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

Second wave1991

Second genre

Symphonic black metal1994

Head to headSecond wave vs Symphonic black metal
Second wave: heaviness 9, melody 3, speed 9. Symphonic black metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 8.Heaviness9 / 8Melody3 / 7Speed9 / 8
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Symphonic black metal adds keyboards and orchestration to exactly this, which the purist wing of the second wave regarded as a betrayal at the time.

Both are growled or screamed, but symphonic black metal is a little slower: 160 to 240 bpm against 180 to 280. To hear the difference, play Mayhem next to Emperor. Both grew out of black metal, second wave first and symphonic black metal three years after. Norway 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
Second wave9
Symphonic black metal8
−1
Speed
Second wave9
Symphonic black metal8
−1
Melody
Second wave3
Symphonic black metal7
+4

Second wave

1991 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Second wave

In short

The Norwegian scene that fixed the definitive sound: thin guitars, demo-tape production as an ideal, corpse paint.

How it sounds

  • Guitars with the mids scooped out entirely - thin and cutting, with no audible bass.
  • The production ideal is a demo tape recorded in a bedroom, not a studio session.
  • Rasping high vocals with reverb, and fast, deliberately monotonous blast beats.

Key acts

  • Mayhem
  • Darkthrone
  • Burzum
  • Immortal

Start here

The pickImmortal - Pure Holocaust. The scene's best album without the troubling baggage.

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Symphonic black metal

1994 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Symphonic black metal

In short

Keyboards and choirs over black metal structures. Grand, theatrical and by far the most saleable of the subgenres.

How it sounds

  • Keyboards and choirs treated as a lead instrument rather than as background.
  • Broad orchestration, occasionally with a real orchestra, and large studio production.
  • Epic structures with recurring themes and film-score dynamics.

Key acts

  • Emperor
  • Dimmu Borgir
  • Cradle of Filth

Start here

The pickEmperor - In the Nightside Eclipse. Recorded by teenagers, and it sounds monumental.

Full page →