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-metal / atmospheric sludge1997

Second genre

Doom metal1980

Head to headPost-metal / atmospheric sludge vs Doom metal
Post-metal / atmospheric sludge: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 3. Doom metal: heaviness 9, melody 7, speed 2.Heaviness8 / 9Melody7 / 7Speed3 / 2
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Doom repeats a slow riff for its own sake. Post-metal repeats one in order to arrive somewhere.

Doom metal is sung cleanly where post-metal / atmospheric sludge is part sung, part screamed, at much the same pace, around 50 to 120 bpm. To hear the difference, play Neurosis next to Black Sabbath. Post-metal / atmospheric sludge grew out of doom metal, seventeen years later. United States appears 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
Post-metal / atmospheric sludge8
Doom metal9
+1
Speed
Post-metal / atmospheric sludge3
Doom metal2
−1
Melody
Post-metal / atmospheric sludge7
Doom metal7
level

Post-metal / atmospheric sludge

1997 · USA

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Doom metal › Sludge metal › Post-metal / atmospheric sludge

In short

Sludge with post-rock logic: long songs, crescendos and instrumental passages. Neurosis invented the form.

How it sounds

  • Eight- to fifteen-minute pieces with long crescendos in post-rock logic.
  • Delay and reverb guitars for the quiet passages, massive distortion at the peaks.
  • Vocals used sparingly, as an accent, often howled from a distance.

Key acts

  • Neurosis
  • Isis
  • Cult of Luna
  • Russian Circles

Start here

The pickIsis - Oceanic. The most accessible album in the genre, and no weaker for it.

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Doom metal

1980 · UK / USA · 7 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Doom metal

In short

The branch most faithful to Black Sabbath: slow tempos, thick riffs and crushing atmosphere. The weight comes from space, not speed.

How it sounds

  • Tempos between 60 and 100 bpm, with sustained chords and plenty of space.
  • Thick guitar tone, usually down-tuned, with analogue fuzz.
  • Oppressive atmosphere and themes of fate, the occult or depression.

Key acts

  • Black Sabbath
  • Candlemass
  • Saint Vitus
  • Pentagram

Start here

The pickSaint Vitus - Born Too Late. The title says exactly how the band felt.

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