Is the bass guitar even necessary in metal?

[speed]

I was having a discussion with a bass guitarist friend of mine, and we basically talked about whether the bass guitar is necessary in metal anymore. Has anyone else noticed that the only way one can hear the bass on alot of albums, is to get decent stereo headphones; thus begging the question, why even bother with the bass, if it takes so much effort just to find it.

I really dig a good bass line, but man its hard to find in any underground metal band.

 

[CF87]

It depends on the band and what you have heard and not heard. This topic is pointless.

 

[Black Winter Day]

bass is important because it "fills" up the sound. even if you can't hear the individualy lines all the time, it is still important (although not essential). i personally love it when you can hear moving bass-lines that compliment guitar riffing... it adds to the composition (that is, if the music is decently-written enough to have actual compositions).

 

[Black Winter Day]

if you like moving basslines in underground metal, try bergthron's "jagdheim" or ulver's "bergtatt". there are many more where those come from, as well.

 

[Golden Hall]

Yeah, so what if you can't hear the bass note for note, but if you took it out altogether, it'd sound like shit, or black metal.

 

[Black Winter Day]

only about 10% of black metal has no bass or you can't hear it. 'de mysteriis dom sathanas' by mayhem actually has two bass tracks.

 

[R.I.P.2]

Yeah, so what if you can't hear the bass note for note, but if you took it out altogether, it'd sound like shit, or black metal.

Agreed. Except for the black metal comment.

 

[Oceanic Motion]

^^^

 

[Henrik Main]

only about 10% of black metal has no bass or you can't hear it. 'de mysteriis dom sathanas' by mayhem actually has two bass tracks.

Not at the same time, surely? I heard that they first recorded it with Varg doing the basstrack. Then, when he killed Euronymous, Blasphemer or Necrobutcher re-did the basstrack. They took out Varg's basstrack and added the other. I don't think they had two basstracks at once.

 

[Krilons Resa]

A lot of bands are very uncreative with their bass lines imo. They just have em follow the guitar mostly, which is boring...but...if you took the bass away, the sound would sound extremely empty and probably be very annoying. Drums and bass are the skeleton of music imho. Without em you have no foundation. You need the bassline to lock in the groove and rhythm. More bands need to start writing music leading with the bass rather than the guitar like Steve Harris did with Maiden...although I am not a huge fan of MAiden.

 

[Hell Mike]

Not at the same time, surely? I heard that they first recorded it with Varg doing the basstrack. Then, when he killed Euronymous, Blasphemer or Necrobutcher re-did the basstrack. They took out Varg's basstrack and added the other. I don't think they had two basstracks at once.

The album has two bass tracks played simultaneously, though not always. There is one clean track and one distorted. The rumour you are talking about was one spread out by the band after Euro's death that Hellhammer re-recorded the bass but that is pure bullshit, Varg did it and they never re-recorded it. The rumour was spread by the band itself in respect to Euro's family and such.

 

[Hell Mike]

... and if the ones don't think the bass buitar is important and almost always essential in metal music should consider lobotomy.

 

[Profano]

try CARPATHIAN FOREST!!!!!

 

[Henrik Main]

The album has two bass tracks played simultaneously, though not always. There is one clean track and one distorted. The rumour you are talking about was one spread out by the band after Euro's death that Hellhammer re-recorded the bass but that is pure bullshit, Varg did it and they never re-recorded it. The rumour was spread by the band itself in respect to Euro's family and such.

Thanks for clearing that up then. Either way, the bass on "De Mysteriis.." really is brilliant. "Life Eternal", for instance, wouldn't be half as great without THAT bassline. "Pagan Fears" also benefits from a brilliant bass performance.

 

[Erik]

I don't think they had two basstracks at once.

Listen to "Life Eternal" while paying attention, then say that again.

EDIT:

"Life Eternal", for instance, wouldn't be half as great without THAT bassline. "Pagan Fears" also benefits from a brilliant bass performance.

That's what I meant. Underneath THAT bass line, which is played clean, there is a distorted bass track which more or less follows the guitars.

 

[Henrik Main]

Listen to "Life Eternal" while paying attention, then say that again.

EDIT:

That's what I meant. Underneath THAT bass line, which is played clean, there is a distorted bass track which more or less follows the guitars.

Just did it, and well.. Yeah. You're right, of course.

 

[Hell Mike]

Thanks for clearing that up then. Either way, the bass on "De Mysteriis.." really is brilliant. "Life Eternal", for instance, wouldn't be half as great without THAT bassline. "Pagan Fears" also benefits from a brilliant bass performance.

You're very welcome. The bass on that album of probably the best ever made, and that album is the best one ever made. That part of Life Eternal is indeed a highlight.

 

[genocide roach]

yes bass is needed. because i need a damn band and i play bass.

like others have said, it fills out the sound. just guitars sounds thin. plus any band with any talent can figure out ways to harmonies with bass. bass is underrated. no one understands that the bass is like the backbone. you have to work from the bass like the foundation of a house. its like laying down the groundwork. even "simple" bass work is important cuz it lays down the foundation to the whole song
~gR~

 

[diabolical vengeance]

I urge you all to check out Barathrum who have TWO bassists!

 

[Profanity]

The bass guitar adds power and makes the music heavier and has similar characteristics to a guitar which means it's an ideal accompanying instrumentIt sounds like people who don't want a bass guitar in Metal would like a new gewnre called Sissy Metal.