Jakehammaren

[quote name='John']I still think it takes away some of the emotional authenticity. I think if you're screaming, it should be for a reason, in which case you shouldn't be worrying about the sound as much as the message. You can focus more on the aural aspect if you want, which is fine and good, but I simply find it lacking something. And of course, trying to protect your vocal chords is completely understandable.[/quote] I preform "extreme" (growl/scream/screech/whatever) vocals for a Metal band. Our lyrics do carry emotion, but I do pay attention to how my growl sounds. You see, if you focus purely on the emotional intent of the scream and not on controlling how it's coming out, you will hurt yourself and sound awful. You can totally tell when a vocalist has no idea how to scream well. Bands like AFI and The Used are great examples; when it comes time for screaming in their music, they just sound awful. They're not putting any focus on technique - it just sounds like the vocalist is screaming about something as opposed to using extreme vocals in a musical way. You see, there's a fine line between actual vocals and a guy just yelling at the top of his lungs. This is why much attention must be payed to the timbre of your growl. My band has a recording up on our Myspace page ([url]www.myspace.com/vikingedda[/url]) of a song we completed recently, and I'll say it right up front - my vocals sound absolutely atrocious. I was too busy trying to nail the lyrics and rhythm (which is of the utmost importance, don't get me wrong), and not paying attention to how my voice actually sounded. I was sick that day, I had just drunk a Pepsi, and I hadn't warmed up. The result is very, very lame.

[quote name='Tical Blue][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Dragonforce[/COLOR] - Is freaking AMAZING. These guys deliver pulse-pounding, rediculously fast insanity. The two guitarists are inhumanly fast, which I guess is why they called their latest album Inhuman Rampage. This band has the most extreme and increadibly long guitar solos I've ever heard. The drums are just tatatatatatatatatatata constantly moving. The bass is also great, and occasionally there are little ball-bashing bass solos. There is also a bit of background keyboarding and the like which fits in well. The lyrics are always about some sort of quest or folkish battle involving blades of power and such. The vocals are almost inspirational in their upliftingness and sung like.... well, think [COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Eye of the Tiger[/COLOR']. Altogether it's just a freaking brilliant combination. These guys are, in my opinion, the most badass thing to happen to music in a long time.[/quote] Haha! It's awesome to see that Metal is starting to get popular around here on the 'Boards! DragonForce is an incredible band, and while most of the Metal community complains about them getting too popular, there's no way around it: the guys can effing PLAY. Anyway, a band I've really been into lately is [u][b][URL=http://www.myspace.com/eluveitie1]Eluveitie[/URL][/u][/b]. They play an incredible mix of traditional Celtic folk music and very melodic Metal. Everything about this band rocks. Everything. I'm so addicted to their new album, Spirit, that I've listened to it at least once a day for the past two weeks. It's amazing. Other favorites of mine are: Ensiferum, Wintersun, Moonsorrow, Finntroll, Asmegin, Amon Amarth, Enslaved, Opeth, (old) Children of Bodom, Nevermore, and a few others that I probably just can't recall at the moment.

[quote name='Amorphous']Also I find gurgling some pop before singing helps. That is just me though.[/quote] Actually, soda is one of the worst possible things you can do to your vocal chords before screaming. If you're planning on playing a show, recording, or rehearsing, do not drink any soda that day. Water only, and if you can manage, drink room temperature water.

Alright, here's my beef with Hardcore dancing: It's called HARDCORE dancing for a reason. Keep it out of Metal shows! We have no need for tight pants and wannabe karate moves in the mosh pits. I know this is extremely elitist of me, but come on - you all know me well enough by now. Hardcore dancing should be done at Hardcore shows, not Metal concerts. Alas, there's always some kids doing that stuff, and it's just annoying. Argh. :mad:

First of all, don't be like the guy from Slipknot and blow out your voice. In fact, don't be anything like anything involving Slipknot in general. Anyway, what you need to do is realize that screaming for a band should be a lot different than simply screaming at someone/something. That's simply emotion, nothing more. While emotion is of course important for reaching the ideal sound, there is more technique involved than that. Be sure you're using the correct part of your throat. This would be back toward your tonsils. Don't do the "rumbly throat" thing - it's not very powerful, and it can hurt. Instead, try tensing up the muscles in your esophogus (sp?) and then pushing the air through your throat. It's very difficult to explain through typing, but I hope you get the idea.

