That makes sense, it's kinda like "djent", where it isn't a genre, just a style of playing. I'll be honest, I don't even consider "speed metal" much of a genre, because it's more of a style of riffing that's used in many genres. Traditional, thrash, NWOBHM, power metal, etc. all use speed metal riffs.

considering we are quite far down the rabbit hole with slam bands that are influenced by slam bands influenced by slam. Slam evolved into a very specific sound that that i dont even really wanna call BDM anymore.

As far as power metal, yes it's vague, only a small number of bands fall under the discription. Fast, high pitched vocals and dragons, that's pretty much it.
Progressive metal doesn't say anything about the sound, only about the construction of the song. Is it really a genre? I'm not sure. Dillinger Escape Plan isn't considered as Progressive Metal but it has many uncommon time signatures, tempo changes and technical / chaotic riffs. Progressive metal bands should also need a genre to describe the sound.

But in another sense if "symphonic industrial folk medieval raw black" describes the music well enough, well why not.

and enough people use it

but genres can have a positive effect on creativity too, because some bands will say “okay, we want to make war metal, BUT with slower doomier parts and symphonics”.

Doesn’t matter what any one person thinks.

So according to your definition we all should call Rings of Saturn "aliencore"? They first used this term jokingly but I see more and more people using it. Is it still legitimate?
And such a definition is very subjective.

You know I have the same problem there with linguistics and the use of a word that one could considerate as wrong. But actually it depends on what you call enough. How much? People won't have for sure the same idea of "enough people".

Don't clearly see where you want to bring me to. If they want to create such a genre that's because they had in the first place the idea of making such music?

Well you just told me that if people give to a genre a meaning and enough use it, it is legit. So they shouldn't be legit actually?

You must realize that my last post (and this one) were typed up on my phone, and I provided somewhat abbreviated forms of my opinions for the sake of saving my thumbs, as well as not wanting to drown you in walls of text.

Right, of course, there’s no codified number of people that have to use it before it becomes a word. That’s why, from the linguistic perspective, it’s a descriptive matter - if we see people using this word in isolated conversations, it’s a word, QED.

I know you don’t agree with this linguistic approach, but this is modern science’s current consensus on how the formation of “words” in a sociolinguistic sense works.

OK as well for the "aliencore" stuff. Don't know the band you recommended to me, I'll check that out. Let's take another example then. Would you consider bands like Alestorm playing "pirate metal"?

well pirate metal has more potential to be a real thing because there are is an actual folk music tradition associated with seafaring and that can possibly turned into a real genre if enough bands would do it. it would still be a micro sub niche of folk metal but still.

well pirate metal has more potential to be a real thing because there are is an actual folk music tradition associated with seafaring and that can possibly turned into a real genre if enough bands would do it. it would still be a micro sub niche of folk metal but still.

Van Canto ain't metal of any kind, and they don't have the right kind of singing either, so their not really making sea songs. And no, it doesn't have to be instrumental-less, it just that the instruments don't define the genre. It's the melody, rhythm, style, and approach to singing that defines the genre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_shanty