• Guitars
  • Bass
  • Keyboard
  • Recording
  • Computer Audio
  • Live Sound
  • Drums
  • DJ
  • Accessories

zZounds

  • Gear
    • Features
    • News
    • Gear History
  • Guide
    • Guitar Workbench
    • Studio Solutions
    • Beat Connection
    • Behind The Kit
    • On The Decks
    • The Oscillator
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Legends
    • Gear Demos
    • Live Streams
    • Perfect Pairings
    • Iconic Rigs
  • Interview
    • Artist Interviews
    • Creator Spotlight
    • Meet the Makers
  • Music
    • The Musical Almanac
    • Music Features
  • Gear Wire

Get the Tone: Doom Metal

Sunn O))) 's wall of amplifiers

A haze of gloom and fuzzy feedback emanates from stacks of amplifiers. The buzzing drone builds into a wall of slow, churning riffs that rise and swell, inspiring a feeling of ominous dread that wells up inside of you -— the sound of doom metal.

Like so much of modern metal music, the doom sub-genre was born out of the groundwork laid by Black Sabbath. From the beginning, Sabbath’s music was shaped by their bleak environment, the city of Birmingham, a gloomy industrial English town. That atmosphere imparted a bleak, dismal and dark element to their music that was smoldering ember that slowly sparked into life doom metal.

Black Sabbath
Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osborne of Black Sabbath.

The first song attributed the doom metal moniker is “Black Sabbath” off the album of the same name (not their most creative effort in that regard). Starting with the ringing of echoing church bells, the song opens up into a ominous, lurching riff that at its heart is based around a diminished fifth/augmented forth, which is referred to as the Diabolus in Musica (the Devil in music) and was often banned for its satanic connotation. It is now an element commonly used by doom metal musicians.

The cover of Candlemass' "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus"
The cover of Candlemass’ “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”

From there, bands like Pentagram, Trouble, St. Vitus and Candlemass carried the genre through the ’80s and ’90s and helped develop it further. Though it’s often debated, Candlemass’ 1986 album Epicus Doomicus Metallicus is regarded as coining the genre’s name.

Today, doom metal has sprouted off into many branches; from the spacey drone metal of bands like Earth and Sunn O))), to the psychedelic stoner metal of Sleep, Electric Wizard and Kyuss, all the way to the swampy southern-rock driven sounds of sludge metal acts like Weedeater, Down, and Crowbar, one element remains the same: keeping it slow and heavy. To do that, there are certain pieces of gear that have become almost standard-issue for doom metal players. We’ll take a look at those, as well as few easier, more accessible options in the pages to come, or you can click a button below to jump right to that section.

Guitars
Amps
Pedals
Jun 19, 2015Corbin
Page 1 of 41234»
Audio10 years ago Features
Corbin

At 12 years old, Corbin got his first guitar, a nearly unplayable Strat clone from a local music store. He played in a handful of punk, metal and post-rock bands, doing a few small DIY tours. Corbin earned a degree in Music and Sound Technology and has used it to self-record some records, as well as adding to his gear and music knowledge at zZounds, where he works as Product Manager for zZounds' Direct Commerce Platform.

Barcelona - "Fall in Love" at Moog Sound LabThe Cinematic Orchestra - Every Day

Leave a Reply Cancel reply


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

 Social Networks 
 About zZounds 
Since 1996, zZounds has been making it easy for musicians to get the gear they need. With our easy monthly payment plans, you can get the music gear you need today -- and split the cost into monthly installments on your existing credit card. zZounds ships from multiple warehouses across the continental United States, so we can cover most of our customers within a day or two. Our customer service team is staffed with real musicians. They don't get paid on commission -- they get paid to help you! Looking for the best prices? Don't miss our Big Deals weekly specials, Used Gear on Clearance, and The Drop for monthly promos, sales, and special offers.
 Contact Us 
Have questions or comments on our blog? Email blog@zzounds.com

zZounds Gear Experts are available seven days a week to answer any of your questions on gear, shipping, returns, and more. Give us a call and get help from a fellow musician today!
800-ZZOUNDS (800-996-8637)
2025 © zZounds Music | Cookie Settings | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share | Notice at Collection | Copyright | Terms of Use
For great deals on gear, shop at zZounds