If you took all the musical genres and mixed them up and added distortion you would get Heavy Metal. In fact , metals roots, as may be the case with just about every modern musical genre, can be an amalgamation of various musical styles. Most people will let you know that the revolution of rock n roll and blues is what really started rock. Continue on, this still happens in this point in time with other forms of sub genres. Outside influences also have had their part in these evolutions and crossovers a number of which well discuss today.

White Metal

You will hear the word Christian and White played forward and backward, but meaning a similar thing. This genre could be the most positive side of rock music you can find. You see the roots of heavy metal are dark. Theyre dark, dirty, occult, and outsider in many cases and Christian metal has sought to change that. Their lyrics and sound transitions still resemble what you will find in heavy metal music, they just have a positive outlook on every thing.

Post Metal

Also know as Post Metal, this genre mixes the type of rock and metal together. Bands like Agalloch and Altar of Plagues are possibly the renowned for blending these genres into a thing that, at time, barely resembles metal and at others is brutal and driving. You can find generally mixed feelings about any of it crossover and it has caused a rift between metal fans that describe themselves as purists and those that could like to see more outside influence inside their metal.

Metal with a Mix of Jazz

Atheist and Cynic are the main names you need to remember here for they're a driving force in the blending of jazz and heavy metal and rock. In this music you will find plenty of different time signatures and much more advanced level interludes. In 1993 Cynic released the classical jazz-influenced death metal album Focus and a crossover genre was born.

The Combination of Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal

In the late 80s bands like Dream Theater and Fates Warning started initially to produce a form of heavy metal and rock that blended the force and aggression of traditional metal and mixed it with the long, experimental, and complex compositions of progressive rock. Progressive metal was born. Or rather, progressive metal as we know it absolutely was born. In the 1960s and 1970s there were several bands called Uriah Heep, King Crimson and Cream which were doing rock n roll. They started to try other musical elements within their music which can be where Progressive Metal started initially to form.

Folk and Metal

As most bands come from European countries for their heritage, this genre has become a well known subject in the rock community. You can really trance back once again to medieval times for the roots of this genre. Which is where more of their melodies are inspired from. Folk Metal, which being young in comparison to other music genres, continues to gain popularity in todays market and in the heavy metal community.

Put Classical Music in With Heavy metal

Heavy metal and Classical music might sound different, but they are very similar. Heavy metal and rock has been influenced by classical music since its beginning days. All the more talented bands was raised in the classical music environment, such as music lessons or school bands. Getting back to the genre of Classical Metal, you will find far more symphonic elements of strings instruments and keyboards.