Favourite metal/ hard rock singer/ vocalist
- Thread starter W8NKA
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I don't mean to troll here, but I see many have mentioned Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth.
I like their music and I do agree that he is really good, but when he starts singing the soft and clean parts in the songs.
It does sound like someone switched the radio channel from Opeth to a male cover of Dido.
I like their music and I do agree that he is really good, but when he starts singing the soft and clean parts in the songs.
It does sound like someone switched the radio channel from Opeth to a male cover of Dido.
Devin Townsend for me, definitely.
He's by far the most versatile musician I've ever seen.
I should also note the disappointing lack of Robb Flynn, who's my favourite metal vocalist outside of the ol' dev.
He's by far the most versatile musician I've ever seen.
I should also note the disappointing lack of Robb Flynn, who's my favourite metal vocalist outside of the ol' dev.
Also, unlike every metal vocalist ever, he doesn't let down the intensity live. He sounds angrier.
Eric Adams of Manowar gets my vote. He's got power, range and emotion and can sing fast or slow, and heavy as hell.
It actually fills me with happiness. Pantera are one of those bands that made it big by aping better bands. They started out as doofy hair-metal cause Vinnie and Dime loved KISS and then switched when Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, et al came along and made metal awesome again. Don't get me wrong, they have some snazzy riffs here and there, but I've never been impressed with any originality from the Texans.Wadders said:
OT: Mike Patton, Maynard, OZZY, James Labrie, the dudes in Mastodon, and Les Claypool.
Mikael Stanne
I had to laugh at this comment though: "It's Century Media. They didn't say which century. This was recorded through a peasant's asshole in the middle of a turnip field. Circa 1600." I don't know why.
Death metal vocals sound about 1.5 times as good in German or Russian, just felt like saying, but I don't have a favourite Russian or German vocalist.
I had to laugh at this comment though: "It's Century Media. They didn't say which century. This was recorded through a peasant's asshole in the middle of a turnip field. Circa 1600." I don't know why.
Death metal vocals sound about 1.5 times as good in German or Russian, just felt like saying, but I don't have a favourite Russian or German vocalist.
What makes you think I'm just talking about Pantera? Phil has a lot of other bands, which possibly demonstrate his varied abilities as a singer and a frontman more than Pantera.Nigh Invulnerable said:
I take your point about them following in the footsteps of other bands to an extent, but wether or not those are 'better' than Pantera is purely subjective. I'm my view, Pantera are better than Kiss and Megadeth, but that's just because I prefer Pantera's music. And let's be honest, which band hasn't aped other bands? It's called having influences.
But yea, back to Phil. His work with Down and Superjoint Ritual especailly is brilliant, and shouldnt be overlooked just because he was a singer in Pantera
Phil has never really impressed me in anything he's done. He's not bad, but nothing special is all. Also, there's a difference between being influenced by other artists and just ripping things off. In the case of Pantera, it's not that a particular song sound like a song by another band I like, it's just that they changed their style drastically in order to sell some records in the wake of Metallica and company making thrash huge.Wadders said:
I hate that album but at least it's kinda funny, Chameleon on the other hand is 'Nope.avi, The album'.gibboss28 said:
Good that they got back on track with Deris though, he's underrated simply for not being Kiske. But the Dark Ride and Gambling with the devil are especially brilliant Helloween albums that feature him, not quite KoTSK maybe but who cares.
And they still have their sense of humour.
I can say who my CURRENT favorite vocalist is.
Mike Scalzi of Slough Feg and once upon a time, The Hammers of Misfortune. Not only is the man's voice amazing, but his song-writing is bloody well superb.
Mike Scalzi of Slough Feg and once upon a time, The Hammers of Misfortune. Not only is the man's voice amazing, but his song-writing is bloody well superb.
Well, there's a lot of them, but here's the crème de la crème.
