Mid-1970s New York and London cut song length and solo space. Ramones (1976–) lock 1–2 minute downstroke singles; Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks (1977) and The Clash’s early singles put UK punk on national press and charts. Cheap gear and independent labels keep entry costs low.
Post-punk keeps the urgency and rebuilds the arrangement: Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures / Closer (1979–80) with cold bass and space; Talking Heads’ Remain in Light (1980) with funk rhythm and studio layering; The Cure’s early–mid 1980s records with guitar/keys atmosphere. Depeche Mode and related synth acts share the decade’s club and radio space under adjacent tags.
On this site the era sits next to metal by year but on different scenes and production goals.
Sound Fast downstrokes, dry snare, short song forms, cold basslines, early drum machines and synths on post-punk sides