Death-metal screaming

DOSW

God I hate it. So much of today's music is completely ruined by that horrible toneless scream that just ruins my ears. And it's not just death-metal, either. It's all over hard rock these days. What makes me angry is that it takes no singing talent to scream. These "artists" are average singers at best... I guess that is why they scream so much?

I mean, I have no problem with screaming in music, IF it's done right. In my views, when you scream in music, you have to feel it. The energy of the song should cause the singer's scream, not vice versa. When EV screams, for instance, he means it. When Layne Staley screams, he means it. When Chris Cornell screams, he means it. And dammit, make the scream actually hit a note. That's why it's called "music"... you hit "notes" when you sing.

Anyway, that's my rant. Now, does anyone have any suggestions for any of today's good hard rock bands that don't death-metal scream? Bands like Wolfmother, or even Audioslave. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. I have to blow off some steam now.

Nevermind

I agree 100%.

Echoes

if you are hearing death metal screams on the radio you probably aren't hearing death metal screams at all.

also what does it mean to "mean it." They are screaming really hard because if they don't sound sincere enough they won't get as big a paycheque?

PS Lord Wyrm/guy from Opeth for best death vocals out there

Jellyrolls

DOSW wrote:

When EV screams, for instance, he means it. When Layne Staley screams, he means it. When Chris Cornell screams, he means it. And dammit, make the scream actually hit a note. That's why it's called "music"... you hit "notes" when you sing.

typical post on these forums.

Chuck Schuldiner..listen to this guy..and then..be quiet

Echoes

the dude from Death?

Jellyrolls

yeah..he doesn't really scream..but ..

Echoes

chuck is pretty awesome. Scream Bloody Gore was such a good album

pj_zombie

DOSW wrote:

Anyway, that's my rant. Now, does anyone have any suggestions for any of today's good hard rock bands that don't death-metal scream? Bands like Wolfmother, or even Audioslave. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. I have to blow off some steam now.

Shinedown and Rose Hill Drive might be up your alley. Amazing guitarists in both and Brent Smith from Shinedown is my second favorite vocalist behind Eddie Vedder.

jeffbr

Here's another vote for Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt. He can sing and he can growl.

3manstack

i used to love Metal but about 2 years ago I kinda sorta grew out of it. My housemate blasted Black and Death Metal alot and it just seemed a bit silly really, grown men shrieking about all things dark and satany.

I cant listen to most extreme records nowadays, give me proper singing anyday.

prytocorduroy

I fucking HATE growling. It seriously ruins a song for me completely. Sometimes I'll be into a death metal song, then the vocals come and it's complete shit then. I wouldn't hate it so much but it's like emo. It all fucking sounds the same and is annoying as fuck. Look at bands like Metallica for instance. Hetfield actually sings. All the Iron Maiden singers sing. There's more examples (and I know those aren't death metal bands but they're examples of how metal and actually singing work together) but I can't think of anymore. This band Byproduct sounded good even though the guy growled, but it wasn't great because of the growl, just the least annoying to me out of them all. I wanna hear and understand meaningful lyrics, not screaming the whole time.

intodeep

As for good solid rock bands i'll second the rose hill drive mention they were pretty good when i saw them open for Wilco. I think My Morning Jacket is a really good band and they've been that way for a while now. I like queens of the stone age a lot too.

anyway for the "death metal screaming" I used to feel very similar to you. Metal is far from my favorite kind of music but i appreciate it for what it is and the place it has in my collection now. It took me a long time to get into it. I saw the Unholy Alliance tour a couple days ago and it was tons of fun. I generally listen to metal for the energy it brings and the guitar/drum work. I think the growling goes well with the energy.

I think for most it is a love it or hate it kind of thing.

DOSW

danny72688 wrote:

I fucking HATE growling. It seriously ruins a song for me completely. Sometimes I'll be into a death metal song, then the vocals come and it's complete shit then. I wouldn't hate it so much but it's like emo. It all fucking sounds the same and is annoying as fuck. Look at bands like Metallica for instance. Hetfield actually sings. All the Iron Maiden singers sing. There's more examples (and I know those aren't death metal bands but they're examples of how metal and actually singing work together) but I can't think of anymore. This band Byproduct sounded good even though the guy growled, but it wasn't great because of the growl, just the least annoying to me out of them all. I wanna hear and understand meaningful lyrics, not screaming the whole time.

