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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

Black 'n' roll1997

Second genre

Death 'n' roll1993

Head to headBlack 'n' roll vs Death 'n' roll
Black 'n' roll: heaviness 7, melody 7, speed 6. Death 'n' roll: heaviness 8, melody 6, speed 5.Heaviness7 / 8Melody7 / 6Speed6 / 5
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The same manoeuvre on the death metal branch, arriving a decade earlier - Entombed did to death metal what Darkthrone later did to black metal.

Both are growled or screamed, but death 'n' roll is a little slower: 120 to 160 bpm against 140 to 190. To hear the difference, play Darkthrone next to Entombed. They share a root in heavy metal, and death 'n' roll came first, by four years.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Black 'n' roll7
Death 'n' roll8
+1
Speed
Black 'n' roll6
Death 'n' roll5
−1
Melody
Black 'n' roll7
Death 'n' roll6
−1

Black 'n' roll

1997 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Black 'n' roll

In short

Black metal with a rock and roll groove. Darkthrone turned this way on their own after 2006.

How it sounds

  • Riffs with rock and roll groove, but a black metal tone and vocals.
  • Mid tempos, plain drumming and verse-chorus structures.
  • Warmer production than in classic black metal.

Key acts

  • Darkthrone
  • Kvelertak
  • Khold

Start here

The pickKvelertak - Kvelertak. Produced by Kurt Ballou, and you can hear it instantly.

Full page →

Death 'n' roll

1993 · Sweden

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Death 'n' roll

In short

Death metal that admits its rock roots: groove, blues riffing and a hoarse shout.

How it sounds

  • Riffs with rock and roll groove played with a death metal tone.
  • Mid tempos with swing and shuffle drumming instead of blast beats.
  • Hoarse vocals, closer to Lemmy than to a classic growl.

Key acts

  • Entombed
  • Gorefest
  • Six Feet Under

Start here

The pickEntombed - Wolverine Blues. Death metal you can tap your foot to.

Full page →