I'm guessing Maynard James Keenan and Benjamin Burnley don't count, so I'm going to go with Devin Townsend. Man can that guy sing and scream. Anders Fridén and Alissa White-Gluz are also some of my favorites. Oh, and I don't think I've ever heard him on Scar Symmetry, but I know Christian Älvestam from Solution .45, and he is really good.

(On a side note, Mikael Akerfeldt is actually my favorite growler, but while his clean singing is good, it just doesn't stand out to me and have as much impact as the others)

Written by Valentin B on 22.02.2009 at 23:51
people why the fuck don't you give credit where it's due? everyone just keeps on wanking Mikael Akerfeldt

I for one cannot stand Phil Anselmo.

Written by Ganondox on 30.08.2014 at 21:29

I for one cannot stand Phil Anselmo.

Yet you'd rather give credit to Alissa White-Gluz and Ben Burnley.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Breaking Benjamin fan, followed them since they first released Saturate, but calling Ben "multi-talented" is just wrong. He's damned decent singing wise, but that's about it. His screams are stale, and live he screws up notes constantly. Anselmo is definitely one of the better vocalists in metal. He's able to scream like a pissed-off Velociraptor, yet still has a gentle, soothing voice when he wants it.

Written by Guest on 31.08.2014 at 03:28

Written by Ganondox on 30.08.2014 at 21:29

I for one cannot stand Phil Anselmo.

Yet you'd rather give credit to Alissa White-Gluz and Ben Burnley.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Breaking Benjamin fan, followed them since they first released Saturate, but calling Ben "multi-talented" is just wrong. He's damned decent singing wise, but that's about it. His screams are stale, and live he screws up notes constantly. Anselmo is definitely one of the better vocalists in metal. He's able to scream like a pissed-off Velociraptor, yet still has a gentle, soothing voice when he wants it.

As I said, I assume he doesn't count. He isn't really a screamer, he just occasionally does a pseudo-death growl. I really don't care if he screws up live or not because I'm not listening to him live. Anyway, as I said before, I can't stand Phil Anselmo (except for when he does clean singing like on Cemetery Gates, then I just don't find it very compelling), regardless of whether he is considered talented or not. Same goes for Randy Blythe, I can tell he's a very good screamer, but his voice just gets on my nerves, it's too "dry". This isn't asking for the most talented, it's asking for your favorite.

Written by Ganondox on 30.08.2014 at 21:29

Anders Fridén

Wow, really? The only time he was ever passable was in Jester Race and Whoracle when he had an ok guttural style that worked. After than he adopted those really weak screams and then later tried singing, which he obviously cannot do with any skill or talent. I think on the recent records he's probably an example of one of the worst vocalists currently performing. Why would anyone choose Friden when they could have Mikael Stanne; an infinitely better vocalist who has both a competent and distinctive singing voice and black metal style rasps / shriek where he manages to annunciate words better than practically anyone else while doing so.

Written by Guest on 05.09.2014 at 13:18

Written by Ganondox on 30.08.2014 at 21:29

Anders Fridén

Wow, really? The only time he was ever passable was in Jester Race and Whoracle when he had an ok guttural style that worked. After than he adopted those really weak screams and then later tried singing, which he obviously cannot do with any skill or talent. I think on the recent records he's probably an example of one of the worst vocalists currently performing. Why would anyone choose Friden when they could have Mikael Stanne; an infinitely better vocalist who has both a competent and distinctive singing voice and black metal style rasps / shriek where he manages to annunciate words better than practically anyone else while doing so.

Because I like the way Ander's sounds better, actually the style on Jester Race and Whoracle are my least favorite of his vocal work as it's the least expressive (okay, correction, his worst vocal work was on Dark Tranquility's debut, it was bad enough to get him fired). Mikael Stanne just sounds incredibly generic IMO, too polished and boring and whatnot (admittedly this is based on my extremely limited experience with the band (and Lunar Strain), so maybe I've only heard their more mellow recent stuff and more generic earlier stuff). I don't know why there is this constant contest against Anders and Stanne, they are very different vocalists and I don't think they should be compared. You might call his screaming weak, but I consider it to be some of the most powerful screams I've ever heard, in fact he was the first vocalist whose screams I actually found to add to the song. Like it or hate it, his singing/screaming style, especially latter on, has made an impact on people, enough to be widely recognized. Sure, technically he is no wear near extremely talented, but his singing is pretty unique, fairly versatile, and very emotional, and that's why I like it.

Zofia from Obscure Sphinx :/

Written by Ganondox on 06.09.2014 at 05:02


Because I like the way Ander's sounds better, actually the style on Jester Race and Whoracle are my least favorite of his vocal work as it's the least expressive (okay, correction, his worst vocal work was on Dark Tranquility's debut, it was bad enough to get him fired). Mikael Stanne just sounds incredibly generic IMO, too polished and boring and whatnot (admittedly this is based on my extremely limited experience with the band (and Lunar Strain), so maybe I've only heard their more mellow recent stuff and more generic earlier stuff). I don't know why there is this constant contest against Anders and Stanne, they are very different vocalists and I don't think they should be compared. You might call his screaming weak, but I consider it to be some of the most powerful screams I've ever heard, in fact he was the first vocalist whose screams I actually found to add to the song. Like it or hate it, his singing/screaming style, especially latter on, has made an impact on people, enough to be widely recognized. Sure, technically he is no wear near extremely talented, but his singing is pretty unique, fairly versatile, and very emotional, and that's why I like it.

