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

Sludge metal1989

Second genre

Stoner doom1991

Head to headSludge metal vs Stoner doom
Sludge metal: heaviness 10, melody 4, speed 3. Stoner doom: heaviness 9, melody 6, speed 2.Heaviness10 / 9Melody4 / 6Speed3 / 2
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Stoner doom is the warm, groove-led answer to the same tuning and tempo. Same weight, opposite mood.

Stoner doom is sung cleanly where sludge metal is growled or screamed, at much the same pace, around 50 to 90 bpm. Songs run longer in stoner doom: usually 7 to 20 minutes, against 5 to 9 minutes in sludge metal. To hear the difference, play Eyehategod next to Sleep. Both grew out of doom metal, sludge metal first and stoner doom two years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Sludge metal10
Stoner doom9
−1
Speed
Sludge metal3
Stoner doom2
−1
Melody
Sludge metal4
Stoner doom6
+2

Sludge metal

1989 · New Orleans, USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Doom metal › Sludge metal

In short

Doom plus filthy hardcore: feedback, screamed vocals and a guitar tone like Louisiana mud.

How it sounds

  • Thick fuzzed guitar with feedback left running between riffs.
  • Alternation between very slow tempos and hardcore outbursts.
  • Screamed or howled vocals with lyrics about addiction, poverty and rage.

Key acts

  • Eyehategod
  • Crowbar
  • Melvins
  • Acid Bath

Start here

The pickEyehategod - Take as Needed for Pain. The feedback between tracks is part of the album.

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Stoner doom

1991 · USA / United Kingdom

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Doom metal › Stoner doom

In short

Stoner riffs played at half speed, with thick fuzz and subject matter drawn from witchcraft and cannabis.

How it sounds

  • Stoner riffs played at half speed, with thick analogue fuzz.
  • Very low tunings and vintage amplifiers driven flat out.
  • Nasal or incantatory vocals with lyrics about witchcraft, the occult and cannabis.

Key acts

  • Sleep
  • Electric Wizard
  • Bongzilla

Start here

The pickElectric Wizard - Dopethrone. The thickest guitar tone ever committed to tape.

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