Rock

Rock music is a genre characterized by its amplified instrumentation, strong rhythms, and a focus on melody and often features electric guitars, drums, and vocals.
Mountains

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")

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