One of the first heavy metal sub-genres. The origins of doom metal can be traced back to the mid/late 1960s, with artists such as Black Sabbath, Randy Holden, and Flower Travellin' Band.

'Heavy and slow' is the expected style, however doom metal is extremely varied, with bands exhibiting influences that include, but are not limited to, stoner/heavy rock, NWOBHM, gothic, death/black metal, psychedelic, drone, ambient, and industrial.

Although somewhat niche, it is a diverse genre which encompasses an equally diverse (and not always heavy metal oriented) fan base.

Helpful resources:

• A beginner's guide to doom metal - New to doom metal? This is a good thread to start with.
• doom-metal.com - An excellent site for doom news and reviews.

FAQ:

• Can I post something if it's not doom metal? Yes! We like proto-doom, stoner rock, heavy psych, and other "low an' slow" stuff from bands that aren't considered doom metal.