Clean Vocals or Death Growl? (Modern Prog)

 

 

I just feel when you listen to an album, especially progressive, you expect a certain type of music, usually complex, multi instrumental perhaps, with a variation of styles and a certain atmosphere is generated. When those death metal grow vocals come on in short spurts, it works OK to bring a darkness to an atmosphere, and at times admittedly it can get too dark for my tastes but I can understand it's use. I detest evil lyrics and evil sounding vocalists; obviously black metal bands want to sound evil and dark and for that reason they shriek, growl and vomit their way through every song, such as Dark Throne, Emperor, Cradle of Filth, and I used to listen to Morbid Angel, Nalpalm Death and Exodus in my metal years. I still like some of Napalm Death's old stuff such as Suffer the Children and Cenotaph, great for a change of pace. Overall though, I have grown out of that now into more serious adult music; I believe the death metal scene is really for a teenage or pre 30s target audience, though there are always exceptions, and it is not virtuoso or complex, I have played and sung Cenotaph myself, and it is not difficult. A lot of people can growl a song, but try singing like Russell Alan or Neal Morse or Jon Anderson... very difficult.   

 

The grindcore bands of course have to growl or they would sound stupid, but once agin that is fine for them if thats what floats your boat, indulge in Canibal Corpse, Jim Carrey's favourite band, and hear about having your entrails split, your body rots, you are repeatedly smashed to a pulp with hammers... the growling is so intense and inaudible they could be singing "my dog runs across the road and licks my neighbour's cat"... I read the lyrics to Hammer Smashed Face and the song was still impossible to follow. Is that talent to sing like that? Lyrics are so important to me and if you cannot understand them, why have lyrics? What is their purpose?   

 

When growling vocals work it is when they are used in a certain context , not just growling non stop, that is really boring and irritating. They work when used for a purpose such as Devin Townsend albums (Ziltoid), Dream Theater (Black Clouds...) Haken (Aquarius) and Ayreon (Human Equation day 12). In these albums contexts the growling enhances the mood and makes sense even. I still do not prefer it but I can appreciate the effect that this has and it belongs there. However if there is a constatnt barrage of death vocals on every song it loses its impact for me and becomes very dull and unpleasant. This is why I mention Opeth. They are incredible musicians and I love Still Life, and Damnation especially. Damnation is a beautifully crafted melancholy Gothic work that has some of the best Opeth, influenced from Porcupine Tree admittedly but is great to hear very quiet vocals and virtuoso guitar riffing, not just a bunch of angry growls. In My Time Of Need is my favourite track on the album that features a melody that really captivates me and it haunts me, beautiful beyond anything on their other albums. When they use clean vocals and growling balanced out it is Ok with me, such as on Still Life, but when it is one incessant GREEEEEAAAAAAAOOOOOOORRRRRRRR - I mean, what good is that and especialy as Akerfeldt is such a damn fine singer on clean vocals, as good as i have heard. I was really moved by his work on Damnation and then was so appalled at Deliverance which sounded like he was possessed by demons he growled so much. I know it is only a style of music but it sounds so morbid and evil. OK, just leave the growling to Black Metal and grindcore type bands, they can have it and I wont go near that music again... already indulged in that realm 25 years ago, and then I discovered real music - PROG4EVER.  

 

I enjoy a lot of non-english music and I understand spanish, some portuguese and italian....but not growling.

That's screaming. 

In my opinion, Opeth is one of the very best bands of today.