you're probably thinking - but if it sounds new, then it's not Metal anymore !
so AKSHULLY there has been research into this and basically Metal music is defined by "spiky" mathematics. it's the same as what defines gothic Architecture or the font in your screen name.
so you can bend the genre quite a bit and still be unmistakably metal so long as the "spiky" mathematics are preserved ...
this "spikiness" is associated with things like fear, pain, aggression and so on ... also darkness ...
the opposite of this would be the smoothness and curviness of pinup dolls, cherubs etc ... also pink color ...
well obviously smarter people than me would be able to say more on the subject - i haven't even studied music theory. my point is merely that i see "Metal" as a wide field, that also should keep widening. whereas i imagine you you see it as a niche genre that should stay that way.
personally i think the latest and most cutting edge sound in music is "crunchy" sound, but that of course isn't metal and i will have to find ( or create ) some other community to put it in ...
and like i said you guys are more passionate than me about metal so what you want to see here is more important than what i want.
on other hand i will rule "GalaxyBrainDance" with an Iron Fist.
Lol I really don't mind how people answer. Just curious to see what is about. Contemporary that sounds new would be good, I imagine a lot does sound 'retro' tho, no expectations ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
here is an example of what i would have considered moderately fresh Metal 3 years ago when it came out ( both music videos by Tallah, sorry i don't know many newer bands as i said ):
https://youtu.be/D-IG09dfVvY?si=705S3Q-T9WmUaDjW
https://youtu.be/n4X0CG11Byw?si=RWfJbuW9OY0KiWeI
quite like this, it's p much new nu metal (?) to my ears anyway
to me nu-metal was more its own new style around the turn of the century whereas this Tallah stuff is more like an eclectic mix of different Metal sub-genres that came before, with a touch of humor on top.
so it isn't necessarily bringing anything new to the table but recombines the stuff that came before in new ways.
one's range of innovation is somewhat limited when one has only guitars and drums to work with as opposed to electronic music where possibilities are limitless.
this is why i have been focusing on electronic and especially noise music, as those have the least constraints, but that doesn't mean i don't like Metal - it's just harder to innovate in that field.
Gnaw Their Tongues is a bit of dabbling in noise/metal/electronic, not particularly new, but you might like them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsxmdy-MMiI
🎚️ 
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too ambient for my taste. i like dopamine music that more "kinetic" ( for lack of better word than ambient / atmospheric. should have attributes like rhythm, mass, speed ... ambient music doesn't have those things.
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