Comments on: Metal with "clean" vocals?

Question: Metal with "clean" vocals?

randomnity — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:51:01 -0800

Recommendations for a metal-noob? difficulty: "melodic" vocals

I recently ventured into the metal world and am realizing that I like it a lot! I'm having trouble finding bands with vocals that appeal to me, though - screaming/grunting/growling/etc is a dealbreaker for me, which seems to rule out a lot of them.

Some bands that I've liked are the giants - Led Zeppelin (if they count as metal), Metallica and Judas Priest. Iron Maiden has probably been my favourite instrumental-wise although the lyrics are sometimes a bit shrill. I haven't listened to much Megadeth yet but I like what I've heard so far. I liked Dream Theatre a lot on first listen but can't seem to get into them for some reason. I think they're in the right ballpark, though. More suggestions along these lines would be great, but even better would be bands with more "melodic"-sounding vocals but the same intense instrumentals.

As background, most of what I listen to is classic/prog rock and indie rock/pop, with vocals that are more musical/melodic/non-shouting-sounding (male or female, doesn't matter). I would like to combine that kind of vocal sound with the awesome metal instrumental sound, if that exists. If not, I'll settle for vocals that don't abuse my ears, like the above-listed bands.

What bands/songs should I check out?

(I saw this earlier question, but I'm looking for a slightly different sound - higher energy/more badass)

Thanks!

By: Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:58:44 -0800

You won't like all of their songs, because a fair number of them do the screamy-growling thing, but Nightwish has an operatic lead singer whom they use to great effect in...I'd say 70% of their stuff? Give a listen to "Wish I Had An Angel," "Nemo" or "Dead to the World" for starters.

By: a humble nudibranch

a humble nudibranch — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:08:07 -0800

Alter Bridge is my fave. Miles Kennedy has a powerful voice, he can REALLY sing and it's melodic. And he can carry a sustained note forrrrrrrrrrrever. If you like instrumental metal, I recommend Apocalyptica--cellos! Not their Metallica covers, but their original music.

By: cazoo

cazoo — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:11:49 -0800

Black Sabbath w/Dio

By: ronofthedead

ronofthedead — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:12:09 -0800

You have to give a listen to "Operation Mindcrime" by Queensryche. Lead singer Geoff Tate is regarded as being one of the best vocalists of his generation.

From "Mindcrime:"

I Don't Believe In Love
Spreading The Disease
Revolution Calling

By: ignignokt

ignignokt — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:13:54 -0800

Maybe the melodic side of thrash is what you check out first, e.g. Anthrax and Testament.

Thrash descendants Machine Head always used melodic vocals, at least on their first two albums and their latest one. Similarly, Pantera's first-post-glam-eschewing album, Cowboys from Hell, was almost entirely melodic vocals.

Oh, actually, you haven't mentioned the Black Sabbath, so if you haven't already checked them should. Both the Ozzy and Dio eras. Black Sabbath were the first full-on, no-doubt-about-it heavy metal band and are a nice bridge from classic rock, which you already like.

Speaking of Dio, you might like his solo work as well as his stuff with Rainbow.

If you like that sort of expansive singing (like Dio and Dream Theater), power metal may also work for you, although it may not fit your "badass" criterion. Try Gamma Ray, maybe, then go from there?

By: ronofthedead

ronofthedead — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:14:53 -0800

Also, if you're a fan of prog rock, you might like the prog metal stylings of Coheed and Cambria.

Welcome Home

By: ablazingsaddle

ablazingsaddle — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:20:12 -0800

I also don't like super growly vocals in metal, and I think I've found my metalhead home is stoner/sludge/doom metal. Acid King and Kyuss are my favorites - Sleep is generally considered the standard bearer for the sub-genre. Not sure this is exactly what you're looking for, but you might find something that you like.

Acid King's cover of Motorhead's "Motorhead" changed my life. Seriously. "Busse Woods" is an amazing album.

