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

Raw black metal1993

Second genre

War metal / bestial1990

Head to headRaw black metal vs War metal / bestial
Raw black metal: heaviness 8, melody 2, speed 8. War metal / bestial: heaviness 10, melody 1, speed 10.Heaviness8 / 10Melody2 / 1Speed8 / 10
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

War metal is as extreme and far more violent, with a death metal rhythm section under the noise.

Both are growled or screamed, but war metal / bestial is faster: 200 to 300 bpm against 160 to 240. Songs run longer in raw black metal: usually 3 to 7 minutes, against 2 to 4 minutes in war metal / bestial. To hear the difference, play Ildjarn next to Blasphemy. Both grew out of black metal, war metal / bestial first and raw black metal three years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Raw black metal8
War metal / bestial10
+2
Speed
Raw black metal8
War metal / bestial10
+2
Melody
Raw black metal2
War metal / bestial1
−1

Raw black metal

1993 · Global

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Raw black metal

In short

Lo-fi production taken to the extreme, often recorded straight to tape. The noise is part of the composition.

How it sounds

  • Recorded to cassette or with minimal equipment, saturation and hiss included.
  • Guitars with almost no midrange, sometimes indistinguishable from the background.
  • Simple, repetitive compositions with total emphasis on atmosphere.

Key acts

  • Ildjarn
  • Mütiilation
  • Bone Awl

Start here

The pickIldjarn - Forest Poetry. Minimalism taken all the way.

Full page →

War metal / bestial

1990 · Canada / Australia

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › War metal / bestial

In short

Black and death metal reduced to noise, speed and bullet belts. The least legible branch of metal there is.

How it sounds

  • Deliberately illegible production, everything saturated and compressed.
  • Extreme tempos, chaotic drumming, riffs that are barely distinguishable.
  • Fully distorted vocals, usually through effects.

Key acts

  • Blasphemy
  • Revenge
  • Archgoat

Start here

The pickBlasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom. Twenty-five minutes of organised chaos.

Full page →