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

Anarcho-punk1979

Second genre

Oi! / street punk1977

Head to headAnarcho-punk vs Oi! / street punk
Anarcho-punk: heaviness 4, melody 4, speed 7. Oi! / street punk: heaviness 4, melody 7, speed 7.Heaviness4 / 4Melody4 / 7Speed7 / 7
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both are working-class British punk genres from the same years. Oi is about immediate circumstance; anarcho is about systems.

Both are shouted and move at much the same pace, around 150 to 200 bpm. To hear the difference, play Crass next to Cock Sparrer. Both grew out of punk rock, Oi! / street punk first and anarcho-punk two years after. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Anarcho-punk4
Oi! / street punk4
level
Speed
Anarcho-punk7
Oi! / street punk7
level
Melody
Anarcho-punk4
Oi! / street punk7
+3

Anarcho-punk

1979 · United Kingdom

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 →

Oi! / street punk

1977 · United Kingdom

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Oi! / street punk

In short

Working-class punk with terrace choruses and lyrics about the pub, the factory and football.

How it sounds

  • Simple choruses built to be shouted by a full room.
  • Thick guitar tone but rock and roll riffs rather than hardcore ones.
  • Mid tempos, plain drumming and lyrics about everyday life.

Key acts

  • Cock Sparrer
  • Sham 69
  • The Business

Start here

The pickCock Sparrer - Shock Troops. Slade-level choruses with punk guitars.

Full page →