Black Metal

Black Metal burst onto the scene in the early 1980s, chiefly in Norway, where musicians decided that rock needed a bit more frostbite and a lot less sunshine. Characterised by its fast tempos, shrieking vocals, and lyrics steeped in themes of darkness and the occult, it often sounds like a bunch of very angry snowflakes having a row. Its cultural impact includes influencing an array of subgenres and a penchant for wearing more leather and spikes than is truly necessary, proving that being brooding can indeed be a full-time job.