The difference, by ear
Doom is a song genre with slow songs in it. Drone is not a song genre, and expecting one is the usual reason people bounce off it.
Doom metal is sung cleanly where drone metal is mostly instrumental, and faster: 50 to 110 bpm against 10 to 40. Songs run longer in drone metal: usually 15 to 60 minutes, against 6 to 12 minutes in doom metal. To hear the difference, play Earth next to Black Sabbath. Drone metal grew out of doom metal, thirteen years later.
In figures
Drone metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Doom metal › Drone metal
In short
Sustained notes at extreme volume, with almost no rhythm. You listen with your body more than your ears.
How it sounds
- Chords or notes sustained for minutes at a time, with no perceptible rhythm.
- Extreme concert volume, with the emphasis on low frequencies felt physically.
- Controlled feedback and texture in place of melody or structure.
Key acts
- Earth
- Sunn O)))
- Boris
Start here
The pickEarth - Earth 2. Seventy-three minutes, three tracks, almost no change.
Full page →Doom metal
Where it sits
In short
The branch most faithful to Black Sabbath: slow tempos, thick riffs and crushing atmosphere. The weight comes from space, not speed.
How it sounds
- Tempos between 60 and 100 bpm, with sustained chords and plenty of space.
- Thick guitar tone, usually down-tuned, with analogue fuzz.
- Oppressive atmosphere and themes of fate, the occult or depression.
Key acts
- Black Sabbath
- Candlemass
- Saint Vitus
- Pentagram
Start here
The pickSaint Vitus - Born Too Late. The title says exactly how the band felt.
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