People's problems with growling

It seems odd to me that I get the impression lots of us here seem to be open minded about singing styles, but somehow growling gets on the wrong side of some. Is it just that it's usually in metal?

CPicard wrote: I think that we got it now: only a few people can stand growlings, and the only death-metal band they know is Opeth. Gee.

Since I only have a "normal" bass (4 strings, EADG), I wonder if I could play the Messhugah material?
With special strings?
I remember an interview by the musicians of Mortician explaining tuning their instruments so low that the strings looked like mooring ropes!

I've just been getting into more progressive death metal, and I can't stand how so many of my friends have something against it. Just because clean singing is in more popular music, it has become generally expected. If growling was in music that became more mainstream, it would be generally expected as well. It's just another style of singing.

I've been falling out with metal in general lately, but I have to add that tastefully or randomly included growling can really add to a song. Look at the new Beardfish album: the title track features a few lines that are growled. Are they a metal band? No, not really at all. Do they growl well? Yeah, as far as I know. They only do it for a moment, and I imagine that lots of fans of the band will be turned off by this. Did I like it? Oh yes. I loved it! It makes me laugh every time. It sounds good with the music, and it's just another flavor the boys use. If growling is the only flavor or the main flavor of a band, it gets old for me quickly. Just like if any one facet of any vocalist's voice is used too often in a band. I like variation in my music, that's all. Growling can be done well (I do like Opeth, incidentally, as well as Orphaned Land and Cynic). It can also be done awfully.

Also, while Meshuggah has been mentioned... I find this band to be nothing more than a glorified rhythm machine. There's rarely any melody anywhere, just guitars and basses and drums in some sort of horrifyingly devilish sync, with some syncopated screaming over the top that apparently has words tied to it. If you're into crazy rhythms, it's right up your alley. Just thought I'd share that. I mean, I don't like them, despite having given them a very long, fair shot, but I can understand why people do. They do have talent. They just use it in strange ways.


And that's true, Henry. I never heard Cookie Monster being so unhappy. The day a band starts growling intensely about dessert items, then it will all make sense to me.


Edited by LiquidEternity - August 05 2009 at 22:05

There's lots of painful singing in prog, that's why progressive death fits right in. I'd name names but I don't want to start a flame war. We all know of plenty of examples.

 

stonebeard wrote: It seems odd to me that I get the impression lots of us here seem to be open minded about singing styles, but somehow growling gets on the wrong side of some. Is it just that it's usually in metal?

Well, back when i first started listening to metal, i felt very strongly against growling because it's so corny that i used to find myself extremely embarrassed listening to it.


Anyways, yup, i think i've pretty much gotten to be a pro at totally phasing out vocals during metal songs in my mind about now.

The human voice is imperfect as it is; growling is like taking a poo on the music.


Edited by Dominic - August 05 2009 at 22:55