I don't really get/like metal...

[C_Becker]

Since this is a bass forum after all:


And (most) metal does not condone violence, in the same way that Stephen King doesn't. They just thematise the darker emotions like fear, anger and hate that every human carries inside them. What does a serial killer think or someone sitting on the electric chair ? Certainly more interesting and thoughtful than Miley Cyrus or whatever the shag bubblegum ******** is stuffed down your throat everyday.

Concerning vocals, I do listen to melodic death metal quite often, but I draw the line where I can't understand what the singer is doing. So Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy or Feared is totally fine for me, since they actually have great technique and diction. (Try it, its really, really hard to sing in that style and still form words in a way that is understandable.
Stuff like Cannibal Corpse or Entombed ain't really my thing, great music and very talented musicians, I just can't understand a word.

 

[SactoBass]

There is nothing wrong with not "liking" or "getting" a band, a musician, a song, a genre, whatever (sorry @mellowinman). It's called opinions, and that's exactly WHY we have choices.

I hate cilantro - that doesn't mean it's not a valid spice, or that others love it.

^^^THIS times 1000.

Imagine for a moment living on a planet where all humans liked the same thing...we all played the same basses through the same amps, played the same songs, drove the same cars, wore identical clothing, liked the same foods, etc. That would be a freakish science fiction world that I would not want to live in. So when I see someone expressing their like or dislike about something that differs from my likes or dislikes, I am so very thankful for those differences!

I don't care for metal or country/western or rap, but that's just my personal preference, and it's not in any way finding fault with anyone who likes those genres. I love eating shrimp and I despise peas and lima beans, but that's not finding any fault with someone who despises shrimp and loves eating peas and lima beans. We are all different, and thank goodness for that! I'm sure there are lots of folks out there who don't "get" some of the music that is my favorite (which is 70's-era YES music). No worries! Enjoy what you like, and enjoy life!

 

[SactoBass]

There’s nothing to get about Metal. It’s just another genre. You like it or you don’t. If you don’t - listen to something else.

Bada-bing!

 

[armyadarkness]

or death metal if thats what this is called...but im getting a kick out of watching this drummer play

Metal is broad, just like rock. Do you like Rock? If so, then by your mentality, you like Kiss, and ABBA. Here's some metal from guys who're probably old enough to be your grandfathers...

 

[socialleper]

A few thoughts on the comments about vocals:

1.) Remember back when people talked trash about the vocals of The Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin, or even Elvis? People don't like things they aren't used to, or that doesn't speak to them.
2.) Trying to dismiss something by mocking it or infantalizing it (cookie monster vocals) is some weak tea. That's internet troll level stuff.
3.) Growled vocals are a natural progression from the shouted vocals in punk and hardcore from the 70s and 80s. Thrash bands were already pushing vocals before death and grind took off in the late 80s.
4.) I've always heard this style of vocals as the animal roars of a human stripped of its humanity. It is a bestial representation of fear, anger, and despair that can't be properly conveyed in any other way.
5.) What vocals would work better? The type of lyrics that go along with 200bpm blast beats and churning guitars can only fit with this type of vocal. Anything more subdued would be out of place, and frankly, weak AF.
6.) If you don't like it, has it ever occurred to you that you aren't supposed to? I don't like rap or country because it wasn't written for me. I find them boring and tedious. It is entirely possible that their creators\performers are intentionally doing something that is meant to be unpleasant to some people.

I could name a dozen bands producing good metal right now that don't use this type of vocals. NEVER base all of metal from one band. Their is a diversity to the genre that doesn't exist anywhere else.

 

[non]

Well... I'm (not exclusively) a massive metal-head - the OP didn't offend me, I read it as: this isn't my thing, but this guy is cool... and even though I'm not a fan of that band, it's nice to hear/read.

So OP, have some more cool metal drummers

brann dailor is one of my all time fav metal drummers. and he can sing on top of it!

 

[Jokei]

Now that would be an interesting sub-genre!

 

[Jokei]

I see your Alex Webster and raise you a Steve Digiorgio



Without a shadow of doubt, in my 20-30 years of gigging and going to gigs - the heavier the band, the nicer the band members have been.

 

[br1qbat]

We're playing with them in two weeks. I don't like them either.

Hopefully Mr. Keene is still on the wagon at that point. Good luck.

 

[I am Soma]

so many things I wanted to type....but...ill just go with cool story.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Are you trying to say Cilantro is not a valid spice?

