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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

Blackened death metal1993

Second genre

Melodic death metal1993

Head to headBlackened death metal vs Melodic death metal
Blackened death metal: heaviness 10, melody 4, speed 9. Melodic death metal: heaviness 8, melody 9, speed 8.Heaviness10 / 8Melody4 / 9Speed9 / 8
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The other hybrid of these two branches, and its opposite: melodic death metal makes the result tuneful, this makes it monumental.

Both are growled or screamed, but melodic death metal is a little slower: 150 to 220 bpm against 180 to 260. To hear the difference, play Behemoth next to At the Gates. Both grew out of death metal in the same year.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Blackened death metal10
Melodic death metal8
−2
Speed
Blackened death metal9
Melodic death metal8
−1
Melody
Blackened death metal4
Melodic death metal9
+5

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.

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Melodic death metal

1993 · Gothenburg, Sweden

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Melodic death metal

In short

Iron Maiden-style guitar harmonies over screamed vocals. The Gothenburg scene later became the foundation of American metalcore.

How it sounds

  • Twin guitar harmonies in the Iron Maiden tradition over a death metal base.
  • Tremolo picking over melodic minor progressions with open chord voicings.
  • Screamed vocals more often than growls, with melancholy lyrics.

Key acts

  • At the Gates
  • In Flames
  • Dark Tranquillity
  • Amon Amarth

Start here

The pickAt the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul. Thirty-four minutes that shaped two decades.

Full page →