Groove Metal Music Guide: 5 Notable Groove Metal Bands

Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music based around detuned electric guitars and repetitive (often syncopated) hard rock riffs. Lead vocals are often shouted or grunted. The aesthetics of groove metal overlap with other heavy metal subgenres like death metal, nu metal, metalcore, and progressive metal. However, the greatest overlap comes with thrash metal, and the thrash/groove scene tends to feature the same core roster of bands. The prototype for groove metal was the Texas quartet Pantera, whose singer Phil Anselmo and guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell inspired legions of future groove metal bands.

Groove metal emerged in the early 1990s, over twenty years after the heavy metal genre was pioneered by groups like Black Sabbath, Steppenwolf, and Deep Purple.

• Pantera sets the tone: Popular music historians trace groove metal's origins to the 1990 album Cowboys from Hell by North Texas rockers Pantera. The group began as a glam metal outfit, but they shifted their style to accentuate singer Phil Anselmo's guttural barks and the airtight grooves of the Abbott brothers “Dimebag” Darrell (on guitar) and Vinnie Paul (on drums). Although widely acknowledged as pioneers, the group shows obvious influence from 1980s thrash metal legends like Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer. The group would go on to make more crossover thrash/groove classics like 1992's Vulgar Display of Power and 1994's Far Beyond Driven.
• Existing bands adapt: Some of the first bands to follow Pantera's lead had already built names for themselves. Brazilian rockers Sepultura—who were mostly associated with death metal and thrash metal—recorded one of the most consequential groove metal albums in 1993 called Chaos A.D. Other thrash bands like Anthrax, Prong, White Zombie, Meshuggah, Testament, Biohazard, and Exhorder also formed in the 1980s and updated to a post-thrash style that matched the groovy, repeated riffing of Pantera.
• New bands embrace groove metal: Inspired by groove metal pioneers like Pantera and Overkill, a new generation of groove metal bands formed in the mid-1990s. These groups included Pro-Pain, Grip Inc., Pissing Razors, Skinlab, Slipknot, Machine Head, Gojira, Ektomorf, Soulfly, Chimaira, and Lamb of God—all of whom helped keep groove metal popular throughout the 1990s.
• The twenty-first century brings more crossover: Groove metal bands continued to form in the twenty-first century, including Damageplan, Down, DevilDriver, Fear Factory, Five Finger Death Punch, Hellyeah, and Cavalera Conspiracy. Many of these groups cross over into related metal genres including nu metal, alternative metal, and metalcore.

To begin your groove metal journey, investigate the catalogs of these five bands.

1. 1. Pantera: Pantera usually receives credit as the leading pioneers of groove metal, thanks to 1990's Cowboys from Hell and two blistering follow-ups: 1992's Vulgar Display of Power and 1994's Far Beyond Driven. The group began as a glam metal act in the early 1980s, but they eventually changed course to create a sound heavily influenced by Metallica but with a more groovy, hypnotic sensibility. Singer Phil Anselmo's James Hetfield-style howls and “Dimebag” Darrell's speed-of-light guitar solos made the band famous far beyond their Texas roots. The group disbanded in 2003 and members ended up in other acts including Damageplan, Down, Hellyeah, and Superjoint Ritual.
2. 2. Prong: Around the time that Pantera issued Cowboys From Hell, New York City's Prong offered a groove metal prototype with 1990's Beg to Differ. Like Pantera, Prong did not begin as a groove metal band, but their peak popularity in the 1990s corresponded with their shift to groovy riffs and syncopated rhythms. The 1994 song "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" enjoyed some airplay on MTV.
3. 3. Exhorder: New Orleans metalheads Exhorder made waves with their 1990 debut album Slaughter In The Vatican, but by 1992's The Law, they had embraced the groove metal aesthetic. The group has disbanded and reformed multiple times, but it remains active in the 2020s.
4. 4. Machine Head: With records like 1994's Burn My Eyes and 1997's The Burning Red, Machine Head helped grow the seeds of groove metal planted by Pantera, Prong, Overkill, and Exhorder. Singer Robb Flynn's occasional rapping also helped lay the stage for nu metal.
5. 5. Five Finger Death Punch: Also known as 5FDP or FFDP, this Las Vegas group offers an example of groove metal in the twenty-first century. 2009's War Is the Answer set off a string of gold and platinum-certified albums for the group, which continues to thrive in the 2020s.

Become a better musician with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including St. Vincent, Christina Aguilera, Sheila E., Timbaland, Itzhak Perlman, Tom Morello, and more.