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

Rap rock1986

Second genre

Industrial rock1982

Head to headRap rock vs Industrial rock
Rap rock: heaviness 6, melody 6, speed 6. Industrial rock: heaviness 6, melody 6, speed 6. The two ratings are identical, so the shapes coincide.Heaviness6 / 6Melody6 / 6Speed6 / 6
Identical on all three meters. Whatever separates these two is not in the ratings.

The difference, by ear

Both are constructed from loops and samples rather than performed. Industrial rock's sources are noise and machinery; this one's are rock records.

Industrial rock is part sung, part screamed where rap rock is rapped, and a little faster: 110 to 150 bpm against 90 to 130. To hear the difference, play Run-DMC & Aerosmith next to Killing Joke. They share a root in rock, and industrial rock came first, by four years.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Rap rock6
Industrial rock6
level
Speed
Rap rock6
Industrial rock6
level
Melody
Rap rock6
Industrial rock6
level

Rap rock

1986 · New York, USA

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Funk rock › Rap rock

In short

Rapped vocals over rock riffs. The Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaboration opened the door; Rage turned it into a political weapon.

How it sounds

  • Rapped verses over guitar riffs, with drums borrowed from breakbeats.
  • DJ scratching or samples built into the arrangement.
  • Groove on the downbeat, built for movement rather than speed.

Key acts

  • Run-DMC & Aerosmith
  • Beastie Boys
  • Rage Against the Machine

Start here

The pickRage Against the Machine - the debut. No synths and no samples, just four people.

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Industrial rock

1982 · UK / USA

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Post-punk › Industrial rock

In short

Guitars over programmed drums, sampling and factory noise. The bridge to industrial metal.

How it sounds

  • Programmed drums or samples of struck metal in place of a conventional rhythm section.
  • Digitally processed guitar, often chopped up and reassembled.
  • Vocals distorted through a megaphone or digital processing.

Key acts

  • Killing Joke
  • Ministry
  • Nine Inch Nails

Start here

The pickNine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral. Recorded, not at all by chance, in a house with a grim history.

Full page →