"Melodic Death Metal"

[Hammer of Might]

Pretty irrelevant. I'm talking about the music.

 

[Mort Divine]

Well, in that case. Image doesn't affect genres at all.

 

[Zephyrus]

well it should be taken into account that a band's image reflects its own view of itself and how the band thinks they should be classified. Music is indeed the most important part, but a band must advetize this music in one form or another and their theme/image is a major part of this advertizement.

 

[Hammer of Might]

I do know what you're getting at, but I think it's pretty redundant in a discussion about MUSICAL classification. It can add to a band's identity (and live atmosphere) but it does not dictate the genre.

 

[Scourge of Malice]

Lyrical themse don't affect how a band is classified? How about black metal?

 

[Hammer of Might]

No.

 

[SheisMySin]

>>>Lyrical themse don't affect how a band is classified? How about black metal?

I thought BM was classified based on guitar distortion, speed and vocal sounds.

Scott

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

That's not even right either. Black metal is defined by tremolo guitar picking in usually minimalistic phrases, a detached or cold atmosphere, etc. There's no rule that says the style of "black metal" cannot be played by bands with a decidedly non-Satanic/non-Neo Pagan, whatever approach.

 

[Scourge of Malice]

Hmm I was under the impression that the true essence of black metal was its themes, although most bm obviously has similiar sound.

 

[Mort Divine]

Hmm I was under the impression that the true essence of black metal was its themes, although most bm obviously has similiar sound.

BM Purists will say that, but in reality nothing can define a musical style aside from the style and techniques used to play the instruments.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

The truth is in the above post.

Let's put it in a scenario:

A group of musicians who are decidedly Christian in worldview and religion decide to form a band with tremolo-picked, minimalistic guitar phrasing, straightforward drumming, and a cold, detached atmosphere. Are they:

a). black metal
b). death metal
c). emo
d). something else that you will specify here: _____________

If you pick anything other than a)., you are a piece of shit and totally fucking wrong. Also, Deicide sing about anti-Christianity; are they black metal by that logic? Fuck no, they're death metal because they utilize a heavy, pounding rhythm section, multiple non-minimalistic guitar phrases per song, low vocals (not a requirement as vocals are the weakest link of metal genre classification), and a good amount of technicality.

 

[Scourge of Malice]

Well I stand corrected then.

BTW, Dredg is great

 

[CF87]

The only reason to me bands are called 'melodic death metal' is because the raspy vocals. Musically these bands sound like a mix between iron maiden and judas priest. I like some of the melodic death metal bands and there would probably be no other way to label them anyways,.

I think a death metal bands can have a form of melody and still be pure death metal, bands like in flames(older0 dark tranquality(older) have a flowery powermetal sound. It's kinda like modernized 80's metal in a retrospective.

 

[cookiecutter]

Much enjoyment of bands for me comes from lyrics, themes, cover art etc. and I think they have some factor in determining genre. If some metalcore band began singing about gore and put a mutilated body on the cover of an album, they may begin to be labelled deathcore or something similar.

However, I think the music is 99% of the genre classification. In Flames and the like are not really death metal because they play upbeat melodies and have only semigrowled vocals. It doesn't hurt however, to not sing about the usual death metal stuff.

 

[Hammer of Might]

The only reason to me bands are called 'melodic death metal' is because the raspy vocals. Musically these bands sound like a mix between iron maiden and judas priest. I like some of the melodic death metal bands and there would probably be no other way to label them anyways.

Which shows that vocal style is a pointless way to define a style.

 

[Zephyrus]

The problem with discussions on this subject is that the fans of "melodeath" bands such as IF and DT like to label these bands as death metal simply because the that label sounds cool. When other people deny this classification, calling them power metal, these bands' fans interpret it as an insult, especially when they themselves are not power metal fans.

 

[Mort Divine]

The problem with discussions on this subject is that the fans of "melodeath" bands such as IF and DT like to label these bands as death metal simply because the that label sounds cool. When other people deny this classification, calling them power metal, these bands' fans interpret it as an insult, especially when they themselves are not power metal fans.

Yeah, well. Can't do much about idiots.

 

[Zephyrus]

Yeah, well. Can't do much about idiots.

it's ok, i've been tolerating you quite well.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Vocals are the weakest link in genre classification; any style of vocals can be used in any other style of metal, other than what they were originally used in the context of. There is black metal with death vocals (newer Deathspell Omega), death metal with black vocals (fucking plenty I won't bother to name), power metal with harsh vocals (Children Of Bodom), etc. I have never heard death metal with all clean vocals, but that's probably just happenstance.

Themes are there to get you thinking, though in metal they're usually nothing of interest nowadays: basically just something for you to pay secondary attention to so you don't get bored or whatever.

If some metalcore band began singing about gore and put a mutilated body on the cover of an album, they may begin to be labelled deathcore or something similar.

The Black Dahlia Murder sometimes sing about graves, zombies, ghouls, etc. They're nothing but melo-death/metalcore, though. Not deathcore or goregrind or whatever else you wanna pigeonhole 'em as. Themes do not play a part in deciding genre classification.

The only reason to me bands are called 'melodic death metal' is because the carcass -heartwork style raspy vocals. Musically these bands sound like a mix between iron maiden and judas priest. I like some of the melodic death metal bands and there would probably be no other way to label them anyways,.

A valid and correct point; In Flames and a lot of the more commercialized and degraded melo-death bands are just 80's metal with "random harsh vocals"...death metal is defined by:

1. a strong, driving rhythm section with emphasis on bass and non-linear patterns
2. heavy, chromatic guitar riffs; very downtuned
3. narrative structures wherein the point is not to drive home a few verses, a repetitive chorus, and a solo or lead section of some kind

Once you realize that these things are prevalent in almost every death metal band to ever exist, you'll know why we use the genre classification system and why death metal bands are death metal. There should be a separation between melo-death (Swedish style melody combined with early heavy metal riff structures/song structures, and harsh vocals) and MELODIC DEATH METAL (bands who primarily belong to death metal but utilize traditional harmony within their music to a rather great extent).

 

[Mort Divine]

it's ok, i've been tolerating you quite well.

Hey hey now Don't mistake my love for Pain of Salvation for stupidity.