The difference, by ear
Both are extremely violent. Brutal death metal is precise and groove-aware; war metal refuses structure entirely.
Both are growled or screamed and move at much the same pace, around 200 to 300 bpm. To hear the difference, play Blasphemy next to Suffocation. They share a root in heavy metal, and war metal / bestial came first, by a year.
In figures
War metal / bestial
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 →Brutal death metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Death metal › Brutal death metal
In short
Built for density and weight: dissonant riffing, low guttural vocals and crushing breakdowns.
How it sounds
- Very low tunings and dissonant riffs with dense construction.
- Deep guttural vocals, often entirely unintelligible, sometimes with pig squeals.
- Sustained blast beats and gravity blasts alternating with slow breakdowns.
Key acts
- Suffocation
- Deeds of Flesh
- Devourment
Start here
The pickSuffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten. The genre's absolute reference point.
Full page →