Vocal work on Reign In Blood

[Henrik Main]

This thread is really puzzling ... this is the first time I ever heard a conversation about the vocal stylings on RIB. I have owned RIB since it was released and never heard complaints about this.

I do understand how you feel about it, if you put it up against the Dew Scented, Haunted, and other bands of today ... it is just not that extreme.

BUT

you have to realize that when it was released it was the most relentless, brutal thing out there. There was nothing like it ... IT IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS most bands of today sound the way they do.

And this is what makes it a legend and a classic ... even Slayer themselves can never duplicate that magic.

Good point. I understand that, for its time, this was the most extreme vocals there were. I respect Slayer and everything they've done for the extreme metal scene too. I guess Reign In Blood had been a good way to get into metal, but I did it the "hard way" - I listened (and still do) to hardcore bands like Breach and Refused at a very young age, and therefore got used to deep growls/intense screams. When I then started to listen to metal, I was already used to intense vocals, and I loved that kind of vocal performance. All of the metal bands I've listened to since have had more or less extreme vocals. Therefore, it was a step backwards for me to listen to Reign In Blood, if only for the vocals.

 

[Raumien]

I love the vocals, his possessed screams and pure sound...it rules. I like that tough down to earth appeal of it, like he's just givin you the fuckin lyrics, not working on singing all these different notes and sounding all cute and shit.

 

[speed]

Just an idea henrikman.


I totally agree with Raumien- his possessed screams and just the sound of his voice, is so expressive, that I dont know of any metal singers today that approach its true anger.

I must also write that Reign in Blood is still my favorite album of all time, despite all of its shortcomings, I still find it perfect-a bit of a paradox I will admit. It was the album that got me into metal, and is still the album that just does something for me. I reserve it for special occasions.

 

[lurch70]

I must also write that Reign in Blood is still my favorite album of all time, despite all of its shortcomings, I still find it perfect-a bit of a paradox I will admit. It was the album that got me into metal, and is still the album that just does something for me. I reserve it for special occasions.

It is mine as well ... for almost 20 years and still nothing has topped it. I still get goosebumps listening to it. When they played the whole thing last month in NYC I literally shit my pants in excitement ... to me it was like Zepellin playing IV in its entirety.

Also, not sure if most of you know this or not, but the reason that RIB turned out to be as fast as it is, is becuase of Lombardo. Those songs were supposed to be more of the regular pace ... but he sped things up on the drumwork and the band just followed along ... it was one of those pure instinctual things that happen ... and turn into brilliance.

 

[Stormwatch]

I don't think he's that great, but then he isn't bad either - he certainly doesn't ruin the music for me like that guy from Helloween does. RIB is a classic however you look at it. Just listen to that opening riff on Raining Blood and ignore the singing!

 

[SculptedCold]

I totally agree with Raumien- his possessed screams and just the sound of his voice, is so expressive, that I dont know of any metal singers today that approach its true anger.

Just.....

 

[Voice of God]

I like Araya's voice, it's not the best, but ok. It's an acquired taste though, and I know lot of people who are don't like slayer because of his voice. It took myself a long time to learn to like it, but after few listens of Decade of Aggression I started liking it, even though I had hated it deeply on Divine Intervention. I'd recommend the live stuff, it's less annoying there and when you learn to stand it and enjoy it, the albums open up too.

 

[debtcollector]

The vocals on reign in blood match the style and break neck speed at which the music is played and heard what other types of vocals would match this?

 

[Henrik Main]

I like Araya's voice, it's not the best, but ok. It's an acquired taste though, and I know lot of people who are don't like slayer because of his voice. It took myself a long time to learn to like it, but after few listens of Decade of Aggression I started liking it, even though I had hated it deeply on Divine Intervention. I'd recommend the live stuff, it's less annoying there and when you learn to stand it and enjoy it, the albums open up too.

Thanks for your reply. I will try and find some live stuff of theirs, and then go back to Reign In Blood.

 

[JayKeeley]

evil? Its tuneless yelling and barking. Most nu-metalist vocalists do it more convincingly ffs.

"tuneless yelling and barking"?? Are you talking about the right album here? This is Reign in Blood we're talking about - the album is 17 years old, and you bring up the comparison to nu-metal vocals?

 

[Populated by the Fathomless]

Regarding the first post asking why Tom couldn't do more "deathy" vocals, how many bands actually did death vocals at that time? Celtic Frost, Bathory, Possessed, Sodom, Kreator and perhaps Dark Angel / Exodus are the only bands I can think of that had more extreme vocals than Araya. I'd agree with alot of the others, I like the genuine anger in his voice.

Regarding the album itself, it took me a long time to appreciate its true brilliance, but over the last month I have. I think the problem was that I was listening to it at first as just a 'metal' record, but over the last year as I've gotten into a ridiculous amount of thrash, I now listen to it as a thrash album. It just blows them all away, just listen to the ending riffs of "Piece by Piece", the entirity of "Alter of Sacrifice", intro of "Reborn", and the absolutely INCREDIBLE TITLETRACK, what more can I say.

Don't appreciate it because you're 'supposed to', just listen to it and it will win you over.

 

[Erik]

bumping dis

 

[skeptik]

Show No Mercy.

 

[Erik]

1. reign in blood
2. show no mercy
3. hell awaits
4. south of heaven





5. seasons in the abyss


6. divine intervention


random offtopic post itt

 

[skeptik]

1. reign in blood
2. show no mercy
3. hell awaits
4. south of heaven





5. seasons in the abyss


6. divine intervention


random offtopic post itt

Move RiB down to three and move the other two up and you get a high five.

 

[Oblivious Maximus]

I think this is one of Tom's last really good vocal performences. The screams on the album are awesome. Slayer is my favorite band, but I feel Tom's vocals really started to slip after Reign.

 

[The Grimace]

seasons in the abyss = war ensemble & blood red = teh #1

 

[Servio_Abbas_Bellum]

Aw come on, don't hate on poor Tom Araya just because he doesn't use death grunts.

 

[Vital Remains]

Its ok... but im not much of a 'vocals' guy. I love the guitar work in there though.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Tom's vocals on "Reborn" =