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

Noise rock1983

Second genre

Sludge metal1989

Head to headNoise rock vs Sludge metal
Noise rock: heaviness 7, melody 3, speed 6. Sludge metal: heaviness 10, melody 4, speed 3.Heaviness7 / 10Melody3 / 4Speed6 / 3
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Sludge takes noise rock's dissonance and hardcore's anger into metal's tempo and tuning. The Melvins are on both lists here for a reason.

Sludge metal is growled or screamed where noise rock is shouted, and slower: 50 to 90 bpm against 90 to 150. To hear the difference, play Sonic Youth next to Eyehategod. Noise rock comes from the rock side of the tree and sludge metal from the metal side, and noise rock came first, by six years.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Noise rock7
Sludge metal10
+3
Speed
Noise rock6
Sludge metal3
−3
Melody
Noise rock3
Sludge metal4
+1

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.

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Sludge metal

1989 · New Orleans, USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Doom metal › Sludge metal

In short

Doom plus filthy hardcore: feedback, screamed vocals and a guitar tone like Louisiana mud.

How it sounds

  • Thick fuzzed guitar with feedback left running between riffs.
  • Alternation between very slow tempos and hardcore outbursts.
  • Screamed or howled vocals with lyrics about addiction, poverty and rage.

Key acts

  • Eyehategod
  • Crowbar
  • Melvins
  • Acid Bath

Start here

The pickEyehategod - Take as Needed for Pain. The feedback between tracks is part of the album.

Full page →