Is it more metal or more punk?
Grindcore is one of those fence-sitter genres. It wants to be punk, but it also wants to be metal.
Like crossover, a lot of bands from the movement draw on influence from both punk and metal genres, but both of those movements have their own overall goals.
Grindcore also shares themes and imagery with both punk and metal, from the horror and the occult (BLOOD, Carcass, Repulsion) to the political and social (Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Terrorizer).
So, my question is: Is grindcore more metal than punk, or more punk than metal?
Qualities of punk music:
- Composition follows lyrics; often verse-chorus, some narrative
- Rhythmic, mechanical, blocky riffs guided by percussion
Qualities of metal music:
- Narrative, repeating, motif-based composition
- Speedy, organic, fluid riffs, esp. on lead instrument
Just tell us what you think in the comments.
Grindore imo is, metal withe punk feeling.
I’ve noticed that alot of people seem to associate Grindcore with metal more than they do with punk. While Grind may have metal influence it is still (and in my opinion always will be) a sub-genre of punk. I think the reason many people associate Grind with metal these days is because of the newer styled Grind bands (Blockheads, Gadget, Splitter, etc…) that tend to sound more on the metal side, but even in their music, one can still hear the heavy punk influence.
Interesting!
I believe a lot of the “grindcore is metal” sentiment also comes from the aesthetic: If it’s heavy, it must be metal. Not so, I think metal has more to it than a sound. Distorted guitars, harsh vocals, blazing drums — these are all aesthetic common to many genres.
So, I’ll pitch in my two cents — grindcore is probably more punk in nature.
I am grindcore, I am not punk or metal! Grindcore have nothing to do with stinky-punks, or with gay-heavy-boys! Grindcore is DEATH, DISORDER, COPULATION, CLARIFICATION and PEDANTRY!
I think bands like Napalm Death (forefathers of grindcore) and ENT etc. take a lot from that just filthy (in a good way) crust punk, and they take a lot from each other, All of the early (soon to be) grindcore bands were in constant competition with each other to be the fastest and loudest etc. they also were in subtle competition with bands like Morbid Angel etc. I recommend getting the book “Choosing Death” – http://www.choosingdeath.com/ it explains a lot. with interviews from all of the bands who were there.
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it depends on the band i think. The British Grind bands tend to have a more punk sound to it but the mainland European bands tend to be more metal, but as for the American bands it’s either metal as fuck or just straight noise
examples
British example
Mainland Europe Example
American Example (this one is metal as fuck ans straight up noise)
I like to think of pure grindcore as compared to pure grain alcohol. By itelf it can be hard to swallow. Bands that simply do pure grindcore in my opinion are almost unlistenable. It’s that fast, indecipherable, constant 1000 bpm drum frenzy underneath those deeply gutteral/castrated cat vocals. Over and done with in 20 seconds. They’re also a dime a dozen as it’s pretty simple to do. I can’t think of any ‘pure’ grindcore bands that have reached anything above mediocrity even within it’s own genre.
I think it’s when you dilute the poison that it can be truly savored for what it is. It’s holding back and letting go that truly helps amplify the brutality of what grindcore is supposed to be all about. It’s the hybrid bands in my opinion that stand above the cattle. And yes, I’m calling Napalm Death a hybrid of both Grind and thrash, as are bands like Pig Destroyer, Nasum, and Burnt By The Sun. Agoraphobic Nosebleed utilizes industrial twinges in it’s onslaught. Extortion straddles both grindcore and punk. In my opinion all of the poignant bands in the scene that stride forward do so by diluting the pure grain with that which not only amplifies it’s main ingredient but enhances it as well.
The most important thing in grindcore for me, is the classical punk blast, a.k.a. D-beat(kick+hat/crash, snare, kick+hat/crash, snare), like in one of my favorite grind albums, Razor Sharp Daggers (1995).
It’s punk, and I want it to stay punk!