Comments on: Acoustic guitar songs that are "metal"

Question: Acoustic guitar songs that are "metal"

TheManChild2000 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:20:00 -0800

What are some songs featuring acoustic guitars, rather than electric, that could still be considered "metal"?

In this case I'm using a definition of metal to mean dark and/or aggressive in tone, style, or intent. Doesn't necessarily have to mean the song comes from a metal band. Danzig's "Come to Silver" would be one example.

Suggestions for songs that include drums, bass, and vocals as backup to the acoustic guitar is ok. Bonus points for songs that qualify due to the songwriting, not the technical difficulty, as this list is for a beginning guitar player that has no interest in Mary Has A Little Lamb.

By: nowonmai

nowonmai — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:35:49 -0800

The one that springs to mind is "Dead Girl" by Acid Bath; there's an electric version on the Agents of Oblivion album if you don't believe it's a metal song. Do Monster Magnet count as metal? They have a bunch of acoustic songs. This is a really hard question.

By: any major dude

any major dude — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:36:05 -0800

Aqualung by Jethro Tull should be on the list - they even won a Grammy for Best Metal Band in the 80's if you can believe it.

By: and for no one

and for no one — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:36:25 -0800

Zakk Wylde's Book of Shadows is pretty cool.

By: Sk4n

Sk4n — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:44:57 -0800

Not sure how "Metal" it is but I always thought She talks To Angels by the Black Crows was a heavy ballady sort of number with a strong acoustic guitar as the dominant melodic.

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:51:13 -0800

Some Violent Femmes song sound like acoustic version of harder, if not metal, rock. Lots of power chords, fast strumming, etc.

By: freshgroundpepper

freshgroundpepper — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:01:21 -0800

How about Rodrigo y Gabriela covering "Orion" (originally by Metallica)?

By: wemayfreeze

wemayfreeze — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:12:16 -0800

If you're a metal head playing acoustic guitar, having The Mountain Goats' "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton" in you repertoire is probably a good idea.

By: amyms

amyms — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:15:23 -0800

Metallica's acoustic version of Nothing Else Matters.

By: omnidrew

omnidrew — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:25:08 -0800

The complete works of the mighty Tenacious D.

By: joelhunt

joelhunt — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:25:15 -0800

Tenacious D has based their whole shtick on "Acoustic Metal". You will love/hate them.

By: kindall

kindall — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:40:39 -0800

Some flamenco stuff strikes me as metal-ish. In fact there's an album which attempts to combine the two styles, called, obviously, "Flametal." Although it's not all acoustic, the acoustic is featured prominently.

By: bradbane

bradbane — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:44:10 -0800

The "Damnation" album by Opeth.

By: Life at Boulton Wynfevers

Life at Boulton Wynfevers — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:02:10 -0800

Days of the New?

Not sure if this is more grungy than metally. They sound, to me, like an acoustic Alice in Chains.

By: ersatz

ersatz — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:32:54 -0800

Zakk Wylde's Book of Shadows is pretty cool.

Or the sequel Hangover music Vol. VI. Mary Had A Little Lamb a la Buddy Guy/Stevie Ray Vaughan is cool btw.

By: jammy

jammy — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:16:17 -0800

Kaiowas by Sepultura

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:24:37 -0800

Boston, "Peace of Mind" and "Long Time"

By: baphomet

baphomet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:53:44 -0800

Check out the entire catalog of Agalloch.

The recommendation of Damnation by Opeth is solid. "Closure" is a total knockout, although if you can get a hold of the audio from their Lamentations live DVD I'd recommend that version as I love the extended jam in the middle (they always jam the middle of the song live). I would also recommend checking out some tracks from other Opeth albums such as "Face of Melinda" and "Benighted". MAKE SURE to check out "Patterns in the Ivy" as well.

A few others that come to mind would be "Part II" and "Pathos" by Darkest Hour.

*kicks self for leaving iPod at home today*

There's a lot of this stuff out there.

By: euphorb

euphorb — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:04:16 -0800

I'll thirding Opeth and add Kyuss - Space Cadet and Led Zeppelin - The Battle of Evermore which would be at home on an Iron Maiden album.

By: backwards guitar

backwards guitar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:05:55 -0800

"Eat My Dust You Insensitive F*ck" by Catherine Wheel (Link goes to YouTube) might fit the bill.

By: TheManChild2000

TheManChild2000 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:35:56 -0800

A lot of good suggestions here... some directly answering the question, others suggesting material that might not be "metal" but is definitely "awesome".