Metal

Start here to grow your Metal collection with some of the top records of the past 50 years. From Doom classics to Metallic Hardcore and Death Metal there is something here for every listener to explore and add to their collection.

Emerging from Hard Rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Heavy Metal quickly solidified its distinct sound of wailing distortion, powerful drumming, ripping guitar solos, and dark themes. The bands of the early era laid the foundational blueprint for the genre, setting new precedents in sonic intensity and virtuosic musicianship.

The 1980s witnessed an explosion of diverse metal subgenres; from the melodic and radio-friendly sounds of Hair Metal to the epic storytelling of Power Metal and the extreme aggression of Thrash and Doom Metal. Metal achieved significant mainstream popularity while also fostering a strong and dedicated worldwide underground scene that pushed the boundaries of sonic heaviness and technical proficiency.

The 1990s saw a significant shift in the metal landscape with the rise of Alternative Metal and Nu-Metal, which achieved massive success. While these new styles gained mainstream traction, the underground grew more extreme as Death Metal and Black Metal gained traction throughout a growing worldwide scene.

In the 2000s, the sound of Metal grew even more diverse, with many bands refining and cross-pollinating styles, leading to increasingly technical and experimental sounds within various niches like Metalcore, Grindcore, and Progressive Metal. 

In the modern era, Metal has continued its trend of diversification, with established sub-genres gaining further traction and evolving, while a new crop of bands looking to the genre’s past for influence have also exploded in popularity.

Shop our Discogs Selects collection of Metal must-haves for sale on vinyl. From legendary icons like Black Sabbath, Motorhead, and Metallica to modern masters like Ghost, Power Trip, and Mastodon, this collection aims to guide exploration for those just starting their collector’s journey as well as those already immersed in the music. Shop Discogs today to find the best Metal records to add to your record collection.