Author Topic: 80s Glam/Metal Vocal Showdown #12: Mustaine vs Hetfield (Read 4347 times)

jingle.boy · « **on:** August 25, 2013, 06:52:21 AM »

Well, Keifer/Keith ended up being closer than I expected. So, now it's on to arguably the two biggest voices of metal in the 80s. Anyone? Anyone want to argue that? Truth be told, this genre was a little too heavy for my musical tastes 25 years ago. Never went to re-visit Megadeth, and 80s Metallica is very hit-and-miss for me... mostly miss.

Technically, I should abstain since I don't know Mustaine's voice at all, but I'm gonna go with Hetfield - mostly since it's easier for me to follow the results.

? · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2013, 06:54:28 AM »

I haven't listened to a lot of Megadeth songs, but in the few I've heard Mustaine's attempts at singing are pretty laughable. Hetfield by miles, even though I'm not much of a Metallica fan.

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2013, 06:58:12 AM »

Hetfield was basically monotone throughout much of the '80s for the heavier stuff, and tended to sing sharp, but from TBA onwards, I've really liked his vocals. Load/Reload are probably his best vocals, and he has a great tone.

I like Mustaine's vocals too, and he had a greater vocal range on the '80s stuff, but he's an acquired taste, and his best isn't as good as Hetfield's best imo.

Hetfield it is.

Jaq · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:15:41 AM »

Hetfield was monotone in the 80s, it's true, but Mustaine always had that nasally whine thing going. I remember he said that the vocals were mixed low on Peace Sells to get you to listen to the lyrics, and I always thought "yeah, right, they're mixed low because you can't sing."

Once you get to the 90s, it's no contest, even with Hetfield using "hey, yeah" as punctuation for every line. Hetfield wins this.

rumborak · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:20:19 AM »

Whatever Mustaine does, it's not singing. More like, rhythmic snarling.
Hetfield.

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:25:25 AM »

Quote from: Jaq on August 25, 2013, 08:15:41 AM

Hetfield was monotone in the 80s, it's true, but Mustaine always had that nasally whine thing going.

That's what I meant by "acquired taste". I was trying to be diplomatic.

Currently listening to Reckoning Day, and he's not that bad, but it was still an easy vote for Hetfield for me. I don't mind the nasal thing though.

Lowdz · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:40:26 AM »

Never got the love for either band back in the day and hated the Thrash genre that rose up in the 80s.
Since then I have quite got into some Megadeth- mainly when things are more melodic (half of RIP, CTE, Youthanasia, Risk, CW and the latest SC). And they usually have excellent guitar players, and Dave is no slouch in that department.
Still haven't really got into Metallica- I just don't see the attraction, though The Black album had a few decent songs.
I can't choose either of them because neither are "singers".

rumborak · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:48:10 AM »

Err, anything since the Black Album you don't call singing? Then Bob Dylan is not a singer either, because he certainly sings worse than Hetfield.

Lowdz · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:55:52 AM »

Quote from: rumborak on August 25, 2013, 08:48:10 AM

Err, anything since the Black Album you don't call singing? Then Bob Dylan is not a singer either, because he certainly sings worse than Hetfield.

I would agree with that too

jjrock88 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2013, 09:03:40 AM »

James

Rattlehead · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2013, 09:37:36 AM »

I prefer Mustaine, but I wouldn't argue that Hetfield isn't the better vocalist.

The King in Crimson · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2013, 09:51:37 AM »

Quote from: rumborak on August 25, 2013, 08:48:10 AM

Err, anything since the Black Album you don't call singing? Then Bob Dylan is not a singer either, because he certainly sings worse than Hetfield.

That's not very controversial at all.

Hetfield
Mustaine, at his best, was not that great and his quality of vocalizing was all over the map; some songs utilized his nasally snarling to really good effect, on others he just sounded laughable.

Hetfield may have been monotone, but at least he was pretty consistently monotone and after the black album, he started to actually develop some decent singing skills.

So yeah, Hetfield easily.

Ruba · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2013, 09:52:21 AM »

I liked both, but nowadays they are rather bad. I'm going with James, however.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:18:27 AM »

Hetfield.

No Contest.

Dave gets worse & worse & worse whilst James has been improving a lot recently. Plus he admits that he's been getting help.

I can't imagine Mustaine ever (admitting to) getting coaching

Dark Castle · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:23:13 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on August 25, 2013, 10:18:27 AM

Hetfield.