I also like the "hipster Black Metal" (ugh, metalheads and their genre wars!) Liturgy. Screaming vocals, but non-growly, suprisingly melodic screaming, and very prog-rocky. A little too prog-rock/math-rock for my taste, honestly.

By: ifandonlyif

ifandonlyif — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:23:35 -0800

The Sword

By: Devils Rancher

Devils Rancher — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:38:50 -0800

The 4 most recent Porcupine Tree albums, while not exactly metal, have some very heavy sections, and fit your melodic vocals requirement. They used to be more noodly psychedelic prog, but when they add Gavin Harrison on drums, they went in a much more metal-ish direction, though it can still lean a bit proggy. Their long songs tend to have very hard & loud middle sections, and Harrison can sprout up to 6 arms, as needed.

By: puritycontrol

puritycontrol — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:40:46 -0800

Helloween
As ignignokt mentioned, check out power metal.

By: helicomatic

helicomatic — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:47:46 -0800

Consider The Fucking Champs, while they don't always fit your request for melodic vocals, it's only because they very rarely use vocals at all.

By: Wossname

Wossname — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:53:07 -0800

Falconer albums with Mathias Blad on vocals are fun if you ever wanted to know what metal would sound like with a musical theater man on the mic.

By: spinifex23

spinifex23 — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:57:32 -0800

I think you would like Tyr a lot. Faroese Viking Metal with all clean vocals, and sometimes three part harmonies.

This is one of their best songs, IMHO: Sinklars Visa.

By: LSK

LSK — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:01:41 -0800

Sonata Arctica was basically the band that got me through high school.

Specific recommendations:

Don't Say A Word
San Sebastian
Misplaced

By: batmonkey

batmonkey — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:04:31 -0800

Lacuna Coil
Arcturus
Therion
My Dying Bride

...some of those are pretty doomy, though.

By: mannequito

mannequito — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:11:40 -0800

You want Opeth.

By: mannequito

mannequito — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:13:28 -0800

also - is Tool too obvious?

By: mannequito

mannequito — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:17:00 -0800

...and for the hat-trick: I wouldn't call them metal, but if you're a big Zeppelin fan, try Mars Volta, especially their first full-length album, DeLoused In The Comatorium.

By: bongo_x

bongo_x — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:23:20 -0800

UFO are a band often underrated by history, though not by musicians who grew up the the late 70's to early 80's. They were hugely influential on countless bands and shaped the transition from hard rock bands like Zeppelin and Sabbath to Metal.

You want to start with Strangers in the Night, about as classic as it gets.

You also might want to look at earlier/mid period Scorpions albums like Animal Magnetism, Love Drive, and Blackout.

A lot of metal acts from the late 70's to mid 80's were very melodic yet heavy, before the two things diverged.

By: PussKillian

PussKillian — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:24:30 -0800

Get the hence to King's X. Perhaps start with Gretchen Goes To Nebraska and Faith, Hope, Love for the early years, and Please Come Home, Mr. Bulbous and Ogre Tones for their later work. Heavy, groovy, melodic.

By: wdenton

wdenton — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:55:32 -0800

I agree with mannequtio: Opeth is the band to try. The singer does the growl, but not always, and of any band that has that style, it's the most approachable here. This is the band that might change your mind about the growl, and besides, the songs are excellent and the musicianship marvellous. They've changed a lot throughout their career, and the latest album, Heritage, is prog but not metal. Try Blackwater Park to start.

(Aside from Opeth: perhaps also try Blind Guardian, such as A Night at the Opera.)

