Metal + Actual Singing = ?

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

I need some help with a new project I'm working on.  The basic description would be a metal sounding band but with singing instead of constant unintelligable grunts, screams, pig squeels etc.  I'm not talking about Judas Preist style high pitched warbling power metally sounding singing either.  It's more along the lines of Maynard from Tool.  Everyone in our band likes metal but the usual "vocals" are too much sometimes.  Our singer can scream and probably will at certain points of songs but not all the time.  Or I might do the some of the "cookie monster" stuff while he sings.  We're going to be playing something like a mix of Metallica, Pantera, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, and Unearth.

Is there anything out there like I'm describing?  If there is could some of you list them to get a better idea of where to go with this?  Is this "Metal Heresy"?

[maverickf1jockey]

There's all sorts.
Screams and grunts seem to be going out of fashion anyway and most bands that employ it will inter space it with singing nowadays, even Opeth and they started off as a death metal group for crying out loud.

EDIT: Check out some more progressive bands as they are more often than not with real singers and can be as heavy as you like.

[Stevepage]

Eidolon are a good band that don't scream or grunt but have very heavy riffs.

Outworld. New Outworld though, as the most recent singer was less 'Halfordy''

[Perandor]

Well, there are many epic metal bands I like; you should listen to these: Falconer, Sirenia, Sonata Arctica, Nevermore, Queensryche, Dream Evil, etc. :shock:  Definitely listen to The Book of Heavy Metal by Dream Evil, and also Avantasia.

[waves]

This is exactly what the music i listen to tends to nowadays.

Check out periphery: http://www.myspace.com/periphery

and this smallish band called proceed who you may not like but it's metal with some beautiful singing: http://www.myspace.com/proceed


tbh looking at your description you may not like them. they're just two bands im really into at the moment. theres loads of bands you could check out. but generally what you described tends to be classed as something other than metal. but yeah proper metal guitars + drums + bass with an awesome singer who can actually sing (and not the warbling type lol) is where it's at...


Good luck with your band's direction. I'd be interested to hear some of your stuff.

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

Thanks for the replies, keep 'em coming.  I'm in the process of downloading everything mentioned to give an honest listen.  Our main intention is for there to be singing on top of the heavy riffs mostly and have some screams once in a while.  It seems a lot of bands stick to screaming over the heavy parts but when it's time to sing and mellow it out the rest of the band does the same.  So it's heavy vocals+heavy music and singing vocals+mellow music.  We want singing vocals+heavy music to be our main focus and still use parts with the normal heavy+heavy and singing+mellow since it does bring a nice contrast, just not as often.

I've just recently gotten into Periphery from watching Nolly's video cover.  They're awesome and Bulb is the sh!t!

[noodleplugerine]

God I love periphery.

Sikth are the ONE if you want to listen to good metal vocal stylings.

They're so styalised it can be nautious for a new listener.

[Nolly]

I've just recently gotten into Periphery from watching Nolly's video cover. They're awesome and Bulb is the sh!t!

Thats awesome :) Periphery rock very hard, and Casey is a fantastic vocalist.


Unfortunately there isn't too much of a precedent to follow, as far as heavy, technical bands with predominantly clean vocals is concerned, but that's a good thing in my eyes, certainly far better than copying other bands.

Protest the Hero have clean vocals for the most part, and it works amazingly. The singer has an incredible range, and one of the guitarists does occasional low screams, so their music pretty much runs the whole gamut as far as vocal styles go. Definitely check them out if you haven't already.

SikTh have some incredible clean singing parts, with some very very well thought out harmonies and rhythms. If there is one band everyone needs to listen to on a regular basis, it's these guys. The brilliant songwriting, combined with incredible musicianship and an entirely unique sound makes them my all-time favourite band.

Textures are an amazing band that not many people seem to have heard about. The singer has a great clean voice, and also does the whole range of other metal vocal styles. He was pitch-perfect when I saw them live last weekend as well.

[noodleplugerine]

There are alot of metal bands with clean vocals.

All power metal, alot of Prog like Dream Theatre/Theater (can never remember).

And then there's the angry sort of "crunch" voice, meshuggah, machine head, etc.

Then there's the good harmonic screaming - In Flames.

And then the nauseating pulsating deep growl - Most black metal.

Then there's just awesome screaming from amazing bands like Dillinger.

[Adam.M]

Metal's going back to a less screamy trend? yay i can like it again :D

I can't stand screamy shite.

[gwEm]

i don't think metal is definined the style of singing, its more about the special musicality of the guitar parts... power chords, minor key, blues roots, use of diminished intervals, rhythmic use of palm mutes, heavy overdrive. for me thats the metal forumula, you don't need double kicks or an intense singing style.

[waves]

you don't need double kicks or an intense singing style.

agreed.

its just that most bands starting out who want to be "metal" seem to think thats all that's needed. this band local to me had the poorest singer (he couldn't sing). and their drummer couldn't do anything with his hands. he struggled to hold a beat. but he was mega fast on a double bass pedal. so they had this guy growling in the worst way with this dominating horrible sounding kick drum and some fuzz (not in a fuzz pedal way. in a badly tweaked scooped marshall mg distortion way. the guy used the emulated out on the amp). and it was just horrible. i hear many bands that sound like that though.

real singing is where the pleasure is for me. some metal with screaming, while often musically good is just tiring and hard work to listen to.

and what i love about sikth is that the music just makes me grin and nod my head everytime i listen to it. its just fun music. awesome band.

[noodleplugerine]

The thing is though, you can't tell anyone to be like Sikth - Because although its depressing to think it, I seriously doubt anyone other than them can pull it off.

[gwEm]

The thing is though, you can't tell anyone to be like Sikth - Because although its depressing to think it, I seriously doubt anyone other than them can pull it off.

the same is true of any musician or band though. everyones personaility is different :)

[noodleplugerine]

The thing is though, you can't tell anyone to be like Sikth - Because although its depressing to think it, I seriously doubt anyone other than them can pull it off.

the same is true of any musician or band though. everyones personaility is different :)

Evidently that's not quite true - Loads of bands have ridden to fame on sounds directly copied from others.

Not saying it's a bad thing at all - Just saying I doubt the same could be done of Sikth.