10 songs that feel like Police Story
Matched to Police Story by Black Flag on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same aggressive pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (180 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Same harsh texture.
Keeps the same aggressive pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Measured 96% alike.
Measures 96% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Same harsh texture.
A 96% feel-match — carries the same aggressive pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100).
90% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (99/100). Same harsh texture.
Keeps the same aggressive pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (97/100). Measured 90% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (180 BPM).
Measures 94% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Same harsh texture.
A 90% feel-match — carries the same aggressive pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100).
94% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (100/100). Same harsh texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Police Story is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it trades the harsher texture for something layered. Intensity 60/100, down from 100.
Its dynamic range stays a gentler 6 where the original climbs to 8, so it lands at 54/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 6 where the original climbs to 8. Reads 54/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while its dynamic range stays a gentler 6 where the original climbs to 8. 46/100, versus the original's 100.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but its dynamic range stays a gentler 6 where the original climbs to 8. Intensity 49/100, down from 100.
It trades the harsher texture for something layered, so it lands at 69/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while its dynamic range stays a gentler 6 where the original climbs to 8. Reads 46/100.
Holds the same feel while it trades the harsher texture for something layered. 51/100, versus the original's 100.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Police Story” by Black Flag?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Red Tape” by Circle Jerks, “Group Sex” by Circle Jerks, “Small Man Big Mouth” by Minor Threat — the top match scores 99% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.
What songs are like “Police Story” but calmer?
“Through Being Cool” by Devo, “Christmas Vacation” by The Descendents, “Coffee Mug” by The Descendents keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Police Story”?
It measures 100/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 8/10, harsh texture, frequent sudden shifts, and screaming. Tempo is 180 BPM.
How do you decide which songs are similar?
Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
This is one of the more intense things in our library — more energetic than 100% of the 19,209 songs we've measured. Its intensity reading of 100/100 comes from a dynamic range of 8/10, harsh texture, frequent shifts, and screaming. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is blazing intensity: more extreme on that axis than 100% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1981 in context
The 194 songs we’ve measured from 1981 average a dynamic range of 6.4/10. At 8/10, this track is louder and more dynamic than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
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