I’ve had a fun time over the last few months getting into metal music and its subgenres. I feel pretty basic in that my favorites remain Black Sabbath, Metallica and Iron Maiden. In my exploration I’ve learned that I tend to gravitate towards New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal / British Heavy Metal stuff. In fact, I found this Spotify playlist called Dad Metal that is absolutely up my alley and I have been shuffling through it a ton.
Unfortunately, I still can’t handle much screaming or harsh vocals beyond what’s in some Mastodon, Opeth, and Gojira records. Even some Pantera gets to be too much for me. I know that I don’t have to like everything and everyone’s tastes are different, but I feel like by avoiding all harsh vocals and screaming, I will miss out on a huge subsection of stuff. So I’m looking to get some suggestions on music that might help ease me into it. Maybe some albums that don’t have harsh vocals on every single track? Or even vocals that are harsh but you’re still able to parse out what the lyrics are?
Additionally, I’m interested in discovering some more recent bands and music that will help me add to my already growing list of Metal that I like. Some of my favorite records that were released this year are:
First Sighting - Blood Star ^^ these folks are a local band too! So I’m extra proud that they’re putting out cool stuff.
The Conquest of Time - Century
And, obligatorily, Metallica’s new record has been getting a ton of playtime from me: 72 Seasons
So, I’m looking for some new music recommendations along a similar vein to what I already know I enjoy. I’m also hoping to get some introductory avenues into harsher stuff, to try and get into that.
Looking forward to discovering new music with you all!
You don’t have to like harsh vocals to enjoy metal ! For example subgenres like power metal mostly feature clean vocals. Off the top of my head here are a few artists you might like :
- Devin Townsend has an extraordinary vocal range.
- Kylesa, sludge/stoner band with 2 singers : male harsh vocals that are actually intelligible and female clean vocals. In general stoner and sludge vocals are palatable for newcomers.
- Rolo Tomassi features an awesome (female) singer who handles both harsh and beautiful clean vocals.
- Lately I’ve been listening to ex-Delain singer Charlotte Wessels’ latest album a lot, but that’s hardly metal.
Thanks for introducing me to Kylesa! This is really cool and I’ve been listening to them all day.
You probably won’t like these suggestions, but for the ppl who are into more experimental stuff:
Harvey Milk, yes, a band named after the first openly-gay politician is like a cross between modest mouse, king missile and a metallica if they had a good drummer and were more metal. Unfortunately, their best album, Life… the best game in town, is not on Spotify. I bought it on Bandcamp, but it’s worth it.
Godspeed you black emperor, while not strictly considered metal (closer to mathrock), they have mastered this really creepy post-apocalyptic vibe, mostly on F# A# infinity. The writer of the movie 28 days later listened to this album while working on that movie, and he used part of it in the movie, so you might even recognize it.
Portal is an Australian band that achieves what many metal bands fail laughably at: being scary. They have a cosmic horror spin on the genre. A guttural, disgusting, eldritch orgy of a mess, but it’s amazing if you’re into that sort of thing.
Okay, Harvey Milk is really cool - I had no idea that a band could sound like this. It’s awesome stuff.
I was familiar with Godspeed you black emperor and love that kind of stuff. Have to be in the mood for it, but when I am, it hits just right.
https://youtu.be/gqUPGa15Oto Unleash the Archers lean mostly clean vocals with some growls thrown in for spice with a solid NWOBHM base. Give them a shot!
Okay, this is awesome. I really appreciate you introducing me to this! I am totally digging it.
Idk if you’d be into birdcore but Hatebeak is pretty good
This is amazing. Thanks for the recommendation.
I was just messing around with that haha but a metal band fronted by a parrot is amazing we can agree. Try this band fr tho, you might dig them DustBolt
Oh I thought you were OP when I recommended that, my b
Ohh! So Ian Christie has a show on Siriusxm called bloody roots and he recently did a piece on clean vocals in various genres of metal. Attached is a link to the playlist of the show.
I know this is several weeks late but I wanted to respond and THANK you sincerely for this. I’ve been listening to the songs listed on the playlist and have discovered some new stuff I really enjoy. I only wish that (a) I could listen to this Bloody Roots episode and (b) there was an actual playlist of these songs streaming somewhere!
This is a great idea, unless you have a subscription service, it’s really hard to find new metal.
There’s always bandcamp (and youtube, if you can tolerate the ads or use an “alternative” app).
I thought so! Hopefully we can all share some ideas and get into some new stuff.
You mentioned liking Gojira, so I’ll suggest Lamb of God, another groove band. Their vocalist Randy Blythe is very versatile, but a lot of what he says is pretty coherent / not overly harsh. I’d say he might be a good intro into some slightly “heavier” vocals.
Also the music is amazing and makes you head bang like nothing else
Thanks for pointing me to them. Another user commented about Lamb of God and suggested starting with Ashes in the Wake and working forward. I really enjoyed that album and will keep exploring their music!
What is your favorite Lamb of God album? And do you have any other “groove band” recommendations?
If you like Black Metal with a folk/indigenous twist, check out Illiniwek Black Metal by Witches Forest
I had never heard Black Metal with a folky twist, so this record is really intriguing to me. Thanks for the suggestion!
I personally like ACDC.
I’d recommend giving Periphery’s new album Djent Is Not A Genre a shot. Fantastic clean and harsh vocals IMO. For getting into harsher vocals, in addition to the bands you’ve listed I listened to a lot of Lamb of God. I’m not a huge fan of their past 2 albums since losing their founding drummer but try starting with Ashes In The Wake and working forward.
Thanks for introducing me to Periphery! I am really digging that album you suggested. I’ve also been playing Ashes in the Wake on repeat since you suggested it. Great stuff on there.
Give Shining - Animal a listen. It was my obsession last year, easily clocking in hundreds of spins.
I have mixed feelings about Soen, but when they are good, they are good. Same goes for Textures.
If you like Mastodon, then give Stam1na and Baroness a spin. The first one is heavier on thrash metal elements, the later on stoner and sludge.
Shining is awesome! That whole Animal album is great.
I’m really into Baroness (Purple is such a killer record!), so I’ll check out Stam1na next. Never heard of Soen or Textures so they’re on my list now too.
If you like New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal / British Heavy Metal, I’ll throw in two bands for you to listen to:
- Diamond Head: Here’s a few tracks: The Prince (2021 Remaster), It’s Electric (2021 Remaster), Helpless (2021 Remaster), and Shoot Out the Lights / Helpless. Metallica covered a few of their songs, namely Am I Evil? and Helpless (I think they also covered The Prince and It’s Electric but I can’t be bothered to look right now, haha). Make sure to get the original Lightning to the Nations album and not the 2020 remaster;
- Satan: Another great NWOBHM band. They also came back a few years ago and their newest albums retain the energy of their 80s release, which is amazingly rare. Just listen to Time to Die or Siege Mentality. You can also listen to their album in full here. For comparison, here are another two songs from their first album, way back in 1983: Trial by Fire, and Break Free
As for harsher stuff, aside from Opeth, which you’ve already mentioned, I’d suggest listening to Agalloch to get used to those shrieks you tend to hear in black metal:
- In the shadow of our pale companion
- You were but a ghost in my arms
- If you’re feeling adventurous: I am the wooden doors
On that note: Yakuza also switches between clean and harsher vocals:
If you want something with more speed, there’s Speedwolf (or was): Ride with death.
Have fun!