And let's not forget, half the metal bands out there don't even scream: DragonForce, Kamelot, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Lumsk, Rhapsody, Galloglass, the list goes on.

[QUOTE=RiflesAtRecess][font=trebuchet ms] So, [i]try to know a little about what you're talking about.[/i] XD[/font][/QUOTE] You'll find, Rifles, that this rarely happens. :animesigh Hahaha! Feel my pain!

Billy - Slipknot, As I Lay Dying and Rob Zombie actually aren't metal [I]at all[/I], but as Amorphous also stated, I won't get into it. As far as the rest of them, you're right - they're really just Metal bands. Calling Moonsorrow a Viking Metal band and Black Dahlia Murder a Death Metal band are just ways to catagorize them. But I already know you know what I mean, so I don't know why I'm even typing this. :animesigh

[quote name='Amorphous']It's the most annoying long acronym in metal ever. It stands for New Wave of British Heavy Metal, it was a term in the 80's refering to 80's British Heavy Metal bands.[/quote] Bands that fall into the NWOBHM include Iron Maiden, Saxon, and the like. And about music losing its value due to deep analyzation: I actually find I get more out of my music by picking it apart. If I still deeply adore an album after I've picked it apart, analyzed every nuance of it, concluded what influenced it, etc. then I know it's an album well worth my time. Everyone approaches their music differently. It might sound pretentious, but I tend to enjoy the more subtle, complex, technical side of what makes a great album as opposed to the immediate appeal. Sure, a band can write catchy riffs, but that usually won't cut it for me. This brings me to why I cannot stand metalcore and nu-metal. There is nothing to analyze. When you pop in an As I Lay Dying album or an All That Remains disc, you know exactly what you're getting: catchy pop choruses, watered down wannabe At the Gates riffs, and the seemingly ubiquitous mosh-friendly chug-a-lug E string breakdown. It's like aggressive pop music to my ears. And as for the labels on Metal's many subgenres: Labels are simply in place for this reason - if I'm in the mood for some really melodic, fast metal with high-pitched sung vocals, just saying "what's a good Metal band?" simply won't cut it. I'd say "can you suggest a good Power Metal band?" When I'm reading reviews at [url]www.metalcrypt.com[/url] (best Metal resource on the web, by the way), the first thing I look at is the subgenre of the band I'm reading about. It immediately lets me know what the reviewer is talking about when he/she says something about the atmosphere, riffs, drumming, or any other aspect of the music. You see, Metal covers such a broad spectrum of sounds these days that labels are necessary for differentiating sound. Doom-Death is so drastically different from Black Metal which is drastically different from Power Metal which is drasitically different from Gothic Metal... you get the idea. Labels don't take away from the music - they simply act as an organization system.

TSO is very important in my world of music as they helped instigate the whole "symphonic metal" thing. Yup. There's my two cents.

My favorite chorus is a tie between Into Battle by Ensiferum and Fiskarens Fiende by Finntroll. Here's the lyrics to each chorus: Ensiferum - [I]Into Battle[/I] Into battle we ride with Gods by our side We're strong and not afraid to die We have the urge to kill And our lust for blood hasn't been fufilled We fight 'till the end! Send our enemies straight to hell The reason I love this chorus is that everyone in the band is singing this part at the top of their lungs. It just sounds huge, and the entire song is about being a Norse warrior and kicking ***** and such, so by the time you get to the chorus, you're totally in that good ol' Viking mood. Finntroll - [I]Fiskarens Fiende[/I] Döda havet! Vågor som blod! Då hjälper dig ingen gud Döda havet! Vågor som blod I natt far vi ut This chorus is an absolute blast to sing along with, especially if you have a room full of friends who know it as well! Again, this is one of those choruses where it's got a ton of people singing it on the recording. Not only that, but since it's Finntroll, it sounds like a big group of drunk Trolls, making it that much more awesome.

[QUOTE]I'm currently searching for a German band (that *isn't* Rammstein)...[/QUOTE] Yeah, Rammstein is [I]extremely[/I] overrated. Check out the band [B]Equilibrium[/B]. They are definatly my favorite band from Germany. Here's a link to their myspace page so you can listen to some of their songs.[URL]equilibriumfansite[/URL] Just listen to like a minute and a half or so of the song "Wingthors Hammer". I think it's the first song on their playlist. They're a very fresh, epic band that has a very unique sound.

