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

Post-grunge1994

Second genre

Glam metal1981

Head to headPost-grunge vs Glam metal
Post-grunge: heaviness 5, melody 9, speed 5. Glam metal: heaviness 5, melody 10, speed 6.Heaviness5 / 5Melody9 / 10Speed5 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The genre it replaced on radio, and it made exactly the same trade: enormous choruses, high production values and a diminishing relationship to whatever the scene originally meant.

Both are sung cleanly, but glam metal is a little faster: 120 to 160 bpm against 100 to 140. To hear the difference, play Foo Fighters next to Mötley Crüe. Post-grunge comes from the rock side of the tree and glam metal from the metal side, and glam metal came first, by thirteen years.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Post-grunge5
Glam metal5
level
Speed
Post-grunge5
Glam metal6
+1
Melody
Post-grunge9
Glam metal10
+1

Post-grunge

1994 · USA / Canada

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Grunge › Post-grunge

In short

The grunge formula cleaned up for radio: same dynamics, less dirt, vastly more airplay.

How it sounds

  • The same dynamics, but with radio production: heavy compression, symmetrical guitars.
  • Melodic choruses with doubled and harmonised vocals.
  • Simplified riffing, mid tempos, fixed structures.

Key acts

  • Foo Fighters
  • Bush
  • Creed
  • Nickelback

Start here

The pickFoo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape. Dave Grohl played nearly all of it himself.

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Glam metal

1981 · Los Angeles, USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Glam metal

In short

Hard rock with hairspray, a radio chorus and a mandatory power ballad. It ruled MTV until 1991.

How it sounds

  • Simple hard rock riffs with glossy production and gated reverb on the drums.
  • Choruses with multiple vocal harmonies, built for radio and MTV.
  • A mandatory ballad on every album, usually the hit single.

Key acts

  • Mötley Crüe
  • Ratt
  • Poison
  • Skid Row

Start here

The pickSkid Row - Slave to the Grind. The genre's heaviest album, released exactly too late.

Full page →