Favourite vocals (unedited, clean) - Erkki Seppänen (KYPCK, Dreamtale)
KYPCK was the band that got me into metal, notably due to a French guy from a forum I used to visit. I have to say that I really adore KYPCK, as their trademark fast-paced-sludy-doom is really something that has to be experienced first, so as not to be pigeonholed along with the other doom bands. Erkki's vocals on KYPCK are amazingly soul-crushing and definitely not to be taken if you want to cheer up. Also, I believe he has Dissociative Identity Disorder, because that...it...It can't be the same guy singing for both Dreamtale and KYPCK! It's impossible!
Suggested tracks: (KYPCK) Stalingrad, Posle, Ne Prosti, Alleya Stalina, Demon
Favourite vocals (unedited, clean (F) - Hanne Hukkelberg (Funeral)
My fav female singer overall has got to be Hanne during her work with Funeral(Nor). I really appreciate doom metal and her singing seems to suits the haunting melody of Funeral perfectly.
Suggested tracks: (Funeral) The Repentant, Yield to Me
Favourite distorted/edited vocals - Jus Oborn (Lord of Putrefaction, Thy Grief Eternal, Eternal, Electric Wizard)
Let's get one thing straight. Jus has probably got to be my favourite vocalist EVER. That is to say EVER. From extreme, repetative, mind-drilling chanting (such as on Dopethrone - Funeralopolis) to somewhat (though still fuzzy) clean vocals (see Witchcult Today - Dunwich or Witchcult Today - Saturnine), Jus slams every track he's on into the ground. His vocals are never above the actual instruments, but are rather buried underneath the fuzz, which makes it all-so better, once you hear it.
Suggested tracks
Electric Wizard) Dunwich, Saturnine, Funeralopolis, Vinum Sabbathi
Favourite shouting vocals - Billy Milano (S.O.D. , M.O.D.)
Let's get one thing straight. Punk and metal should NEVER mix...unless we're talking about two particular exceptions...Did I mention Billy Milano is one of them?
Milano's also one of my top vocalists simply because...He exists. Just listen to S.O.D. - Milk. Just listen to it. It begins with a DEATH GROWL, FFS. It's a song about dude who needs milk for his cereal. Next time mom forgets to buy milk, make a song about it.
Suggested tracksS.O.D.) Milk, Ballads
Favourite growling vocals - Niko Sirkiä AKA Niko Skorpio (Thergothon, This Empty Flow, Cold Once Turning Dust, A\H, Reptilijan, Haeretici 7o74, Rajapinta, Kaaos in Eccentris)
Despite there being "heavier" or "slower" doom bands out there, Thergothon takes up a special place in my heart as a band that set forth the path for what would later become Funeral Doom. Skorpio's excruciatingly long, vibrant growls really made for a brilliant atmosphere. Add to that the otherworldly, almost cosmic sound of the keyboards, the atmospheric, echoing guitars and the slow, stable drum-work and you've got an amazing Lovecraftian masterpiece
Suggested tracksThergothon) Elemental (both the Fhtagn Nagh version and the Stream from the Heavens version), Evoken
Favourite shrieking vocals - John Paul Morrow (Iron Monkey, Armour of God, My War, Murder One, Tusken Coalition)
While describing Milano I implied that most metalcore/punk crossover bands suck just because metal and punk can't blend. Well, sludge metal is the other exception and the most prolific example comes in form of one of the most frightening vocals in metal - that is to say, John Paul Morrow. I was introduced to this band by a bloke from Bristol I met recently. If you want a good example of what a frightening vocal is, listen to Our Problem - Bad Year or Our Problem - Boss Keloid. Quoting an interview from Kerrang! (waaay back in the 90s):
"For all their dry quips, Iron Monkey are, at present, the most frightening band in Britain - as anyone who has witnessed the shaven-headed, heavily tattooed Morrow hunched over his microphone in the middle of some tiny venue, howling out indecipherable lyrics with his eyes rolled to the back of his head can testify. There are more extreme noise merchants around - though few come close to the Monkey's fortified iron rumble or Morrow's alien shriek - but there isn't anyone who wraps it up in quite the same package."
