What is the difference? I thought they were kind of the same thing. But I was reading something Burzum wrote, and he said something about black metal being against what he called "trendy american death metal" or "boring death metal". Who exactly is he talking about. Opeth (from norway) I think are called death metal, but other than having clean vocals, they sound like every other "black metal" band.

Or is "death metal" like cannibal corpse or something?

Death metal involves some of the same musical attributes of black metal, such as merciless aggression, fast tempos, and harsh vocals, but there are a few major differences to distinguish the two.

Death metal generally has low growled vocals, as opposed to black metal which has more high pitched screams. Death metal usually has an emphasis on guitar virtuosity, whereas black metal does not.
Black metal mostly has lyrical themes of satanism and the nordic countryside, and death metal's lyrics generally consist of depictions of pain, murder, torture, and rape.

http://tinyurl.com/5aey2f Pretty standard death metal.

http://tinyurl.com/68mfgc More death metal

http://tinyurl.com/2mq2bq And this is Black Metal

http://tinyurl.com/5v7beb Thrashy Black Metal

http://tinyurl.com/2qbcur Blackened Death Metal

What is the difference? I thought they were kind of the same thing. But I was reading something Burzum wrote, and he said something about black metal being against what he called "trendy american death metal" or "boring death metal". Who exactly is he talking about. Opeth (from norway) I think are called death metal, but other than having clean vocals, they sound like every other "black metal" band.

Or is "death metal" like cannibal corpse or something?

Most early second wave black metal was against the clean death metal movement (though clean might be not the correct word).

Death metal is more gutteral, black metal is more... screetchy? Of course there are millions exceptions to each rule, so trying to define the difference is hard...

Emperor has clean vocals at parts, but they still are BM.

What is the difference?
Blah Blah Blah
Or is "death metal" like cannibal corpse or something?

I forgot: Stfu acolyte.

Most early second wave black metal was against the clean death metal movement (though clean might be not the correct word).

Death metal is more gutteral, black metal is more... screetchy? Of course there are millions exceptions to each rule, so trying to define the difference is hard...

Emperor has clean vocals at parts, but they still are BM.

"clean death metal?". most second wave black metal (mayhem, emperor, burzum, etc.) was against the commercialization of the extreme metal genre, hense the bad production quality and vocals. black metal homos think everything is a trend, except for "grim, frostbitten scenery" and "satan". its pretty gay.

by clean death metal do u mean swedish death metal like entombed, carnage, God macabre?

Thanks. I guess I'm more of a black metal fan then. Like old ToT tracks, that asshole vocalist really fucked them up :mad:

I see what you mean now that you describe it though. I hate growls, but I can put up with it if it's growls like dimmu borgir or something like that. Plus black metal seemed to be more of a political thing. My favorite metal vocals are from Burzum, and Thus Defiled.

Black metal fans burn churches in Scandinavia, death metal fans can't think up good band names that don't have "death" "blood" or "murder" in them.

/Aces High summed it up well.

[QUOTE=TuathaDeDanann;10789032] I hate growls, but I can put up with it if it's growls like dimmu borgir or something like that.

dimmu borgir is NOT black metal.

Let me say that I love both death metal and black metal equally.

But I loathe the fact that some black metal artists refuse to have decent production value. Like, it's one thing to go for that raw savage sound, like behemoths two newest albums. They have awesome tone, and the music is balanced so you can get the most out of it, but it's not super polished and still sounds nice and raw. Another example is 1349, they don't by any means have a streamlined polished sound, but at least they have a good black metal tone and a good drum sound.

I understand if a band is awesome and they just don't have the means to record a good sounding album, but to purposely not use good instruments, good tone, and good mixing is just retarded. It does more to hold back the music's potential than anything. Thats what always pissed me off about burzum, that dude wrote such awesome music, but it's fucking unlistenable because it's just purposely recorded to sound like a shit sandwich. Imagine a burzum song, and it's actually recorded good. With a heavy guitar sound and thundering drums, it would be completely awesome.
Same with Bathory's early shit, as it might fall under the category of no available means make it sound good, but on some of his songs you can barely make out the vocals or drums. It's just a fuzzy compressed piece of shit recording.

