Neat. Metal thread.
I like metal because it doesn't follow rigid song structures like most genres. Songs tend to evolve and really try to tell a story (often with a lot of emotional power and complexity) instead of just repeating something catchy for a couple minutes. I also like that metal is, in fact, very very structured, but usually complex enough that it takes a little time to pick apart what's going on. Maybe that isn't for everyone, but I like music that gives my mind something to pick apart and understand. It gives me extra reason to listen to it more than once.
Here's my evidence against the preconceived notion of metal being unstructured noise.
Amon Amarth was mentioned recently. Yeah, it seems like a lot of noise and growling at first (and I am the type that generally doesn't like growling). But listen to
this song. It probably sounds like a bunch of loud guitars punching a rhythm while someone growls or screams in a feral tone incomprehensibly. Now listen to this
piano version. The melody is definitely there. Not a bunch of noise. I personally love how the song feels like a journey. The whole thing sticks with a sort of motif that feels very coherent throughout, but is always subtly changing as well. It's powerful, but not without complexity. The growling... well I prefer things to be actually sung, but I do think the style fits the song. It's about a guy who has just been freed from slavery, sets out on a ship to head home as a free man, encounters a storm that damages the ship and throws him overboard where he drowns. I love how the song progresses from hope to adventure to panic to despair.
I stroke the blade with my hand
The sharp edge cuts the skin
Blood drips to the rain-wet sand
My journey can begin
Once a slave, but now I'm free
My honor is restored!
Once again, I ride the seas
Free at last, from whip and oar
I slide the sword into a sheath
The ocean god is hailed
And as we push out to the sea
We raise the rest of sails
I've missed the breeze of my home shore
The frozen lakes and winter snow
But now my dream starts to unfold
Father, I�m coming home!
The storm devoured without remorse
And water crushed the rails
The ship was thrown back and forth
A strong wind ripped the sails
The icy waves embrace my skin,
I am going down
The endless ocean swallows me
This will be my cold wet tomb
Won't feel the breeze of my home shore
Nor see the lakes or winter snow
My hopeful dreams lie ripped and torn
Father, I die alone!
I die alone!
For proof that the genre can be just as uplifting as it can be a downer,
here's one about the power of simple acts of kindness sung by my absolute favorite vocalist.
Here's my favorite performance by her, where she flawlessly blends two styles of vocals in order to play two characters in a story. There's some incredible talent in metal. Yes, I know the videos are crappy
And since it hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet -
van Canto - the world's only a capella metal band. The most impressive a capella project I've ever seen. They even have a lead guitar vocalist who does solos and sounds convincing.
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Topic: The Metal Thread (Read 23082 times)