Metal subgenres lesson

Post dedicated to RoyalRuby7395's question. She asked about different metal subgenres and goth stubstyles and I think it would be a good idea to explain them to those of you who don't know that much about them. I'm only an expert in metal, though, so I'll ask PinkPunkGirly do do a post about goth styles.

Yes, there is an end to metal subgenres. There's a few of the obvious ones and some new ones that aren't as popular (like pirate metal - a genre, played by Alestorm). I'll only be writing about the 11 most popular subgenres. I recommend all of the videos below, you should definitely check them out.
Just note that when telling you about the bands, some of them fit into more than one category because they have many characteristics. There's constant fights between metalheads about what genre a band belongs to. So all of you might not agree with my choice of bands.
Important! Other genres that you mind find on Wikipedia, such as sludge metal, rap metal, stoner metal, are bullcrap. Made up. In my opinion even nu metal and alternative metal isn't real metal. But that's a thing of personal opinion. So google search won't always give you the right results, the best address for metal-related questions is a real metalhead.

1. Heavy Metal
This one is the first of the genres, Black Sabbath being the first metal band. It sounds like hard rock, but played with a heavier sound. It can be slow and similar to doom metal (Black Sabbath), fast and resembling punk (Motorhead, Venom), hard rock-like (Motley Crue) or mixed with progressive metal (Iron Maiden) and power metal (Grave Digger). Example:


2. Folk metal
This one is my favorite, so it goes first. Its most distinctive quality is using folk instruments like flutes, violins, accordions or even keyboards in metal songs. There's both clean and harsh vocals. A good example is the band Eluveitie with all of these instruments incorporated: tin & low whistles, bagpipes, redpipe, violin, electric violin (sounds like an electric guitar), hurdy gurdy, mandola, bodhran and the obvious guitars and drums. Next to Eluveitie there's also Ensiferum, Korpiklaani, Finntroll, Turisas, Tyr etc. Example:


3. Black metal
This genre has a very fast tempo and includes high-pitch harsh vocals/growling, screaming, shrieking pretty much throughout the whole song. Lyrics include dark topics, they're often satanic/atheistic. A technique used is double picking (which makes the songs even faster). A few of the bands use face painting (like such). Some black metal bands are Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Immortal, Cradle of Filth. Example:


4. Death metal
Death metal is similar to black metal - fast tempo, disorted guitars, double picking. The main difference is vocals. Death metal vocals are low-pitched and deep. They're still harsh vocals though, not much singing. Some of the bands are Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Vader, Deicide. Example:


5. Doom metal
As the name implies, the lyrics are pessimistic and try to create the feeling of doom and despair. As for the instrumental part, the music sounds heavy. The tempo is very slow and the notes are low. The vocals are mostly clean. Some of the best bands are My Dying Bride, Candlemass, Paradise Lost. Example:


6. Thrash and speed metal
Some people say thrash and speed metal are the same, while others say thrash is more aggressive than speed metal. I do think they sound different, but if you feel they're the same, that's fine with me. Thrash is most famous for Metallica. It features fast, aggressive tempos and furious guitars. Drums use double bass (again, makes it faster). The vocals are again mostly clean. "The big four" of thrash metal are (old (no offence, Kelly)) Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer. Speed has the same characteristics with more harshness and aggressiveness. Some bands would be Megadeth, (old) Blind Guardian, Slayer. Example:


7. Power metal
This one is probably my second favorite genre just because of the amazing bands. Power metal consists of catchy tunes and fast drums, guitars and bass riffs. There's a lot of guitar solos. Vocals are mostly clean and lyrics can be practically anything. It's know as the most radio-friendly so some metalheads don't like it as much. Some power metal bands would be Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Blind Guardian, Edguy, Hammerfall. Example:


8. Progressive metal
Progressive metal is the most complex. It features varying and sometimes sudden changes in time signatures. Also known for complex and extended guitar solos. Both clean and harsh vocals are used. Most known bands are Mastodon, Opeth and Dream Theater. Example:


