"Melodic" rock/metal band w/o growling vocals? [Archive]

griffith9

03-09-2008, 06:35 AM

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 06:45 AM

You mean gay glam metal.

Dhsu

03-09-2008, 06:52 AM

Well, do you have any gay glam metal suggestions?

griffith9

03-09-2008, 06:56 AM

Well, glam metal is cool. I wouldn't call it gay.

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 07:06 AM

Angra
Gamma Ray
Helloween
Iron Maiden (of course)
Kamelot
Symphony X

To a lesser degree:

Rhapsody
DragonForce
Edguy
HammerFall
Sonata Arctica

Not quite sure what's the problem with the vocals you're having (Hansi's vocals for Blind Guardian, while in some ways a bit unusual, are clearly far different than death metal growls - listen to the Bard's Song - In the Forest for example). These bands I listed are pretty melodic though (Iron Maiden & Edguy to a lesser degree). If you want particular album recommendations, I say check out Angra's Rebirth and Temple of Shadows albums, Gamma Ray's Land of the Free, Powerplant, and Majestic albums, Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I & Part II, and The Dark Ride albums, Kamelot's The Black Halo (you probably won't like the first song on there, just a warning, but the others are well worth listening to), and Symphony X's The Odyssey.

Edit: Wow, the first few bands I listed were in alphabetical order.

griffith9

03-09-2008, 07:55 AM

Dhsu

03-09-2008, 08:00 AM

A power ballad band would be awesome.

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 08:39 AM

Thank you very much, Bahamut. I'll check them out.

Blind Guardian.. well.. I see your point. One of their songs just creeped me out. Maybe I'll give them another listen.

Helloween.. sounds kinda familiar. Isn't that a 'power ballad' band?(no clue)

Helloween is a power metal* band - big difference. The genre generally emphasizes fast melodic riffs, and technical instrumental playing across the board (including vocals). It is also very notable for clean vocals, although bands are not afraid of experimenting for the sake of concept - there are a few even famous for use of death metal growls and/or thrash tones, such as Children of Bodom. Concepts tend to be an important part of the genre as well, all stemming from Helloween, the second major pioneer of the genre and definitively the biggest impacter on it (the Danish band Pretty Maids started it).

Some of the bands I've listed all have a rich history in the genre, such as Gamma Ray, founded by guitarist Kai Hansen, the former guitarist & one-time vocalist of Helloween. Blind Guardian also is pretty famous as well, melding speed & power metal together, although recently they've taken more of a progressive direction. Iced Earth is well-known for their melding of thrash & power metal (Schaffer's guitar playing is probably the most unique style you'll ever hear - it stands out the most of any I've heard).

Sonata Arctica is originally known as a Stratovarius clone, although they are better than Strato in every way, and have grown into their own style (their latest album sucked though, but it was an anomaly, to paraphrase their description). Rhapsody interweaves symphonic elements a lot more, but are at their best in their faster & more aggressive songs - the band is based on telling one long tale, but they take it a bit too loosely and the concept seems unmanageable and thrown together. On the opposite end, DragonForce focuses more on speed & technical playing, but their songwriting is sorely lacking, hence the jokes about them having only one song. Kamelot is an American power metal band, but unlike Iced Earth, plays straight power metal and sports some strange but competent vocals - they made their mark with the album The Black Halo, a very good album.

I could probably go on all day about bands in the genre, but I shouldn't (unless others want to discuss the merits & drawbacks about certain bands and their songs. I'll just say that Angra is probably one of my favorite bands with those two recommended albums though.

SotSS

03-09-2008, 08:47 AM

This sounds just like me a few years ago. Dark Tranquillity are the ones who got me into metal, and when I first heard them I thought the same thing. "This music is great, but those vocals...:-?"

After awhile I got used to them, and eventually I even started to like them. Now DT is one of my favorite bands and Mikael (DT's vocalist) is one of my favorite vocalists, and DT one of my favorite bands. (Go out and buy Fiction today!)

Anyways, irrelevant and uninteresting facts about myself aside, along with Bahamut's suggestions I recommend:

Scale The Summit (http://www.myspace.com/scalethesummit) (See my sig) - Instrumental technical progressive melodic "adventure" (as they call it) metal. Incredibly awesome.

Canvas Solaris (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=53154007) - Instrumental technical progressive metal similar to the above, although they have a keyboardist and some slow, atmospheric sections as well as lounge-music like sections as well. They're alot like An Endless Sporadic of Guitar Hero III fame only more technical.