By: randomnity

randomnity — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:09:39 -0800

Some great recommendations so far! I'm working my way through slowly but just wanted to point out that that Falconer song in particular is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, if that helps guide the suggestions. :)

By: rhizome

rhizome — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:29:12 -0800

Sahg
Riot
If you like this style, these are some bands

By: Verdandi

Verdandi — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:52:09 -0800

Stuff that frequently shows up on my Pandora:
Lacuna Coil (Anything on "Comalies" is amazing)
Eyes of Eden ("Star" is a good song to check out)
Birthday Massacre (more synth-rock, but still good, I recommend "Walking with Strangers")
In This Moment (I recommend "Lost at Sea")

By: Earl the Polliwog

Earl the Polliwog — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 23:43:08 -0800

Oh my gosh, there is some wonderful stuff in power metal for you.

I've put together this playlist of a wide variety of power metal, most of which I liked. You might like it too. Also check out the power metal subreddit.

By: emoemu

emoemu — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 23:57:11 -0800

You mention that you can't quite get into Dream Theater.
Some of their songs can be a little too instrumental for the beginning listener. If you haven't listened to a ton of them yet, can I suggest some starting points beyond the one you linked to?

Strange Deja Vu
Caught in a Web
Forsaken

My favorite album to listen to beginning to end (don't skip around on this album) is "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory", but I suggest you start with "Awake", then "Images and Words", then maybe "Systematic Chaos".

I also second the Nightwish suggestion. Here's one to start with: Storytime

By: katyggls

katyggls — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:30:56 -0800

You might want to check out some things in the symphonic metal genre, like Nightwish or Within Temptation. I enjoy the latter more because I find Sharon Den Adel's vocals more pleasing. They've gone just a tad commercial on the past couple of albums, but I loved The Silent Force and its predecessor, Mother Earth was pretty great too. Some selections below, a warning that most of their videos are what I term "endearingly cheesy".

Mother Earth
Grace (fan made video)
Jillian (I'd Give My Heart) (fan made)
Angels
Stand My Ground

By: mannequito

mannequito — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 01:43:50 -0800

Isis

By: humboldt32

humboldt32 — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 03:16:16 -0800

Not exactly meeting your vocal request, but if you're proggy and into metal you should check out Voivod.

By: Bodd

Bodd — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 05:36:54 -0800

Mastodon - proggy sludge rock; see also Baroness, Kylesa, High on Fire
Amorphis - Finnish melodic metal
Scar Symmetry - Swedish melodic prog metal
Dragonforce - bombastic technical power metal; and in a similar euro-power vein, Sabaton and Hammerfall
Manowar - the grand-daddies of cheesy power metal
Saxon - less celebrated NWOBHM contemporaries of Iron Maiden
Turisas - theatrical Finnish folk metal

By: sinfony

sinfony — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 07:32:23 -0800

I once thought as you do. The key is to ease your way into the shouting/screaming/etc. You'll come to appreciate (or at least understand) it, and that will open the door to a ton of incredible bands. The gateway for me was Isis. Baroness and Kylesa will also help you on your journey.

By: merocet

merocet — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 07:33:25 -0800

Are Jane's Addiction already in your Indie/Rock category? They cross over a lot between metal and the indie rock scene. If you don't know them I'm immensely jealous as you get to discover them from scratch.

Here's Three Days (NSFW), Mountain Song, Stop.

By: kindall

kindall — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:22:20 -0800

Someone else already mentioned Queensryche, but you may want to check out their first full-length album, The Warning. The '80s production sounds a bit dated now, but the first time I heard the first section of "Take Hold of the Flame" I got chills. You'll know the part I'm talking about when you hear it.

By: item

item — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:25:15 -0800

Two semi-related bands to check out: High On Fire (pretty much anything) and Om (start with Pilgrimage).

I repeat: listen to the two above bands. Do it.

By: item

item — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:29:46 -0800

And if it's super-melodic you're looking for, try the album Opus Eponymous by Ghost. it's definitely not for everyone, but it very well could be for you - think Brian Wilson joining the Misfits.

Speaking of the Misfits, have you listened to Samhain? You should.