9. Groove metal
Groove metal bands tend to play mid-tempo thrash riffs, focusing on the songs being as heavy as possible. It's the heaviest genre that still has some melodicity to it. Some of the bands are Lamb of God, Pantera, Chimaira. Example:


10. Metalcore
This one is one of the least metal genres out of the 10. It's also the most mainstream due to the sound not being as heavy. My first association to a -core genre is different singing styles, like screams, growls, different sounds and some clean vocals. Some bands are Atreyu, Bring Me The Horizon, The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, Heaven Shall Burn. Example:


11. Melodic and melodeath metal
Melodic isn't so much a genre, it's more of a tag or description. All of the genres can have an amount of melodicity to their songs. The most melodic bands though would be Sonata Arctica, Edguy, Stratovarius, (old) Sonic Syndicate. Melodeath or melodic death metal is a real genre though. It combines the fiercness of death metal with melodic elements. Melodeath bands are Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, (old) In Flames, Dark Tranquility. Example:


These are the basic subgenres. Some of you might also include a bit more mainstream nu metal - which is bands like Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed - and alternative metal - which is Evanescence, Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, System of a Down - but that's a thing of personal opinion because a lot of metalheads wouldn't say they're real metal.
I hope this helped anyone. I can also recommend some more bands if anyone is interested, just don't be shy and let me know.

Blood themed suites

A large amount of dark users like to use blood as a customization to their medolls, albums and sceneries. But on suites, it's much harder to create the idea of blood. However, it's not impossible. The proof is the 3 suites I found while visiting some creepy pages. Take a look at them:

(made by MaSiRO-kuN)


(made by Atena_13)


(made by GothikLolita)

I personally loved the effects! What do you guys think?

Ribbon Bracelet

Here's a piece from the Anarchy on Stardoll inspired Fallen Angel collection. This one is called Ribbon Bracelet. It's still available in the Fallen Angel store for 30 starcoins - good price if you ask me. It's very useful too because it's all black, when most alternative-looking accessories have spikes or chains or any other metal/silver details.

This looks like the real life version if you ignore the crown. I have absolutely no idea who designed it, I just found the photo and saved it:

Can't use pink in dark styles? Bullshit.

I got the inspiration for this post on Gothic Divine. The stereotype is that dark alternative styles cannot and do not incorporate pink elements because pink is girly and not dark at all. I hope you don't believe in the stereotype, because any color can be used and paired with black for darker outfits. Don't believe me? Here's a goth and a metalhead, rocking pink hair:

(click to magnify)
Pink might not be that common with metalheads and punks, but is quite common in emo, punk-rock and gothic outfits. We've used photos of Lunagoddess (first photo) before on the blog. She's a perfect exampe of how a gothic outfit can be centered around a color, in this case pink. Here's two more photos of her outfits:

(click to magnify)
I use a lot of pink details in my style and outfits too, so I thought I'd show you guys a few outfits you can pull off that'll incorporate pink, but still look dark:


(click to magnify)
Do you use pink too or do you think it doesn't belong in alternative styles? I'd love to see some of your outfits.

New (flowery & feathery) LE

Here's the new LE collection. It's all bright, flowery, feathery and summery. I'm not sure a lot of you will like it, but there's a few pieces that can be incorporated in darker outfits and look great.



Some of the pieces were already sold out in the first few hours. I think it's not so much about the clothes being good-looking, it's more about the brand and showing off you've got money (or making money with investments). So here's my question:

Evening Falls clothing store

Thank you, Stardoll! I love those boots so much. So the dark Evening Falls furniture store was updated with a clothing store. I don't like the amount of pink, but I do think the clothes look great. Finally something for us..

I'm really interested, what are your favorite pieces? Anyone else adores the boots?

Endangered Specie

This month endangered specie is the beautiful Bald Eagle. It's very well designed so I recommend you to get yours by clicking here.