This guy knows what I mean. Bands like Isis would be absolutely incredible if they didn't have the growling vocals. There's so much talent in that band, but the screaming just ruins it for me.

Jellyrolls wrote:

typical post on these forums.

Why yes, I am musically ignorant. Thank you for pointing that out in your elitist response.

Collin

I don't like the screaming either, it ruins songs a lot, but I wouldn't say it takes no talent, screaming isn't that easy...

DOSW

Collin wrote:

I don't like the screaming either, it ruins songs a lot, but I wouldn't say it takes no talent, screaming isn't that easy...

True, but what I meant was it takes no singing talent. I heard somewhere that the hardest part of screaming is making it so that you can scream without tearing your vocal chords up...

libragirl

I really don't like death metal.

pjfan020

I too don't really like what's being called metal these days, but there are a few bands that are good. Like previously mentioned the band Opeth is an amazing metal band. Their singer has an incredible voice and when he screams, it somehow makes sense with the rest of the music.

I'd have to say that the biggest problem with these bands for me is that they all sound like each other now. The formula is detuned guitars + blast beats and double bass + screaming= todays modern metal band.

Echoes

pjfan020 wrote:

I too don't really like what's being called metal these days, but there are a few bands that are good. Like previously mentioned the band Opeth is an amazing metal band. Their singer has an incredible voice and when he screams, it somehow makes sense with the rest of the music.

I'd have to say that the biggest problem with these bands for me is that they all sound like each other now. The formula is detuned guitars + blast beats and double bass + screaming= todays modern metal band.

just like bluesy guitar+4/4 beat+anguished vocals and crappy lyrics=today's rock band?

It is an overgeneralisation, to be sure, and not a very valid one (well valid in that those elements do exist, but invalid in that you can do about a trillion things with them).

To say that Metallica and Iron Maiden are examples of fine metal because they have clear vocals is kind of ridiculous (and also living in the past). And yeah, growling takes some singing talent - they are still hitting notes, just because you can't understand the words doesn't make it any less hard to do. I admit it is not to everyone's taste, but I also admit there are prexisting prejudices towards that (the sound of vocalists in metal). SO uh like it if you don't but don't even try to play the talentless card.

PJ-Sin

This thread is starting to annoy me... You say it takes no talent to scream? ..lets hear you try to do it. 9 out of 10 singers would tell you its alot harder to scream than to sing. I am almost 30 yrs old and have been playing music since about 15. Singing came pretty easy, but I have had to work on screaming for years to get my voice to do the things it can now (and I still am trying to get better) So, I know how to sing, and I know how to scream, and YES I scream more than sing (while also playing the guitar which is even HARDER to do). I guess being in a metal band myself, Im kind of biased on this issue, but metal will NEVER get the credit it deserves. So, if you dont like "metal" and all the screaming DONT FUCKING LISTEN TO IT!!

oh and btw, YOU CAN HIT NOTES WHILE SCREAMING!



ok, Ive calmed down and just realized you must not be listening to GOOD metal

DOSW

PJ-Sin wrote:

This thread is starting to annoy me... You say it takes no talent to scream? ..lets hear you try to do it. 9 out of 10 singers would tell you its alot harder to scream than to sing. I am almost 30 yrs old and have been playing music since about 15. Singing came pretty easy, but I have had to work on screaming for years to get my voice to do the things it can now (and I still am trying to get better) So, I know how to sing, and I know how to scream, and YES I scream more than sing (while also playing the guitar which is even HARDER to do). I guess being in a metal band myself, Im kind of biased on this issue, but metal will NEVER get the credit it deserves. So, if you dont like "metal" and all the screaming DONT FUCKING LISTEN TO IT!!

oh and btw, YOU CAN HIT NOTES WHILE SCREAMING!



ok, Ive calmed down and just realized you must not be listening to GOOD metal

Hey, I wasn't trying to make anyone angry. I perfectly respect anyone who likes screaming/growling in their music. I just don't like it myself.

bryanfury

i like all different kinds of music, but new-age metal is doodoo. it all sounds exactly the same. some dude screaming over non-melodic heavy riffs. As far as i'm concerend, every band at ozzfest could be the same band.

