Classic Rock
Characterized by a focus on melody, guitar-driven sound, and often featuring blues influences.
- Notable Bands: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who.
- Led Zeppelin - "IV" (also known as "Four Symbols" or "Zoso")
- The Rolling Stones - "Exile on Main St."
- The Who - "Who's Next"
- Pink Floyd - "The Dark Side of the Moon"
- The Beatles - "Abbey Road"
Hard Rock
Known for its heavier sound, distorted guitar riffs, and powerful vocals.
- Notable Bands: AC/DC, Deep Purple, Van Halen.
- AC/DC - "Back in Black"
- Deep Purple - "Machine Head"
- Van Halen - "Van Halen"
- Led Zeppelin - "Physical Graffiti"
- Black Sabbath - "Paranoid"
Heavy Metal
Features aggressive guitar work, powerful vocals, and often explores darker themes.
Subgenres within Heavy Metal include:
- Thrash Metal (e.g., Metallica, Slayer)
- Power Metal (e.g., Iron Maiden, Helloween)
- Black Metal (e.g., Mayhem, Emperor)
- Death Metal (e.g., Cannibal Corpse, Death)
- Metallica - "Master of Puppets"
- Iron Maiden - "The Number of the Beast"
- Slayer - "Reign in Blood"
- Black Sabbath - "Black Sabbath"
- Judas Priest - "British Steel"
Punk Rock
Known for its raw and rebellious sound, short songs, and anti-establishment lyrics.
Subgenres within Punk Rock include:
- Pop Punk (e.g., Green Day, Blink-182)
- Hardcore Punk (e.g., Bad Brains, Minor Threat)
- Post-Punk (e.g., Joy Division, The Cure)
- Ramones - "Ramones"
- The Clash - "London Calling"
- Sex Pistols - "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols"
- Dead Kennedys - "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables"
- The Stooges - "The Stooges" (self-titled debut)
Alternative Rock
A broad category encompassing non-mainstream rock music with various influences.
Subgenres within Alternative Rock include:
- Grunge (e.g., Nirvana, Pearl Jam)
- Indie Rock (e.g., Radiohead, Arcade Fire)
- Britpop (e.g., Oasis, Blur)
- Nirvana - "Nevermind"
- Radiohead - "OK Computer"
- Pearl Jam - "Ten"
- R.E.M. - "Automatic for the People"
- Smashing Pumpkins - "Siamese Dream"
Progressive Rock
Known for its complex compositions, extended instrumentals, and conceptual themes.
- Notable Bands: Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis.
- Pink Floyd - "The Wall"
- Yes - "Close to the Edge"
- Genesis - "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
- Rush - "2112"
- King Crimson - "In the Court of the Crimson King"
Glam Rock
Features a focus on image and theatrical performances, often with androgynous fashion.
- Notable Bands: David Bowie, T. Rex, Queen.
- David Bowie - "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"
- T. Rex - "Electric Warrior"
- Queen - "A Night at the Opera"
- Roxy Music - "For Your Pleasure"
- Sweet - "Desolation Boulevard"
Psychedelic Rock
Known for its use of psychedelic effects, improvisation, and mind-expanding themes.
- Notable Bands: The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd (early works).
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Are You Experienced"
- The Doors - "The Doors"
- Jefferson Airplane - "Surrealistic Pillow"
- Pink Floyd - "Piper at the Gates of Dawn"
- The Beatles - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
Southern Rock
Originated in the American South and blends rock with elements of blues and country.
- Notable Bands: Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band.
- Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Second Helping"
- The Allman Brothers Band - "At Fillmore East"
- ZZ Top - "Tres Hombres"
- Molly Hatchet - "Molly Hatchet"
- The Marshall Tucker Band - "Where We All Belong"
Alternative Metal
Combines elements of alternative rock with heavy metal, often featuring melodic and aggressive elements.
- Notable Bands: Tool, Alice in Chains, System of a Down.
- Tool - "Ænima"
- Alice in Chains - "Dirt"
- Deftones - "White Pony"
- System of a Down - "Toxicity"
- Faith No More - "The Real Thing"
Nu Metal
Known for its fusion of heavy metal with hip-hop, electronic, and industrial influences.
- Notable Bands: Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park.
- Korn - "Korn"
- Limp Bizkit - "Significant Other"
- Slipknot - "Slipknot"
- Linkin Park - "Hybrid Theory"
- System of a Down - "System of a Down" (self-titled debut)
Emo
Emo rock focuses on emotional and introspective lyrics, often dealing with themes of love and self-identity.
- Notable Bands: My Chemical Romance, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday.
- My Chemical Romance - "The Black Parade"
- Dashboard Confessional - "The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most"
- Taking Back Sunday - "Tell All Your Friends"
- Brand New - "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me"
- Jimmy Eat World - "Bleed American" (also known as "Jimmy Eat World")