Funk Metal

Funk metal emerged in the late 1980s, primarily on the West Coast of America, when musicians decided that heavy riffs could use a good dose of groove; think of it as rock's attempt to get funky whilst wearing combat boots. It’s characterised by a delightful mix of elements from funk and metal, where bass lines are often funkier than a pair of well-worn dancing shoes, and guitarists engage in frenetic soloing that suggests they might be auditioning for a spot in a circus. Fun fact: it proved to be the soundtrack for thrashing about in the mosh pits whilst simultaneously trying to maintain a sense of rhythm—and no one quite knew whether to headbang or bust a move.