The difference, in figures
Black metal is far heavier (+5) and clearly less melodic (−4) than Skate punk, and matches it on speed. It emerged in 1982, 8 years before Skate punk in 1990. They sit on opposite branches of the tree and share no common ancestor.
Skate punk
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Pop punk › Skate punk
In short
Faster, more technical pop punk with two-beat drumming and short solos. The soundtrack to skate videos.
How it sounds
- Very fast tempos with two-beat drumming and technical transitions.
- Clear-toned bass with its own often highly technical lines.
- Vocal harmonies everywhere, even at 220 bpm.
Key acts
- NOFX
- Pennywise
- Lagwagon
Start here
The pickNOFX - Punk in Drublic. Technical, fast and unreasonably well written.
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 →