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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

Old school death metal1989

Second genre

Technical death metal1991

Head to headOld school death metal vs Technical death metal
Old school death metal: heaviness 10, melody 3, speed 8. Technical death metal: heaviness 9, melody 4, speed 10.Heaviness10 / 9Melody3 / 4Speed8 / 10
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Technical death metal takes the same instrumentation and aims it at difficulty. Old school death metal aims it at atmosphere and weight, and is frequently much slower.

Both are growled or screamed, but technical death metal is faster: 160 to 260 bpm against 120 to 220. To hear the difference, play Autopsy next to Death. Both grew out of death metal, old school death metal first and technical death metal two years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Old school death metal10
Technical death metal9
−1
Speed
Old school death metal8
Technical death metal10
+2
Melody
Old school death metal3
Technical death metal4
+1

Old school death metal

1989 · Florida / Stockholm

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Old school death metal

In short

The sound of the first wave: either the Swedish HM-2 buzzsaw or the cavernous American murk, with no showy technicality.

How it sounds

  • Thick, buzzing guitar tone - either the Swedish HM-2 or the cavernous American murk.
  • Variable tempos, with slow doom passages between the fast sections.
  • Analogue production with real drums, no triggers and no quantisation.

Key acts

  • Autopsy
  • Dismember
  • Bolt Thrower
  • Incantation

Start here

The pickAutopsy - Mental Funeral. Death metal that crawls rather than runs.

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Technical death metal

1991 · USA / Canada

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Death metal › Technical death metal

In short

Death metal with jazz harmony, tapping and impossible drumming. The more notes per second, the better.

How it sounds

  • Jazz harmony, extended chords and frequent modulation.
  • Fretless or slap bass treated as a lead instrument.
  • Polyrhythmic drumming and varied blast beats at the edge of what is physically possible.

Key acts

  • Death
  • Atheist
  • Cryptopsy
  • Necrophagist

Start here

The pickDeath - Human. The moment the genre became music to study, not just to hear.

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