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

Atmospheric black metal1994

Second genre

Second wave1991

Head to headAtmospheric black metal vs Second wave
Atmospheric black metal: heaviness 8, melody 6, speed 7. Second wave: heaviness 9, melody 3, speed 9.Heaviness8 / 9Melody6 / 3Speed7 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The second wave is hostile and never lets you settle. This keeps the same tools and aims at absorption rather than assault.

Both are growled or screamed, but second wave is much faster: 180 to 280 bpm against 90 to 200. Songs run longer in atmospheric black metal: usually 7 to 15 minutes, against 4 to 8 minutes in second wave. To hear the difference, play Wolves in the Throne Room next to Mayhem. Both grew out of black metal, second wave first and atmospheric black metal three years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Atmospheric black metal8
Second wave9
+1
Speed
Atmospheric black metal7
Second wave9
+2
Melody
Atmospheric black metal6
Second wave3
−3

Atmospheric black metal

1994 · Global

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Atmospheric black metal

In short

Long songs, hypnotic repetition and synth textures. The landscape matters more than the riff.

How it sounds

  • Songs of ten to twenty minutes with hypnotic repetition and very slow development.
  • Layered guitars and keyboards that create texture rather than riffs.
  • Wide reverb production with the vocals set far back in the mix.

Key acts

  • Wolves in the Throne Room
  • Paysage d'Hiver
  • Drudkh

Start here

The pickWolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters. Four tracks, close to an hour.

Full page →

Second wave

1991 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Second wave

In short

The Norwegian scene that fixed the definitive sound: thin guitars, demo-tape production as an ideal, corpse paint.

How it sounds

  • Guitars with the mids scooped out entirely - thin and cutting, with no audible bass.
  • The production ideal is a demo tape recorded in a bedroom, not a studio session.
  • Rasping high vocals with reverb, and fast, deliberately monotonous blast beats.

Key acts

  • Mayhem
  • Darkthrone
  • Burzum
  • Immortal

Start here

The pickImmortal - Pure Holocaust. The scene's best album without the troubling baggage.

Full page →