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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

Blackgaze / post-black2007

Second genre

Second wave1991

Head to headBlackgaze / post-black vs Second wave
Blackgaze / post-black: heaviness 7, melody 9, speed 7. Second wave: heaviness 9, melody 3, speed 9.Heaviness7 / 9Melody9 / 3Speed7 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The wing of black metal that most objected to this existing. The tremolo and the shriek are shared and the intent is opposed.

Both are growled or screamed, but second wave is much faster: 180 to 280 bpm against 120 to 200. To hear the difference, play Alcest next to Mayhem. Both grew out of black metal, second wave first and blackgaze / post-black sixteen years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Blackgaze / post-black7
Second wave9
+2
Speed
Blackgaze / post-black7
Second wave9
+2
Melody
Blackgaze / post-black9
Second wave3
−6

Blackgaze / post-black

2007 · France / USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Blackgaze / post-black

In short

Black metal tremolo over shoegaze harmony: the same density, but the result comes out luminous instead of frozen.

How it sounds

  • Black metal tremolo picking over major or modal, luminous harmony.
  • Walls of guitar with reverb and delay, in the shoegaze tradition.
  • Screamed vocals mixed under the instruments, as texture.

Key acts

  • Alcest
  • Deafheaven
  • Lantlôs

Start here

The pickDeafheaven - Sunbather. It opens with nine minutes that justify the whole genre.

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 →