At first glance, the neon-soaked main stage of a rave and the mosh pit of a death metal show seem like opposites. One is built on PLUR, and the other on controlled chaos. However, the sonic DNA of modern Bass Music and Heavy Metal is nearly identical. Both genres rely on aggressive distortion, half-time rhythms, and the concept of the “breakdown” (or “drop”) to release tension.

It is no coincidence that some of the world’s biggest DJs didn’t start their careers behind a turntable, but behind a drum kit or a microphone in a garage band. Here are 7 EDM titans who traded their guitars for synthesizers but kept the metal spirit alive.

1. Zedd

  • The “Secret” Background: Metalcore Drummer
  • The Band: Dioramic

Zedd (Anton Zaslavski) is known for pristine, radio-friendly pop-EDM anthems like Clarity. However, before he was a pop super-producer, he was the drummer for the German technical metalcore band Dioramic. He wasn’t just a casual player; he was a technical prodigy playing complex polyrhythms and blast beats.

  • The Metal Cred: Zedd is such a fan of the genre that he produced an official remix for the djent pioneers Periphery. His remix of “Icarus Lives” is a rare example of a mainstream DJ perfectly understanding how to blend polyrhythmic metal riffs with electro-house.

2. Skrillex

  • The “Secret” Background: Post-Hardcore Vocalist
  • The Band: From First to Last

Before Sonny Moore became Skrillex, he was the lead vocalist for the legendary emo/post-hardcore band From First to Last. He spent his teenage years screaming on the Vans Warped Tour, blowing out his vocal cords to deliver high-energy performances.

  • How it influences his EDM: Skrillex essentially invented the “Monster” growl bass in dubstep. He treats synthesizer patches like a distorted scream, using formant filters to make the bass “talk” or “growl,” mimicking the timbre of a metal vocalist.

3. Bassnectar

  • The “Secret” Background: Death Metal Guitarist
  • The Band: Pale Existence

While he is known as the king of freestyle bass music, Lorin Ashton’s roots are incredibly heavy. In the 90s, he played guitar in a San Francisco Bay Area death metal band called Pale Existence.

  • The Metal Cred: This wasn’t just a garage hobby; they were deep in the underground scene. Pale Existence actually released a split 7″ vinyl with the legendary goregrind band Exhumed on 625 Productions (a well-known powerviolence/thrash label). The heavy, grinding distortion of his early metal days is clearly visible in the wall-of-sound bass textures he later pioneered.

4. Noisia

  • The “Secret” Background: The Sound Design Scientists
  • The Connection: Industrial & Nu-Metal Collaborators

The Dutch trio Noisia (Nik, Martijn, and Thijs) may not have been in a touring metal band, but they are widely respected by metalheads for having the most aggressive, “heavy” production in the game. Their approach to Neurofunk Drum & Bass is identical to metal mixing: obsession with distortion, transient shaping, and dark atmospheres.

  • The Metal Cred: They were hand-picked to produce the soundtrack for the Devil May Cry (DmC) video game, creating a fusion of industrial metal and bass music. They also heavily collaborated with Korn on the album The Path of Totality, proving their production could stand toe-to-toe with 7-string guitars.

5. Seven Lions

  • The “Secret” Background: Viking & Progressive Metal Superfan
  • The Obsession: Opeth

Jeff Montalvo (Seven Lions) arguably has the most sophisticated metal palate in the EDM scene. He famously stated that he finds more inspiration in the dynamic storytelling of metal than in electronic music, citing Opeth as his primary influence.

  • How it influences his EDM: Seven Lions tracks are structured like progressive metal opuses. They often feature acoustic interludes, shifting time signatures, and operatic “clean” vocals that transition into devastatingly heavy, distorted bass drops—mirroring the “Beauty and the Beast” vocal style common in gothic metal.

6. Sullivan King

  • The “Secret” Background: There is no secret—he is the Bridge.
  • The Style: Metal-Step

Keaton Prescott, known as Sullivan King, decided not to choose between the genres. He is one of the few producers who tracks his own heavy metal screams and electric guitar riffs directly into his dubstep productions.

  • Instructive Comparison:
    To understand why Metal and Dubstep merge so well, look at their rhythm. Both frequently use a Half-Time feel at 140-150 BPM.
  • Metal Breakdown: The drummer plays a snare on beat 3, leaving massive space for chugging guitars.
  • Dubstep Drop: The beat is identical (snare on beat 3), but the guitars are replaced by distorted bass synthesizers.

7. Steve Aoki

  • The “Secret” Background: Hardcore Punk Vocalist/Guitarist
  • The Band: This Machine Kills

Before the cake-throwing and the private jets, Steve Aoki was a staple of the DIY hardcore punk scene in California. He ran a label out of his apartment releasing screamo records and played in a raw, political hardcore band called This Machine Kills.

  • How it influences his EDM: Aoki’s production style is less about technical perfection and more about energy. His “punk ethos” is visible in his live shows. He treats a DJ set like a hardcore gig, prioritizing crowd engagement, stage diving, and raw physical energy.

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