8 Massive Song Cliches Everyone Is Tired Of Hearing
3. The Heavy Metal Breakdown
If you're a rock or metal fan yet you're not entirely sure what a breakdown is, trust me...you've heard one. Chances are you've heard a lot of them recently, actually, because they appear to have almost entirely replaced the function of the typical guitar solo. Don't get me wrong, any development in the sound of rock or metal is a good thing, but it seems that breakdowns have become universally popular recently.
A breakdown generally involves a relatively slow tempo, palm-muted guitar strokes and what essentially sounds like the music “chugging”. Breakdowns are associated with being incredibly “heavy” sounding, and some bands even drop in synthesizers in order to try and shake things up.
There's a reason why some bands try to differentiate their breakdowns, and that's the main problem – they're normally not very complex, and can wind up sounding incredibly same-y. Various skill levels can help make guitar solos stand out, as can complexity – but when it comes to breakdowns, often when you've heard one, well...you've heard them all