[Music] Metal Appeal

[TheWerebison]

So, I was catching TotalBiscuit's podcast the other day, and decided to listen in on the preshow music, to get an idea of the stuff I always hear him talking about playing. As I turned it on, my ears were immediately assaulted by tortured, murderous screaming. I've had a look at the thread on this forum about all the different types of metal, and didn't realize there were so many. Myself, I like Ozzy and Quiet Riot and Dio and stuff, but these bands that seem to be doing their best to make your ears bleed...I dunno. During the periods in which nobody was "singing," I actually could enjoy a lot of the music, but eventually the vocals would come back in, and I would almost literally cringe in my seat.

Now, this is not a criticism of these types of metal; it's just not for me. What I want to know is, what is the appeal? If you listen to this music, what do you get from it? Does it speak to you? This is an honest question, not rudeness.

Also, although this is probably a foolish thing to ask on the internet, there is no need to start badmouthing TotalBiscuit or my particular taste in music just because I mentioned them. This is just open for some discussion about why you like the screaming death metal type of genres (assuming you DO like it).

[Badpaladin]

Because singing could not possibly ever match the sheer horror and sinister nature that a song like this conveys.

Generally speaking, the music you listed is easy to like. It's approachable, easy on the ears and is designed that way. There's nothing wrong with that, but what it lacks is a lot of depth that the more "intense" metal can convey. That isn't to say there isn't stupid shit out there that's heavy for the sake of heaviness (youtube Chelsea Grin and try NOT to kill yourself at how bad it is), but the more intense stuff that's actually good has a TON of strings attached.

[paloalto]

There was a study done by Boston College in conjunction with MIT and Oxford that the average metal fan had a lower functioning brain than fans of other music.

Or I completely made that up.

I like some metal as shallow rage music. That's all.

edit: Rage probably isn't the word. I like listening to it occasionally when I'm driving or what to hear something light and fluffy.

[Duilliath]

In cleanly sung metal, the focus often lies on the melody line from the vocals. Everything else takes a backseat. In black metal/death metal based music, the voice is treated as an instrument and as such more equal to the rest of the instruments. In doing this, there's more leeway for the rest of the instruments to shine.

It took me a while to get used to it (no one starts off listening to Nile, Marduk or Death) but once you embrace the quality of the music it becomes a lot easier and in time it'll 'click'.

Plenty of music I listen to has clean vocals or mixes different kinds of vocals. However, most of the times, vocalists just aren't interesting enough to carry a song by themselves.

[Prothean]

That video linked above....................

...............


I just laughed.

[Deleted]

To me, vocals are the most inportant part in music. I sing alot and shit. Well anyways screaming, growling, screeching, wheezing, general unclean-ness is a very skillful vocal style and its easy for me to appreciate. And those that can do that perfectly live(can think of...One that can do them all, another thats really good at his own stuff) is what I would consider an amazing singer and then clean singers are generally average even if they do sound really good.

Think rappers, I cant do that stuff...It's skillful and is sometimes enjoyable(depending on the topic, because most of the time its just...Daunting)


Also like the guy said above me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KaU9509oY so much emotion is shown with this guys vocals and how it suits the instrumental. try doing that cleanly

[Badpaladin]

That video linked above....................

...............


I just laughed.

Ohhhhh man, you sure got me!

@Scotia -- Some rappers are just plain amazing. Check out some of Immortal Technique's songs; what's the best is you can hear him breathing quickly in between lines so each song is all one take. Rappers like Tech N9ne and Tonedeff are even more insane, although they both use a few more "studio tricks" to help them out. Live, they're still incredible though.

[Promethax]

I prefer thrash metal, death core is a joke to me.

[mordale]

I prefer thrash metal, death core is a joke to me.

power, shock, and classic of course.

[mustangzs2]

There was a study done by Boston College in conjunction with MIT and Oxford that the average metal fan had a lower functioning brain than fans of other music.

Or I completely made that up.

I like some metal as shallow rage music. That's all.

edit: Rage probably isn't the word. I like listening to it occasionally when I'm driving or what to hear something light and fluffy.

People like this make me lol.
This is practically like saying "people that listen to rap are more prone to be gangbangers or killers".
You add nothing to this topic except flamebait. GTFO troll.

OT: listen to some of these, I'm very picky when it comes to music and the radio has made me come to hate any hip hop / country / rap music. I tend to hate music that I can't hear the vocals, and I hate a lot of vocalists. Very picky.. Just listen to these, most are melodic metal with understandable lyrics:

[Badpaladin]

None of those bands are Melodic Death Metal, they're metalcore. Not saying that's bad as I am a metalcore fan, but that ain't Melodeath.

[mustangzs2]

None of those bands are Melodic Death Metal, they're metalcore. Not saying that's bad as I am a metalcore fan, but that ain't Melodeath.

I said melodic, not melodeath. I know none are even close to death, I just didn't know what exactly to call them. Metalcore doesn't sound like the right genre, I like to consider them melodic metal.

[Enfilade]

I prefer Thrash to any of the other sub-genres. Here's some Melodic Death Metal:

[Adjusting]

They are kindred spirits.

[AnotherRogue]

I like mostly power/symphonic/progressive metal, there's both good melody and "strength of sound", a perfect combination to me. Totally don't enjoy trash/death/grindcore stuff, it seems too noisy and not-melodical to me.

Examples of what I like:

[Amarohk]

That video linked above....................

...............


I just laughed.

It made me laugh too. No way that's music...

[perix]

this is why through the fire and flame became so famous because it has the feel of the heavier stuff without my goddamn ears bleeding from constant sreaming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaSYvvfzYaE

[MoneryCheese]

I'm not sure. I enjoy tons of different types of music, whether it be alternative rock, metal, classical, or opera. Although I do love my metal very much because it gives me a distinct feeling of... I'm not sure how to put it. With metal songs you usually need to read between the lines to see what is actually being said, and at the same time it's delivered in a way that gets your heart pumping and your mind racing.

My all time favourite song is melodic death metal. I can't post links or videos so, anyway it's called Let This River Flow by Soilwork. It also happens that one of TB's favourite bands is Soilwork, which made me smile when I first saw that was the case.

[nvrpn2thewnd]

I personally listen to metal because the music they play takes so much more talent than rap or other "accepted" forms of music. I'm sure the rappers that can do blast beats, double bass, sweep arpeggios, 4+ finger tapping can all be counted on one hand.

[MoneryCheese]

I personally listen to metal because the music they play takes so much more talent than rap or other "accepted" forms of music. I'm sure the rappers that can do blast beats, double bass, sweep arpeggios, 4+ finger tapping can all be counted on one hand.

You listen to metal to spite other types of music? That doesn't make you a metal fan.