Baraka_Guru

Cool! Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I'll certainly have to check these out.

I think the key to my tastes lies in sludge metal, which is a blend of doom metal, hardcore punk, with hints of southern rock. I don't know. If the Answers.com entry for COC is accurate, they are possibly a unique blend of genres that hasn't been replicated much. I think much of what I like is the driving grind mixed with--I don't know what to call it...hooks that have a bit of swing to it?

COC songs have some subtle rhythmic nuances that I like. Much of the metal I've sampled was too straightahead and thrashy. They are bands who like to show their speed and aggressiveness when what I'm after has a bit of melody and rhythmic qualities that lure me in. Note the changes and hooks....they're not always trying to fill the bars with furious palm-muted strums and crazy-fast licks. The songs deliver and wide soundscape that displays their ability to make music that is heavy, intelligent, and complex all rolled into one beautiful package.

I will see if I can find this in any of your recommendations. I guess what I'm looking for is more metal crossover--punk, southern rock, metal, maybe?


EDIT:
Had a quick listen to all your links.... I need to listen to them more, but at first glance, Black Label Society and System of a Down sound promising. Also a couple of maybes: Disturbed and Stone Sour.

As for the others, I listened to Megadeth back in the "Symphony of Destruction" days but grew tired of their sound, and the rest sounded too thrashy and straightahead for what I'm looking for. I'll give them more of a listen to be sure, but I'm being a bit picky. I'm not that into the big hardcore metal sound that a lot of people like. As my OP explains, I'm looking for specific sounds.

Thanks again, guys.

I would probably like Sabbath a lot; I haven't listen to many of their songs. I'm also going to check out sHEAVY and Nebula in terms of stoner metal. It's likely the closest to what I'm looking for. That and sludge.

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