Suggested tracks: (Iron Monkey) Boss Keloid, Supagorgonizer, 666 pack, Web Of Piss, Bad Year
Most Horrifying Vocals (B) - Wormphlegm
Same British guy as before told me about these...I can't describe their genre. There's no genre that really fits them properly. Quoting a review from Encyclopaedia Metallum,
"This scream makes Varg Vikernes sound like Jonathan Davis"
Wormphlegm's 32-minute long demo, appropriately entitled "In An Excruciating Way Infested With Vermin And Violated By Executioners Who Practice Incendiarism And Desanctifying The Pious" is one of the strangest things I've ever heard, period. The incredibly blasphemous lyrics topped with brutal (and yes, brutal. Not your average black/death br00tal, but brutal), painfully slow guitar work are...Atrocious. And that's saying atrocious in a good way. In a really good way, infested with vermin. Try listening to it, if you dare. If you're not easily offended, I also suggest checking out the lyrics. There's a line which made me laugh so hard that I fell off my chair. CHECK THEM OUT, I BEG YOU!
Suggested tracks: (Wormphlegm) In An Excruciating Way Infested With Vermin And Violated By Executioners Who Practice Incendiarism And Desanctifying The Pious, Tomb of the Ancient King
Honourable mention
Dave Mustaine (notably with Megadeth)
Dino Sommese (notably with Asunder)
Renato Galina (notably with diSEMBOWELMENT)
Karl Sanders (notably with Nile)
Dallas Toller-Wade (notably with Nile)
Al Cisneros (notably with Sleep)
Joris Boghtdrincker (notably with Heidevolk)
Roman Blagih (notably with Drudkh)
Steve Rowe (notably with (early) Mortification)
Niklas Thiele (notably with Horn)
Favourite vocals (unedited, clean) - Erkki Seppänen (KYPCK, Dreamtale)
KYPCK was the band that got me into metal, notably due to a French guy from a forum I used to visit. I have to say that I really adore KYPCK, as their trademark fast-paced-sludy-doom is really something that has to be experienced first, so as not to be pigeonholed along with the other doom bands. Erkki's vocals on KYPCK are amazingly soul-crushing and definitely not to be taken if you want to cheer up. Also, I believe he has Dissociative Identity Disorder, because that...it...It can't be the same guy singing for both Dreamtale and KYPCK! It's impossible!
Suggested tracks: (KYPCK) Stalingrad, Posle, Ne Prosti, Alleya Stalina, Demon
Favourite vocals (unedited, clean (F) - Hanne Hukkelberg (Funeral)
My fav female singer overall has got to be Hanne during her work with Funeral(Nor). I really appreciate doom metal and her singing seems to suits the haunting melody of Funeral perfectly.
Suggested tracks: (Funeral) The Repentant, Yield to Me
Favourite distorted/edited vocals - Jus Oborn (Lord of Putrefaction, Thy Grief Eternal, Eternal, Electric Wizard)
Let's get one thing straight. Jus has probably got to be my favourite vocalist EVER. That is to say EVER. From extreme, repetative, mind-drilling chanting (such as on Dopethrone - Funeralopolis) to somewhat (though still fuzzy) clean vocals (see Witchcult Today - Dunwich or Witchcult Today - Saturnine), Jus slams every track he's on into the ground. His vocals are never above the actual instruments, but are rather buried underneath the fuzz, which makes it all-so better, once you hear it.
Suggested tracks
Electric Wizard) Dunwich, Saturnine, Funeralopolis, Vinum SabbathiFavourite shouting vocals - Billy Milano (S.O.D. , M.O.D.)
Let's get one thing straight. Punk and metal should NEVER mix...unless we're talking about two particular exceptions...Did I mention Billy Milano is one of them?
Milano's also one of my top vocalists simply because...He exists. Just listen to S.O.D. - Milk. Just listen to it. It begins with a DEATH GROWL, FFS. It's a song about dude who needs milk for his cereal. Next time mom forgets to buy milk, make a song about it.
