Is metal by far the most misunderstood genre?

[Nick]

How is not liking growls misunderstanding metal? It's just personal taste. I don't like growls, by the way.

Asking

why Akerfeldt insisted on growling, when his clean vocals sounded so nice.

is very largely misunderstanding metal.

Not really. Although Opeth is instrumentally a great band, I can't listen to much of their catalog because the vocals are so silly. I'd like to know why Akerfeldt insists on growling when his clean vocals are so nice.

Yup.

[KevShmev]

Although Opeth is instrumentally a great band, I can't listen to much of their catalog because the vocals are so silly. I'd like to know why Akerfeldt insists on growling when his clean vocals are so nice.

Because that is part of their sound and style.  That is like saying, "I'd like to know why Dream Theater insists on shredding when their slower playing is so nice."  Just like shredding is part of DT, growling is part of Opeth.  Deal with it, or don't listen.

[Ultimetalhead]

My brother asked why Akerfeldt insisted on growling, when his clean vocals sounded so nice.

For fuck's sake

Metal vocalists use harsh vocals because it doubles the percussive nature of the music being played.

Even if you hate metal vocals, this isn't that hard to understand.

Exactly. Would the outro to Blackwater Park be nearly as awesome if Akerfeldt wasn't growling his fucking throat out?

Well, probably, but Akerfeldt is a special case.

[Kosmo]

It's a nice way of knowing who is close minded enough to completely dismiss a genre when they say ''Metal isn't music, it's just growling'' or ''Hip Hop isn't music, it's just talking over a beat made on a computer''.

[King Postwhore]

I'm on the other boat when it comes to rap.  It is not music.  But it is poetry with a back beat.

You are wrong.

And maybe I am but it's not organic like music should be.  I don't mind electronics used in a song but I just don't feel it.  I get it's music but not to my ears, but I wouldn't slag anybody for liking it.

[senecadawg2]

My response is often something to the effect of: 'Why do guitarists use distortion when they could play beautiful classical music on a pretty little nylon string guitar?' At some point in history, people most likely frowned upon the use of distortion, dismissing it as nothing more than noise. Some people still do this (I'm talking about YOU grandma).

The voice is like any other instrument in that it can be altered, in many different ways, to produce multiple effects and instill many different emotions.

[kári]

I think that something is what it was intended to be and not what people think it is. So if something was intended by it's creator to be music it is music.

[Gadough]

I can't imagine Opeth's heavy sections without Akerfeldt's growls. It would make no sense. His growling compliments the music perfectly.

Also, I'll say what I always say in regards to growls. The voice is an instrument, and if you can handle the distortion of a guitar, you should be able to handle the distortion of a voice.

[King Postwhore]

I can't imagine Opeth's heavy sections without Akerfeldt's growls. It would make no sense. His growling compliments the music perfectly.

Also, I'll say what I always say in regards to growls. The voice is an instrument, and if you can handle the distortion of a guitar, you should be able to handle the distortion of the voice.

And this is very true but I also don't want distortion all the time from a guitar player and in some cases, I don't like certain distortion pedals.

I like the growls from Opeth.  Other that do it full on throughout the whole song....... not so much.

[Gadough]

Here's an example to back up what I'm saying.

Consider the following lyrics from Opeth's "Serenity Painted Death":

Darkness reared its head
Tearing within the reeling haze
Took control, claiming my flesh
Piercing rage, perfect tantrum
Each and every one would die at my hand
Choking in warm ponds of blood
At last, weak and torn, I went down
Drained from strength, flickering breath


Imagine Mikael Akerfedlt using his "nice singing voice" for this part. It would sound fucking ridiculous. The lyrics, the message, the music being played, all DEMAND growled vocals. If he softly crooned lyrics about murdering an entire village while guitars and drums blaze with ferocity behind him, it would sound like a weak parody. 

[kári]

Well yes but why do the lyrics have to be about choking, blood and horror in general? Most people don't like their music to be about that.

[Gadough]

I understand that. That's not what I was addressing.

[Nick]

Here's an example to back up what I'm saying.

