Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Post-grunge1994

Second genre

Black metal1982

Head to headPost-grunge vs Black metal
Post-grunge: heaviness 5, melody 9, speed 5. Black metal: heaviness 9, melody 4, speed 9.Heaviness5 / 9Melody9 / 4Speed5 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, in figures

Black metal is far less melodic (−5), clearly heavier (+4) and clearly faster (+4) than Post-grunge. It emerged in 1982, 12 years before Post-grunge in 1994. They sit on opposite branches of the tree and share no common ancestor.

Assembled from the stored ratings, dates and tree positions, not written.
Heaviness
Post-grunge5
Black metal9
+4
Speed
Post-grunge5
Black metal9
+4
Melody
Post-grunge9
Black metal4
−5

Post-grunge

1994 · USA / Canada

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Grunge › Post-grunge

In short

The grunge formula cleaned up for radio: same dynamics, less dirt, vastly more airplay.

How it sounds

  • The same dynamics, but with radio production: heavy compression, symmetrical guitars.
  • Melodic choruses with doubled and harmonised vocals.
  • Simplified riffing, mid tempos, fixed structures.

Key acts

  • Foo Fighters
  • Bush
  • Creed
  • Nickelback

Start here

The pickFoo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape. Dave Grohl played nearly all of it himself.

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Black metal

1982 · Norway / Sweden · 10 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal

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 →