hard rock/metal albums with a creative bassist AND a good singer . . . do they exist?

[Casey C.]

As many said, Anthrax. Frank Bello has a very interesting playing style. He does the Four Finger techinique like steve harris of Iron Maiden. Anthrax's stuff from the 80's is fun to play on the bass If you can figure it out. I would tab everything out but I'm lazy like that :P

[carl-anton]

Two of the best hard rock / metal albums lately is of course Audioslave (can't be mentioned too many times), and the wildly underestimated "the Chemical wedding" by Bruce Dickinson. Simply awsome, with very good singing (hey, it's Bruce!) and almost better bassplaying than mr. Harris's!

Also try to check out these oldschool thrash bands:

Forbidden
- The earlier, the more interesting bass. "Twisted into form" is my favorite with decent bass, and awsome vocals. Also check out "Forbidden Evil".

Testament
- Same thing here. I haven't really heard their latest offerings, but "The New Order" is really good and groovy.

Enjoy...

[Schwinn]

the wildly underestimated "the Chemical wedding" by Bruce Dickinson. Simply awsome, with very good singing (hey, it's Bruce!) and almost better bassplaying than mr. Harris's!

No doubt....The bass line in "Book of Thel" is one of the coolest metal basslines in existence.

[shikee]

last saturday night my band opened for a band with an awesome bass player. actually the whole band was awesome. they are called haji's kitchen. here's a link to their website www.hajiskitchen.com . i was truly amazed watching this guy play. they have 4 mp3's oyu can download.

[carl-anton]

No doubt....The bass line in "Book of Thel" is one of the coolest metal basslines in existence.

Yeah! - and the riff in "The Tower"... so cool the way everything rolls and grooves... now I got that record spinning inside my head - again!...

Anyway, - it's a really cool record and everybody should check it out I think!

[Lackey]

I have to say that altho I am a huge fan of Tool and have all their merch, I am a Christian also and can definately see where you're coming from. Too bad they happen to be the ultimate metal/prog band out there! As far as the anti-Christian lyrics, for me its just a case of listening to it and then deconstructing it with what I know and believe into rage that he's directing against God because he doesn't know who else to blame. Lateralus however, is free and clear of religious type slurs of any kind, along with no cursing. I would recommend you to check it out, unless you wouldn't feel comfortable knowing you would be "supporting" the band.

As far as Opeth, check out Still Life, Deliverance and the new one Damnation in addition to Blackwater Park. They have an even split between clean and death style vocals, + the bass player loves Jaco!!

[PollyBass]

It's been said, and i'll say it again, I have a huge zit on the back of my neck... oh wait,, no, thats not it, its



OPETH!!!

[carl-anton]

OK guys, since I'm a student of religion (besides being a bassist ) I would like to hear how a Christian person feels offended by lyrics or music (no sarcasm, irony or hidden agendas intended here. Just curiosity). As I see it the god or Jesus spoken of in anti-christian lyrics/music, can never be the god of the believer. It's a stereotype against a (for the beliver) living god, and there's no comparison. If a Christian genuinly fells threatened (not just offended) by, say, Deicide I think he has a problem with his faith being too simple or shallow. (that aside I can of course understand why he/she won't spend time listening to it)
Hope I'm not offending anybody here. ...any opinions on this more than slightly off topic ...erh - topic?

[PollyBass]

Originally posted by carl-anton
OK guys, since I'm a student of religion (besides being a bassist ) I would like to hear how a Christian person feels offended by lyrics or music (no sarcasm, irony or hidden agendas intended here. Just curiosity). As I see it the god or Jesus spoken of in anti-christian lyrics/music, can never be the god of the believer. It's a stereotype against a (for the beliver) living god, and there's no comparison. If a Christian genuinly fells threatened (not just offended) by, say, Deicide I think he has a problem with his faith being too simple or shallow. (that aside I can of course understand why he/she won't spend time listening to it)
Hope I'm not offending anybody here. ...any opinions on this more than slightly off topic ...erh - topic?

Most bands that are "Anti-Christ" or the like do it for one or two of the following reasons (most of the time)

1. Shock Value. Sell more cd's.

2. They are more upset with how people worship, and the system, than an actual god.
(the system being forced, or not questioned at all)

I remember Maynerd said in one of his lyrics for "Judith" it says "F your god". when asked about it, he said "I didn't say f*** God, i said, F*** YOUR god.". Also when he asked why he forsake our savior, he said "I never remotly said ANYTHING dergotory about michal jorden".

Just food for thought, but sounds like a can of worms to me. you could always ask in a new thread.

[carl-anton]

Thanks for your thoughts Pollybass. I think you're right. Mostly this debate is on a really low level, and therefore pretty uninteresting, so maybe I should just leave it here....

[PollyBass]

Originally posted by carl-anton
Thanks for your thoughts Pollybass. I think you're right. Mostly this debate is on a really low level, and therefore pretty uninteresting, so maybe I should just leave it here....

I think it's interesting. I mean, more interesting than most the crap in off topic i read all the time. Go for it if ya want.

[Matthew T.]

Alright, since I'm the guy that instigated this discussion, I'll start a new thread trying to address this topic. I'll put it in this forum, although the moderators may move it somewhere else.

[mcbosler]

Though they've been mentioned once before, I'd say your best bet for good bass playing AND singer will be found on an Incubus album entitled S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

Forget what you think of their stuff you've heard on the radio; this stuff is HEAVY, technical, and well constructed. Didn't leave my cd player for a couple of months (and it's a single cd player!). As for vocals, well, Brandon's just about unbeatable, especially with all the styles he's got under his belt at this point.

Obtain this album and ye shall see.

Enjoy.

[watspan]

Gov't Mule

Warren Haynes is one of the best rock guitarist/vocalists out there IMO

Allen Woody wasn't too bad on bass either

[mark beem]

More on the Technical / Progressive Metal vein, but Spiral Architect ( A Skeptic's Universe)
Symphony X ( V: The New Mythology Suite)
Zero Hour ( The Towers of Avarice )
Shadow Gallery (Tyranny)

[john turner]

Originally posted by Boplicity
What about Primus or any of Les Claypool's other bands?

i thought he asked for a good singer gotta love him, but les sounds like a drunken auctioneer.

[christoph h.]

it also never occured to me that tool were anti-christian.

more on-topic i recommend the band "dredg".

[Fretless5verfan]

I second symphony x, Michael LePond is an outstanding bassist. a nice guy too. and Russ Allen's voice is pretty kickass IMO.

BTW: hey prog, you check out thier new CD yet?

[FLOYDtheBARBER]

Originally posted by chris h.
more on-topic i recommend the band "dredg".

greatest band of all time, ever, in the history of the world.

[BigJH]

I can't believe in this discussion nobody has mentioned A Perfect Circle.

I also like:

Steel Prophet
Stratovarius
Dio
Blue Oyster Cult ( that might be pushing it as far as metal goes, but they have some heavy stuff)
Faith No More
Fishbone (an all around good band with some heavy stuff)
Iced Earth
Mercyful Fate
Nuclear Rabbit ( if you want something wacky)
Soilwork
In Living Colour