The difference, by ear
Both are instrumental and rhythmically complex. Math rock is clean, dry and small; this is virtuosic, polished and large.
Both are mostly instrumental and move at much the same pace, around 100 to 180 bpm. To hear the difference, play Liquid Tension Experiment next to Slint. Instrumental prog metal comes from the metal side of the tree and math rock from the rock side, and math rock came first, by seven years.
In figures
Instrumental prog metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Progressive metal › Instrumental prog metal
In short
No vocals: the melody is carried by guitar or keyboard, and the structure can be as complex as it likes.
How it sounds
- The melody is carried by guitar or keyboards, with no vocals.
- Long technical structures with many sectional changes.
- Clean production with every instrument separately audible.
Key acts
- Liquid Tension Experiment
- Animals as Leaders
- Scale the Summit
Start here
The pickAnimals as Leaders - the debut. Tosin Abasi plays eight strings as if it were normal.
Full page →Math rock
Where it sits
Rock › Progressive rock › Math rock
In short
Odd meters and interlocking riffs assembled like a puzzle, usually without vocals. Post-rock's cerebral cousin.
How it sounds
- Frequently changing odd meters, often with two guitars in different metres at once.
- Clean or lightly overdriven guitars in alternate tunings, with tapping and harmonics.
- Usually instrumental; where there are vocals, they are spoken or whispered.
Key acts
- Slint
- Don Caballero
- Battles
- Toe
Start here
The pickSlint - Spiderland. Six songs that changed independent rock.
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