Everything Viyolens publishes on Music Genres — reviews, buying guides and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
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Inside Music Genres
All 64 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 64 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Articles on Music Genres
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The History of Electro
From a 1982 block-party record to Detroit's cold machine funk — here's how electro actually took shape, city by city.
The History of Glam Rock
The story of how a handful of British bands turned glitter and guitar riffs into one of the most influential movements in modern music.
A Beginner's Guide to Glam Rock
Glitter, platform boots and riffs you can shout along to — here's the quick, honest introduction to glam rock and where to start listening.
The Ultimate Guide to Piccolo
The flute family's smallest, highest voice explained: why it isn't just a tiny flute, which material to choose, and how to tackle its trickiest challenge — tuning.
Nu Metal for Newcomers: Where to Start
You don't need to know a single band name or release year to get something out of nu metal. Here's a genuinely gentle way in, built for someone starting from zero.
The Best Punk Rock Artists to Know
No filler, no family tree — the punk rock artists worth knowing and why each one earned their place.
Bebop for Newcomers: Where to Start
No theory required. Just five tracks, a sensible order, and permission to not catch every note on your first listen.
The Ultimate Guide to Djembes Drums
A clear, practical rundown of the djembe: where it comes from, how it's built, and the three distinct sounds it's designed to make.
House Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
Forget the subgenre charts. Here's the honest, no-faff route into house music: five tracks to start with, names worth knowing, and where to actually listen.
Black Metal for Newcomers: Where to Start
You don't need to know the lore to start. Here's exactly where to begin listening to black metal, in the order that actually works.
Indie Music Subgenres, Explained
Indie isn't one sound wearing different outfits. Here's each subgenre broken down plainly, with a starting point for each mood.
Progressive Rock Subgenres, Explained
Call something 'prog' and you've barely said anything. Here's how the genre actually splits up, so you know what you're getting before you press play.
The Best Exotica Songs Right Now
Exotica isn't a trend-chasing genre. Here are the defining tracks that have held up for seventy years, and still hold up today.
The History of Reggae Music
A decade-by-decade timeline of how Jamaican music went from mento and ska to reggae, dub and dancehall — and how it ended up everywhere.
The History of Bachata
How a stigmatised barrio music from the Dominican Republic spent thirty years as a punchline before conquering dancefloors worldwide.
A Beginner's Guide to Shoegaze
Distortion, feedback and a pop melody buried somewhere underneath: here's what shoegaze actually is, where its odd name came from, and why it never really went away.
The Best Glitch Songs Right Now
No fake top ten here. Here's why "song" is the wrong word for most of this genre, and the handful of genuine standout pieces worth pressing play on anyway.
The Best Bossa Nova Artists to Know
The names that built bossa nova and the ones who pushed it further — the essential artist list, explained.
The Best Bebop Songs Right Now
Forget the trending playlists. These are the bebop songs that actually built the style's reputation, and they're not going anywhere.
The Best Concerto Songs Right Now
This repertoire doesn't have songs in the pop sense — but it has movements so beloved they've effectively become the equivalent.
Essential Trance Music Albums Explained
Singles built trance's reputation on the dancefloor, but the albums are where you hear an artist's full range. Here's a starting shelf worth your time.
The History of Boogie
One rolling left-hand pattern, a century of borrowing, and a genuinely surprising trail from barrelhouse piano stools to arena stages.
Soul Music Subgenres, Explained
One genre, six genuinely distinct strands — here's a clear map of soul music's regional and stylistic branches.
The Best Fado Artists to Know
Fado lives or dies on the singer. Here's a proper who's who, from the golden-age voices to the contemporary torchbearers.
