The difference, in figures
Black metal is clearly heavier (+4), clearly faster (+3) and clearly less melodic (−3) than Post-hardcore. It emerged in 1982, 3 years before Post-hardcore in 1985. They sit on opposite branches of the tree and share no common ancestor.
Post-hardcore
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Hardcore punk › Post-hardcore
In short
Hardcore that allows itself dynamics, empty space and irregular structures. Emo, screamo and mathcore all branch off from here.
How it sounds
- Wide dynamics: near-silent passages alternating with explosions.
- Bass with its own voice, often leading, and guitars in unusual tunings.
- Loose structures with sections that never repeat.
Key acts
- Fugazi
- At the Drive-In
- Refused
- Thursday
Start here
The pickRefused - The Shape of Punk to Come. The title was an arrogant joke that came true.
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 →