The difference, by ear
Black metal is growled or screamed where NWOTHM is sung cleanly, and much faster: 160 to 280 bpm against 140 to 180. To hear the difference, play Enforcer next to Bathory. They share a root in heavy metal, and black metal came first, by 23 years.
In figures
NWOTHM
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Traditional heavy metal › NWOTHM
In short
New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal: a new generation deliberately playing like it's 1982, down to the tape production.
How it sounds
- Deliberate reproduction of 1981-1984 production, often recorded to analogue tape.
- Riffs and harmonies straight in the NWOBHM tradition, with no modern elements.
- Hand-painted covers and cassette releases - it is all part of the package.
Key acts
- Enforcer
- Cauldron
- Haunt
Start here
The pickEnforcer - Diamonds. Sounds like 1983 and was recorded in 2010.
Full page →Black metal
Where it sits
In short
Tremolo picking, blast beats, shrieked vocals and deliberately cold production. More an aesthetic than a technique - atmosphere matters more than clean sound.
How it sounds
- Tremolo picking on open fifth voicings, with vocals in the high register.
- Deliberately thin, cold production - the missing bass is an aesthetic choice, not an accident.
- Fast blast beats, drums often mixed back, atmosphere placed above technique.
Key acts
- Bathory
- Mayhem
- Darkthrone
- Emperor
Start here
The pickDarkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky. The production is intentional, not a flaw.
Full page →