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

Blackened death metal1993

Second genre

Black metal1982

Head to headBlackened death metal vs Black metal
Blackened death metal: heaviness 10, melody 4, speed 9. Black metal: heaviness 9, melody 4, speed 9.Heaviness10 / 9Melody4 / 4Speed9 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, in figures

Black metal is slightly lighter (−1) than Blackened death metal, and matches it on speed and melody. It emerged in 1982, 11 years before Blackened death metal in 1993. The two split from Heavy metal.

Assembled from the stored ratings, dates and tree positions, not written.
Heaviness
Blackened death metal10
Black metal9
−1
Speed
Blackened death metal9
Black metal9
level
Melody
Blackened death metal4
Black metal4
level

Blackened death metal

1993 · Poland / Global

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Blackened death metal

In short

Death metal structure with black metal atmosphere and subject matter. Often with ritual and stagecraft to match.

How it sounds

  • Death metal structure and weight with black metal tremolo and atmosphere.
  • Large-scale production, often with orchestration, choirs or ambience.
  • Dual vocals: guttural growls alternating with high shrieks.

Key acts

  • Behemoth
  • Belphegor
  • Akercocke

Start here

The pickBehemoth - The Satanist. The best-produced album in the genre.

Full page →

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 →