The difference, by ear
Stoner doom repeats a riff. Drone removes the riff and keeps only the tone.
Stoner doom is sung cleanly where drone metal is mostly instrumental, and faster: 50 to 90 bpm against 10 to 40. Songs run longer in drone metal: usually 15 to 60 minutes, against 7 to 20 minutes in stoner doom. To hear the difference, play Earth next to Sleep. Both grew out of doom metal, stoner doom first and drone metal two years after.
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 →Stoner doom
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Doom metal › Stoner doom
In short
Stoner riffs played at half speed, with thick fuzz and subject matter drawn from witchcraft and cannabis.
How it sounds
- Stoner riffs played at half speed, with thick analogue fuzz.
- Very low tunings and vintage amplifiers driven flat out.
- Nasal or incantatory vocals with lyrics about witchcraft, the occult and cannabis.
Key acts
- Sleep
- Electric Wizard
- Bongzilla
Start here
The pickElectric Wizard - Dopethrone. The thickest guitar tone ever committed to tape.
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