There are some oddly specific and downright crazy music genres that exist these days. As music technologies and processes have grown in sophistication, music styles and preferences have only grown more eclectic and unique. If you are hoping to expand your musical horizons and embrace some new sounds, check out this awesome list consisting of sounds, genres and artists you might have never heard of before. Let’s check them out!
Horror country
It needs to be heard to be believed but there is a genre of music legitimately known as “horror country.” As the name suggests, horror country tunes tend to blend the key elements of country music and instrumentation with darker topics, so it’s easy to see why it doesn’t feature too often on radio stations. So, instead of singing about lukewarm beer and fried chicken, horror country bands tend to focus on demons, corpses and other dark themes. If you’re interested in hearing some horror country, check out some of the music by The Pine Box Boys and Graveyard Train.
Lowercase
Lowercase is an extension of minimalist music in an ultimate, extreme form. Ironically, lowercase music consists of unheard ambient sounds, like crumpling paper, carburettors and broken lightbulbs. The origins of the genre are attributed to Steve Roden, when he released his album “Forms of Paper” in 2001. Check out “Airria” by Steve Roden to get a taste of what this genre is all about.
Vegan straight edge
Vegan straight edge music is a highly varied style of punk that has recently made a big comeback. It is a sub-genre of hardcore punk that celebrates animal rights and abstinence from drug use and extramarital sex. Christian rappers may also fall under this category. Vegan Reich were an active American band during the 1980s and 1990s and are pioneers within this genre of music.
German reggae
Since the late 1970s, Germany has had a strong affinity with reggae music vibes. It began as a counter-culture movement, consisting of white, middle class youths, however, it has since grown into a huge genre of music within Germany. One of the most famous German reggae performers was Gentleman, who emerged on the scene in the mid-1990s. German continues to host open-air reggae festivals that are well-attended by many Europeans.
Pirate metal
Pirate metal is a genre of music that is exactly how it sounds. Imagine Blackbeard donning a leather jacket with an electric guitar in hand, and that’s essentially what you get with pirate metal. Songs within this genre can be likened to sea shanties shrieked in a heavy metal inflexion, backed up by folk instruments. Anything by The Dead Crew of Oddwood or Alestorm will give you a good idea of what pirate metal is all about.
Neurofunk
Neurofunk emerged in the late 1990s and is basically a complex fusion of breakbeats with backbeats with funk harmonies. It juxtaposes hard funk with techno, jazz and house. If you’re still confused, don’t worry because most fans still don’t even know what it is.
Soca
Sometimes referred to as the “soul of calypso”, soca music arose during the 1970s and harnesses elements from funk, soul and cadence. It’s become an incredibly popular genre throughout the Caribbean, especially in Saint Lucia, Guyana and Barbados. Check out Machel Montano or Bunji Garlin for more insight into this awesome and eclectic form of music.
Enka
The last addition to this list is Enka, which is a Japanese genre of music honed and developed during the 1950s. While it is strongly reminiscent of traditional Japanese music, the prose and lyrics revolve around post-WWII sentiments in Japan, made even more powerful given the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Quentin Tarantino’s film series “Kill Bill” featured traditional Enka music.
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