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

Celtic punk1985

Second genre

Punk rock1974

Head to headCeltic punk vs Punk rock
Celtic punk: heaviness 4, melody 9, speed 7. Punk rock: heaviness 4, melody 7, speed 8.Heaviness4 / 4Melody9 / 7Speed7 / 8
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Celtic punk is punk playing Irish and Scottish traditional material, with the folk instruments as leads rather than as colour.

Both are shouted and move at much the same pace, around 140 to 200 bpm. To hear the difference, play The Pogues next to Ramones. Celtic punk grew out of punk rock, eleven years later. London appears in the origins of both.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Celtic punk4
Punk rock4
level
Speed
Celtic punk7
Punk rock8
+1
Melody
Celtic punk9
Punk rock7
−2

Celtic punk

1985 · London / Boston

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Celtic punk

In short

Tin whistle, mandolin and accordion over distorted guitar. Irish pub songs turned up to eleven.

How it sounds

  • Mandolin, banjo, accordion, tin whistle and fiddle beside electric guitar.
  • Jig and reel rhythms accelerated to punk tempo.
  • Choruses for singing in unison, pint in hand - amplified pub music.

Key acts

  • The Pogues
  • Dropkick Murphys
  • Flogging Molly

Start here

The pickThe Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash. Produced by Elvis Costello, and it shows.

Full page →

Punk rock

1974 · New York / London · 31 subgenres

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock

In short

Three chords, two minutes and zero patience for solos. A full reset of rock, and the second major source of extreme metal.

How it sounds

  • Three or four chords, open position or power chords, strummed in eighths.
  • Songs of ninety seconds to two and a half minutes, with no long intro and no guitar solo.
  • Fast, cheap production with the vocals up front and simple drums on two and four.

Key acts

  • Ramones
  • Sex Pistols
  • The Clash
  • Buzzcocks

Start here

The pickRamones - Ramones. Fourteen songs in twenty-nine minutes, not a wasted note.

Full page →