Bands whose songs sound very similar

[lateralus88]

Devin Townsend. Seriously, almost every song sounds the same. I often times forget which album which is which.

Anyway, I like Devy, but he could never be more than a passing interest for me. I just can't get into him. There's too much...

You meant there is "not enough", right?

[pogoowner]

A lot of Iced Earth
Disturbed.
98% of all power metal.

Good call. I'd also like to nominate Three Days Grace.

[Gadough]

Scale the Summit.

You must be listening wrong.

[antigoon]

Devin Townsend.

[Zantera]

Explosions in the Sky
Iron Maiden
AC/DC

Best examples.

Explosions in the Sky is a fantastic band though, i think they manage to bring back certain themes etc. but making them sound slightly different every time.

[wolfking]

Here's some controversy; (I love ALL of these bands)

Axel Rudi Pell (all his rock songs are similar and all his ballads are similar IMO)
Black Label Society
Blind Guardian (only the last 3 albums though)
Candlemass
Death
Disturbed
Eidolon
Grave Digger
Hammerfall
Iced Earth (some)
Katatonia
Nevermore (some)
Opeth
The Faceless
Slayer
Three Inches of Blood
Yngwie Malmsteen

[Darkes7]

Katatonia? Opeth? A joke post I guess?

[Mladen]

Iron Maiden? Really? 

Motorhead
AC/DC

[Zantera]

Katatonia? Opeth? A joke post I guess?

I could definitely understand those nominations tbh, even though i really like them both, there's this "formula" which almost every song follows.

[SPNKr]

You will sound similar if you use the same keys, scales, chords, modes, etc.

[?]

Katatonia? Opeth? A joke post I guess?

I could definitely understand those nominations tbh, even though i really like them both, there's this "formula" which almost every song follows.

This exactly. I think anyone who has heard Brave Murder Day or Discouraged Ones can agree that there are many songs that follow a similar formula. Later Katatonia albums also have a similar atmosphere running throughout. Opeth's songs sound similar in the way that most songs have growls, clean vocals, heavy riffs and acoustic parts.

EDIT: Many songs on the last Stratovarius albums with Timo Tolkki sound a bit similar.

[Kosmo]

Dragonforce, fucking Dragonforce.

[Mechanix1911]

Meshuggah.

[RuRoRul]

Basically any band with only / predominantly harsh / growling vocals, to me (probably because I wouldn't listen to bands like that a lot, anyway). Those vocals allow for so little variation.

You'd be surprised at how much variation it really does have, but it depends on if you can really get used to the style.

Yeah I'm sure you're right (though I still think just using clean singing gives more variation than just using a death growl / melodeath scream, etc.) but since I don't really like it I hardly listen to bands like that, which is probably why I think they often sound the same.

I agree with the Opeth thing as well, I was thinking that. I never got completely into them but a lot of the songs I listened to used exactly the same kind of sounds and formula, as people said.

[LCArenas]

Meshuggah.

I like some songs of them, but yeah, this.

[Birch Boy]

Black Label Society

Oh my god, this.

I love 'em too, but honestly, can Zakk Wylde love squeals any more than he already does?

[orcus116]

Iron Maiden? Really? 

I can name maybe 4 or 5 songs that don't sound alike. The rest do.

[Seventh Son]

Iron Maiden? Really? 

I can name maybe 4 or 5 songs that don't sound alike. The rest do.

I've listened to them a lot, so I disagree. They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

[Zantera]

Even though i also think Maiden fits in this thread (i'm also a fan), i do think that if Maiden get's mentioned, you might as well mention 90% of the classic rock/metal-bands from the same era.

[The King in Crimson]

Iron Maiden? Really? 

I can name maybe 4 or 5 songs that don't sound alike. The rest do.

I've listened to them a lot, so I disagree. They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

All Iron Maiden sounds the same in the same way that all Opeth sounds the same. Which means that they really don't.

Although Steve has become a bit too fond of the slow opening on long song formula.

[glaurung]

As much as I love them I'm going to have to say Eisley. If I'm listening to them on shuffle or something often times it can take me half a song before I'm able to identify it without looking.

[Sigz]

As much as I love them I'm going to have to say Eisley. If I'm listening to them on shuffle or something often times it can take me half a song before I'm able to identify it without looking.

wat

[lateralus88]

Oh not to derail the topic, but I listened to a song or two from Eisley. They aren't bad.

[Ultimetalhead]

Iron Maiden? Really? 

I can name maybe 4 or 5 songs that don't sound alike. The rest do.

I've listened to them a lot, so I disagree. They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

All Iron Maiden sounds the same in the same way that all Opeth sounds the same. Which means that they really don't.

Although Steve has become a bit too fond of the slow opening on long song formula.

Iron Maiden's songs are all in the same key. Opeth's are not.

[Pyroph]

Oh not to detail the topic, but I listened to a song or two from Eisley. They aren't bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_hAfMUtiDk

And then you watch this and ooooh goD YOU CAN'T STOP IT.

[The King in Crimson]

Iron Maiden? Really?  

I can name maybe 4 or 5 songs that don't sound alike. The rest do.

I've listened to them a lot, so I disagree. They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

All Iron Maiden sounds the same in the same way that all Opeth sounds the same. Which means that they really don't.

Although Steve has become a bit too fond of the slow opening on long song formula.

Iron Maiden's songs are all in the same key. Opeth's are not.

Structurally.

[Darkes7]

Katatonia? Opeth? A joke post I guess?

I could definitely understand those nominations tbh, even though i really like them both, there's this "formula" which almost every song follows.

This exactly. I think anyone who has heard Brave Murder Day or Discouraged Ones can agree that there are many songs that follow a similar formula. Later Katatonia albums also have a similar atmosphere running throughout. Opeth's songs sound similar in the way that most songs have growls, clean vocals, heavy riffs and acoustic parts.

EDIT: Many songs on the last Stratovarius albums with Timo Tolkki sound a bit similar.

A similar atmosphere running throughout an album means the album is well-constructed and flows well, ten times better than albums which are all over the place. And indeed Katatonia albums are like that.

Errr, wow. That's a massive similarity indeed.

Anyway, if there are any doubts:
Katatonia - Consternation/Idle Blood
Opeth - The Grand Conjuration/Windowpane

Do I need to say anything else?

[Gadough]

As much as I love them I'm going to have to say Eisley. If I'm listening to them on shuffle or something often times it can take me half a song before I'm able to identify it without looking.

wat

Well, I sort of see where he's coming from. I mean all of their songs are almost the exact same length.

[orcus116]

It really bothers me whenever I see an album like that. It's the strangest pet peeve.

[Gadough]

I can understand that Orcus. It sometimes denotes a lack of variety.

[Gorille85]

They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

Many, many bands.

[lateralus88]

They have a formula, sure. Who doesn't?

Unexpect

What Gorille really meant to type.

[Gorille85]

  Yeah, but there are alot of bands that do not use a formula too.

[lateralus88]

Oh I know 

[antigoon]

As much as I love them I'm going to have to say Eisley. If I'm listening to them on shuffle or something often times it can take me half a song before I'm able to identify it without looking.

wat

Well, I sort of see where he's coming from. I mean all of their songs are almost the exact same length.

You crazy foos.