Djent

Djent is (arguably) a modern sub-genre of music within Rock, particularly heavy metal (and even more particularly metal-core). What sets it apart from other types of Rock are its focus on syncopated rhythms, embrace of progressive or experimental elements, down-tuned or extended-range guitars, and contrasting ambient clean and distorted rhythm sections. Vocals are often a mixture of clean vocals (sometimes melodic and sometimes sustained chants) and rhythmic screams/growls, although many Djent bands do not feature vocals at all. While the sub-genre of Djent takes its name from the "djent" sound of multi-note distorted palm-muted "chugs", not all artists use these prominently, while others rely heavily upon them (usually to feature a syncopated rhythm), sometimes using them almost exclusively for entire songs.

Popular bands include Meshuggah, Periphery, Tessseract, and Monuments.

Riffing in Extended Ranges

Djent very often features 7 or 8 string guitars, often tuned lower than the standard B (B E A D G B E) of a 7 string. This creates some issues with distorted guitars, preventing Thrash-style riffing from working effectively in the lower register(s). The most obvious issue is that intervals and chords can sound quite dissonant or muddy. Instead, the Djent style often prefers to use single notes. Where richer tones are wanted, Djent typically substitutes quick alternation between the notes - thus riffs are structured around this.

E---------------------------------
B---------------------------------
G---------------------------------
D---------------------------------
A---------------------------------
E---------------------5-----5-----
B---3-----5-----1-----------------
F#----1-0---3-0---3-0---4-3---3-0-

Also, since riffs this low can lead to issues with clearly hearing what notes are being played, Djent often uses larger intervals between notes, with plenty of octave-wide jumps.

E----------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------10/14---------------
E---14----------13-----------------------------------
B---------------------------7/8----------------------
F#------12--0-------12--0---------------13-p0--0--0--
                                               p

The low register can also make repetitive palm mutes on lower notes unclear. So where thrash might play 16th note palm mutes on the open E string, Djent will turn this into a more rhythmic groove.

F#--0-----0-0----0-0----0---(x)---0----0-0----0-----
          p      p                     p