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

Hard rock1968

Second genre

Stoner rock1990

Head to headHard rock vs Stoner rock
Hard rock: heaviness 6, melody 8, speed 6. Stoner rock: heaviness 6, melody 7, speed 5.Heaviness6 / 6Melody8 / 7Speed6 / 5
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Stoner rock is hard rock's riff vocabulary slowed, down-tuned and made fuzzier, arriving twenty years later by way of doom.

Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 90 to 140 bpm. To hear the difference, play Led Zeppelin next to Kyuss. Stoner rock grew out of hard rock, 22 years later.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Hard rock6
Stoner rock6
level
Speed
Hard rock6
Stoner rock5
−1
Melody
Hard rock8
Stoner rock7
−1

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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Stoner rock

1990 · Palm Desert, California · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Rock › Blues rock › Hard rock › Stoner rock

In short

Thick down-tuned riffs, groovy drums and a fuzz tone. Born at generator parties in the desert.

How it sounds

  • Down-tuned guitars with thick, warm fuzz rather than sharp distortion.
  • Mid-tempo groove with drums that sway instead of hitting.
  • Analogue production, usually with vintage amps and no drum triggers.

Key acts

  • Kyuss
  • Fu Manchu
  • Queens of the Stone Age
  • Truckfighters

Start here

The pickKyuss - Blues for the Red Sun. That guitar tone has been copied for thirty years.

Full page →