Good melodic metal? (no harsh vocals)

~~MicShazam~~ · 07-27-2018, 12:00 PM

I'm not going to try and trace the lines around this when people's posted tracks so far demonstrate that they do actually know what I mean.

Key · 07-27-2018, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I can't think of a single metal band that isn't largely melodic tbh.

So then we basically just post any metal band that is melodic? Sounds easy enough. Though there's a lot.

~~MicShazam~~ · 07-27-2018, 12:07 PM

The OP says no harsh vocals.

I could have said "only power metal, trad metal, heavy metal and harsh-vocal-free prog and folk metal", but that would exclude a lot of interesting outlier bands.

Most metal bands care more about repeating rhythmic models and variations than any melodic development worth noting, for that matter.

Key · 07-27-2018, 12:08 PM

Ok. Well it's a vague term so as long as it has clean vocals, it's good? Because like I asked, doesn't melodic meta focus more on riffs?

~~MicShazam~~ · 07-27-2018, 12:16 PM

Metal as a genre is pretty focused on riffs of course, but some bands have vastly more melodic riffs and lead guitar playing than others.

Melodic death metal is a funny genre. It's got more of a focus on memorable melodies than death metal, obviously, but it's usually still got rhythmic and simplistic grunted vocals and a tendency to repeat melodies in short sections so they really end up feeling like short little riffs. So when I say melodic development, I mean melodies that progress over longer sections instead of just repeating every 4 seconds in the form of a riff.

Metal does this a lot. Repeating ideas in little chunks. Typically 4 times in a row. Then do another chunk. It's the basis of thrash metal songwriting, but lots of other metal genres - even prog metal - tends to do it a lot. The way I think of it, that makes a band less melodic, since they go for instant repetition of a theme instead of development.

I don't have the proper terminology down quite right to really express fully what I mean.

**Frownland** · 07-27-2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

Metal as a genre is pretty focused on riffs of course, but some bands have vastly more melodic riffs and lead guitar playing than others.

Riffs are inherently melodic unless they're playing one note.

Quote:

Metal does this a lot. Repeating ideas in little chunks. Typically 4 times in a row. Then do another chunk. It's the basis of thrash metal songwriting, but lots of other metal genres - even prog metal - tends to do it a lot. The way I think of it, that makes a band less melodic, since they go for instant repetition of a theme instead of development.

Repetition doesn't make something less melodic lol. I don't even think you understand what the word really means. It's just a succession of notes, even dissonant stuff counts. The thing that makes some metal bands "less melodic" is muddled production.

Key · 07-27-2018, 01:11 PM

It worries me when Frown and I are on the same page.

The Batlord · 07-27-2018, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiiii

It worries me when Frown and I are on the same page.

Technically Frown, you, Mic, and now I are all on the same page. More to follow presumably.

~~MicShazam~~ · 07-27-2018, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Riffs are inherently melodic unless they're playing one note.

Repetition doesn't make something less melodic lol. I don't even think you understand what the word really means. It's just a succession of notes, even dissonant stuff counts. The thing that makes some metal bands "less melodic" is muddled production.

Anal dial set to 10.

**Frownland** · 07-27-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

Anal dial set to 10.

It's been a longtime pet peeve of mine. Refer back to my comment about harmonic metal.

07-27-2018, 12:00 PM	#41 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	I'm not going to try and trace the lines around this when people's posted tracks so far demonstrate that they do actually know what I mean.

07-27-2018, 12:07 PM	#43 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	The OP says no harsh vocals. I could have said "only power metal, trad metal, heavy metal and harsh-vocal-free prog and folk metal", but that would exclude a lot of interesting outlier bands. Most metal bands care more about repeating rhythmic models and variations than any melodic development worth noting, for that matter.

07-27-2018, 12:08 PM	#44 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Ok. Well it's a vague term so as long as it has clean vocals, it's good? Because like I asked, doesn't melodic meta focus more on riffs?

07-27-2018, 12:16 PM	#45 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	Metal as a genre is pretty focused on riffs of course, but some bands have vastly more melodic riffs and lead guitar playing than others. Melodic death metal is a funny genre. It's got more of a focus on memorable melodies than death metal, obviously, but it's usually still got rhythmic and simplistic grunted vocals and a tendency to repeat melodies in short sections so they really end up feeling like short little riffs. So when I say melodic development, I mean melodies that progress over longer sections instead of just repeating every 4 seconds in the form of a riff. Metal does this a lot. Repeating ideas in little chunks. Typically 4 times in a row. Then do another chunk. It's the basis of thrash metal songwriting, but lots of other metal genres - even prog metal - tends to do it a lot. The way I think of it, that makes a band less melodic, since they go for instant repetition of a theme instead of development. I don't have the proper terminology down quite right to really express fully what I mean.

07-27-2018, 01:11 PM	#47 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	It worries me when Frown and I are on the same page.