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

Grunge1988

Second genre

Noise rock1983

Head to headGrunge vs Noise rock
Grunge: heaviness 6, melody 8, speed 5. Noise rock: heaviness 7, melody 3, speed 6.Heaviness6 / 7Melody8 / 3Speed5 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Noise rock is where several of these bands came from and it never wanted the chorus. Grunge is noise rock that agreed to write hooks.

Noise rock is shouted where grunge is sung cleanly, at much the same pace, around 90 to 150 bpm. To hear the difference, play Nirvana next to Sonic Youth. Both grew out of alternative rock, noise rock first and grunge five years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Grunge6
Noise rock7
+1
Speed
Grunge5
Noise rock6
+1
Melody
Grunge8
Noise rock3
−5

Grunge

1988 · Seattle, USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Grunge

In short

Punk plus Black Sabbath plus flannel: quiet verse, exploding chorus and lyrics about self-disgust.

How it sounds

  • Quiet verse, chorus at full distortion - the dynamic taken from the Pixies.
  • Guitars sometimes tuned a whole step down, through simple fuzz pedals.
  • Hoarse vocals with lyrics about self-disgust, apathy and unfocused anger.

Key acts

  • Nirvana
  • Soundgarden
  • Alice in Chains
  • Pearl Jam

Start here

The pickAlice in Chains - Dirt. The heaviest and bleakest record the scene produced.

Full page →

Noise rock

1983 · USA

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Noise rock

In short

Alternate tunings, feedback as an instrument and rhythm sections that hit like machinery. The grandfather of sludge.

How it sounds

  • Alternate tunings, often invented for a single song.
  • Feedback and harmonics treated as musical material rather than accidents.
  • A heavy, near-mechanical rhythm section with distorted bass up front.

Key acts

  • Sonic Youth
  • Big Black
  • The Jesus Lizard
  • Melvins

Start here

The pickThe Jesus Lizard - Goat. The rhythm section sounds like heavy plant in operation.

Full page →