As you can read on the Stardoll page, the bald eagle endangerment has been due to pollution and hunting but, fortunately, this animal population is now known to be stable and may soon lose its endangered status. That's a real photo of one:

Hotbuys Belt

The first July Hotbuys collection piece was released today and it's called Hotbuys Belt. I find it very good looking, but due to its originality it may be difficult to pull off an outfit. You can purchase the belt in the Fallen Angel store for 10sd. That's how it looks like:

In real life, David Koma designed this belt for the Spring 2011 RTW collection. Here's a photo:

Anyone buying this item?

new Miss Sixty floors

There's two new Miss Sixty floors. Some of the clothes are stunning. I think Miss Sixty is the only designer store on Stardoll that has some darkish pieces that actually look good every time. Here's how they look like:

And here's two of my favorite pieces and their real life versions:

July Hot Buys

The picture of the new Hot Buys clothing line was revealed in the Stardoll magazine!

A few Fallen Angel pieces are about to be released and I personally think some items do look good.
For those interested, the dates and corresponding stores:

Hotbuys Belt - Fallen Angel - 3rd July - 10$

Hotbuys Pleated Dress - RIO - 6th July - 26$

Hotbuys Lipstick Earrings - Splendid - 8th July - 12$

Hotbuys Shoes - RIO - 11th July - 12$

Hotbuys Cape - Fallen Angel - 14th July - 23$
Hotbuys Lipstick Necklace - Splendid - 16th July - 15$

Hotbuys Dress - Bisou - 19th July - 25$

Hotbuys Turban- Tingeling - 23rd July - 11$

Hotbuys Jacket - Fallen Angel - 26th July - 24$
Hotbuys Butterfly Bag - Pretty in Love - 28th July - 12$

hidden Beastly dolls

There's some hidden dolls again. They're from the Beastly movie, just like the clothes we wrote about in this post. If you've seen the movie, then you'll know who the dolls are.
(credit for doll links to Underneath Stardoll)

Beastly Lindy
(By the way, don't you just love those boots? I'd buy them in a second if they were sellable.)


Beastly Kendra


Beastly Kyle

This doll is a bit useless right now because the top isn't removable - so there's another doll, almost the same;

Alex (Alex Pettyfer, the actor)


I thought the movie was good, partly because of the idea (a person's exterior isn't as important as their personality), partly because I thought the "ugly" Kyle was cute with all the skin modifications. If you haven't seen the movie yet, here's the trailer:

And if you don't/won't like it because of its predictableness or the actors, I recommend the movie Penelope. The plot is similar, it's about a girl, born with a pig's nose that needs to find her true love to be normal again. Penelope is portrayed by the incredible Christina Ricci (Wednesday Addams anyone?). I guarantee you, the movie is amazing!

The 111111111 free dress

So, we got it, the free gift we were promised, the free dress:

I thought it would be dreadful, as nearly all free things Stardoll gives us, but I am actually quite satisfied with it. The color isn't too stunning (I actually think it would look better if it were purple), but you can match it to some gothic clothes quite easily. I put it on with the ruffled collar from Tingeling (50 Starcoins but I don't know whether it's still in the shop) as a second sleeve.

Kat High Voltage Tank

This fantastic piece is one of my favourite tops on Stardoll. It goes pretty much with everything, mixed colours can actually look good and its messy look gives medolls a truly awesome style. It was released at some time ago for the Evil Panda store, however it's now available on Starbazaar for accessible prices.

In real life Kat Von D is the owner of this gorgeous tank. She used to wear it on Miami Ink show a lot. Here are some pictures:

Does anyone own this?

Penthouse updates

As you all received through e-mail, the Penthouse got a few new nice effects and backgrounds. For those who already owned the 2 extra rooms, the new features were free. I see that many people enjoyed the animations and I have to admit that they look pretty awesome. You can add New York, Istanbul or Paris views as backgrounds:
You can also add a few animations such as rain, rainbows and thunderstorms. In order to do that you just need to access Room Design and make all the changes you want.

For those interested in purchasing the Penthouse, you can get it for 199stardollars until the end of June.