Moonspell sure is an interesting and unique band. They obviously grew up listening to Fields Of The Nephilim. I'm not a fan of RORORO at all, but that deep Chris "metal" Isaac voice is pretty cool.
A very interesting cover of Mr. Crowley.
Thanks D7!
I was a bit afraid to be honest, but it's great to see you liked them.
In his heyday, there were few better or as good as Halford, but he is a shell of his former self now. Decades of doing those high screams has taken a heavy toll on his voice, which is normal; he is only human, after all. But he is definitely top 10 material...maybe even top 5.
Obviously he may not be as great as in the past, but he is still amazing without any doubt. There's more of the baritone singing instead of the high screams on the recent albums, but I'm fine with it personally. I think still even now there are very, very few who can come close in heavy metal.
OK, this time it is almost a tie. The difference is really less than an inch, so I decided to post them together - each one because of different advantages.
8. Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation)
Can you recall the light?
I know you`re sad because it`s winter
But I can promise you a spring
I know you`re cold, I see you shiver
But I can promise you a springYou may have noticed me saying here and there that the best news possible for me would be Green Carnation re-uniting... I don't think there's a big chance, but anyway. One thing I will always remember regarding the band is, obviously, Kjetil and his singing. I haven't heard anyone any similar, ever - no one else can sound both so incredibly soothing, and also so deep and powerful, which has proved perfect for the band's discography. On the album
A Blessing in Disguise, which has some of the more straightforward direction of Green Carnation, he really shines in both styles, with slight emphasis on the latter (just listen to Into Deep or Myron & Cole... amazing). However, it's his calm singing that I find absolutely unforgettable, and I hope he will have a chance to use it again in the future (as after GC split-up, he's only appeared as session here and there). Lullaby in Winter (quoted above) and Two Seconds in Life from the aforementioned A Blessing in Disguise are absolute and pure beauty, and so is the entire, absolutely amazing The Acoustic Verses album, which allows him to shine more than ever. And then, there's the A Night Under The Dam DVD, where he manages to pull off some things even better (Maybe?).
Not much more I can say here... One of the cases where only music can explain anything.
Personal highlights:Two Seconds in Life, Myron & Cole (
A Blessing in Disguise)
9-29-045, High Tide Waves (
The Acoustic Verses)
Maybe? (both versions - from
The Acoustic Verses and
A Night Under The Dam, each for different reasons)
7. Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost)
I've never seen the love and confidence
To believe the faith, and never speak again
Forever seething throes of opulence
To release the pain and never breathe again
Can you release the pain and never speak again?
At God's gate
Tear me down and break me I remain!What absolutely impresses me about this man is the strong will to follow all the changes the band has gone through. Sure, changes of style need plenty of skill and patience from every band member, but in case of changes as huge as the ones Paradise Lost has decided for during their career, it's without doubt the vocalist who faces the greatest challenge. Now tell me, do you know anyone else who started as a 100% death/doom metal growling vocalist, over time changing into a cleaner, "harsh singing" style (slightly reminiscient of James Hetfield), then a completely clean, melodic singing style, then again harsh vocals, but with a much lower, darker sound and still combined with the clean singing? I don't know anyone. Not even close. And with all these combinations, he has a very easily recognisable style...
And yes, that's Nick Holmes. Although his full-on growling style is apparently gone once and for all (once asked about that, he referred to it as "dinosaur style"
and said he could probably pull it off but there's no need for it), he can do everything else equally well, and live as well as studio. I loved his vocal style since I first heard the band, and now with a much broader knowledge I can say - I love all four. His growling was, well, growling like it should be. The second style, around the time of the "metal fan favourites" (albums
Icon and
Draconian Times), is the perfect in-between style, fitting perfectly to that era. His clean singing is completely unique, and he has a really nice range - it can sound really soft and melancholic at times (the entire, really controversial album
Host is the best example - I don't know if there's a book around about it, but someone could write one). Finally, his fairly recently developped, low, harsh vocal style is also my favourite - it sounds really powerful and absolutely monumental, with lots of strength and emotion. The entire latest PL album,
Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us is a totally amazing combination of the two latter styles, and one of the most amazing albums vocal-wise I have ever heard. And when I saw them live, he pulled it off equally well.
I have no idea why he never gets much attention whenever someone decides on matters like the one in this thread. One of the best in my opinion - I wanted to say "one of the best in metal", but Paradise Lost has extended far beyond metal, so it wouldn't be correct.
Personal highlights:Forever Failure (
Draconian Times)
So Much is Lost, Host (
Host)
No Celebration, Symbol of Life (
Symbol of Life)
Requiem, Your Own Reality (
In Requiem)
The entire
Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us album, particularly
I Remain