The difference, by ear
Horror punk is punk built on 1950s song structures with horror lyrics. The melodies come from doo-wop, not from the Ramones.
Punk rock is shouted where horror punk is sung cleanly, at much the same pace, around 160 to 200 bpm. To hear the difference, play Misfits next to Ramones. Horror punk grew out of punk rock, five years later.
In figures
Horror punk
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Horror punk
In short
Punk with B-movie horror imagery, baritone vocals and mutant doo-wop choruses.
How it sounds
- Baritone vocals with vibrato, in a 1950s crooner style.
- Doo-wop vocal harmonies over punk guitars.
- Black-and-white horror-film imagery and lyrics.
Key acts
- Misfits
- Samhain
- The Damned
Start here
The pickMisfits - Walk Among Us. Thirteen horror songs in twenty-five minutes.
Full page →Punk rock
Where it sits
In short
Three chords, two minutes and zero patience for solos. A full reset of rock, and the second major source of extreme metal.
How it sounds
- Three or four chords, open position or power chords, strummed in eighths.
- Songs of ninety seconds to two and a half minutes, with no long intro and no guitar solo.
- Fast, cheap production with the vocals up front and simple drums on two and four.
Key acts
- Ramones
- Sex Pistols
- The Clash
- Buzzcocks
Start here
The pickRamones - Ramones. Fourteen songs in twenty-nine minutes, not a wasted note.
Full page →