A number of heavy metal genres have developed since the emergence of heavy metal during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At times, heavy metal genres may overlap or are difficult to distinguish, but they can be identified by a number of traits. They may differ in terms of instrumentation, tempo, song structure, vocal style, lyrics, guitar playing style, drumming style, and so on.
Metalcore is a fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Among other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing. Other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming, more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.
Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. The band has released eight studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more thrash metal and death metal oriented band. The band evolved into a groove metal and metalcore style beginning with Reborn (1997) under Solid State Records with the original guitarist Bruce Fitzhugh on vocals. In 2003, the group disbanded due to other projects and later their label, Solid State, released their best-of album, In Memoriam (2005). In 2008, Living Sacrifice reformed and released a two-song digital only single called Death Machine. They then began working on The Infinite Order which was released on January 26, 2010. Lance Garvin and Bruce Fitzhugh are the two remaining original members.
The Chariot was an American hardcore punk band from Douglasville, Georgia, that existed from 2003 to 2013. The last lineup consisted of drummer David Kennedy, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band experienced frequent lineup changes since its inception, with Scogin being the only original member. The band played an abrasive style of metalcore that did not adhere to typical stylings popular among their contemporaries such as melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonic vocals. They built a reputation around their powerful live performances, with Scogin's lyrics covering topics like materialism, personal struggle, current events, politics, and Christian themes.
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean, released on August 13, 2002 by Solid State Records. It is the band's only album to feature bassist Joshua Doolittle and vocalist Josh Scogin, the latter of whom later became the lead vocalist of The Chariot.
The Crusade is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. It was released on October 10, 2006, through Roadrunner Records and was produced by Jason Suecof and the band themselves. The album marked a significant musical departure from the metalcore sound of preceding album Ascendancy, with the band instead bringing their thrash metal influences to the fore. Accordingly, vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy sings with primarily 'clean' vocals throughout The Crusade, rather than utilizing the 'screaming' style heard on Ascendancy.
Becoming the Archetype is an American heavy metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999. They have released six albums on Solid State Records. Dichotomy, which was released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The CD debuted at No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the top 100 of the Billboard 200. The band was part of the new wave of American heavy metal. After 2012's I Am, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. In 2022, however, the band reunited with the lineup of Jason Wisdom, Seth Hecox, and Brent “Duck” Duckett.
Reborn is the fourth album by the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. The album was released in 1997, and later re-released and remastered in 2004. In 2020, the band announce a vinyl re-release of Reborn, which sold out quickly.
Aletheian are a Christian progressive/melodic death metal band. They formed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name Crutch, and then changed their name to "Aletheian" prior to the 2003 album Apolutrosis. Guitarist Alex Kenis joined Becoming the Archetype in 2007. In the early 2007, Aletheian signed to IronClad Recordings, an imprint of Metal Blade Records.
Dying Vine is a 2005 studio album by the band Aletheian. The band re-released the album in 2008 under their label, IronClad Records, a branch of Metal Blade Records. In 2015 the band re-released the album a third time for the original ten year anniversary on their Bandcamp page. The first re-release also featured a cover of the song "How Could I" by the band Cynic.
Bruce Fitzhugh is the second and best known lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and founding member of Arkansas's Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. The lead vocalist role was left to Bruce shortly after the departure of former lead Darren Johnson and prior to the recording of Living Sacrifice's 1997 album, Reborn. Fitzhugh is featured in Zao's The Lesser Lights of Heaven DVD. Fitzhugh's nephew is Drew Garrison, Vocalist for Descended From Wolves and Becoming Saints.
Scream Aim Fire is the second studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on 28 January 2008 in the United Kingdom and the preceding day in the United States through Jive Records. Since its release, Scream Aim Fire has sold over 1,400,000 copies worldwide. It is the band's most commercially successful effort in Australia, earning a gold certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in addition to a gold certification from both the band's native British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) in Germany.
Dreamer is the fourth studio album by Christian metalcore band Haste the Day. The album was released on October 14, 2008 through Solid State Records. A song from the album, entitled "68" was released on the band's MySpace on August 1. A second new song, the second track off the album entitled "Mad Man," was made available for download on iTunes September 9. The third song Haste the Day has announced the release of is "Haunting," which was posted on the band's Myspace on September 6, 2008. The final track on the album, "Autumn" is originally from Haste the Day's first release That They May Know You. They released a music video for the song Mad Man on February 24, 2009. This is the last album to feature Devin Chaulk, Brennan Chaulk and Jason Barnes.
Jason Wisdom is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and bass guitarist for the heavy metal band Becoming the Archetype. Though he was born and raised in a Christian home, he states that he was never committed to Christianity until high school. He considers his music as a form of ministry, but wishes to avoid a "preachy" stereotype. His influences include Extol, Living Sacrifice, and Mortification among others. Wisdom notes that even though his music is Christian metal, many of his fans are not Christians and are many times the ones who defend his music. Wisdom left the band in late November 2011 to take care of his family. Though current 7 Horns 7 Eyes frontman, JJ Polachek, tried out, Wisdom was replaced by former live fill in, Chris McCane. He started a solo project titled Death Therapy, which features no guitars. He currently works for RYFO, a company that helps musicians with places to stay, meals and other such things.
Wrench in the Works was an American Christian mathcore/metalcore band originating from Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to recording music and touring, Wrench in the Works had been featured on TVU and TVU's metalcore show, Battery for the video to their hit song, "Dust Over Time Test." On September 28, 2010, Facedown Records announced that Wrench in the Works had disbanded.
Ekklesia is the debut album released by the American Christian metalcore band For Today. The album was released on April 1, 2008 through Facedown Records. A version of the album featuring their old lead singer has found its way onto the internet through the means of a blogspot page. The album includes 10 tracks with a range in different sounds from the metal genre as well as an instrumental track and intro. According to the liner notes, Matt Tyler, the band's former vocalist, is featured on "Redemption" and "A Higher Standard".
Your Memorial was an American metalcore band from Hennepin County, Minnesota. The group is currently under contract with Facedown Records. Its debut studio album, Seasons, was released in 2008. In 2010, the band released its second studio album, Atonement. Its third studio album, Redirect, was released in 2012. On May 9 in 2017 the band announced that they were disbanding.
Depravity's Demise is the debut of melodic death metal band Solamors. The band recorded the album with Jon Star, former Lead Guitarist for Becoming the Archetype, which Vocalist Jason Wisdom and Guitarist/Bassist/Keyboardist Alex Kenis were also a part of.
Polar Similar is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on September 9, 2016 through Solid State Records, the band's first release on the label since 2008's The Anti Mother. This is Norma Jean's only release with guitarist Phillip Farris and the last with bassist John Finnegan and drummer Clayton Holyoak.
Children of the Great Extinction is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album was released on August 26, 2022, through Solid State. It is the band's first album in ten years since their hiatus, and also features the return of Jason Wisdom and Brent "Duck" Duckett to the band with Seth Hecox, the first album to have this lineup since Celestial Completion. The album was produced by Nate Washburn, and the album artwork was designed once again by Dan Seagrave, who had created the artworks for three of their albums.
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