Them's fightin' words, pal.*


*actually I don't much care for cilantro either

Spice? I think of cilantro as a nasty version of parsley.

 

[CatchaCuda]

A few thoughts on the comments about vocals:

1.) Remember back when people talked trash about the vocals of The Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin, or even Elvis? People don't like things they aren't used to, or that doesn't speak to them.
2.) Trying to dismiss something by mocking it or infantalizing it (cookie monster vocals) is some weak tea. That's internet troll level stuff.
3.) Growled vocals are a natural progression from the shouted vocals in punk and hardcore from the 70s and 80s. Thrash bands were already pushing vocals before death and grind took off in the late 80s.
4.) I've always heard this style of vocals as the animal roars of a human stripped of its humanity. It is a bestial representation of fear, anger, and despair that can't be properly conveyed in any other way.
5.) What vocals would work better? The type of lyrics that go along with 200bpm blast beats and churning guitars can only fit with this type of vocal. Anything more subdued would be out of place, and frankly, weak AF.
6.) If you don't like it, has it ever occurred to you that you aren't supposed to? I don't like rap or country because it wasn't written for me. I find them boring and tedious. It is entirely possible that their creators\performers are intentionally doing something that is meant to be unpleasant to some people.

I could name a dozen bands producing good metal right now that don't use this type of vocals. NEVER base all of metal from one band. Their is a diversity to the genre that doesn't exist anywhere else.

#2, I've always heard them referred to as "cookie monster vocals" when the sound somewhat similar to our blue brother, even by people who generally love metal. Wasn't trying to troll or upset anyone.

 

[br1qbat]

[EDIT] I guess my 2 cents got covered in little *************S. Probably for the best. Lol

I'm a metalhead. Don't care if everyone or no one listens to what I like. C'est la vie.

 

[redwingxix]

never heard the term cookie monster vocals before this thread but it gave me a chuckle once I figured out what it meant.

 

[Jokei]

Thing is, there's good and "bad" death metal vocals, I absolutely love John Tardy from Obituary, Glenn Benton (even if he cheats) of Deicide, Dave Vincent of Morbid Angel... they all seem distinct to me. I can't stand the guy from Cattle Decapitation and there's an awful lot of very generic Death Metal vocalists that you could swap out for some other dude and it'd sound the same.

...but, that's like any genre, you have innovators and followers. I'm not a fan of Oasis, but I'd rather hear them than any of 50+ sound a likes.

 

[br1qbat]

never heard the term cookie monster vocals before this thread but it gave me a chuckle once I figured out what it meant.

I've heard it inside and outside of death metal, so yeah. I always think its funny too

 

[Atshen]

Just a few random thoughts…

Before Black Sabbath, there was Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Who… and The Beatles. All of them (and some others too) recorded stuff that was incredibly heavy for their time. But Sabbath is considered to be the first metal band, I don't think they really invented the genre.

I've read somewhere that Scotty Moore invented the power chord (the Jailhouse Rock intro). So maybe Mr. Moore deserves some credit for helping inventing the whole metal genre...

I my opinion, death metal was invented in the mid-sixties by a certain Mr. John Entwistle:

The ominous riffs, the dark lyrical theme, and of course the guttural vocals became some fifteen years later the hallmarks of the genre.

I personally prefer the atonal "cookie monster" vocals to the hardcore/thrash style semi-melodic shouting. Sometimes they just sound like some tone-deaf is singing.

\m/

 

[br1qbat]

Thing is, there's good and "bad" death metal vocals, I absolutely love John Tardy from Obituary, Glenn Benton (even if he cheats) of Deicide, Dave Vincent of Morbid Angel... they all seem distinct to me. I can't stand the guy from Cattle Decapitation and there's an awful lot of very generic Death Metal vocalists that you could swap out for some other dude and it'd sound the same.

...but, that's like any genre, you have innovators and followers. I'm not a fan of Oasis, but I'd rather hear them than any of 50+ sound a likes.

Best thing Ive seen all day!

 

[Nephilymbass]

or death metal if thats what this is called...but im getting a kick out of watching this drummer play

I dig some metal. As bass players often times the bass players in metal bands are boring. So I don’t worship all metal, but there are some metal bands I like, most of which have at least some clean vocals.

 

[thomas-k]

This guy is from my neck o the woods...
watch that left hand!