Nu Metal/Hard Rock/Metalcore - Metal is quite easy to categorise, I feel
like people act like it isn't but compared to most rock it's
pretty distinguishable. Harder music isn't everyones cup of tea and it
takes some getting used to.
However, softer metal influenced bands like deftones and chevelle can be
appreciated by any music listener.
Alternative Rock - Alternative rock is a category that only really exists
because rock continually gets blended with other genres.
Personally I like to use this genre to describe rock music that people
would get offended if I labelled it something else. Almost every
shoegaze,
emo or indie rock band fits under the alt rock genre... so take my choices
with a pinch of salt (or disagree with my selection if you want)
Shoegaze/noise-rock/dreampop - Shoegaze is a term first coined by uk music journalists in the 90s to describe bands that spent all their time on stage staring at their feet
because they were concentrating on which guitar pedals to use. Although derogatory at first the term is now used to describe loud dreamy music that focuses heavily
on the use of guitar pedals to make the guitars sound fuzzy and hypnotic. Shoegaze bands are still around today but the term was popular in the uk in the early
90s and travelled over to musicians worldwide by the mid 90s.