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

Symphonic black metal1994

Second genre

Atmospheric black metal1994

Head to headSymphonic black metal vs Atmospheric black metal
Symphonic black metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 8. Atmospheric black metal: heaviness 8, melody 6, speed 7.Heaviness8 / 8Melody7 / 6Speed8 / 7
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both use keyboards for scale. Atmospheric black metal uses sustained pads to hold a mood; this uses written orchestration as a second melodic voice.

Both are growled or screamed, but atmospheric black metal is slower: 90 to 200 bpm against 160 to 240. To hear the difference, play Emperor next to Wolves in the Throne Room. Both grew out of black metal in the same year.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Symphonic black metal8
Atmospheric black metal8
level
Speed
Symphonic black metal8
Atmospheric black metal7
−1
Melody
Symphonic black metal7
Atmospheric black metal6
−1

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.

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Atmospheric black metal

1994 · Global

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Atmospheric black metal

In short

Long songs, hypnotic repetition and synth textures. The landscape matters more than the riff.

How it sounds

  • Songs of ten to twenty minutes with hypnotic repetition and very slow development.
  • Layered guitars and keyboards that create texture rather than riffs.
  • Wide reverb production with the vocals set far back in the mix.

Key acts

  • Wolves in the Throne Room
  • Paysage d'Hiver
  • Drudkh

Start here

The pickWolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters. Four tracks, close to an hour.

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