And Dimmu Borgir IS Black Metal, symphonic black metal.
Sorry that a bunch of people like them, but it doesn't make them a less awesome band. Plus, if you don't like Dimmu's new shit, download some of their stuff off "puritanical euphoric misanthropia" or "stormblast" (the re recorded one with hellhammer, not the piece of shit recording that was the original stormblast)
or, the song "cataclysm children" (from death cult) is a pure black metal song, no ifs ands or buts, it's a fucking straight up badass black metal song.

"clean death metal?". most second wave black metal (mayhem, emperor, burzum, etc.) was against the commercialization of the extreme metal genre, hense the bad production quality and vocals. black metal homos think everything is a trend, except for "grim, frostbitten scenery" and "satan". its pretty gay.

by clean death metal do u mean swedish death metal like entombed, carnage, God macabre?

Commercialization tends to *sometimes* lead to clean. Of course we did get things like "Tomb Of the Mutilated", but I'd be referring by unpolished to raw Burzum demos. Even I could put out a better sounding demo than he could with a headset mic.

I'm not saying clean death metal isn't good. If you consider Wintersun for example to be along the lines of death metal-- vocalwise (?), I adore Jari Maenpaa's work.

Problem is there are bands that are an exception to every damn rule, which makes things sometimes hard... to explain/show/refute/comprehend/elucidate upon, no matter our intention.

Basically, Black Metal is shitty riffs with vocals about Satan and band members who kill each other, unless you listen to early stuff.

Death Metal is about heavy riffs and extreme vocals, however, a band called Death are one of the best bands ever, whilst beingdeath metal.

To be honest, I'd stick with the truest form of metal, that is Stoner Metal like Electic Wizard and Sleep. :)

Basically, Black Metal is shitty riffs with vocals about Satan and band members who kill each other, unless you listen to early stuff.

Death Metal is about heavy riffs and extreme vocals, however, a band called Death are one of the best bands ever, whilst beingdeath metal.

To be honest, I'd stick with the truest form of metal, that is Stoner Metal like Electic Wizard and Sleep. :)

There is no truest form of metal.

But electric wizard and sleep are sweet bands, but neither are black metal or death metal.

Ah, black metal is great fun.

I've been heavily listening to Gorgoroth, Burzum and Darkthrone recently. It really grows on you if you just turn it up loud and do other things.

There is no truest form of metal.

But electric wizard and sleep are sweet bands, but neither are black metal or death metal.

Hmm. I think I must have been really drunk when I wrote that, it's a load of bollocks.

Hmm. I think I must have been really drunk when I wrote that, it's a load of bollocks.

Don't worry, happens to me all the time.

. And Dimmu Borgir IS Black Metal, symphonic black metal.
Sorry that a bunch of people like them, but it doesn't make them a less awesome band. Plus, if you don't like Dimmu's new shit, download some of their stuff off "puritanical euphoric misanthropia" or "stormblast" (the re recorded one with hellhammer, not the piece of shit recording that was the original stormblast)
or, the song "cataclysm children" (from death cult) is a pure black metal song, no ifs ands or buts, it's a fucking straight up badass black metal song.

I do enjoy the albums "for all tid" and "stormblast", but i really disliked Death cult Armageddon , and lately their sound has been getting really annoying with me. I saw them live with Behemoth and keep of kalessin, two bands i am really into, and dimmu was headlining and they spent like 30-40 minutes setting up lights and shit and showboating and acting like jackasses. i watched like half of their set and then left cuz they were being annoying

Dethklok is Death Metal.

Therefore, Death Metal > Black Metal.

The main differences has already been stated so I won't continue.

Dimmu Borgir isn't bad. I like a couple of their songs some sound realy shitty but Kings of the Carnival Creation, Puritania, Progenies Of The Apocalypse are some of their best music.

The main differences has already been stated so I won't continue.

Dimmu Borgir isn't bad. I like a couple of their songs some sound realy shitty but Kings of the Carnival Creation, Puritania, Progenies Of The Apocalypse are some of their best music.

One of my main goals is to learn Kings of the Carnival Creation on Guitar, Bass, Synth, Drums, Violin, and learn how to sing Vortex's vocal part.

