War metal, also known as "bestial black metal", is an aggressive, cacophonous and chaotic black/death metal style, described by Rock Hard journalist Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann as "rabid" and "hammering". Important influences include the first wave of black metal, mainly in the Brazilian style played by Sarcófago, Mystifier and Vulcano, but , first wave/death metal band Possessed as well as old school grindcore and black/death metal bands like Repulsion, Blood, Sadistik Exekution, Order from Chaos. War metal bands include Blasphemy, Black Witchery, Conqueror, Abhorer and early Beherit.

Some users also (incorrectly) use this tag to describe metal music of any sub-genre with lyrical themes based around war (Such as Sabaton). There's a term battle metal, proposed by Turisas, to use instead.