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

Crust punk1984

Second genre

Grindcore1985

Head to headCrust punk vs Grindcore
Crust punk: heaviness 8, melody 3, speed 7. Grindcore: heaviness 9, melody 1, speed 10.Heaviness8 / 9Melody3 / 1Speed7 / 10
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Grindcore came out of this scene and doubled the speed until song structure stopped being possible. Napalm Death's first side is a crust record.

Both are growled or screamed, but grindcore is much faster: 200 to 320 bpm against 150 to 220. Songs run longer in crust punk: usually 1½ to 3 minutes, against under a minute to 1½ minutes in grindcore. To hear the difference, play Amebix next to Napalm Death. Crust punk comes from the rock side of the tree and grindcore from the metal side, and crust punk came first, by a year.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Crust punk8
Grindcore9
+1
Speed
Crust punk7
Grindcore10
+3
Melody
Crust punk3
Grindcore1
−2

Crust punk

1984 · United Kingdom

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Hardcore punk › Crust punk

In short

D-beat soaked in metal and mud: thick tone, apocalyptic themes, trousers unwashed since 1989.

How it sounds

  • Thick, muddy guitar tone with a very prominent distorted bass.
  • Alternation between fast d-beat and slow passages close to doom.
  • Two vocalists - one low, one shrill - and apocalyptic or ecological themes.

Key acts

  • Amebix
  • Doom
  • Tragedy
  • His Hero Is Gone

Start here

The pickAmebix - Arise! It sounds like the end of the world, which was the point.

Full page →

Grindcore

1985 · Birmingham, England · 3 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Grindcore

In short

Hardcore and death metal compressed into songs under a minute, with continuous blast beats. Napalm Death have a song that lasts one second.

How it sounds

  • Blast beats at maximum speed, songs under a minute, albums of twenty minutes.
  • Short hardcore and death metal riffs with no development.
  • Dual vocals: guttural growl and high shriek, alternating rapidly.

Key acts

  • Napalm Death
  • Repulsion
  • Terrorizer
  • Brutal Truth

Start here

The pickNapalm Death - Scum. Side B, with Bill Steer on guitar, is the essential half.

Full page →