Grunge is a rock music genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. The style became known as a fusion of punk rock and heavy metal and was associated with a DIY ethic, grunge fashion, and apathy or slothfulness. Musically, grunge is characterized by thick, heavy guitar distortion ("heavy crunch"), sometimes with feedback, a strong rhythm section, and song structures that are often simpler than those of other genres. Grunge lyrics tend to be bleak or angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom.