groove metal
what it is
Groove metal is a subgenre of thrash metal which essentially takes the intensity and sonic qualities of thrash metal and plays it at mid tempo, only making occasional forays into fast tempo. It features heavy, strong angry vocals usually influenced by hardcore punk and sometimes death metal, deep, heavy often downtuned bass lines, tough, strong and very heavy beats, down tuned guitars playing heavy, chugging, groovy-like riffs and typical heavy metal solos. Groove metal bands have also been influenced by genres such as southern rock and funk metal.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make groove metal a playlist
turn these 25 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is groove metal?
Groove metal is a subgenre of thrash metal which essentially takes the intensity and sonic qualities of thrash metal and plays it at mid tempo, only making occasional forays into fast tempo. It features heavy, strong angry vocals usually influenced by hardcore punk and sometimes death metal, deep, heavy often downtuned bass lines, tough, strong and very heavy beats, down tuned guitars playing heavy, chugging, groovy-like riffs and typical heavy metal solos. Groove metal bands have also been influenced by genres such as southern rock and funk metal.
What are good groove metal albums to start with?
Try Far Beyond Driven by Pantera, Burn My Eyes by Machine Head, New Found Power by Damageplan, and War Is the Answer by Five Finger Death Punch.
Who are some women making groove metal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/groove-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making groove metal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20