Guitar and Bass down, the hardest instruments to play that song with to go.

(and puritania is sweet, but not thier BEST)

Check out the song "The Invaluable Darkness" from thier new album, it's definitely the best song of that album, and the best vortex vocal part ever recorded.

And Dimmu Borgir IS Black Metal, symphonic black metal.
Sorry that a bunch of people like them, but it doesn't make them a less awesome band. Plus, if you don't like Dimmu's new shit, download some of their stuff off "puritanical euphoric misanthropia" or "stormblast" (the re recorded one with hellhammer, not the piece of shit recording that was the original stormblast)
or, the song "cataclysm children" (from death cult) is a pure black metal song, no ifs ands or buts, it's a fucking straight up badass black metal song.

Old Stormblast > re-recorded Stormblast. I enjoy most Dimmu Borgir songs, but I would have to say that the original Stormblast is a great recording while the new one didn't add anything that was necessary. Both good albums, but the original is by far my favorite Dimmu Borgir recording.

Also, for great black metal look at Ihsahn. Both his solo work and his work with Emperor is amazing. Actually, Ihsahn just recently released his newest album angL which is an absolute masterpiece.

I understand if a band is awesome and they just don't have the means to record a good sounding album, but to purposely not use good instruments, good tone, and good mixing is just retarded. It does more to hold back the music's potential than anything. Thats what always pissed me off about burzum, that dude wrote such awesome music, but it's fucking unlistenable because it's just purposely recorded to sound like a shit sandwich. Imagine a burzum song, and it's actually recorded good. With a heavy guitar sound and thundering drums, it would be completely awesome.

ATMOSPHERE is the key word here. Burzum's albums were intentionally recorded in that way, because of the certain feeling that he is attempting to produce through the music. Many BM artists are attempting to create a feeling of the music being "OLD", as though it is coming off of an old phonograph player. There are some albums that would not produce the same feeling if they were recorded with a cleaner production.

I agree though, that if you go deep enough into the underground, there are artists who do it simply because it is what is expected. Its annoying.


Okay...

OP:
Opeth is from Sweden. They play Progressive Death Metal. This means that Death Metal is simply ONE of the elements featured in their music.

The number one difference between Black and Death metal today is the sound. Black metal tends to have a thinner production, higher - more ghastly sounding wails, but can produce any sort of feeling in the listener depending on the atmosphere used. Emperor is a BM band that has always produced a very majestic, epic, and complex sound. However, bands such as Master's Hammer are known for a raw, primitive, straight-forward sound. And then there are bands who produce a "depressing" atmosphere, such as Abyssic Hate and Forgotten Tomb.

But metal has evolved beyond the point of making any real classifications based on these criteria. Black Metal lyrics can be about Politics, Satanism, Paganism, Scandinavian Mythology, Psychedelic Visions, etc. Most people will tell you that black metal's defining mark is the inclination to write about subjects dealing with Satanism, but there are also Death Metal bands who have adopted this tendency...This is why I usually advise people to use their ears to determine whether or not something is "Black Metal".

EXAMPLE OF BLACK METAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSkSfr2knD4

EXAMPLE OF DEATH METAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW4-wZNtKw0

There's no way to generalize metal anymore. Its too vast and complex. However, I think the need for genres still applies.

[QUOTE=electric_wizard;10805031]ATMOSPHERE is the key word here. Burzum's albums were intentionally recorded in that way, because of the certain feeling that he is attempting to produce through the music. Many BM artists are attempting to create a feeling of the music being "OLD", as though it is coming off of an old phonograph player. There are some albums that would not produce the same feeling if they were recorded with a cleaner production.

Exactly. people who say they dont like burzum dont understand that burzum is night musis, it is purely atmosphere and thats what makes varg great.

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Black_metal


lulz this is what black metal is

Basically, Black Metal is shitty riffs with vocals about Satan and band members who kill each other, unless you listen to early stuff.

Where did you draw these sources from? I can name tons of bands without even thinking that don't even fit the above criteria.

Where did you draw these sources from? I can name tons of bands without even thinking that don't even fit the above criteria.

Hmm. I think I must have been really drunk when I wrote that, it's a load of bollocks.