The difference, by ear
Stoner rock revives boogie's groove twenty years later at lower tunings and slower tempos.
Both are sung cleanly, but stoner rock is a little slower: 90 to 130 bpm against 120 to 160. To hear the difference, play Status Quo next to Kyuss. They share a root in blues rock, and boogie rock came first, by twenty years.
In figures
Boogie rock
Where it sits
Rock › Blues rock › Boogie rock
In short
One shuffle riff held until exhaustion. Simple by design and impossible to sit still to.
How it sounds
- A shuffle rhythm in dotted eighths, held identically from start to finish.
- A short guitar riff in open position, with no modulation.
- No pretensions whatsoever: the songs exist to be played live.
Key acts
- Status Quo
- Canned Heat
- AC/DC
Start here
The pickAC/DC - Riff Raff. Boogie rock at melting point.
Full page →Stoner rock
Where it sits
Rock › Blues rock › Hard rock › Stoner rock
In short
Thick down-tuned riffs, groovy drums and a fuzz tone. Born at generator parties in the desert.
How it sounds
- Down-tuned guitars with thick, warm fuzz rather than sharp distortion.
- Mid-tempo groove with drums that sway instead of hitting.
- Analogue production, usually with vintage amps and no drum triggers.
Key acts
- Kyuss
- Fu Manchu
- Queens of the Stone Age
- Truckfighters
Start here
The pickKyuss - Blues for the Red Sun. That guitar tone has been copied for thirty years.
Full page →