Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ButterflyBlood

(12,644 posts)
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 02:20 PM Jul 2012

Do you consider there be to be a difference between "hard" and "heavy" music?

I definitely say there is a difference. "Heavy" music is much slower and not really abrasive, just loud. So lots of metal and sludgy music is "heavy" but not "hard", yet tons of -core music is hard without being heavy.

Good example of a song that is heavy but not hard:



Hard but not heavy:


To give another comparison, bands playing "heavy" music can probably play for hours, while the "hard" band above both times I've seen them only could play for about 15 minutes because of physical endurance, and if they played any longer the vocalist might've started spitting blood.
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Do you consider there be to be a difference between "hard" and "heavy" music? (Original Post) ButterflyBlood Jul 2012 OP
Using a couple of classic bands as examples hifiguy Jul 2012 #1
I think it's just a matter of semantics, not so much a difference per se Populist_Prole Jul 2012 #2
Hard music is Berlin's "Sex". Heavy music is Deep Purple. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #3
I would've flipped those labels, calling the heavy band hard and the hard band heavy. jp11 Jul 2012 #4
That second band is definitely NOT heavy metal ButterflyBlood Jul 2012 #5
I never heard of that before, 'screamo'. jp11 Jul 2012 #8
Heavy Music Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #6
There are so many genres of hard rock.... rppper Jul 2012 #7
 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
1. Using a couple of classic bands as examples
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 02:35 PM
Jul 2012

Deep Purple was/is a hard-rock band; Black Sabbath is a heavy-metal band. At least IMO.

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
2. I think it's just a matter of semantics, not so much a difference per se
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 02:37 PM
Jul 2012

I'd say "hard" is the more general term, and "heavy" is maybe a way of indicating that the sound is more heavily biased by guitar. I use them both interchangably. As far as music I like, "hard" bands are "heavy", and heavy bands are hard. All the other terms are further genre subdividers: speed, thrash etc.

Take a band like 'Iron Maiden'. They would be described as heavy metal by pretty everybody that's ever heard them. But in an interview of the band, they said they don't consider themselves a heavy metal band or even a hard rock band, but just a "rock band".

jp11

(2,104 posts)
4. I would've flipped those labels, calling the heavy band hard and the hard band heavy.
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 02:57 PM
Jul 2012

Just because the one you label hard is typical of music labeled 'heavy metal' where the 'singer' screams and they all sound the same to me, literally just screaming that is horrid and meaningless in the few minutes I've ever heard in my life.

ButterflyBlood

(12,644 posts)
5. That second band is definitely NOT heavy metal
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 09:40 PM
Jul 2012

They're an offshoot of hardcore punk called "screamo", a term which is commonly misused today.

jp11

(2,104 posts)
8. I never heard of that before, 'screamo'.
Tue Jul 24, 2012, 03:13 PM
Jul 2012

I just know what I like and someone screaming like an animal into a mike ain't it.

To me some of the best music is someone really singing well, not the diva BS with the stupid hand flutter pimping octaves/range but just good soulful singing.

rppper

(2,952 posts)
7. There are so many genres of hard rock....
Mon Jul 23, 2012, 10:50 PM
Jul 2012

And metal.....hair rock(cinderalla, poison),gothic(type o Negative),industrial(ministry), death metal, grindcore, rockabilly, psycho billy, punk, etc etc.....personally I like it all except the Norwegian and Swedish death metal stuff....I like to hear the lyrics and understand them.....

Three of my favorite heavy bands of all time....Helmet, the butthole surfers and ministry...all hard rock of one genre or another...enjoy!

&feature=youtube_gdata_player

&feature=youtube_gdata_player


&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»Do you consider there be ...