Sepia Dreamer (http://www.myspace.com/sepiadreamer) - Instrumental progressive metal. They are like the above two bands primarily in description only; they sound quite a bit different than the above two in actuality.

Ne Obliviscaris (http://www.myspace.com/neobliviscaris) - Progressive (god that word gets thrown around a lot these days) melodic black metal. There's a lot of high-pitched black metal growls/shrieks, but there's also a lot of clean vocals and instrumental, vocal-less sections as well.

Disillusion (http://www.myspace.com/timesofsplendor) - Progressive (there's that word again) Melodeath. I've never heard Gloria, but Back To Times Of Splendor is awesome and has pseudo-clean and strait up clean vocals.

I can't really think of anything else at the moment as most of what I listen to has an ass load of growling in it. None of this is probably what you had in mind anyways.

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 08:50 AM

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 08:59 AM

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 09:03 AM

Bahamut, you mentioned my favorite band, Iced Earth.

Jon Shaffer's guitar playing is what inspired my rhythm playing. He plays guitar with the mindset of a drummer, and it's freaking awesome. Percussive guitar.

Oh believe me, I noticed with your DKC 2 wip. I remember you mentioning Iced Earth around here a few years ago, and your riffing definitely stuck out. For some reason though, I've never really fell in love with their stuff, although there were a few tracks I've liked - got any recommendations on tracks that best represent them?

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 09:25 AM

Stormrider - http://youtube.com/watch?v=HYZzncX-mIQ

Desert Rain - http://youtube.com/watch?v=VSlhaiXqDCI

Dante's Inferno - http://youtube.com/watch?v=FsVdau231RQ , part 2 http://youtube.com/watch?v=DqKKZMhTLAw

I'd post more but I have to get to bed. Fucking daylight savings time.

SotSS

03-09-2008, 09:27 AM

Hey, can't be as bad as my first foray - the first metal band I've ever heard was Children of Bodom. I loved the guitar playing but I wasn't crazy about the vocals - I ended up appreciating them though, they do fit. If only the lyrics weren't so one-dimensional though...

Yeah, their lyrics are absolutely horrible. The vocals are hardly the best I've heard, but they're definitely not the worst by any means. The Guitarwork is definitely the star. Still, those lyrics...

Personally, I prefer Kalmah. Amazing guitarwork as well, and the lyrics are much, much more intelligent, though the fact that English is not their native language definitely shows through. Plus, as crazy as the vocals are (particularly the crazy pre-Black Waltz black metal-ish screams), I absolutely love them for some reason.

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Desert Rain was one of the few that caught me when I listened to all their stuff before. Burnt Offerings is another one (one of my friends thinks it's their best song). I'll take a listen to the others tomorrow...Dante's Inferno is a long damn song.

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 09:42 AM

I lied. I'm not in bed yet. It has growling vocals, but you can come to bear it through the overpoweringly AWESOME guitar melodies. I'm posting cover versions a guy did, they don't have vocals, and they sound almost the damn same as the originals. In Flames. OLD In Flames, none of this numetal shit they do anymore.

"Resin"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=so_X1-v22uM

"Gyroscope"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=utH0k_fEZTA

"Embody the Invisible"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0iX0553ULJk

"Jotun"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a5xzOmcYCY8

"Dialogue With the Stars"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zdv787IuHUs

"Zombie Inc"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0HxMxrd68ks

SotSS

03-09-2008, 09:59 AM

Nice find with those videos. I haven't listened to In Flames in ages.

Don't hate on new IF, though; they may be generic carbon-copies of countless other nu-metal bands playing the same uninspired music, but at least they have a crappy drummer. At least there's that.

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 10:14 AM

But that's my problem. They went from being a band that almost singlehandedly innovated an entire genre (melodic death metal -- there were VERY few bands doing what they did back then in the early 90s) to a band that is bland, formulaic, and completely generic. Watered-down numetal for the kiddies.

How do you go from badassery to that?

SotSS

03-09-2008, 11:10 AM

At about the time that Niklas Sundin stopped writing/translating their lyrics, Anders began to gain too much power. I really think that he is the main reason; before, Anders just growled, and that was pretty much it. Now he seems to be the leader. Daniel seems to have played a role as well.

I've never expected much from either Anders or Daniel, really, but I know that Jesper and Bjorn can do better. For some reason, though, they seem content to ride the trendy mallcore train to mediocrity.

NinjaN

03-09-2008, 12:36 PM

Not sure if this is what you are loking for...

