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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

Deathgrind1990

Second genre

Brutal death metal1991

Head to headDeathgrind vs Brutal death metal
Deathgrind: heaviness 10, melody 2, speed 10. Brutal death metal: heaviness 10, melody 2, speed 9.Heaviness10 / 10Melody2 / 2Speed10 / 9
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Brutal death metal is slower, groovier and built around the slam. Deathgrind keeps grindcore's speed and refuses the groove.

Both are growled or screamed, but brutal death metal is a little slower: 200 to 300 bpm against 220 to 320. Songs run longer in brutal death metal: usually 2½ to 4 minutes, against 1 to 3 minutes in deathgrind. To hear the difference, play Napalm Death next to Suffocation. Both grew out of death metal, deathgrind first and brutal death metal a year after. United States 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
Deathgrind10
Brutal death metal10
level
Speed
Deathgrind10
Brutal death metal9
−1
Melody
Deathgrind2
Brutal death metal2
level

Deathgrind

1990 · USA / United Kingdom

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Deathgrind

In short

Death metal compressed to the length and speed of grindcore. No intro, no outro.

How it sounds

  • Near-continuous blast beats, with songs between thirty seconds and two minutes.
  • Compressed death metal riffs with no development.
  • Vocals alternating between very low growls and very high screams.

Key acts

  • Napalm Death
  • Cattle Decapitation
  • Pig Destroyer

Start here

The pickPig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard. No bass player, and you don't miss it.

Full page →

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 →