Suggested tracks
S.O.D.) Milk, Ballads Favourite growling vocals - Niko Sirkiä AKA Niko Skorpio (Thergothon, This Empty Flow, Cold Once Turning Dust, A\H, Reptilijan, Haeretici 7o74, Rajapinta, Kaaos in Eccentris)
Despite there being "heavier" or "slower" doom bands out there, Thergothon takes up a special place in my heart as a band that set forth the path for what would later become Funeral Doom. Skorpio's excruciatingly long, vibrant growls really made for a brilliant atmosphere. Add to that the otherworldly, almost cosmic sound of the keyboards, the atmospheric, echoing guitars and the slow, stable drum-work and you've got an amazing Lovecraftian masterpiece
Suggested tracks
Thergothon) Elemental (both the Fhtagn Nagh version and the Stream from the Heavens version), EvokenFavourite shrieking vocals - John Paul Morrow (Iron Monkey, Armour of God, My War, Murder One, Tusken Coalition)
While describing Milano I implied that most metalcore/punk crossover bands suck just because metal and punk can't blend. Well, sludge metal is the other exception and the most prolific example comes in form of one of the most frightening vocals in metal - that is to say, John Paul Morrow. I was introduced to this band by a bloke from Bristol I met recently. If you want a good example of what a frightening vocal is, listen to Our Problem - Bad Year or Our Problem - Boss Keloid. Quoting an interview from Kerrang! (waaay back in the 90s):
"For all their dry quips, Iron Monkey are, at present, the most frightening band in Britain - as anyone who has witnessed the shaven-headed, heavily tattooed Morrow hunched over his microphone in the middle of some tiny venue, howling out indecipherable lyrics with his eyes rolled to the back of his head can testify. There are more extreme noise merchants around - though few come close to the Monkey's fortified iron rumble or Morrow's alien shriek - but there isn't anyone who wraps it up in quite the same package."
Suggested tracks: (Iron Monkey) Boss Keloid, Supagorgonizer, 666 pack, Web Of Piss, Bad Year
Most Horrifying Vocals (B) - Wormphlegm
Same British guy as before told me about these...I can't describe their genre. There's no genre that really fits them properly. Quoting a review from Encyclopaedia Metallum,
"This scream makes Varg Vikernes sound like Jonathan Davis"
Wormphlegm's 32-minute long demo, appropriately entitled "In An Excruciating Way Infested With Vermin And Violated By Executioners Who Practice Incendiarism And Desanctifying The Pious" is one of the strangest things I've ever heard, period. The incredibly blasphemous lyrics topped with brutal (and yes, brutal. Not your average black/death br00tal, but brutal), painfully slow guitar work are...Atrocious. And that's saying atrocious in a good way. In a really good way, infested with vermin. Try listening to it, if you dare. If you're not easily offended, I also suggest checking out the lyrics. There's a line which made me laugh so hard that I fell off my chair. CHECK THEM OUT, I BEG YOU!
Suggested tracks: (Wormphlegm) In An Excruciating Way Infested With Vermin And Violated By Executioners Who Practice Incendiarism And Desanctifying The Pious, Tomb of the Ancient King
Honourable mention
Dave Mustaine (notably with Megadeth)
Dino Sommese (notably with Asunder)
Renato Galina (notably with diSEMBOWELMENT)
Karl Sanders (notably with Nile)
Dallas Toller-Wade (notably with Nile)
Al Cisneros (notably with Sleep)
Joris Boghtdrincker (notably with Heidevolk)
Roman Blagih (notably with Drudkh)
Steve Rowe (notably with (early) Mortification)
Niklas Thiele (notably with Horn)
It honestly took longer than I thought for someone to mention him. I think the thing that really shines about him is how much he's offset by Adam. Individually, each singer is good, but when you put them together, each one offsets the other so much that they both shine.TheRightToArmBears said:
Forgot to mention one - Albert Witchfinder, one of the best clean doom vocalists out there. And Messiah Marcolin of Candlemass. Both are very good for clean vocalists, no doubt.
I guess this makes two, then.
Also, what's up with no-one mentioning Ozzy Osbourne? Is it implied that he's the one responsible for all of this, or is it just that no-one really likes him?
I guess this makes two, then.
Also, what's up with no-one mentioning Ozzy Osbourne? Is it implied that he's the one responsible for all of this, or is it just that no-one really likes him?