SCREAM FOR YOUR SUPPER

Something that’s been on my mind this week is the topic of singing (clean) vocals vs. screaming/growling etc (from the BOWELS of your lungs. THE BOWELS!). Do the vocals of the music define whether it is or is not METAL?

Now in my opinion, the vocal quality- the range, the tone, the quality, glottal, even the volume of the voice doesn’t make or break the classification of “metal” for me. If Dave Mustaine fronted Psyopus for the day, I wouldn’t still call it “Grindcore” but it would still be metal. Obviously, I’m a fan of both styles (or else… what am I doing here?) but I refuse to believe that just because someone has some recognizable vocal talent that their band or the music that they play isn’t metal. If screaming was the defining trait, where would that leave Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Killswitch Engage, God Forbid, and all things DIO?

All genres may not be equal, and favorites differ from fan to fan (duh). But Death Metal is METAL. Thrash is METAL. Grindcore is METAL. And yes, even Hair Metal is still METAL.

Is screaming > singing? Or is it just a matter of taste? You know where to take your opinion.

-Julia