In Flames were probably the first metal band I truly loved, along with SoaD, but even way back then when everything was fresh and new to me Ander's vocals did very little for me and were never the draw and appeal of In Flames. Maybe some people do have an emotional attachment to him, but I can certainly say that I don't. Definitely the most superfluous component of the band to me and the band can only benefit from booting him out.

Nothing wrong with comparing the two. They've been in both bands and had a career opposite each other making music in a similar field. Perhaps Stanne wasn't the best example though. Bjorn Strid is probably a better opponent to Anders who is also someone who has both talented vocal skill and an appealing voice.

Written by angel. on 06.09.2014 at 12:00

Zofia from Obscure Sphinx :/

You like Obscure Sphinx? Next you'll tell me Marcel likes Mercyful Fate.

Anyway, Devin Townsend, just for sheer range. There are plenty of better harsh vocalists, and a few better singers, but the ones that out do him on one voice don't match him on the other.

Written by M C Vice on 06.09.2014 at 13:55

You like Obscure Sphinx?

Anyway, Devin Townsend, just for sheer range.

Devin Townsend is also a great one ! I definitely agree with it ! Yup I like Obscure Sphinx a lot :

Written by M C Vice on 06.09.2014 at 13:55


You like Obscure Sphinx? Next you'll tell me Marcel likes Mercyful Fate.

What gave away my love for OLD Mercyful Fate?

Written by Guest on 06.09.2014 at 12:08

Written by Ganondox on 06.09.2014 at 05:02


Because I like the way Ander's sounds better, actually the style on Jester Race and Whoracle are my least favorite of his vocal work as it's the least expressive (okay, correction, his worst vocal work was on Dark Tranquility's debut, it was bad enough to get him fired). Mikael Stanne just sounds incredibly generic IMO, too polished and boring and whatnot (admittedly this is based on my extremely limited experience with the band (and Lunar Strain), so maybe I've only heard their more mellow recent stuff and more generic earlier stuff). I don't know why there is this constant contest against Anders and Stanne, they are very different vocalists and I don't think they should be compared. You might call his screaming weak, but I consider it to be some of the most powerful screams I've ever heard, in fact he was the first vocalist whose screams I actually found to add to the song. Like it or hate it, his singing/screaming style, especially latter on, has made an impact on people, enough to be widely recognized. Sure, technically he is no wear near extremely talented, but his singing is pretty unique, fairly versatile, and very emotional, and that's why I like it.

In Flames were probably the first metal band I truly loved, along with SoaD, but even way back then when everything was fresh and new to me Ander's vocals did very little for me and were never the draw and appeal of In Flames. Maybe some people do have an emotional attachment to him, but I can certainly say that I don't. Definitely the most superfluous component of the band to me and the band can only benefit from booting him out.

Nothing wrong with comparing the two. They've been in both bands and had a career opposite each other making music in a similar field. Perhaps Stanne wasn't the best example though. Bjorn Strid is probably a better opponent to Anders who is also someone who has both talented vocal skill and an appealing voice.

Anders is by no means the first metal vocalist I heard, the first melodeath song I've heard was "Are You Dead Yet?", and while I like the song I don't care much for the vocals, and the first death metal band of any sort I became a fan of was Death, not In Flames, and I don't care for the vocals at all, it's the riffing and soloing I love (they also have some of the best lyrics in death metal). Maybe I have an emotional attachment to him, but there is definitely an aspect to his voice I found appealing.

Yeah, their is a common history to Mikael and Anders, but their style is very different, I agree Bjorn would be a better match. Both Mikael and Bjorn are technically much better vocals than Anders, but I still prefer Anders, it might be the suck that I found appealing, Bjorn reminds me of pop metal star while Anders has more of a classic nu metal feel, and while I think most nu metal is horrendous, I prefer it's emotionallity to pop's polish.

I think that Anders' growls were good back in the day although not versatile. But there is no need for that always - on Jester Race, Whoracle, Colony and Clayman he sounds stunning and along with great instrumental side makes these albums deep and dreamy somehow... thoroughly enjoyable. His cleans have never been very good though.

Björn hasn't been very poppy imo... Maybe on some of the more groovy albums in the mid 2000s, but his stronger material, like on Chainheart Machine or The Living Infinite he's an absolute beast. And also handles cleans very well. But I am a bit of a fanboy too, so maybe I'm not 100% objective.

Written by Guest on 06.09.2014 at 23:50

I think that Anders' growls were good back in the day although not versatile. But there is no need for that always - on Jester Race, Whoracle, Colony and Clayman he sounds stunning and along with great instrumental side makes these albums deep and dreamy somehow... thoroughly enjoyable. His cleans have never been very good though.

Björn hasn't been very poppy imo... Maybe on some of the more groovy albums in the mid 2000s, but his stronger material, like on Chainheart Machine or The Living Infinite he's an absolute beast. And also handles cleans very well. But I am a bit of a fanboy too, so maybe I'm not 100% objective.

Yeah, he's a very good singer, but I find his cleans more generic sounding than Anders, even though his are stronger, Ander's sound more personal.

Oh, and Kyo from Dir En Grey, he is so multitalented I forgot to include him the first time round.

Nice post...........

___________
imran