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

Groove metal1990

Second genre

Nu metal1994

Head to headGroove metal vs Nu metal
Groove metal: heaviness 9, melody 6, speed 6. Nu metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 5.Heaviness9 / 8Melody6 / 7Speed6 / 5
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both are groove-first and down-tuned. Nu metal takes its rhythm from hip-hop and adds turntables; groove metal takes its from thrash and keeps the solo.

Nu metal is part sung, part screamed where groove metal is shouted, at much the same pace, around 80 to 140 bpm. To hear the difference, play Pantera next to Korn. They share a root in heavy metal, and groove metal came first, by four years.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Groove metal9
Nu metal8
−1
Speed
Groove metal6
Nu metal5
−1
Melody
Groove metal6
Nu metal7
+1

Groove metal

1990 · Texas / USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Thrash metal › Groove metal

In short

Thrash slowed to a groove that hits you in the chest: syncopated riffs, mid-tempo drums, barked vocals.

How it sounds

  • Syncopated riffs with offbeat accents at mid tempo.
  • Down-tuned guitars with very thick tone and squealing pinch harmonics.
  • Barked, aggressive vocals with near-rhythmic phrasing.

Key acts

  • Pantera
  • Machine Head
  • Lamb of God
  • Sepultura

Start here

The pickPantera - Vulgar Display of Power. Dimebag's guitar tone is an institution.

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Nu metal

1994 · California, USA · 2 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Nu metal

In short

Seven-string guitars tuned very low, hip-hop groove, a DJ or sampler and lyrics about personal trauma. The decade's best-selling and most disputed genre.

How it sounds

  • Seven-string guitars tuned very low, with simple syncopated riffs.
  • Very prominent bass, often slapped or synth-toned, plus a DJ or sampler in the line-up.
  • Vocals moving between rapping, singing and screaming, with lyrics about personal trauma.

Key acts

  • Korn
  • Slipknot
  • Deftones
  • Limp Bizkit

Start here

The pickKorn - Korn. The first track opens with bagpipes, which nobody ever remembers.

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