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Simultaneously, the glam metal phenomenon began, with bands like Van Halen and Mötley Crüe embracing flamboyant aesthetics and party-ready music. This starkly contrasted with the underground thrash movement, fronted by groups such as Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, who represented the raw edge of metal.
The 90s: The Great Shift
As the music scene transitioned into the 1990s, the popularity of glam metal waned due to the rise of grunge bands like Nirvana. American mainstream media declared metal dead, but underground scenes continued to thrive, particularly in death metal from Florida and black metal from Norway. These styles embraced aggression and rawness, challenging concepts of artistry in metal.