre boundaries with innovative techniques, instrumental-emphasis, and unconventional compositional structure. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_Q88DavD0

16. Trancecore/Trance Metal

 

Genre mashing done right. Trance Metal is a mixed Genre of Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore (Or Post-Hardcore) with Trance music incorporated in it. It is NOT an EDM genre, it is usually classified as a Post-Hardcore subgenre (Enter Shikari) or "Metal" subgenre (Dark Tranquility), although minimal influence may be present. Trance Metal bands are usually heavily guitar riff influenced bands (like most melodeath bands) with little breakdowns grooves or none at all. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voz0iS-SCu0

17. Happycore

 

Debatably a derivative of trance, hardcore, and hard dance, typified by a very fast tempo (usually around 160–180 BPM), coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics (But not really in the case of this list). Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore, which tend to be "darker". This classification is kind of a grey area as the songs here might be more in line with trance (due to the weakness of the kick drum and slightly slower tempo), but I'm open to suggestions. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafD2bE3vus

18. Trap and Bass

 

The Trap genre is all about its crisp, grimy and rhythmic snares, which can be incorporated into DnB (Drum and Bass) or Dubstep style beats to create a unique sound. Although Trap is typified by its aggressive lyrical content and sound, I find the Beat much more appealing. Trap beats (140bpm or higher) are propelled by 808 kick drums, heavy extended sub-bass lines, fast time-divided snares, double-time/triple-time hi-hats (Like in technical-sounding Hip-Hop beats), and multi-layered hard-lined and melodic synthesizers. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJYuzP8XJ4

19. Electronicore/Electronic Rock

 

It's what it sounds like, different electronic genres mixed with either metal or post-hardcore. Electronicore (also known as synthcore or simply electronic hardcore) describes a stylistic fusion of post-hardcore and electronic music, specifically electronica. Notable artists of this genre have originated from England, Sweden, and Japan. Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEVLPugTqzM

20. Metalcore

 

Metalcore is a broad fusion genre of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is an amalgam of the names of the two genres, distinguished by its emphasis on "breakdowns", which are slow, intense passages that are conducive to moshing. Some of examples i've included here also tend to incorporate complex melodic riffing over their breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT4U71h4LGg

 

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