Avant-garde metal

Avant-garde metal, also known as experimental metal,^[1] is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterised by the use of innovative, avant-garde elements, large-scale experimentation, and the use of non-standard and unconventional sounds, instruments, song structures, playing styles, and vocal techniques.^[1][2] Though there is no convention or criteria to exactly define the genre, some experimentation in the music is generally a major criteria to define the genre.^[3] Avant-garde metal is related to progressive metal, but avant-garde metal often has more experimentation,^[3] while progressive metal usually has a tighter focus on traditional metal instrumentation and higher levels of technical complexity.^[2] Avant-garde metal also uses unusual sounds, breaks conventions, and often includes new elements.^[3] The lyrics and visual presentation of the genre are eclectic as well.^[2] It has been called the most difficult heavy metal genre to define and describe,^[2] but it has been defined by integrating a wide variety of music like jazz and fusion added to aggressive music styles such as black metal, and keyboards are widely used to create atmosphere.^[3] Usually avant-garde metal bands fall under another genre of music as well, as the term is similar to extreme metal in how it is a loose term covering a wide variety of bands.^[3] The term "experimental metal" is often referred to as "atmospheric metal",^[4] although in this usage the terms describe "post-metal", in reference to post-rock.^[4]

History

According to Ian Christe, avant-garde metal emerged out of death metal as a number of musicians "abandoned the tightly wound structure of the music and experimented with abstractions of its founding elements."^[5] Major pioneers of the genre include Celtic Frost,^[6][3] Voivod,^[6][3] Sunn O))),^[7][3] Fleurety,^[3] Ved Buens Ende,^[3] and Maudlin of the Well.^[8][3] Most of these bands were part of the early black metal or progressive metal genres, or both.^[3] Two record labels which promote avant-garde metal are Holy Records^[9] and The End Records.^[10] Prominent regional scenes include the United States, with bands like Agalloch, Maudlin of the Well, Naked City, and Psyopus,^[3] and Norway, with bands like Age of Silence, Arcturus, Ram-Zet, Ulver, and Ved Buens Ende.^[3] Also, in the United States, a local avant-garde metal scene has emerged in the San Francisco Bay Area with bands such as Giant Squid, Grayceon, and Ludicra.^[11]

List of notable avant-garde metal artists

Notes

References

• Jeff Wagner, Steven Wilson (2010). Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal. Bazillion Points Books. ISBN 0979616336.