Singing vs Screaming

Singing vs Screaming is one of the most heavily debated subjects when come to the Heavy Metal genre. This conflict splits the fans of metal right down the middle with very few people that go in between. Now my definition of screaming is that of screams, yells, barks, growls, and shrieks. As for my personal preference, I like singing more. I prefer to hear the lyrics being clearly audible with the melody. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the harshness of screaming.

Singing:

According to Dictonary.com, [singing] is “to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.” But when it comes to singing and the music that goes along with it, one thing must present, that being melody.

When it comes to high pitch vocals, Joey Belladonna used his vocals to help Anthrax stand out from their peers. It differentiated them from other thrash metal bands, like Slayer and Overkill.

 

Iron Maiden was able to infuse screams into the singing of their songs. This was best shown in their live performances. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson would scream to extend a note to make it louder and fuller. This is where his nickname the “air raid siren” came from. But the best example of his screams are present on his first album he did with Maiden on the title track “Number of the Beast”.

Ronnie James Dio is best known for his vocal abilities and passion shown while singing the lyrics. In the first song he wrote with Sabbath, “Children of the Sea”, he demonstrated his superior vocal range.

Screaming:

Screaming is the broad term for any singing style where the vocals aren’t crisp and clean. According to Diconary.com [Screaming] is “to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry. Or to emit a shrill, piercing sound” This style is more prevalent when the singer is trying to make a point. When the tuning drops and the riff get heavier, the screaming coincides with the music. While singing is possible with the music, guttural purging and shrieks are more common. Essentially screaming comes down to the type of music being played. Each style of music lends itself to a different vocals. Punk had no real singing, just more shouting. Through the years, this style evolved into the modern scream in metal.

Lamb of God are the latest in the arsenal of successful bands that utilize this brutal vocal style. This style of unrelenting screaming can be attributed to the monstrous vocal ability of D. Randall Blythe.

Judas Priest is known for their melodic music and Rob Halford’s high pitches. In the 90’s, they created a definitive song when they released their screaming assault titled “Painkiller”.

Dillinger is a progressive metal band that is so technical that it has been called math metal by some. When people listen their music for the first time, it can sound like a gurgle of noise.  But after listening to their music multiple times, their brilliance does come through

Even though there are two vocal styles, each one has its place in metal music. Singing is synonymous with high pitched vocals in the operatic singing style like Freddy Mercury. While screaming is signified by the harsh tone that coincides with the music. Both types have added to the appeal of metal music.