Rock & Metal covers guitar-led styles with power, distortion and stage presence. Browse versatile gear for heavy live and studio use.
- 30 topics
- 144 articles
- Music Genres
Inside Rock & Metal
All 30 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 30 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Emo
emo is emotional, guitar-led rock with confessional lyrics, dynamic arrangements and punk-rooted intensity.
Nu Metal
Nu metal fuses heavy riffs, groove and crossover influences for modern rock and metal players.
Glam Rock
Glam rock combines theatrical style, sharp hooks and powerful guitars. Explore the sound, look and legacy of this Britis...
Progressive Rock
Progressive rock uses complex structures, technical playing and layered arrangements for ambitious compositions.
Soft Rock
Melodic, radio-friendly rock with clean guitars, strong vocals and broad mainstream appeal.
Alternative Rock
Alternative rock is a broad guitar-led category covering indie, grunge-influenced and experimental styles. It suits UK m...
Math Rock
Technically complex rock with odd metres, intricate guitars and tightly coordinated rhythmic patterns.
Folk Rock
Versatile gear for folk rock, balancing acoustic texture, electric drive and strong songwriting focus.
Pop Punk
Pop punk mixes punk energy with pop hooks, fast tempos and singalong choruses.
Post Punk
Post punk blends angular guitars, tension and experimental energy into a dark, driving style.
Happy Hardcore
Discover happy hardcore, the fast and euphoric rave style known for bright melodies, vocals and big energy.
Stoner Rock
Fuzzy, riff-heavy rock with psychedelic atmosphere, downtuned guitars and a hypnotic, groove-led feel.
Articles on Rock & Metal
All news
The History of Sludge Metal
The history of sludge metal runs from the Melvins' 1987 slowdown of hardcore through the New Orleans scene of the early 1990s, where Eyehategod, Crowbar and Acid Bath defined the genre's signature sou...
A Beginner's Guide to Symphonic Metal
Symphonic metal combines orchestral grandeur with heavy metal intensity — this guide explains the genre's core features, its major artists and why it connects with such a wide range of listeners.
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.
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.
A Beginner's Guide to Art Pop
No fixed tempo, no required synth, no dress code beyond a willingness to mess with pop's expectations while keeping a hook that actually lands.
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 Post Punk Artists to Know
A genre built by its people as much as its sound. Here are the post-punk artists worth knowing, and the record to start with for each.
Sludge Metal Subgenres, Explained
From the classic New Orleans sound through sludgecore, post-metal and drone variants, the genre splits into meaningfully different styles — here is how they relate and what distinguishes them.
Groove Metal for Newcomers: Where to Start
New to groove metal? Start with Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power, move to Sepultura and Machine Head, then use this guide to explore the wider catalogue in the right order.
Classic Rock Subgenres, Explained
One umbrella, several very different sounds: the strands that make up classic rock, why they blur into each other, and where to start with each.
The Best Sludge Metal Artists to Know
From the Melvins' Pacific Northwest slowdown to Eyehategod's New Orleans chaos and Neurosis's shift toward post-metal, these are the artists who define the genre.
A Beginner's Guide to Progressive Rock
Long songs and odd time signatures don't have to be intimidating. Here's the honest, no-nonsense way in.
The Best Post Punk Songs Right Now
It's a genre the single defined as much as the album. Here are the post-punk tracks that still land today, from 1978's art-school art-punk to 1984's widescreen closer.
Essential Pop Punk Albums Explained
Not a ranking — a case for what each of these ten records actually did that hadn't been done before, from the Ramones to Fall Out Boy.
The Best Symphonic Metal Songs Right Now
These tracks represent the genre at its most accessible and most ambitious — the songs most likely to connect with new listeners and the ones that demonstrate what the style can do.
The Best Glam Rock Artists to Know
The real glam rock artists who built the genre — and why lumping them all together as 'glitter and platforms' does them a disservice.
Essential Post Punk Albums Explained
Ten records, seven years, almost no shared sound — here's what to listen for on each essential post-punk album, in a sensible listening order.
A Beginner's Guide to Garage Rock
Garage rock is one of music's great levellers — raw, energetic, and thrilling from the first listen. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
A Beginner's Guide to Surf Rock
Surf rock is one of the most immediately recognisable guitar sounds in American music — reverb-drenched, fast and atmospheric. Here's what defines it and why it still matters.
Pop Punk for Newcomers: Where to Start
A genuinely sensible way in for newcomers: start catchy, work through four essential albums, then go backwards to where it all began.
A Beginner's Guide to Alternative Rock
Alternative rock isn't one sound, it's an attitude. Here's what it means, what it sounds like, and where to start if you're new to it.
The History of Math Rock
From disputed post-punk precursors to Louisville, Pittsburgh, Chicago and beyond, here's how math rock's scattered history actually fits together.
A Beginner's Guide to Metalcore
Metalcore can look intimidating from the outside, but the sound is built from a small, learnable set of ingredients. Here's what they are and how they fit together.
Rock & Metal overview
Rock & Metal brings together two of the most influential guitar-led families in popular music. The category covers everything from classic rock melody and stadium-sized hooks to the heavier, more aggressive end of metal, making Rock & Metal a useful destination for musicians who want power, distortion and a strong live identity.
Sound and equipment
Rock & Metal generally places guitars, bass and drums at the core, with amplification and effects shaping much of the character. Clean headroom, high-gain precision, durable hardware and responsive monitoring are all important, whether the style leans towards classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal or more modern hybrid sounds. Rock & Metal players often need versatile gear that can move from rehearsal to stage with ease.
For UK musicians
In the UK, Rock & Metal spans pub gigs, arena tours and studio projects, so the right setup depends on how loud and how refined the music needs to be. From pedals and pickups to drum kits, interfaces and vocal mics, Rock & Metal benefits from equipment that supports both clarity and force. The category suits players who want a rugged, expressive and performance-ready sound.
