The Groove Metal Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Thrash metal has its own threads on here but groove metal tends to get less attention. Groove metal for those of you that don`t know, is basically an offshoot of thrash metal, but performed at a slower pace than thrash and usually played at mid-pace with a focus on both heaviness and groovy syncopation, band for band groove metal is probably heavier than thrash. Of all the different genres that make up metal, this has to be my favourite.

Groove metal takes an important place in modern metal, as it virtually carried the metal flag throughout much of the 90`s and bridged the gap between thrash metal in the early 90`s and Nu-Metal in the late 90`s, it basically kept metal in the commercial spotlight for much of the 90`s. This was important, as metal in this period had already lost a lot of its fans to grunge, post- grunge or other alternative types of music at the heavier end of the spectrum.

The Bad Brains were often described as giving the genre its attitude, but it was Pantera with the album "Cowboys from Hell" that virtually defined the genre, even though fans of Exhorder may dispute this! Whilst Pantera carried the genre throughout the 90`s with a string of classic albums, other bands were equally important for its development such as Prong and Fear Factory. Also bands like Machine Head provided it with power and energy, White Zombie provided it with humour and Sepultura mixed it with Brazilian tribal rhythms and took into the realms of oblivion with the albums "Chaos AD" and "Roots".

Throughout the 00`s groove metal has come in to its own again, largely thanks to Lamb of God again imo one of the best metal bands of the last 10 years and other bands such as Chimaira, Byzantine, Cavalera Conspiracy and Throwdown are all representative of the genre. There are also other not so good bands such as DevilDriver and Five Finger Death punch out there as well and other groups such as French metal outfit Gojira, who have fused it into their own progressive and death metal sound and given us groove French style based around environmental themes.

[BastardofYoung]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

The Bad Brains were often described as giving the genre its attitude

[citation needed]

[BastardofYoung]

ps. Tommy Victor's opinion is a citation.

I think it is not talked about as much as thrash, because well... thrash is good, groove metal, not so much.

[EvilChuck]

I always thought of Pantera being the defining band for groove metal, even though they were pre-dated by Exhorder. It just seems that Exhorder only exists as a way for people to show that they know more about metal than Pantera fans, I can honestly say I've never met anyone who listens to Exhorder but have met people who will slate Pantera for being rip offs lol.

[SATCHMO]

Originally Posted by BastardofYoung

[citation needed]

[Relax]

Originally Posted by BastardofYoung

ps. Tommy Victor's opinion is a citation.

I think it is not talked about as much as thrash, because well... thrash is good, groove metal, not so much.

I would never go so far as to call Bad Brains a metal band, but they did take the distorted metal sound break it out of its confines, and laid down a lot of attitudinal riffs that were pretty loose, but right in the pocket, so I know what's he's saying and agree to an extent.

Secondly, don't be a troll.

[BastardofYoung]

Both "Cowboys from Hell" and "Slaughter in the Vatican" came out around the same time. I do not think it was a matter of ripping off. Even members of Exhorder have said it was not the case.

Pantera also predates Exhorder (counting the glam years).

[BastardofYoung]

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

[Relax]



I would never go so far as to call Bad Brains a metal band, but they did take the distorted metal sound break it out of its confines, and laid down a lot of attitudinal riffs that were pretty loose, but right in the pocket, so I know what's he's saying and agree to an extent.

Secondly, don't be a troll.

Bad Brains just had nothing to do with groove metal. I wanted to know the research done. Bad Brains also had nothing remotely metal. They were out before Thrash. Misfits I would see as more of an inspiration for thrash and ultimately groove metal than Bad Brains.

Not trolling either.

[EvilChuck]

Oh, the amount of posturing I've seen from certain portions of the metal fanbase suggested that Exhorder were the originals in terms of groove (I think everyone has laughed at Pantera's glam image). I guess the moral here is 'never trust an elitist'.

[BastardofYoung]

Well, yeah,, similarities between Exhorder and Pantera on those records will always be there. But do I think it was a case of let's rip off this band by Pantera... not really. As said, the two albums in question came out around the same time, and were recorded around the same time most likely. Had "Slaughter in the Vatican" been out for a year or two before "Cowboys from Hell", the debate would be different.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by BastardofYoung

Bad Brains just had nothing to do with groove metal. I wanted to know the research done. Bad Brains also had nothing remotely metal. They were out before Thrash. Misfits I would see as more of an inspiration for thrash and ultimately groove metal than Bad Brains.

Firstly, Its not necessary to have anything to do with a genre in order to help influence it. Secondly, Tommy Victor of Prong was the citation and I see no reason to suggest he was making stuff up.

Originally Posted by EvilChuck

Oh, the amount of posturing I've seen from certain portions of the metal fanbase suggested that Exhorder were the originals in terms of groove (I think everyone has laughed at Pantera's glam image). I guess the moral here is 'never trust an elitist'.

The Pantera album came out around 3 months before Exhorder, not only did it pre-date the Exhorder album, but Pantera were already an established band and the Pantera album was always far better than the Exhorder album anyway. When Exhorder or their fans scream that Pantera stole their sound its just sour grapes.