What phono cartridge is suited for metal and heavy rock?

Don’t know about sonically, but visually the Ortofon MC A95 looks like it should play heavy metal well

Try a Audio-Technica VM540ML. I bought one while deciding on a new cartridge. The diamond on my Hana SH just disappeared. I actually liked it better than the SH.

Haha...that MC A95 looks like it should indeed!

The Audio-Technica VM540ML would be very price-friendly in comparison to the other cartridges. I can't say that's a bad thing 🙂

Heavy Rock can present the frequency extremes with abundance.

Screaming Vocals, Guitar Shredding and then all the way down to visceral solar plexus thumping Bass Lines.

Most who enjoy Rock will have been in a venue experiencing it performed live at some point in their lives.

I don't know any HiFi System that will render a live performance experience of gut thumping Lowest Note Bass Lines, but the Upper Bass Notes, Mid's, Upper Mids and High's are certainly able to be produced to a presentation that can be perceived to have an honesty.

I don't know many Cart's that can deliver noticeable Bottom End Bass and then project the Mid's and High's with a Coherence that is seemingly a balance across all of the bandwidth.

One extreme of frequency is usually traded of to achieve the noticeable presence and the opposite end of the frequency range can sound as though it is lacking/subdued in projection.

A Cart' might need to be considered that will emphasise the frequencies that are most important to the listener, whilst replaying Rock LP's.