The difference, in figures
Black metal is far heavier (+5) and slightly faster (+2) than Anarcho-punk, and matches it on melody. It emerged in 1982, 3 years after Anarcho-punk in 1979. They sit on opposite branches of the tree and share no common ancestor.
Anarcho-punk
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Anarcho-punk
In short
Total political punk: collectives, self-releasing and militant pacifism. It laid down the DIY ethic the underground still runs on.
How it sounds
- Raw production, often with noise, collage and radio recordings.
- Irregular, sometimes nearly improvised structures.
- Dense, pamphlet-like text printed in full on the gatefold sleeve.
Key acts
- Crass
- Conflict
- Subhumans
Start here
The pickCrass - The Feeding of the 5000. Not pleasant listening, and never meant to be.
Full page →Black metal
Where it sits
In short
Tremolo picking, blast beats, shrieked vocals and deliberately cold production. More an aesthetic than a technique - atmosphere matters more than clean sound.
How it sounds
- Tremolo picking on open fifth voicings, with vocals in the high register.
- Deliberately thin, cold production - the missing bass is an aesthetic choice, not an accident.
- Fast blast beats, drums often mixed back, atmosphere placed above technique.
Key acts
- Bathory
- Mayhem
- Darkthrone
- Emperor
Start here
The pickDarkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky. The production is intentional, not a flaw.
Full page →