The difference, in figures
Black metal is clearly heavier (+3), slightly faster (+1) and slightly less melodic (−1) than Screamo. It emerged in 1982, 9 years before Screamo in 1991. They sit on opposite branches of the tree and share no common ancestor.
Screamo
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Hardcore punk › Post-hardcore › Emo › Screamo
In short
Emo pushed into hysteria: continuous screaming, cutting guitars and songs that collapse into silence. Also called skramz.
How it sounds
- Almost continuously screamed vocals, often at the edge of physical exhaustion.
- Sharp guitars with dissonant chords and no thick distortion.
- Very short songs that collapse suddenly into quiet passages.
Key acts
- Orchid
- Pg. 99
- City of Caterpillar
- Envy
Start here
The pickCity of Caterpillar - And You're Wondering How a Fool Can Die. Post-rock catching fire.
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 →