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

Blackened death metal1993

Second genre

Symphonic black metal1994

Head to headBlackened death metal vs Symphonic black metal
Blackened death metal: heaviness 10, melody 4, speed 9. Symphonic black metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 8.Heaviness10 / 8Melody4 / 7Speed9 / 8
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both use orchestration and scale. Symphonic black metal keeps the shriek and black metal's rhythmic feel; this keeps death metal's.

Both are growled or screamed, but symphonic black metal is a little slower: 160 to 240 bpm against 180 to 260. To hear the difference, play Behemoth next to Emperor. They share a root in heavy metal, and blackened death metal came first, by a year.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Blackened death metal10
Symphonic black metal8
−2
Speed
Blackened death metal9
Symphonic black metal8
−1
Melody
Blackened death metal4
Symphonic black metal7
+3

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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Symphonic black metal

1994 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Symphonic black metal

In short

Keyboards and choirs over black metal structures. Grand, theatrical and by far the most saleable of the subgenres.

How it sounds

  • Keyboards and choirs treated as a lead instrument rather than as background.
  • Broad orchestration, occasionally with a real orchestra, and large studio production.
  • Epic structures with recurring themes and film-score dynamics.

Key acts

  • Emperor
  • Dimmu Borgir
  • Cradle of Filth

Start here

The pickEmperor - In the Nightside Eclipse. Recorded by teenagers, and it sounds monumental.

Full page →