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

Brutal death metal1991

Second genre

Slam death metal1994

Head to headBrutal death metal vs Slam death metal
Brutal death metal: heaviness 10, melody 2, speed 9. Slam death metal: heaviness 10, melody 1, speed 6.Heaviness10 / 10Melody2 / 1Speed9 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Slam is the wing built entirely around the half-time breakdown riff, and it is where brutal death metal's groove side goes.

Both are growled or screamed, but slam death metal is much slower: 80 to 160 bpm against 200 to 300. To hear the difference, play Suffocation next to Internal Bleeding. Slam death metal grew out of brutal death metal, three years later.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Brutal death metal10
Slam death metal10
level
Speed
Brutal death metal9
Slam death metal6
−3
Melody
Brutal death metal2
Slam death metal1
−1

Brutal death metal

1991 · USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Brutal death metal

In short

Built for density and weight: dissonant riffing, low guttural vocals and crushing breakdowns.

How it sounds

  • Very low tunings and dissonant riffs with dense construction.
  • Deep guttural vocals, often entirely unintelligible, sometimes with pig squeals.
  • Sustained blast beats and gravity blasts alternating with slow breakdowns.

Key acts

  • Suffocation
  • Deeds of Flesh
  • Devourment

Start here

The pickSuffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten. The genre's absolute reference point.

Full page →

Slam death metal

1994 · New York, USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Brutal death metal › Slam death metal

In short

Reduces brutal death metal to slow, lurching riffs made purely for moving your head.

How it sounds

  • Slow, lurching riffs built on one repeated rhythmic figure.
  • Extremely low tunings (A or G) with a thick, matte tone.
  • Deep guttural vocals, often heavily processed, with plain drumming underneath.

Key acts

  • Internal Bleeding
  • Devourment
  • Abominable Putridity

Start here

The pickDevourment - Molesting the Decapitated. Not subtle, but very effective.

Full page →