Jeremy1012

I too hate the screaming. if it fits the song (some of MJK's screams are stunning) then its ok but I wish they woudldnt TRADE screaming for vocals.

Echoes

bryanfury wrote:

i like all different kinds of music, but new-age metal is doodoo. it all sounds exactly the same. some dude screaming over non-melodic heavy riffs. As far as i'm concerend, every band at ozzfest could be the same band.

actually Strapping Young Lad is a pretty fantastic band at ozzfest.

But if what is played at ozzfest is your idea of what metal is like nowadays I can see why you hate it so, and also you aren't really looking at very much of the metal scene.

ItsEvolutionBaby74

jeffbr wrote:

Here's another vote for Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt. He can sing and he can growl.

I totally agree man I saw them live!!!! "Morningrise" is my favourite Opeth disk, how about you?

jeffbr

ItsEvolutionBaby74 wrote:

I totally agree man I saw them live!!!! "Morningrise" is my favourite Opeth disk, how about you?

For me it is a coin flip between Morningrise and Blackwater Park.

They're one of my favorite bands to see live. And Mikael is funny as hell with his banter between songs.

prytocorduroy

Echoes wrote:

To say that Metallica and Iron Maiden are examples of fine metal because they have clear vocals is kind of ridiculous (and also living in the past)

If that was a shout out to me, I was just using those bands as examples of how metal and singing go great together, so every metal band doesn't HAVE to growl... To me growling sounds the same from every metal band (or very close to it) and the riffs aren't very interesting these days (I really miss the 80s solos, if they're still around I don't know about them). So living in the past works for me because I think the music is better then. And I actually like a Lamb of God riff until the guy starts singing, so there is hope.

Echoes

I guess my point was that Maiden and Metallica are not representative of how metal bands are. I personally don't think metallica's vocals are that great, I'll take Death or Morbid Angel's vocals over his any day. Or the guy from Finntroll.

The guy from Ensiferum's vocals have always bugged me.

prytocorduroy

Echoes wrote:

I guess my point was that Maiden and Metallica are not representative of how metal bands are. I personally don't think metallica's vocals are that great, I'll take Death or Morbid Angel's vocals over his any day. Or the guy from Finntroll.

The guy from Ensiferum's vocals have always bugged me.

I would go as far to say they are probably the roots of metal - along with Slayer, and Megadeath. Most bands were influenced by at least Metallica I think. It all goes back to one or more of those four I think. Might be wrong. I'm just more mad at how all these metal acts don't have unique qualities that I can see/hear (and I hate growling ). And Metallica's vocals and lyrics used to be amazing in my opinion, now, not so much. Death metal has potential I think, but it doesn't seem anyone is striving for originalilty anymore. Gotta growl, gotta drop the tuning (preferably Drop D down a step).

sadprofessor

That whole cookie monster growling vocal style is just comical at this point.

Echoes

no originality?? have you heard cryptopsy or what Enslaved's been doing lately (my guess is no, because you don't like growling or screaming and that is pretty much part and parcel with death metal).

as for metallica being the roots of metal? The roots of metal go waaaay farther back, ie Deep Purple's Machine Head and the like. BUt I hate discussing the history of metal because it makes people want to say things like "Led Zeppelin was metal because they had an influence on it!"

or Opeth! Blackwater Park is one of the best albums of the last little while. Granted Ghost Reveries ahrsh sucked, but man they are great

prytocorduroy

Echoes wrote:

no originality?? have you heard cryptopsy or what Enslaved's been doing lately (my guess is no, because you don't like growling or screaming and that is pretty much part and parcel with death metal).

as for metallica being the roots of metal? The roots of metal go waaaay farther back, ie Deep Purple's Machine Head and the like. BUt I hate discussing the history of metal because it makes people want to say things like "Led Zeppelin was metal because they had an influence on it!"

or Opeth! Blackwater Park is one of the best albums of the last little while. Granted Ghost Reveries ahrsh sucked, but man they are great

Yes you're right about Metallica, I give them too much credit sometimes 'cause I've got a hard on for 'em And no on Cryptopsy and Enslaved - haven't heard them. I'm basing statememnts on stuff I've heard, which they could all be the same band in my opinion. I may have to look into more songs because I'm not educated enough about it to be making statements like I have.