^ Couldn't agree more
I think at least 8 sub 'sub genres' of metal fit into the recent years' description of 'Groove Metal', itself an idiotic title.
Tech-Death or Extreme shall suffice. That's all we need.......IMO, of course.

Metal music itself, is difficult to evaluate.
Here's an example of my way of thinking :
I really get into Thrash, yet, I take a wide berth from Slayer.
Black Metal is truly creepy, yet, I can 'happily' dig Deathspell, but I cannot stand Burzum.
Love Iron Maiden, then again, most d
Some folks (very few) love Five Finger Death Punch or Lamb Of God, yet cannot stand Meshuggah.
When Symph-Prog is concerned, some love Yes or Genesis, yet dislike I.Q. or Marillion. Dunno what it is, but it is what it is.............

In my book, what distinguishes (heavy) metal from hard rock is that metal--all metal--has significant progressive rock tendencies if not outright influences.  That doesn't mean that I say that it all is progressive rock, but it all has notable progressive characteristics, and some of it crosses the line into simply being progressive rock.

I love Marillion and IQ, can't for the love of god get into Genesis

Kingsnake wrote: I don't know, I don't really care. I know metal-fanatics who hate everything that's not oldskool metal. They hate nu-metal and alt.metal. When I think of metal, I mostly think of thrash, death, speed, etc. I don't think Deep Purple or Tool or My Dying Bride or Linkin Park are metalbands. But that's just the way I categorize my music in my head.   Is Porcupine Tree heavy? Not really. Steven Wilson plays some occasional riffs, but mostly it's just heavy rock and atmospheric soundscapes. Toto and Chicago are much more heavy than Porcupine Tree. On Fear of a Blank Planet is some heavy double kick-drumming, but not enough to be metal in my opinion.

Pastmaster wrote: Kingsnake wrote: I don't know, I don't really care. I know metal-fanatics who hate everything that's not oldskool metal. They hate nu-metal and alt.metal. When I think of metal, I mostly think of thrash, death, speed, etc. I don't think Deep Purple or Tool or My Dying Bride or Linkin Park are metalbands. But that's just the way I categorize my music in my head.   Is Porcupine Tree heavy? Not really. Steven Wilson plays some occasional riffs, but mostly it's just heavy rock and atmospheric soundscapes. Toto and Chicago are much more heavy than Porcupine Tree. On Fear of a Blank Planet is some heavy double kick-drumming, but not enough to be metal in my opinion. Well if you don't see Tool as metal either, than I guess it makes sense. I won't bother telling someone otherwise if they already think alternative metal isn't metal (I assume you don't think Alice in Chains, System of a Down, Mudvayne, etc. are metal either then). Opinions on genre and heaviness is generally subjective, but saying Chicago are much more heavy than Porcupine Tree just sounds ridiculous.

Terrapin Station wrote: Pastmaster wrote: saying Chicago are much more heavy than Porcupine Tree just sounds ridiculous. Yeah, I don't know what he could possibly have in mind by "heavy" so that it bears any resemblance to the conventional usage of that term (at least post the late 60s) and so that Chicago would be heavier than Porcupine Tree.

zravkapt wrote: Is Progressive Rock Metal?