[B]Amon Amarth[/B] - I have seen them live and own their new live DVD, "Wrath of the Norsemen". This band is an absolutely incredible live performance unit. Massive sound and incredible tone accompanied with great sound production and clarity = extremely impressive show. I won't sit here and rant about how much Amon Amarth rules (which they undeniably do), because that's not what this thread is about. [B]Children of Bodom[/B] - Children of Bodom... these infamous Finns put on one hell of a live show. They have tons of fun onstage, and you can totally tell. They'll play pranks on each other, like pulling out one another's cables while they aren't looking, spitting beer at each other... it's crazy! Plus, they take time to have unaccompanied guitar and drum solos, plus Alexi and Janne have this huge keyboard/guitar duel that is a staple of any Bodom performance, as well as one of the most mind-blowing displays of musicianship I've ever seen live. [B]In Flames[/B] - The old Swedes are veterans in the Metal world. Although their latest couple of albums have been absolutly atrocious, their live show hasn't suffered one bit (thank the Gods). When I had the honor of witnessing them play live, they cranked out all the good ol' stuff from Jester Race, Whoracle, Colony, and Clayman, and even a cut from Lunar Strain! They kept their crappy new songs to a minimum, making it an extremely enjoyable live show. Plus vocalst Anders Friden has a great sense of humor, so there's no lack of laughs between songs!

I just picked up a copy of [B]Lumsk[/B]'s album [I]Troll[/I]. I'd almost be lying if I called this Folk Metal, seeing as the album as a whole is very mellow. I would [I]definately[/I] be lying, however, if I said that it wasn't mesmerising, haunting, beautiful, enchanting, and all-out incredible. This album is very intricate and deep, one of those discs that takes repeated listens for it to all sink in. The haunting folk melodies accompanied by the occasional chug of electric guitar coupled with vocals that couldn't be more perfect for this style if sung by the Gods themselves. Stine Mari Langstrand is, officially, my favorite female vocalist. Her voice is delicate yet powerful, beatiful yet haunting... I could listen to her sing all day. Andreas Kjerkol Elvenes (technically he's not an official member of the band, but he did all the male vocals on the album) has a very dynamic and dramatic voice that also brings a lot to Lumsk's sound. My favorite cuts on the disc are "Trolltind" and "Perpålsa". "Perpålsa" is one of the heavier tracks on the album, with great, catchy riffs and vocals that just make you want to fill ye horn with yon mead and swagger. "Trolltind", on the other hand, starts with a simple piano line. Stine Mari comes in with that gorgeous voice of hers and utterly pulls you into a trance. A string section and a trombone solo are then added to the mix, which slowly builds to the climax of the song, in which an incredibly epic chorus comes cascading down the already perfect music, making for an experience that brings you to the point of tears. It really is an incredible song that I will never tire of. This really is the folk metal album for people who don't like metal. I strongly reccommend it to anyone and everyone that appreciates brilliant music, Norse folklore/mythology, or something to really set one of those "mystical lost culture" atmospheres. This album is pure gold.

[quote name='DeadSeraphim][color=indigo][size=1][font=arial]I imagine that'd make your life difficult. Just how many bands bother to put new releases on vinyl these days (or for more than a limited run)?[/font][/size'][/color][/quote] I was going to say "you'd be suprised", but then I read "or for more than a limited run". Plenty of bands release vinyl (hell, I found Immortal's [I]Sons of Northern Darkness[/I] album on vinyl), but it's usually only for a limited run. And I apologize, Mr. Maul. Usually when someone says "who buys CDs?", they're referring to the idea that you shouldn't buy CDs when you can download for free. I jumped to a conclusion. Sorry about that. :animeswea

Bwa ha ha ha! I saw it two days ago! Working at the theatre rules. Anyway, I don't feel like writing a lot. Just know that it's better than the first. And I was all pissed at how they were pronouncing Kraken wrong, but then (and this doesn't spoil anything, so this doesn't need spoiler tags) two pirates argue about how to pronounce it. So my only complaint vanished. The movie ruled, hands-down. Oh, and just for the record: Davey Jones is a freakin' BAMF. I hope we get to see more of him. (If you don't know what BAMF stands for, you need some serious Dane Cook schooling)