Do you know "Machinae Supremacy" (Website (http://www.machinaesupremacy.com/))?
They make really good music imho. What stands out here is that they use one SID station (sound chip used in the Commodore 64) for their songs, hence they call their music "SID metal"

Check out their MySpace site (http://www.myspace.com/machinaesupremacy) where you can listen to some songs from their latest album "Overworld"

Also, these guys actually sing, not just screaming into the mic... ;-P

NinjaN

Bahamut

03-09-2008, 05:31 PM

Haha new In Flames...it's almost like they pulled a Metallica, except that they had more talent.

Some videos!

Angra - Nova Era
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K0oqGu8Haw

Ayreon - The New Migrator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2UjU6wdX8U

Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iOeA06_vOs

Helloween - The Dark Ride (video itself is crappy, but the song!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKMZvTD78F4

Kamelot - When the Lights are Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58azvyFmKrc

Nightwish - Wishmaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwJ3MD0rIVA

Iron Maiden - Wasted Years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxc0b4xFtU

Yeah, their lyrics are absolutely horrible. The vocals are hardly the best I've heard, but they're definitely not the worst by any means. The Guitarwork is definitely the star. Still, those lyrics...

Personally, I prefer Kalmah. Amazing guitarwork as well, and the lyrics are much, much more intelligent, though the fact that English is not their native language definitely shows through. Plus, as crazy as the vocals are (particularly the crazy pre-Black Waltz black metal-ish screams), I absolutely love them for some reason.

I don't know Kalmah too well (although I have listened to their stuff before). Speaking of bands similar to Children of Bodom, Norther is very similar to Bodom, except a little more keyboard driven.

Argle

03-09-2008, 07:43 PM

Kamelot is my favorite metal band, give them a listen.

SotSS

03-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Kalmah - Heroes To Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRsdU-kh_pw

Kalmah - Evil In You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl3dQVyfdFI

Kalmah - Swamphell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0t7ifn7kak

My three favorite Kalmah songs. The vocals definitely take getting used to because, well, they're completely insane, but the music is awesome. Power metal + speed + thrash = hell yeah.

EdgeCrusher

03-09-2008, 09:11 PM

New In Flames
ROFL!

Guy In Rubber Suit

03-09-2008, 09:12 PM

A lot of bands mentioned here that I was going to list but I'll add some new ones.

Accept, German heavy metal band that doesn't have death growls though he does have the falsetto vocals with a tinge of screaming. Nothing really extreme.

If you don't mind a mixture of death and clean vocals then All That Remains would be up your alley. They have some fairly melodic riffs and Phil Labonte is quite an amazing vocalist able to perform both death and clean without missing a beat.

Betrayer is another melodic metal band that sounds similar to Iced Earth.

Biomechanical is a progressive power/thrash metal band that sounds almost like a cross between Pantera and Iced Earth.

Dream Theater is another band to check out. A great progressive metal band with melodic passages.

Into Eternity, again if you don't mind death/clean vocals. A fantastic, frantic band.

Mercenary is a melodic death metal band similar to In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Soilwork.

Nevermore, which I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned here, is a fantastic power/thrash metal band that uses all clean vocals and has some heavy yet also melodic riffs. Definitely one of my favorites.

Opeth is a band which is similar to Disillusion, though it's more like the other way around, with a mixture of progressive death metal and acoustic guitars as well as death and clean vocals.

And that's all I really see in my playlist. I don't listen to too many bands that don't growl, not because I favor one over the other that's just where it seems my tastes gravitate towards.

Nekofrog

03-09-2008, 09:30 PM

I think I mentioned Mercenary on the first page, but didn't put up any videos.

Here's their new single.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XPfviwq7P0M

And of course, Firesoul.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bqL9Sgk2zLk

7 stringed goodness.

Cato

03-09-2008, 09:33 PM

Nightwish
Sonata Arctica
Symphony X
Dream Theater

To name a few :)

Sinewav

03-09-2008, 10:50 PM

I'll second Machinae Supremacy. Freakin' amazing band. They are extremely VG inspired, and even go as far as using a hacked C64 chip (SID station) in most of their songs. Most of their music is about video games, robots taking over the world... that kind of stuff.