No Contest.

Dave gets worse & worse & worse whilst James has been improving a lot recently. Plus he admits that he's been getting help.

I can't imagine Mustaine ever (admitting to) getting coaching

Zook · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:23:40 AM »

Dave Mustaine never sounded like a hillbilly country singer.

James Hetfield never lost his voice on stage and sounded like a 90 year old man... and kept singing.

Tie for me.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:28:44 AM »

I love James' voice on Load and Reload.

I prefer it to his completely false faux-macho AJFA voice.

Plus I think on Load - he was actually "singing" rather than sorta just grunting in tune.

Zook · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:34:16 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on August 25, 2013, 10:28:44 AM

I prefer it to his completely false faux-macho AJFA voice.

Huh? He just got a little older, and his voice got deeper.

The King in Crimson · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:43:29 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on August 25, 2013, 10:28:44 AM

Plus I think on Load - he was actually "singing" rather than sorta just grunting in tune.

Grunting in tune works perfectly fine in conjunction with thrash metal.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:48:54 AM »

James.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBaTbAP-Pu8&t=3m0s

He still sounds pretty decent.

jingle.boy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2013, 10:56:40 AM »

Well! That pretty much settles that. Didn't know Mustaine sucked so much wind.

I'l get another matchup posted tonight since this one is a 1st class ass-whoopin.

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2013, 11:06:44 AM »

Hetfield is pretty good. Mustaine is terrible.

This was easy.

Anguyen92 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2013, 11:26:55 AM »

I'm siding Hetfield on this one. That said, I agree with everyone that said his singing is more enjoyable now than when Metallica started out in the 80s.

Unlegit · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2013, 01:29:53 PM »

I don't really care for either, but Hetfield is more enjoyable.

Sir GuitarCozmo · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2013, 04:21:54 PM »

Hetfield

Jaffa · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2013, 06:04:38 PM »

I'm honestly surprised that Mustaine got any votes.

Kwyjibo · « **Reply #26 on:** August 26, 2013, 12:27:13 AM »

Just adding to the landslide.

Though I like Megadeth better than most of Metallica, this one goes to ~~the table~~James.

CharlesPL · « **Reply #27 on:** August 26, 2013, 01:01:06 AM »

Onno · « **Reply #28 on:** August 26, 2013, 01:47:04 AM »

Quote from: Jaffa on August 25, 2013, 06:04:38 PM

I'm honestly surprised that Mustaine got any votes.

This. Hetfield is decent while Mustaine... I just hate his vocals.

wolfking · « **Reply #29 on:** August 26, 2013, 05:59:21 AM »

Even though I like Megadeth more, Hetfield's got this.

bosk1 · « **Reply #30 on:** August 26, 2013, 08:52:45 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on August 26, 2013, 05:59:21 AM

Even though I like Megadeth more, Hetfield's got this.

This. I greatly prefer Megadeth. But I don't know anyone who listened to Megadeth because they thought Mustaine is a great singer, and I think Mustaine would even be the first to admit that. Hetfield's trademark shouting was a cornerstone of Metallica's sound in the '80s and early '90s, but it's a shame he never learned how to do it properly, because it completely ruined his voice. Since he was forced to utilize a more normal singing voice, I think people really realized that he has a VERY nice voice. It's just a shame the shouting diminished it.

Lowdz · « **Reply #31 on:** August 26, 2013, 11:48:15 AM »

Yeah, thinking about it I was a bit harsh on Hetfield. Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven show a decent enough voice.

Laich21DT · « **Reply #32 on:** August 26, 2013, 12:47:28 PM »

Quote from: wolfking on August 26, 2013, 05:59:21 AM

Even though I like Megadeth more, Hetfield's got this.

aprilethereal · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2013, 06:06:06 AM »

Quote from: ? on August 25, 2013, 06:54:28 AM

I haven't listened to a lot of Megadeth songs, but in the few I've heard Mustaine's attempts at singing are pretty laughable. Hetfield by miles, even though I'm not much of a Metallica fan.

Mustaine, his vocals have always been more varied and emotional, especially compared to 80's Het.

TAC · « **Reply #34 on:** September 01, 2013, 08:30:13 AM »

Definitely Hetfield.

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Author Topic: 80s Glam/Metal Vocal Showdown #12: Mustaine vs Hetfield (Read 4347 times)