Melodic Metal is a broad style of heavy metal music and is the opposite of Extreme Metal. As its name suggests, music is very melodic: adding classical influences, symphonies and often rapid smooth solos. Clean vocals are usually used, but a mix of Death Vocals are sometimes incorporated.

Genres include: Goth Metal, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Classic Metal and Doom Metal. Many genres, however use both Extreme and Melodic metal in their music, such as double bass drumming in Power Metal, and death vocals in Gothic Metal. In addition Death/Doom Metal has a number of elements from Death Metal, notably death vocals. Indeed whole sub-genres are given to the combined styles, such as Melodic Death Metal, and Symphonic Black Metal.

Heavy metal | Music genres