'''Doom metal''' is a form of [[heavy metal]] music that emerged as a recognized sub-genre during the first half of the 1980s. Generally, doom metal features very slow tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "denser" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres. Both the music and the lyrics intend to evoke a sense of dread or impending doom, and often an atmosphere of despair.
Musically, doom metal is strongly influenced by the early work of [[Black Sabbath]]. A number of their early songs, such as "[[Black Sabbath (song)|Black Sabbath]]" and "[[Into the Void]]" are considered embryonic or prototypical doom metal songs. Their third album, ''[[Master of Reality]]'' (released in 1971), features [[Tony Iommi]]'s guitar and [[Geezer Butler]]'s bass tuned down to C# for heavier riffing and reduced string tension for Iommi's previously injured fingers.
==See also==