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

Traditional heavy metal1976

Head to headHard rock vs Traditional heavy metal
Hard rock: heaviness 6, melody 8, speed 6. Traditional heavy metal: heaviness 7, melody 9, speed 6.Heaviness6 / 7Melody8 / 9Speed6 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Traditional metal removes the swing and the blues, doubles the guitars and raises the vocal. Hard rock still swings, which is the easiest tell there is.

Both are sung cleanly, but traditional heavy metal is a little faster: 120 to 170 bpm against 100 to 140. To hear the difference, play Led Zeppelin next to Judas Priest. Hard rock comes from the rock side of the tree and traditional heavy metal from the metal side, and hard rock came first, by eight years. United Kingdom and United States appear in the origins of both.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Hard rock6
Traditional heavy metal7
+1
Speed
Hard rock6
Traditional heavy metal6
level
Melody
Hard rock8
Traditional heavy metal9
+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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Traditional heavy metal

1976 · UK / USA · 2 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Traditional heavy metal

In short

The classic form: high vocals, twin lead guitars, choruses to raise a fist to. Leather and studs.

How it sounds

  • High vocals with controlled vibrato and sustained top notes.
  • Two lead guitars harmonising and trading solos.
  • Singalong choruses, medium to fast tempos, epic or motivational lyrics.

Key acts

  • Judas Priest
  • Dio
  • Manowar
  • Accept

Start here

The pickJudas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny. Before the leather, and already perfect.

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