Quick answer: A good Suno metal prompt names the sub-genre, the vocal style (clean, harsh or both), the guitar tone, the drums and the tempo. For example: “metalcore, harsh screams and clean chorus, down-tuned chugging guitars, double kick drums, breakdown, 150 bpm”. Use tags like [Verse: screamed], [Chorus: clean vocals], [Breakdown] and [Guitar Solo] to control each section.
Metal is demanding for any AI because it’s dense, fast and loud. With clear prompts, Suno can still produce powerful heavy tracks. Here are 40 prompts and practical tips.
The metal prompt formula
| Part | Examples |
|---|---|
| Sub-genre | heavy metal, thrash, metalcore, death metal, power metal, doom, nu metal, djent |
| Vocals | harsh screams, growls, soaring clean vocals, operatic female vocals, gang shouts |
| Guitars | down-tuned, chugging, palm-muted riffs, shredding solos, wall of distortion |
| Drums | double kick, blast beats, groove, half-time breakdown |
| Tempo and mood | slow and crushing, 180 bpm thrash, epic, dark, aggressive |
Heavy metal and thrash prompts
- classic heavy metal, soaring male vocals, twin lead guitars, galloping bass, 160 bpm
- thrash metal, aggressive shouted vocals, fast palm-muted riffs, 190 bpm
- NWOBHM style, high-pitched vocals, dual harmonised guitars, energetic
- speed metal, wild guitar solos, pounding drums, fast and loud
- groove metal, gritty vocals, heavy grooving riffs, mid-tempo
- traditional metal ballad, emotional vocals, clean intro into heavy chorus
- stoner metal, fuzzy guitars, slow heavy groove, desert feel
Metalcore and post-hardcore prompts
- metalcore, harsh screams and clean chorus, down-tuned chugs, breakdown, 150 bpm
- melodic metalcore, emotional clean vocals, atmospheric synths, big breakdown
- post-hardcore, raw screams, angular guitars, emotional
- deathcore, deep growls, slam breakdowns, brutal
- electronicore, screams, synth leads, EDM drops, heavy guitars
- djent, polyrhythmic riffs, clean vocals, ambient interludes
- metalcore anthem, gang vocals, uplifting chorus, heavy drums
Extreme metal prompts
- death metal, deep guttural growls, blast beats, technical riffs
- melodic death metal, harsh vocals, harmonised lead guitars, fast
- black metal, shrieked vocals, tremolo-picked guitars, atmospheric, cold
- doom metal, slow crushing riffs, mournful clean vocals, heavy
- sludge metal, abrasive vocals, thick distorted guitars, slow
- technical death metal, complex riffs, precise drums, intense
Power, symphonic and epic metal prompts
- power metal, soaring high male vocals, fast double kick, epic choir, 170 bpm
- symphonic metal, operatic female vocals, orchestra, choir, heavy guitars
- folk metal, fiddle, tin whistle, heavy riffs, drinking-song chorus
- Viking metal, epic male choir, war drums, heavy guitars
- gothic metal, dark female vocals, organ, slow heavy riffs
- progressive metal, complex time signatures, clean vocals, long solos
Nu metal, alt metal and hard rock prompts
- nu metal, rapped verses, screamed chorus, down-tuned riffs, turntable scratches
- alternative metal, moody clean vocals, heavy chorus, groove
- industrial metal, distorted vocals, mechanical drums, synths
- hard rock, raspy male vocals, crunchy guitars, big chorus
- modern rock, powerful vocals, heavy guitars, radio-ready
- metal ballad, emotional vocals, acoustic intro, explosive chorus
- female-fronted alt metal, powerful clean vocals, heavy riffs
- rap metal, aggressive rap vocals, heavy guitars, energetic
For lighter rock styles, see our 100 Suno prompts.
