Editing Doom metal (section)

== Characteristics ==

=== Instrumentation ===
The [[electric guitar]], [[bass guitar]], and [[drum kit]] are the most common instruments used to play doom metal (although [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]] are sometimes used), but its structures are rooted in the same scales as in [[blues]].<ref name="Bandcamp"/> Guitarists and bassists often down tune their instruments to very low notes and make use of large amounts of [[distortion (music)|distortion]], thus producing a very "thick" or "heavy" guitar tone, which is one of the defining characteristics of the genre.<ref name=PhD>{{cite thesis |last=Piper |first=Jonathan |date=2013 |title=Locating experiential richness in doom metal |type=PhD |institution= [[University of California, San Diego]] |series= UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7bq7387s |access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref> Along with the usual heavy metal compositional technique of guitars and bass playing the same riff in unison, this creates a loud and [[bass (sound)|bass]]-heavy wall of sound. Another defining characteristic is the consistent focus on slow [[tempo]]s,<ref name="Allmusic" /> and [[minor scale|minor tonality]] with much use of [[consonance and dissonance|dissonance]] (especially in the form of the [[tritone]]), employing the usage of repetitive rhythms with little regard to harmonic progression and musical structure.<ref name=PhD/>

=== Vocals ===
Traditional doom metal vocalists favor clean vocals, which are often performed with a sense of despair, desperation, or pain; imitating the high-tone wails of [[Ozzy Osbourne]] ([[Black Sabbath]]),<ref name="doomSabbath"/> Frank Ferrara ([[Bang (American band)|Bang]]), [[Bobby Liebling]] ([[Pentagram (band)|Pentagram]]),<ref name=PhD/> and Zeeb Parkes ([[Witchfinder General (band)|Witchfinder General]]). So-called "epic doom" vocalists often take it a step further, singing in an [[opera]]tic style. Doom metal bands influenced by other extreme metal genres often use growled or screamed vocals, as is the case of [[death-doom]], [[#Black-doom|black-doom]], and [[funeral doom]].

=== Lyrical themes ===
Lyrics in doom metal play a key role. Influenced by notable [[blues]] musicians like [[Robert Johnson]] and [[Son House]],<ref name="Bandcamp"/> normally they are gloomy and pessimistic,<ref name="doomSabbath"/> including themes such as [[suffering]], [[depression (mood)|depression]], [[fear]], [[grief]], dread, death, and anger. While some bands write lyrics in introspective and personal ways, others convey their themes using symbolism – which may be inspired by [[occult]] [[arts]] and [[literature]].<ref name="Bandcamp"/>

Some doom metal bands use religious themes in their music. [[Trouble (band)|Trouble]], one of the genre's pioneers, were among the first to incorporate Christian imagery. Others have incorporated [[occult]] and [[paganism|pagan]] imagery.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/doom-metal-music-guide | title=Doom Metal Music Guide: 11 Doom Metal Bands |quote=Doom metal lyrics often describe paranoia, despair, political upheaval, and depression. They sometimes touch on witchcraft and pagan themes as well.}}</ref> For many bands, the use of religious themes is for aesthetic and symbolic purposes only. Examples include lyrics/imagery about the [[Last Judgment]] to invoke dread, or the use of [[crucifix]]es and cross-shaped headstones to symbolize death.

Furthermore, some doom metal bands write lyrics about drugs or drug addiction. This is most common among stoner doom bands, who often describe [[psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants|hallucinogenic or psychedelic]] experiences.