By: The Michael The

The Michael The — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:58:28 -0800

Pallbearer is the darling of the metal scene right now and the singing is both clean and remarkably awesome. So, so good.

By: saul wright

saul wright — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 09:03:09 -0800

I don't listen to much metal but I absolutely love Baroness. Their new album has very clean vocals, more of a hard rock in the QOTSA vein than metal really.

By: Grangousier

Grangousier — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 09:27:48 -0800

I was just today thinking about the underratedness of UFO. When Michael Schenker left them in 1978 or so, he formed MSG - their early albums also might work for you.

(I think UFO have some of the catchiest songs in hard rock, for what it's worth)

By: klausman

klausman — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:05:59 -0800

It hasn't been mentioned yet, but you might like Protest The Hero. It may provide another segue to non-melodic vocals.

Sequoia Throne is a song.

By: humboldt32

humboldt32 — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:52:08 -0800

There's always Dokken
Not really metal but how about The Babys

By: evisceratordeath

evisceratordeath — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:11:09 -0800

Off the top of my head, in no particular order:

The Devil's Blood
Slough Feg
Dawnbringer
Hammers of Misfortune
Trouble
Randy
Zuul

I also don't see Thin Lizzy mentioned yet. Thin Lizzy is absolutely essential. Jailbreak is probably the one to start with but you can't really go wrong.

By: meggan

meggan — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:34:07 -0800

I think you might like Edguy (linked video is ridiculous and possibly NSFW [girls dressed as sexy bunnies] but the song is great) and Avantasia - both are fronted by Tobias Sammet and he draws a fair amount of inspiration from bands you've listed. Avantasia is particularly neat as it's kind of a supergroup made up of a bunch of really talented people.

You might also like something from Lacrimas Profundere too; it has much lower, "doomier" sounding singing, but lots of melody.

I always feel silly recommending Manowar, but I think their Gods of War album is amazing and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it. Very melodic, some spoken-word type stuff (less stupid than it sounds) and that album has lots of Viking mythology which I really enjoy.

I really, REALLY want to recommend Opeth because they have a lot of melodic stuff, but there's also a lot of growly-type vocals too so I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for - I'd give them a chance though! (Similarly, I really want to have you listen to Edge of Sanity's Crimson because it's an absolute masterpiece, but again with the growly vocals.)

In summary:
Edguy - Rocket Ride
Avantasia - The Metal Opera (I and II)
Lacrimas Profundere - Filthy Notes For Frozen Hearts
Manowar - Gods of War

By: wittgenstein

wittgenstein — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:58:51 -0800

This is a bit of a left field suggestion, but try King Diamond's albums Them and Conspiracy. I think his stuff after this was weaker, but ymmv.

By: Occula

Occula — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:22:45 -0800

I've been idly thinking of writing this question myself - where are the giant, gorgeous vocalists, the likes of Geoff Tate, Dio, and Bruce Dickenson? So thank you very much, and thank you all. God, I love those voices.

By: Dismantled King

Dismantled King — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 19:17:25 -0800

If you Like Led Zeppelin you might like Budgie.

By: cp311

cp311 — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:22:52 -0800

If you like Nightwish or Within Temptation (I see that others have recommended them), you should check out Epica.

By: getawaysticks

getawaysticks — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:35:12 -0800

System of a Down?

By: randomnity

randomnity — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:44:05 -0800

Marked some that most closely fit what I was looking for as best answers in case that helps anyone looking at this in the future.

I've been listening the crap out of Falconer (omg <3 )/Tyr/Queensryche/Dragonforce with a sprinkling of some of the others since I posted this question, so I still haven't checked out every band mentioned here, but I will! Thanks again!

By: Earl the Polliwog

Earl the Polliwog — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:45:46 -0800

Welcome back!

By: Earl the Polliwog

Earl the Polliwog — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 09:49:27 -0800

I've been listening to this a ton lately, you might like it too. Galneryus - Angel of Salvation