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

Desert rock1991

Second genre

Hard rock1968

Head to headDesert rock vs Hard rock
Desert rock: heaviness 5, melody 7, speed 4. Hard rock: heaviness 6, melody 8, speed 6.Heaviness5 / 6Melody7 / 8Speed4 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The riff vocabulary is hard rock's, arriving twenty years later through fuzz and much lower tunings.

Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 90 to 140 bpm. To hear the difference, play Kyuss next to Led Zeppelin. Desert rock grew out of hard rock, 23 years later.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Desert rock5
Hard rock6
+1
Speed
Desert rock4
Hard rock6
+2
Melody
Desert rock7
Hard rock8
+1

Desert rock

1991 · California, USA

Where it sits

Rock › Blues rock › Hard rock › Stoner rock › Desert rock

In short

The hypnotic, jam-based side of stoner rock, with lots of space between the notes and a warm bass tone.

How it sounds

  • Long, hypnotic improvisation with loose structures.
  • Warm, rounded tone and plenty of space between instruments.
  • Frequently instrumental, or with the voice treated as a fourth instrument.

Key acts

  • Kyuss
  • Yawning Man
  • Brant Bjork

Start here

The pickKyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley. It plays as one block rather than as tracks.

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Hard rock

1968 · UK / USA · 4 subgenres

Where it sits

Rock › Blues rock › Hard rock

In short

Louder volume, thicker riffs, vocals pushed to the edge. Heavy metal splits off from it, but hard rock stays closer to the blues and to the chorus.

How it sounds

  • Riffs built on power chords, with palm muting and constant distortion.
  • Vocals pushed into the high register, often right at the edge of a rasp.
  • A heavy rhythm section that still grooves - the bass stays melodic rather than doubling the guitar.

Key acts

  • Led Zeppelin
  • Deep Purple
  • AC/DC
  • Guns N' Roses

Start here

The pickDeep Purple - Machine Head. Six songs, all essential.

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