Consider the following lyrics from Opeth's "Serenity Painted Death":

Darkness reared its head
Tearing within the reeling haze
Took control, claiming my flesh
Piercing rage, perfect tantrum
Each and every one would die at my hand
Choking in warm ponds of blood
At last, weak and torn, I went down
Drained from strength, flickering breath


Imagine Mikael Akerfedlt using his "nice singing voice" for this part. It would sound fucking ridiculous. The lyrics, the message, the music being played, all DEMAND growled vocals. If he softly crooned lyrics about murdering an entire village while guitars and drums blaze with ferocity behind him, it would sound like a weak parody. 

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

[King Postwhore]

Well yes but why do the lyrics have to be about choking, blood and horror in general? Most people don't like their music to be about that.

That's not a good argument.  You don't have to listen to it if you don't like the lyrics.  Some people want that in their music. 

But like you, I don't care for that either but it is well written and I do see Gadough's point.

Also I am with Nick.  I can't take a full album of growls.

[kári]

I just don't like metal.
I was trying to say that most people just don't like the agression that metal brings.

[BlobVanDam]

Well yes but why do the lyrics have to be about choking, blood and horror in general? Most people don't like their music to be about that.

Most people? Obviously the people who listen to it have no problem with it, so why shouldn't they be about that kind of thing if they want to?

[Gadough]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

That's why Still Life is 50/50

But yeah, I know what you mean. It CAN get monotonous. This is why I don't listen to much death metal. I enjoy bands like Nile, Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, and Meshuggah, but in short bursts.

I'm simply arguing for the validity of the vocal style.

[antigoon]

Is Cannibal Corpse a parody band?

[Gadough]

I think you have them confused with this band.

[Elite]

Imagine Mikael Akerfedlt using his "nice singing voice" for this part. It would sound fucking ridiculous. The lyrics, the message, the music being played, all DEMAND growled vocals. If he softly crooned lyrics about murdering an entire village while guitars and drums blaze with ferocity behind him, it would sound like a weak parody.

How about 'SHEEEEEEEEEEE IS WATERDROPS OVER THE PYYYYRE'? one of his most awesome growls, imho. (end of The Moor)
Indeed, it wouldn't make any sense.

[Ben_Jamin]

People listen to music for many different reasons. I do, I listen to certain bands and styles for the same reasons. Some I like the message, the music or the energy it creates. Most people do the same, and aren't music fans so won't dwell into anything further than what's on the radio. If they generalize then instead of being a Dick, you could inform them why it isn't what they see as people perceive things differently.

This is why I love music, its so broad that I'm not bound to only like one genre. Being open minded to music is what I feel people need to do.

[senecadawg2]

Regarding Opeth, the growls add a very interesting and important element to the music, and the ability to flow between harsh vocals and clean vocals is what really sets them apart. In fact, while I normally can't get over the death metal growls of other bands (cannibal corpse, etc.), this is something I enjoy in Opeth.

This is why I love music, its so broad that I'm not bound to only like one genre. Being open minded to music is what I feel people need to do.

and that pretty much sums up everything that needs to be said on the subject.

[Sigz]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

Why are growls/harsh vocals inherently more 'silly' than clean singing?

[Zantera]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

Why are growls/harsh vocals inherently more 'silly' than clean singing?

Yeah this. I've heard plenty of bands where the clean singing has been laughable, and an entire album of that can't be worse then an album with only growls?

[Sigz]

Yup. As for the OP, I wouldn't say it's by far the most misunderstood, but it's definitely up there. As others have said rap and electronic definitely get their unwarranted haters.

[Elite]

To complement that, I think every single music genre, or more general, every single thing that you can form an opinion about has its unwarranted haters.

[Lowdz]

I can't imagine Opeth's heavy sections without Akerfeldt's growls. It would make no sense. His growling compliments the music perfectly.

Also, I'll say what I always say in regards to growls. The voice is an instrument, and if you can handle the distortion of a guitar, you should be able to handle the distortion of a voice.

Then why not distort the drums, bass and every other instrument too? Cause then it would be St Anger and no-one wants that.

 I don't subscribe to the notion that growls are essential. "Proper" singing can fit over aggressive music, creating a contrast. I love the sound of a distorted guitar (when done to my taste!)- I can't listen to growling. I undestand the argument for it, I just don't agree with it.