I have noticed, however, that some people are turned off by the vocalist, but at least he isn't growly. They've got lots of instrumentals if their vox aren't your cup o' tea. Most of their stuff is available for free on their website. (http:www.machinaesupremacy.com) Personally, I think their older stuff is their best.
Machinae Supremacy - Attack Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI22RW2hWE8&feature=related)
Machinae Supremacy - Loot, Burn, Rape, Kill, Repeat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BOyd2wBa5Q&feature=related)
Also, I think the band "Epica" is simply brilliant. Kind of Nightwish-esque, but more orchestrally and vocally driven. They do have very occasional growlings, but personally I find that their chior and near pixietricks quality vocals are easily good enough to make up for it.
Epica - Feint (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLlomNmIy4&feature=related)
Epica - Dance of Fate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLeflMWMJ8I&feature=related)

SLyGeN

03-10-2008, 12:50 AM

Growling and screeching is something you're just going to have to get used to if you like listening to metal, though there are exceptions. You do not have to get used to old Trivium vocals, because that's just being handed a shit sandwich and being told to get used to it.

However, if you can look past the growling in many symphonic black metal bands, then you'll get much listening pleasure from everything else that makes up the music. To name a few: Darzamat, Kovenant (Originally Covenant, not to be confused with the movie or the band that sued them), and Epica.

If you absolutely cannot get over the growling or just need something to listen to before learning to tolerate or even enjoy growling, have a look at some power metal like Symphony X, Stratovarius, and (though I do not like them), Iron Maiden.

If you live in the U.S. and desire some melodic metal and the American stuff isn't cutting it, then you're exactly where I was. I didn't like growling at first, but I learned to look past it and listen to the instruments. Then I got used to it, and then I felt the growling added to the music. For example, Dimmu Borgir's The Serpentine Offering.

Go on Youtube and have a look at some of what I've mentioned, and if you're interested I can help you find other bands you may like with Shoutcast and let you listen to my collection.

Lastly, don't be afraid of your music. The creepier, the better. If you can listen to some Dimmu or some Rammstein while everybody else says you're crazy, then you're just on a much more enlightened musical level than they are. Here's some perspective: Have you played Metroid Prime? You know the grating piece that plays as you fight the parasite queen? I blare 500 watts of that in my room for listening pleasure on occasion. I like the looks I get from other people as well.

Bahamut

03-10-2008, 04:46 AM

Epica is not symphonic black metal - they're symphonic goth metal. Whatever gave you the idea that they were remotely black metal?

SLyGeN

03-10-2008, 06:21 AM

Epica is not symphonic black metal - they're symphonic goth metal. Whatever gave you the idea that they were remotely black metal?

Genres.

They're really just to give the listener an idea of what it will sound like. Operatic would have been better than "black", I suppose. But I could ask you the same thing: whatever gave you the idea that they were remotely goth?

Bahamut

03-10-2008, 06:27 AM

Genres.

They're really just to give the listener an idea of what it will sound like. Operatic would have been better than "black", I suppose. But I could ask you the same thing: whatever gave you the idea that they were remotely goth?

Goth is a reference to the style of music associated with the Medieval Ages, typically of the dark, brooding, and atmospheric nature. Epica definitely shows these qualities, as well as a few other traditional qualities of goth metal bands, such as the interplay between the female & male vocals in duets. Their music shows some more modern influences as well, and is not wholly goth metal, as they show some qualities of power metal at times as well (not unexpected for a band named after Kamelot's Epica album).

SLyGeN

03-10-2008, 06:36 AM

Hum. I always thought Goth was more of a halloween feel like Cradle of Filth.

Fair enough. I'm interested to know more about where the term really stems from.

Bahamut

03-10-2008, 06:44 AM

Also, black metal is rooted largely in its minimalism (as far as metal goes), with intentional bad timing in the riffs. Most tend to focus on Satan, anti-Christianity in general, and dark fantasy, but there's a more vicious character in the music (especially in the vocals) than the more atmospheric goth metal. Think of bands like Emperor, Behemoth, and Bathory for example.

Nekofrog

03-10-2008, 06:50 AM

Black metal also tends to gravitate heavily to the "bad production" side of things. Intentional bad production, actually. Goes with the minimalistic thing.

griffith9

03-10-2008, 08:02 AM

Thank you so much, you guys. I'm looking up all the bands you recommended on Youtube.(just to get a taste)

I also have a list of my own if you don't mind.
They range anywhere from melodic hard-rock to Power metal..

Autumn Tears
BB Steal
Baltimoore
Candy Harlots
Electric Boys
Melidian
Bang Tango
Cry Wolf
J.R Blackmore group
Chinchilla
Emergency (Swedish)
Crystal Tears
Stormzone
Brighton Rock

You should check them out.

Thank you very much for your time.

