Groove metal

is a subgenre of heavy metal that emerged in the early 1990s, blending thrash metal’s intensity with mid-tempo, groove-driven riffs. Popularized by bands like Pantera, Sepultura, and Machine Head, it features syncopated rhythms, chugging guitar work, and aggressive vocals. Unlike thrash, groove metal focuses on heaviness and groove rather than speed, influencing later metalcore and nu-metal bands.