Controlling screams, cleans and breakdowns
[Intro: heavy riff] [Verse 1: screamed] ... [Pre-Chorus: clean vocals, building] ... [Chorus: soaring clean vocals] ... [Verse 2: growled] ... [Chorus] ... [Breakdown: half-time, heavy chugs] (Gang shouts) [Guitar Solo] [Final Chorus: clean and screamed] [End]
Tags in brackets after a colon tell Suno how to perform each section. Keep them short. Full list in our meta tags cheat sheet.
Tips for heavier, clearer metal
- Put the sub-genre first. “Metalcore” or “thrash metal” sets everything else.
- Name the vocal type. Without it, Suno often defaults to clean rock vocals.
- Add tempo. Metal varies hugely in speed; BPM avoids surprises.
- Use “breakdown” as a tag, not only in the style. It places the breakdown where you want it.
- Ask for production. “tight modern production” or “raw lo-fi recording” changes the feel.
- Keep lyrics punchy. Short lines work better for screams.
- Exclude soft elements. Add “pop”, “synth” or “autotune” to Exclude styles if needed.
Fixing common metal problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Not heavy enough | Add “down-tuned”, “wall of distortion”, “double kick” |
| No screams | Use [Verse: screamed] and “harsh vocals” in style |
| Mix is muddy | Add “tight modern production”, slower tempo |
| Solo sounds generic | Describe it: “melodic bluesy solo” or “fast shred solo” |
| Turns into pop rock | Raise Style Influence, name a metal sub-genre and exclude “pop” |
Using stems for metal production
Many metal producers download stems and re-amp or replace the guitars and drums in their own software. That keeps the song idea and vocals while giving full control of the tone. Premier users can do detailed edits in Suno Studio.
A real-world example
A guitarist wanted to test song ideas before band practice. He wrote lyrics, prompted “melodic metalcore, harsh screams and clean chorus, down-tuned guitars, atmospheric synths, 145 bpm” and tagged a [Breakdown] before the last chorus. The result gave the band a clear demo of the structure. They learned the arrangement, recorded their own version and kept the Suno demo only as a reference — a common, smart way musicians use AI.
Respect the scene
Metal fans value authenticity and musicianship. If you share AI-made metal, be honest about how it was made, write your own lyrics and avoid imitating specific bands. Use Suno to explore ideas, practise songwriting and make demos — then bring in real players if you can. That approach earns respect and leads to better music. Explore more genres in our Suno styles list.
Heavy music has always pushed technology forward, from distortion pedals to digital amp modelling. AI is another tool in that story, and like every tool before it, it works best in the hands of people who love the music.
Writing lyrics for metal
Metal lyrics often explore big themes: struggle, myth, nature, history, inner battles and resilience. Use strong, vivid images and short, punchy lines for screamed sections. Save longer, melodic lines for clean choruses, where the singer has room to hold notes. Contrast helps: a quiet, reflective verse makes a crushing chorus hit harder. Avoid graphic violence aimed at real people, which can be flagged or break platform rules.
Choosing the right tempo for each metal style
Tempo shapes metal more than almost any other genre. Doom and sludge sit around 60–80 bpm and feel crushing. Groove metal and nu metal live around 90–110 bpm, where riffs can swing. Metalcore usually runs 130–160 bpm with half-time breakdowns. Thrash and power metal push 170–200 bpm, and extreme metal can go even faster with blast beats. Put the BPM in your style line, and Suno will choose drums and riffs that suit it. If fast songs sound messy, drop the BPM by ten and add “tight” to the production words.
FAQ
Can Suno do screaming vocals?
Yes, add “harsh screams” or “growls” and use section tags.
Why does my metal sound like rock?
Name a specific metal sub-genre, add heavy guitar and drum words, and exclude “pop”.
Can Suno play guitar solos?
Yes, use a [Guitar Solo] tag and describe the solo style.
Is v6 better for metal?
v6 is the most polished; v6-wild can give more extreme results. See Suno v6.
SunoMusicAI Guide is an independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Suno, Inc. Features, prices and policies change often, so always check Suno’s official website for the latest details.
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