CHIPP Damage

03-12-2008, 08:12 AM

I'm gonna agree with the guy in the rubber suit (lol) and say that Nevermore is a good one, especially if you're concerned about vocals. They guy doesn't growl and he's got a few different sounding voices that he uses. I'd say that all of their albums are good but my personal favorite is called Dreaming Neon Black. In fact, the SONG called Dreaming Neon Black is a good example of how impressive this guys voice is. That's not to say that the other instruments aren't also great. In particular the guitarist is amazing and the riffs are really creative. Highly recommended yo.

Raziellink

03-12-2008, 09:35 AM

Might be going on a limp here, but....Guilty Gear? No lyrics though. :)

megadave

03-12-2008, 02:10 PM

It's called power metal.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fnQAZWzBzbw&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9-4Gm6VG4O0

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OEJmk9Qs0-M

Some people call it 'gay glam metal'. I call it fucking awesome.

AkumajoBelmont

03-12-2008, 03:56 PM

Kamelot is my favorite metal band, give them a listen.

I completely second that. They are indeed my fave band too. Also, Roy Kahn has an amazing, amazing voice, which really sets them apart from everyone else.

Leon K.

03-12-2008, 04:21 PM

Kamelot - Karma was a badass album imo.

norg

03-12-2008, 04:58 PM

i second calls for dream theater, iron maiden, and symphony x.

if you want some pretty amazing metal without vocals period, check out Blotted Science. prozax forward me their name yesterday and told me to check them out and i am absolutely floored with how awesome it is.

Argle

03-12-2008, 08:20 PM

I completely second that. They are indeed my fave band too. Also, Roy Kahn has an amazing, amazing voice, which really sets them apart from everyone else.

He's incredible live as well! And his singing gets better and better each album. I have high hopes for Kamelot's future, they have absolutely been firing on all cylinders every single album since Karma.

AkumajoBelmont

03-13-2008, 03:03 AM

He's incredible live as well! And his singing gets better and better each album. I have high hopes for Kamelot's future, they have absolutely been firing on all cylinders every single album since Karma.

Yeah, completely true. Ghost Opera was awesome.. faves of mine off that are Rule the World, The Human Stain and Blucher. Yeah, I have the On A Cold Winters Night DVD... his voice... geez! When they performed Elizabeth i, ii & iii, I was practically speechless... and also maybe a little teary...

Bahamut

03-13-2008, 05:05 AM

I thought Ghost Opera was a little bland, especially compared to The Black Halo, but I guess it's hard to match such a good album.

I've always missed Kamelot due to poor tour dates for me to catch a show :cry: . If only the midwest didn't fail hard at transportation...

AkumajoBelmont

03-13-2008, 05:08 AM

you're lucky to even get tour dates, haha... I think they're chances of Kamelot ever coming out to Australia are pretty damn slim...

bucky o'hare

03-13-2008, 12:28 PM

I love hard rock/metal music that's more melodic and gutar-driven.(lots of riffs, not too many power ballads like Strangeways)

One time, I listened to a couple songs by this band called Dark Tranquility,
I loved the riffs but the death-metal vocal(shrieking/growling) really
turned me off. I don't know why but it just annoyed me. Dunno.

I guess I'm not used to that type of creepy devilish voice.
(had the same shock when I stumbled upon 'blind guardian'[just creepy, ominous sound] and 'cradle of filth')

So.. could you guys please recommend good "melodic"(fast, guitar-driven, lots of riffs) hard-rock/metal bands that do not have too much growling vocals?? By that am I referring to 'LA metal' bands(GnR)? I don't know.. just throwing terms around.

Most of the bands I know fall into that 'MTV band' category.. so I need some help.
There's this one band I really dig called The Fucking Champs. They're mostly instrumental. They're pretty unique and definitely fall outside the box as far as metal standards go. Minimal line up (two guitars, drums), sparse use of a double bass drum pedal, and a lot of through-composed material.

I'm not totally sure they're what you're looking for, but that being said, riff heavy and melodic they are! And you won't see them on MTV, although that'd be pretty rad if they were. They have a Thin Lizzy like catchiness to a lot of their riffs, but with a more jarring, math-rock/ punk kind of sound.

here's some tracks if you want to check them out-
andres segovia interests me (http://www.zshare.net/audio/88705842c675fe/)
what's a little reign (http://www.zshare.net/audio/88709753ece2be/)
the loge (http://www.zshare.net/audio/8871224d8040be/)

these guys also composed some tracks for the sims 2, apparently.