What's Metal in 2014?

I was having one of my defining metal conversations, in regards to the new Cynic, and felt that metal is something that can be defined, as it contain certain sonic properties, while these are quantifiable in terms of decibels and gain levels in distortion. I think sheer power and aggression along with technique are other defining qualities, that keep it separate from genres like punk, hardcore and grunge. Sure it might come down to splitting hairs and counting straws, but for defenders of the faith, this knowledge is the first line of defense. Though there are some bands who try to play down the fact they are metal, when it becomes a bad word.

It was brought up that music is objective and who is anyone to define this, well the term came from a music critic, and last time I checked you are reading this article so I guess I must be qualified or you wouldn't be reading this on this site or any of the others this is going  article to be syndicated on. So lets break it down with the abcs and set the record straight for what metal is in 2014. I'm going to give several examples to use as a guide, not trying to write the encyclopedia of whats true or false, just a reference point for those who haven't been listening to it for almost 30 years.

The base line we are using here is Judas Preist, Iron Maiden  and Black Sabbath, if you are not consistently as heavy as these bands you are not metal.

A

Metal - Atriarch, Anthrax, Altar of Plagues, Amon Amarth, At the Gates, Acid Bath, Accept,Arckanum, Ahab, Amorphis

Not Metal - Ac/dc, Aerosmith,  Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, Andrew Wk, Audioslave, Alterbridge, AFI, Anti Flag, At the Drive In

B

Metal- Black Sabbath, Burzum, Behemoth, Bolt Thrower, Brutal Truth, Bloodlet, Blood Bath, Blind Guardian, Borknagar, Black Anvil,

Not Metal -Bon Jovi, Breaking Benjamin, Buckcherry, Britney Fox, Boris, Black Veil Brides, Bush, Black Flag, Blink 182, Blue Oyster Cult

C

Metal -Converge, Carpathian Forest, Candlemass, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Cathedral, Coroner, Crowbar, Cradle of Filth,

Not Metal- post Traced in Air Cynic, The Cult, Coheed and Cambria, Clutch, Cinderella, Candle Box, Camp Freddy,

D

Metal - Deicide, Dark Angel, Dissection, pre-Sunbather Deafheaven, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Dio, Death, Down, D.R.I

Not Metal - Danzig, Def Leppard, Drop Kick Murphys, Dream Theater, Disturbed, Deftones,

E

Metal - Evoken, Eyehategod, Enslaved, Entombed, Exodus, Exhumed, Emperor,

Not Metal- Evanescence,Europe, Extreme, Epica,

F

Metal - Forbidden, Falkenbach, Fear Factory, Fight, Fates Warning, Finntroll,

Not Metal- Faith No More,Fly Leaf, Foo-fighters, Filter, Faster Pussycat,

G

Metal -Godflesh, Gorgoroth, Gwar, Gojira, Grim Reaper,

Not Metal - Ghost, Glassjaw, Godsmack,Guns N Roses, Godspeedyoublackemperor,

H
Metal- Helloween, Hexis, Hell Hammer, Hammerfall,

Not Metal - H.I.M, Hollywood Undead, Halestorm, How to Destroy Angels,

I

Metal - Iron Maiden, Incantation, Immortal, Into Eternity, Inquisition, Iced Earth

Not Metal - Iron Butterfly, Isis, In this Moment,

J

Metal - Job For A Cowboy, Judas Priest

Not - Metal - Jane's Addiction, Journey,

 

K

Metal -King Diamond, Kampfar, Kreator,

Not Metal - Kiss, King's X, Kamelot, Katatonia, Kvelertak, Kyuss, Kylesa, Killing Joke,

L

Metal - Lamb of God,Leviathan, Loss of Self

Not Metal - Lacuna Coil, Led Zeppelin,Life of Agony,

 
M

Metal- Metallica, Megadeth, Marduk, Morbid Angel, My Dying Bride, Ministry -post Pslam 69, Mercyful Fate, Manowar, Mayhem,

Not Metal- Monster Magnet, Motorhead,Marilyn Manson, Motley Crue,

N

Metal- Nevermore,Neurosis, Nocutrnus, Nile, Nachtmystium,

Not Metal- Night Wish,Nazereth, Nine Inch Nails,

O

Metal- Obituary, Overkill,

Not Metal - recent Opeth, Post Dairy of a Madman Ozzy,

P

Metal - Pantera, Primordial, Primal Fear, Prong,

Not Metal -Porcupine Tree, Paramore, Pearl Jam, Pentagram,

Q-

Metal- Queensryche- first three albums

Not Metal- Queens of the Stoneage, Queen,

R

Metal - Rotting Christ, Rainbow, Russian Circles,

Not Metal- Ratt, Rage Against the Machine,Royal Thunder, Rush

S

Metal - Slayer , Sodom, Sanctuary, Sepultura, Slipknot, Skeletonwitch, Shining (swe), Savatage,

Not Metal- Scorpions, Steel Panther, Spinal Tap, Soundgarden, Shining(nor), Swans,

T

Metal - Taake, Tyr, Trouble, Testament, Twilight

Not Metal -Tool, Twisted Sister, Type O Negative, Torche, Them Crooked Vultures, Thin Lizzy,

U

Metal -Unleashed

Not Metal - Uriah Heap,

V

Metal - Venom, Voi Vod, Vio-lence,Von ,Vektor,

Not Metal- Valiant Thorr, Van Halen, Volbeat,

W

Metal- Watain, Wolves In the Throne Room,  

Not Metal- Whitesnake, Wolfmother, White Zombie,  W.a.s.p,

X, Y, Z

Metal- Yob

Not Metal -Young gods, ZZ-Top