Metal Singers (and cookie monster to a lesser extent)

[Bored Tomatoe]

I enjoy music. I enjoy...Harsher music..than most other people that I know. However, I have never really been able to get into death metal music because of one thing: Their vocalists. Death Metal and the metal genre in general are both extremely complex and entertaining instrument wise, but for some reason they all seem to find the same kind of vocalists: Either a shrill, ear shattering screecher, or a jagged, rusty growling cookie monster impersonator.
I just cannot seem to enjoy death metal songs with such a...repetitive voice in my ear. It wouldn't be bad at all if the singer could, well, sing (melodically that is) for at least a small portion of the song. I know that some bands do not do the whole growl and groan thing, but I was just hoping to find if I am not alone in my opinion, or if I am the only one who likes the instruments, just not the singer.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

Well Dani Filth has a wide range of his voice and goes between the low "cookie monster" growl, (even lower then the lowest lows I might say) to some of the harshest shrieks I've ever heard.
Though at his most melodic he's got a raspy sound, look up, The Death of Love by Cradle of Filth and see if that suits your tastes. If not, check out their Album Thornography, it's got a great deal of melody and harmonization.

He is one of the better metal singers that I have heard, as I can actually understand what he is saying most of the time.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

I am into TRUE instrumental and its the total opposite for my friends

they like country and all that stuff and I like Techno, Jazz, and Soft Rock

so when I turn on SFR they are like COME ON DUDE WHERE IS THE NEW SHIT

AND THE LYRICSIM

....I like caps lock too....

 

[Lord Beautiful]

I feel exactly the same. If it weren't for these growling pricks (I refuse to call them singers), I would be a bona fide metal head.

 

[The Kind Cannibal]

I like the cookie monster singing, nay adore it. It just so...powerful and awe inspiring to hear somebody emit primal growls like that. Plus, when you listen to the genre long enough you can actually understand them fairly easily, and you soon realize that they don't all sound the same, each is unique.

 

[zen5887]

Try Opeth.

Their singer changes from br0tal growl to pretty singing a lot.

 

[matrix3509]

The only metal band that I REALLY like are Arch Enemy and Killswitch Engage. Killswitch Engage mixes up the singing and growling/screaming fairly regularly. Arch Enemy is the only metal band I actually like that uses screams and growls. It somehow fits the music's melodic feel. It also helps that their vocalist is a girl who can match just about any guy in screaming chops.

 

[Copter400]

Maybe try some Maximum The Hormone. It's a Japanese band. Their man in charge of death vocals, Daisuke, is fantastic. He wouldn't be out of place in any metal band.

Additionally, their music tends to go through different moods and genres, so you've got a song like 'Chu Chu Lovely' where the chorus is bubbly pop-rock while the verses are done by Daisuke but still maintaining a bouncy, upbeat tempo. Good stuff.

 

[The Wooster]

I enjoy music. I enjoy...Harsher music..than most other people that I know. However, I have never really been able to get into death metal music because of one thing: Their vocalists. Death Metal and the metal genre in general are both extremely complex and entertaining instrument wise, but for some reason they all seem to find the same kind of vocalists: Either a shrill, ear shattering screecher, or a jagged, rusty growling cookie monster impersonator.
I just cannot seem to enjoy death metal songs with such a...repetitive voice in my ear. It wouldn't be bad at all if the singer could, well, sing (melodically that is) for at least a small portion of the song. I know that some bands do not do the whole growl and groan thing, but I was just hoping to find if I am not alone in my opinion, or if I am the only one who likes the instruments, just not the singer.

What's worse is when metal fans start talking about the individual qualities of the cookie monster impression. As if it's actual music. It's like watching monkeys wear suits and fake mustaches and pretend to be bankers.

 

[The Wooster]

Maybe try some Maximum The Hormone. It's a Japanese band. Their man in charge of death vocals, Daisuke, is fantastic. He wouldn't be out of place in any metal band.

Additionally, their music tends to go through different moods and genres, so you've got a song like 'Chu Chu Lovely' where the chorus is bubbly pop-rock while the verses are done by Daisuke but still maintaining a bouncy, upbeat tempo. Good stuff.

Someone's been watchin' teh deth Note.

 

[xitel]

I don't really listen to much Death Metal, but I like the way Dethklok's music is understandable but still low and gravely. And freaking hillarious.

 

[Rhayn]

Death Metal isn't exactly meant to be easily listening. It takes some time to get use to the deeper growling. Just listen to some more varied songs for some time, and I'll guarantee you'll be able to like the deeper growling.

Perhaps you could read the lyrics whilst you listen, gets you focused on the message rather than focusing in on the supposed "horribleness" of the vocals.

I would recommend The Cancer Empire album by Zonaria as a nice entry-level death metal album.

 

[Copter400]

Maybe try some Maximum The Hormone. It's a Japanese band. Their man in charge of death vocals, Daisuke, is fantastic. He wouldn't be out of place in any metal band.

Additionally, their music tends to go through different moods and genres, so you've got a song like 'Chu Chu Lovely' where the chorus is bubbly pop-rock while the verses are done by Daisuke but still maintaining a bouncy, upbeat tempo. Good stuff.

Someone's been watchin' teh deth Note.

Uh...yeah. Yes, that's where the addiction started, certainly.

 

[Skilen]

I'm not sure if this would fall into the right genre, but try Five Finger Death Punch - I think there's a good balance there.



Or Disturbed. They're always good.

 

[The Wooster]

Maybe try some Maximum The Hormone. It's a Japanese band. Their man in charge of death vocals, Daisuke, is fantastic. He wouldn't be out of place in any metal band.

Additionally, their music tends to go through different moods and genres, so you've got a song like 'Chu Chu Lovely' where the chorus is bubbly pop-rock while the verses are done by Daisuke but still maintaining a bouncy, upbeat tempo. Good stuff.

Someone's been watchin' teh deth Note.

Uh...yeah. Yes, that's where the addiction started, certainly.

Yeah I picked up the album after seeing it on Death Note too. It's not bad.

 

[coldfrog]

I don't really listen to much Death Metal, but I like the way Dethklok's music is understandable but still low and gravely. And freaking hillarious.

Do you want some coffee? har har.

Another group that makes the switch pretty well is Avenged Sevenfold, they're not as heavy as some things, they're a very melodic metal, but they still go a little bit in both of those directions. Waking the Fallen is one of my favorites. Don't get the newest one, though, it's got a bit of tripe on it. Dunno what it's called, just don't get it.