Unique Vocalists

by **James** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:31 pm

In my opinion, virtually every heavy metal vocalist who has a weird or unique voice makes a band better. As long as they are in tune and everything, I find it very rare to dislike a heavy metal band because the vocals are strange or unconventional - 9 times out of 10 it adds to the atmosphere and adds another layer of coolness to bands.

I am mainly talking about trad metal here. Some examples are John Arch of Fates Warning, Tim Baker of Cirith Ungol, Terry Jones of Pagan Altar, King Diamond, and going further afield the styles of John Cyriis, Kenn Nardi (Anacrusis) and the Holy Terror guy.

Basically, unless they are just plain bad singers I find that these weird and unique voices really add character to a band! Do you agree?

by **EvileOL** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:37 pm

John Tardy, but I personally LOVE his vocals.

by **James** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:40 pm

Yep, same applies to extremer genres - I think Attila's weird approach fits De Mysteriis really well for example, and I love the croaky vocal delivery in Inquisition and Immortal.

I suppose death metal is harder to differentiate in terms of true originality (Demilich might be cited, although I don't particularly like those vocals) - with DM I tend to prefer the deep sound which is still decipherable, such as Russ Dolan or Mors Dalos Ra of Necros Christos... I can't stand the pig noises though!

But anyway I'm mainly talking about classic heavy metal.

by **thrash metal maniac** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:23 pm

Halford is (well, was) incredibly unique back in the day, I guess that and the great rhythm and lead guitaring is why they were so popular!!!

Dio is the ender of this topic. Dio.

by **origamikid** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:23 pm

Dio!!!

I think voices from thrash outfits who have unique voices really add to everything:

I meen Mustaine has a weird voice that brings something unique to the whole mix as done Connoly from Nuclear Assault - he has a very cool but unique voice i find.

Although seein as this band (supposedly) classed as metal -- SOAD singer, dunno what his name is ...serg or something, it was playing in some shop today and i was like...wtf is this, someone tells me its SOAD ...his voice while unique is horrible

by **The Fourth Norseman** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:31 pm

he's a better singer than mustaine (the soad guy)

also i wouldn't really say nuclear assault have unique vocals at all.

also you all missed out sean killian, and that's...

by **James** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:14 pm

I wouldn't say Dio is particularly relevant here. There isn't really anything unorthodox about his singing style like the examples I mentioned. He rules, but he's a very traditional style singer.

by **jonny_boy34** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:48 pm

I love Serj from SOAD. I think his voice is amazing! I hate the other guy though, who started singing more and made them sound rubbish.

John Cyriis is lord when it comes to unique brilliance. King Diamond... well, I don't know... he's very unique indeed, but technically, I still say he's a pretty rubbish singer. He can only really do two things (mid-range and silly falsetto), he has no variety of expression in his voice... but somehow I do enjoy listening to him. He does have a certain theatricality that I find very enjoyable, and, well, I do bloody love the vocal lines in Mercyful Fate's Evil, that's definitely one of the best heavy metal songs of all time! So yeah, he's definitely grown on me, but I still think he's technically hilarious.

by **meluaz** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:57 pm

nevermores singer has a very unique vocal

by **origamikid** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:45 pm

Im suprised people on here like his voice. I really do hate it , i was so glad when i went to Reading last year that the sound mix was so awful you couldnt hear him properly when he was singing. Stupid friends dragging me to main stage

by **meluaz** on Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:56 pm

yeah when i first listened to nevermores vocals i couldnt stand em but the music was so awesome it sort of cancelled it off and i got used to it more

by **MartinC** on Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:08 am

There's only one Barney Greenway.

by **Lev** on Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:42 am

James Labrie?

by **Metal Iain** on Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:54 am

meluaz wrote:nevermores singer has a very unique vocal

Warrell's a crap singer but Nevermore are a good band. I really like them actually and that applies to all their albums. He's sort of like Mustaine really; shit vocalist, really good band in general.

I quite like Devin Townsend's singing on his solo stuff. He can drift between actually singing and singing as a Metal vocalist should - i.e. gantly - and actually get away with it. Generally speaking, I can't think of many Metal vocalists who can multitask by both hitting actual notes and singing with the aggression that Metal requires.

by **Lev** on Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:00 am

Mustaine's not shit, cheers.

Unique Vocalists

Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists

Re: Unique Vocalists