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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

Beatdown / metallic hardcore1993

Second genre

Slam death metal1994

Head to headBeatdown / metallic hardcore vs Slam death metal
Beatdown / metallic hardcore: heaviness 9, melody 3, speed 5. Slam death metal: heaviness 10, melody 1, speed 6.Heaviness9 / 10Melody3 / 1Speed5 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Slam is the death metal genre built on the same rhythmic idea, with gutturals instead of shouts.

Both are growled or screamed, but slam death metal swings further either way: 80 to 160 bpm against 90 to 140. To hear the difference, play Hatebreed next to Internal Bleeding. They share a root in heavy metal, and beatdown / metallic hardcore came first, by a year. New York 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
Beatdown / metallic hardcore9
Slam death metal10
+1
Speed
Beatdown / metallic hardcore5
Slam death metal6
+1
Melody
Beatdown / metallic hardcore3
Slam death metal1
−2

Beatdown / metallic hardcore

1993 · New York / New Jersey

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Metalcore › Beatdown / metallic hardcore

In short

Hardcore reduced to breakdowns and slow groove, with barked vocals and lyrics about loyalty and endurance.

How it sounds

  • Slow, heavy riffing built entirely around the breakdown.
  • Very low tunings with thick, matte guitar tone.
  • Barked vocals with gang shouts and lyrics about loyalty, the street and endurance.

Key acts

  • Hatebreed
  • Madball
  • Terror

Start here

The pickHatebreed - Satisfaction Is the Death of Desire. Twenty-seven minutes, produced by Steve Evetts.

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Slam death metal

1994 · New York, USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Brutal death metal › Slam death metal

In short

Reduces brutal death metal to slow, lurching riffs made purely for moving your head.

How it sounds

  • Slow, lurching riffs built on one repeated rhythmic figure.
  • Extremely low tunings (A or G) with a thick, matte tone.
  • Deep guttural vocals, often heavily processed, with plain drumming underneath.

Key acts

  • Internal Bleeding
  • Devourment
  • Abominable Putridity

Start here

The pickDevourment - Molesting the Decapitated. Not subtle, but very effective.

Full page →