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traditional doom metal

what it is

Traditional doom metal is a style of Doom Metal that emerged in the early to mid-1980s, under the influence of bands from the previous decade such as Black Sabbath, Bedemon and Pentagram. Traditional doom metal is rooted in Heavy Metal and utilizes a monotonous and heavy playing style, similar to that of Black Sabbath's early period: repetitive, rough and sometimes atonal guitar riffs; a "rocking to sleep" bass; and also some influences from both Blues Rock and Psychedelic Rock. Some bands attempt to complement the general slowness of their sound by adding some faster paced, dynamic sections, but this is rare and not essential to the overall sound of the genre.

✦ meet the girls making traditional doom metal →
women, non-binary artists, and bands with women, level by level

✦ start here: albums

Epicus Doomicus Metallicus by Candlemass
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Candlemass
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Saint Vitus by Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus
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II: Crush the Insects by Reverend Bizarre
II: Crush the Insects
Reverend Bizarre
open this album: apple music · spotify
Master of Reality (2014 Remaster) by Black Sabbath
Master of Reality (2014 Remaster)
Black Sabbath
open this album: apple music · spotify
Psalm 9 by Trouble
Psalm 9
Trouble
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Death Penalty by Witchfinder General
Death Penalty
Witchfinder General
open this album: apple music · spotify

✦ who's making it, level by level

level 3 · one step out

cult favorites and indie darlings

Candlemass
379k listeners
Pentagram
297k listeners
Mourn
83k listeners

level 4 · further

art pop, hyperpop, and the underground

Wheel
88k listeners
Warning
90k listeners
Saint Vitus
150k listeners
Castle Rat
75k listeners
Pallbearer
153k listeners
Forsaken
132k listeners
Reverend Bizarre
93k listeners
Messa
72k listeners
Solitude Aeturnus
70k listeners
The Obsessed
87k listeners
Witchfinder General
96k listeners
40 Watt Sun
45k listeners

level 5 · all the way

deep experimental

Early Moods
8k listeners
Revelation
27k listeners
Funeral Circle
3k listeners
Arkham Witch
5k listeners
Rituals of the Oak
2k listeners
Place of Skulls
19k listeners
Flame, Dear Flame
938 listeners
Memory Garden
7k listeners
The Doomsday Cult
392 listeners
Vestal Claret
919 listeners
MIDRYASI'S KULT
337 listeners
devil seed
560 listeners

✦ make traditional doom metal a playlist

turn these 27 artists into something you can press play on.

each artist's most played song, easing from level 1 out to 5

✦ nearby genres

doom metalheavy metaldoommetalepic doom metalstoner rockstoner metaltraditional doomtrue doom metal

questions

What is traditional doom metal?

Traditional doom metal is a style of Doom Metal that emerged in the early to mid-1980s, under the influence of bands from the previous decade such as Black Sabbath, Bedemon and Pentagram. Traditional doom metal is rooted in Heavy Metal and utilizes a monotonous and heavy playing style, similar to that of Black Sabbath's early period: repetitive, rough and sometimes atonal guitar riffs; a "rocking to sleep" bass; and also some influences from both Blues Rock and Psychedelic Rock. Some bands attempt to complement the general slowness of their sound by adding some faster paced, dynamic sections, but this is rare and not essential to the overall sound of the genre.

What are good traditional doom metal albums to start with?

Try Epicus Doomicus Metallicus by Candlemass, Saint Vitus by Saint Vitus, II: Crush the Insects by Reverend Bizarre, and Master of Reality (2014 Remaster) by Black Sabbath.

Who are some women making traditional doom metal?

musicisforgirls.com/genres/traditional-doom-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making traditional doom metal, from mainstream to underground.

genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20