[Implode]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

Why are growls/harsh vocals inherently more 'silly' than clean singing?

It's because most people don't listen to growls often. It's something they aren't accustomed too. It's sounds out of the ordinary. So when they hear it, it can make them uncomfortable. That translates to silly.

[TAC]

I used this analogy before, but growls are like onions. I can have the finest filet mignon, but once you put onions on top of it, it's ruined.

And as far as Akerfeldt, I think even his clean vocals are terrible.

[Bonham]

My problem with growls isn't with the sound, or even its concept within music... it's the repetition. Whenever I try to get into Opeth, I get so incredibly bored with the lack of variety in the vocals; there may be some punctuation/emphasizing, but for the most part, the growls are all growls. I find it absolutely impossible to listen to an entire song like that.

Interestingly enough, I love Sikth because of the texture their screams add to the already present fucking insanity of the song. But with Opeth I just find myself checking the length of the song every 10 seconds.

[Dark Castle]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

Why is a whole album of harsh vocals laughable?  Just because you don't like an album full of harsh vocals, doesn't mean others don't like it.  I love an album full of them, and most of the music I listen to would make no sense to have clean vocals over them.

[theseoafs]

Although Opeth is instrumentally a great band, I can't listen to much of their catalog because the vocals are so silly. I'd like to know why Akerfeldt insists on growling when his clean vocals are so nice.

Because that is part of their sound and style.  That is like saying, "I'd like to know why Dream Theater insists on shredding when their slower playing is so nice."  Just like shredding is part of DT, growling is part of Opeth.  Deal with it, or don't listen.

I understand that; I chose the second option, which is not to listen to any of their albums but Heritage. However, I also think that "DT should play just slower stuff, it's much nicer than the shredding they do so often" is a perfectly legitimate thing to say about them. Maybe you don't get shredding and you think it sounds stupid, but you still think DT is a talented group of people that you would totally listen to if they did less shredding. This is just called having an opinion about things.

But this is far and away not what I was getting at with my comment. My point was that even a person who understands metal enough to be on this board might ask "Why does Akerfeldt do so much growling?"; failing to understand metal isn't the problem. I get that Opeth has a certain style, and I hypothetically understand the appeal of screamed vocals, what with their extreme emotion. But I still think it sounds silly. I understand screaming. I just don't like it.

Here's an example to back up what I'm saying.

Consider the following lyrics from Opeth's "Serenity Painted Death":

*snip*

Imagine Mikael Akerfedlt using his "nice singing voice" for this part. It would sound fucking ridiculous. The lyrics, the message, the music being played, all DEMAND growled vocals. If he softly crooned lyrics about murdering an entire village while guitars and drums blaze with ferocity behind him, it would sound like a weak parody. 

I don't see why an actual melody (which would be, of course, appropriately dark for the subject matter) would weaken this piece. This is coming, of course, from someone who hasn't heard the piece in question.

[orcus116]

While I quite agree with your point, and agree harsh vocals should be used to express certain emotions, an entire album of this is just laughable.

Why are growls/harsh vocals inherently more 'silly' than clean singing?

It's because most people don't listen to growls often. It's something they aren't accustomed too. It's sounds out of the ordinary. So when they hear it, it can make them uncomfortable. That translates to silly.

Ween is silly. Opeth using growls on an entire album may seem unnecessary but silly is a really bad choice of words.

[Kotowboy]

I think Jazz is the most misunderstood genre.

People assume it's all dissonant chords and tuneless twiddling that only jazz fans can appreciate.

And that it's incredibly boring to learn, play or listen to....


In reality, it's actually much worse than that.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Also, I'll say what I always say in regards to growls. The voice is an instrument, and if you can handle the distortion of a guitar, you should be able to handle the distortion of a voice.

There's a huge difference between a guitar and a voice.  A guitar is synthetic, a human voice is organic.  Most people, if they saw a mechanical bird with 3 eyes, would say, "wow, that's cool", or maybe that it's weird, or useless.  But if you saw a bird in nature with a 3rd eye in the middle of it's forehead, chances are you're going to be feel disturbed, or upset, or grossed out.