[QUOTE=Mr. Maul][font=Garamond][color=Green]Who buys CD's? [/color][/font][/QUOTE] I buy CDs (as opposed to downloading) for a few reasons: 1. Because I listen to Metal, it's difficult to find the music I love. These bands are in desperate need of every penny they can get, because the true Metal scene in the USA is so minute that barely anyone is buying albums and merhandise. If you just download their stuff, they're not recieving anything. It's not to say I don't download, because I do. But I [I]always[/I] buy the actual album if I like it. I own 60% of the albums I've downloaded. The other 40% I don't buy because I don't like it. 2. Bands put a lot of time, energy, and thought into a CD package. The CD artwork, the printed lyrics, even the order in which the songs are placed is all there for a reason. When you simply download an album, you're missing out on an entire aspect of that music. 3. There's something utterly rewarding in having a real CD collection. I go through my friends CD cases (if they even have one...) and see CDR after CDR. It's so characterless and lifeless. When I go through all my CDs, it feels great! It's expensive, sure, but it's worth it to me. My CD collection is something I'm very proud of, and I wouldn't return a single album I own for cash.

Ever listened to any Doom Metal or Goth Metal? It's virtually never fast.

Yeah, and Venom better have the big, gaping, fang-lined mouth. And more importantly, HE HAS TO HAVE THE MASSIVE TOUNGE! If he doesn't, I will be one sorely disappointed Viking.

The enemies will include Venom, the Sandman, the Hobgoblin, and one other (I can't remember who). And spidey won't have the symbiote the whole time - Venom infects someone else. Working at a movie theatre rocks! :D

If you guys are searching for a truly dark, haunting atmosphere, I strongly suggest you check out the album "To Violate the Oblivious" by Xasthur. It's probably a bit [i]too[/i] dark for you, but damn. That's a haunting album if I've ever heard one. Another good voyage through darkness, while we're on the topic, would be the album "Black One" by Sunn O))). It's not so much music as it is sounds, but it's atmosphere is massive and very dark.

I don't think he ever mentioned Cannibal Corpse, because I know full well they're a Metal band. And yes, my views on Metal are very purist and very elitist (as [I]anyone[/I] on the 'Boards will tell you). My comments on Metalcore come from this standpoint: Metalcore isn't Metal using Hardcore techniques - it's Hardcore using Metal techniques. Now I think we can all agree that Hardcore isn't Metal at all, rather it's very agressive Punk music. Punk relies on simple songwriting and chord progressions to get it's point across. Look at As I Lay Dying. While they use certain Metal techniques (dual guitar harmonies, etc.), almost every song (if not every) on their latest album is written in the same key, scale, and mode. At the core, AILD is in fact a Hardcore band that utilizes some very basic Metal techniques. To me, this doesn't qualify them as a Metal band. And I don't think a band has to sound like Maiden or Priest to qualify as a Metal band. Hell, my favorite bands are groups like Ensiferum, Moonsorrow, Asmegin, etc., none of which sound much like the aforementioned NWOBHM legends. I only disclude bands like Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, because frankly, there's nothing Metal about them at all. You said that you thought that As I Lay Dying and Bleeding Through were basically like progressed Metal bands - or Metalcore. I think it's more like they're more sophisticated Hardcore bands. It's really becoming a fine line between Metalcore and Metal these days, but that's really only an issue in the massively mainstream "Metal" scene. Metalcore has become the new Hair Metal, I think. It's like band after band is writing a catchy riff and a breakdown to get a video on MTV. That's not what the spirit of Metal is about.

Ensiferum, Asmegin, Opeth, and Amon Amarth are the bands most frequenting my CD player this week, if that's what you mean.

[quote name='RiflesAtRecess']...and Opeth do screaming very well on the same token. They don't scream through entire songs, rather, they use it for dramatic effect...[/quote] YES! OPETH! Good going, Rifles! What a Metal thing for you to say! And you're totally right, too.

Haha! My brother has been listening to a bunch of Protest the Hero lately, actually. You can totally tell whos music is whos on my iTunes library. :animesigh Can't say I love it... But you know me, ever the pretentious, elitist Metalhead prick! :D You'd probably get a kick out of Job For a Cowboy (if you haven't already heard them). I strongly suggest you look them up on Myspace or something. But anyway, check out the band Asmegin. It's Metal, and totally not like any of the stuff you normally like, but it's really different and interesting. If you can find the song Blodhevn, listen to the last 50 seconds or so of that song. You can't tell me it's not awesome, even if you're not into this kind of thing. :cool: Oh, and Rifles, if you just go to my Myspace profile, the song that's on there is by Asmegin. They're a Viking band of sorts that mixes death vocals, black vocals, female vocals, and the best clean male vocals I think I've ever heard with the smoothest harmonies ever. Awesome stuff and definately a new favorite.