Looking at the "big picture," metal is a special case of rock music. I think we all know what rock is. Aggressive vocals, electric guitar(s), electric bass guitar, drums, occasionally a synthesizer, basic minor scales, et cetera. Then of course the next progression is hard rock, where the volume, distortion, and overdrive on all parameters are increased. So where do you go from hard rock to metal?
In my mind, there are four parameters that are added to make the transition. Intensified vocals (near screaming/screaming), instrument solos, music complexity (time signatures, tempo, scales varying throughout the song), and a heavy sound to the guitars.
In my own personal research, a band's guitars must be heavy to be metal. But what is heavy? Easy. As much distortion as possible, with bass EQ high and mids scooped out. Treble on the EQ can vary, but it must be at least mid-range. The more treble the guitar has, the "crunchier" it sounds. If you don't understand what I'm talking about with equalizer stuff, just open iTunes/Zune/whatever and start messing with your equalizer. Put the sliders on the left toward the top, the sliders in the middle toward the bottom, and the sliders on the right at mid-range or higher.
Of the three parameters left, it is also my opinion that a band must exhibit two of those parameters. For example, a band that is heavy cannot just have intensified vocals and be considered metal. But add music complexity to the mix, and now you have a metal band. A great example of this is the band Deftones. They are certainly heavy, and the vocals are intense, but the music is bland (4/4 time signature, tempos of around 150), and there are no solos. Thus, to me, Deftones are a hard rock band, not a metal band.
Unfortunately, classifying a band as metal versus hard rock is generally a personal opinion. These parameters are just a rule of thumb, but they have never deterred me from appropriately labeling a band.
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