Distinguishing Rock & Metal Genres

Rock vs Metal  

Music has long been known for its healing powers, and music therapy is a relatively new concept in today’s world. There are many different genres of music, including rock and metal, which have evolved over time. Although there are differences between rock and metal, they are sometimes confused or mixed up due to their similarities.

What is Rock?

Rock, also known as rock and roll, is a genre of popular music that originated in the 1950s in the United States. In the 1960s, rock developed into various styles in both the UK and the USA. Rock music is heavily influenced by country music and rhythm and blues, as well as jazz, blues, classical, and folk music genres. Rock music is centered around the electric guitar and drums and typically features a 4/4 time signature and verse-chorus style. Rock songs often have themes of romance and other social and political issues, and over time, the genre has expanded to include many sub-genres such as alternative rock, art rock, experimental rock, garage rock, grunge, and heavy metal.

What is Metal?

Metal music, formally known as heavy metal, is a sub-genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily in the UK and the USA. Heavy metal emphasizes volume, power, and speed and is characterized by long guitar solos, a massive sound, emphatic beats, and extreme loudness. Heavy metal songs often focus on themes of masculinity and aggression and have spawned sub-genres such as black metal, doom metal, glam metal, and gothic metal.

Key Takeaways

  • Rock music originated in the 1950s, while metal music developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a sub-genre of rock music.
  • Rock music typically has lighter distortion and a broader range of themes, while metal music has stronger distortion, deeper and higher sounds, and themes focused on masculinity and aggression.
  • Metal music is a sub-genre of rock music, with metal emphasizing amplified loudness and power chords, whereas rock music centers on the electric guitar and drum kit with less focus on loudness.

Photos By: Alexis Fam( CC BY 2.0), Fotografien: A. Klich, R. Schweier, J. RIllich (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Further Reading:

Difference Between Hip Hop and Rock
Difference Between Rock and Punk and New Wave
Difference Between Rock and Rock and Roll
Difference Between Metal and Heavy Metal

Related posts:

Dmitri Ivanov
Dmitri Ivanovhttps://whats-different.com
Dmitri Ivanov, a writer and managing editor, was educated in Canada and holds a BS in Science. Dmitri loves doing research, writing, and teaching various courses.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles