Out-of-Tune vocals

Some of our favourite albums have pretty out of tune vocals. Like Deliverance - Weapons of our Warfare. Do we like them despite this, or is there something intrinsic about it that actually adds to the appeal?

Not sure what you mean. Thrash doesn't have pure sounding vocals, it would be more power metal then.

Still should be in tune, shouldn't it, Black?

I haven't really noticed much with the thrash vocals, how in tune they are or not.  
The only vocals I cannot stand is the metalcore screaming that never lets up.  I can see a few verses maybe, but the whole song will be screaming?  No thanks, I can't listen to to that.

How are they not on tune?

Leaving on a hike. I'll respond later.

I don’t usually notice with heavier music unless they’re egregious.

Ouch

Criticizing Jimmy’s vocals? Interesting! He would probably be the last I would criticize for being out of tune in the Christian genre.

I don’t remember any notes on WooW that stood out as sour to me. Maybe I’m just tone deaf. But I’m a drummer, so who cares?

Sevenoneself wrote:Still should be in tune, shouldn't it, Black?

I don't know, Whitey, should it?

Constantine wrote:I haven't really noticed much with the thrash vocals, how in tune they are or not.  
The only vocals I cannot stand is the metalcore screaming that never lets up.  I can see a few verses maybe, but the whole song will be screaming?  No thanks, I can't listen to to that.

Same here.

It's like they all take the same "metalcore vocal course" or something. One of the biggest reasons that metalcore just all blends together for me.

MagnusPrime wrote:

Constantine wrote:The only vocals I cannot stand is the metalcore screaming that never lets up.  I can see a few verses maybe, but the whole song will be screaming?  No thanks, I can't listen to to that.

Same here.

It's like they all take the same "metalcore vocal course" or something. One of the biggest reasons that metalcore just all blends together for me.

Worst part about metalcore for me are the clean vocals.  They all use some kinda auto-tune effect and they sound sooooooo wimpy.  They could all be sung by the same guy too - I can't tell the difference.

Most (if not all) of Jimmy’s vocals on Warfare are very solid. I honestly don’t notice any out of tune moments. 

But I’m not an expert. 

I can tell Guy Ritter was out of tune on some of his vocals. But that’s part of his charm! He’s a quirky guy. 

I think he’s more concerned about conveying emotion than pitch perfect singing. And I like it that way!

Check Torrential Riff‘s new interview with DJ from LS for some interesting background on the vocals of the second LS album.

Superjuice wrote:

MagnusPrime wrote:

Constantine wrote:The only vocals I cannot stand is the metalcore screaming that never lets up.  I can see a few verses maybe, but the whole song will be screaming?  No thanks, I can't listen to to that.

Same here.

It's like they all take the same "metalcore vocal course" or something. One of the biggest reasons that metalcore just all blends together for me.

Worst part about metalcore for me are the clean vocals.  They all use some kinda auto-tune effect and they sound sooooooo wimpy.  They could all be sung by the same guy too - I can't tell the difference.

That's just one of MANY things wrong with metalcore.

Which songs/sections have out of tune vocals on WooW?  I noticed some notes on the guitar solos but not on the vocals.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Superjuice wrote:

MagnusPrime wrote:

Constantine wrote:The only vocals I cannot stand is the metalcore screaming that never lets up.  I can see a few verses maybe, but the whole song will be screaming?  No thanks, I can't listen to to that.

Same here.

It's like they all take the same "metalcore vocal course" or something. One of the biggest reasons that metalcore just all blends together for me.

Worst part about metalcore for me are the clean vocals.  They all use some kinda auto-tune effect and they sound sooooooo wimpy.  They could all be sung by the same guy too - I can't tell the difference.

That's just one of MANY things wrong with metalcore.

Haha fully agreed.  Though the clean vocals are definitely the worst offenders to my ears as well.

Sevenonself, I'm there with you. Novella II has quite a bit of "was that a first take or was that intentional?" to it. After many listens I've warmed up and am thinking that I'm getting what Jimmy was going for. Same goes a bit for Rey in some of the Sacred Warrior and Deny the Fallen albums. Even Matt Smith keeps some humanness in Theocracy. That's what I love about all of this topic. It is authentic. You can feel the heart through it all instead of a perfect, 100 take mix to address perfection which loses impact. Also, the last thing we want is hearing autotune! 

Black Rider wrote:Not sure what you mean. Thrash doesn't have pure sounding vocals, it would be more power metal then.

Yeah if they could to that that would be great


Anyway, when it comes to slightly off-key vocals in christian power metal I'm reminded of Within Silence. Nice music and all but that vocalist is a mixed bag of warmth and slight lack of pitch. Doesn't really match the usually squeaky clean production of euro power metal, although it can still work great somehow (i.e. Fogalord).

So... I've hardly posted since I started this thread, and I haven't answered questions I promised to. Sorry! It's been crazy busy in our house. My wife is getting ready for another year of teaching piano, and this year she has way more students than ever before - just over 50 a week. Then we have 3 kids getting ready for school, and we're preparing our oldest to get out of the house, work a full-time job, rent for the first time, etc. 

Anyway, a couple things:
1) I'm only using Deliverance as the example of many metal bands that have had off-tune vocals. I love Deliverance and Weapons is in my top favourite albums of all time.
2) I'm wondering if the out-of-tune vocals is a bug or a feature. Do we put up with them b/c we love the music and the tone/style of the vocals? Or do they actually add to the heaviness/atmosphere/edginess of the whole music package?
3) Solitude and, to a lesser degree, Slay the Wicked would be my examples of the most egregious out-of-tune vocals.

Sevenoneself wrote:So... I've hardly posted since I started this thread, and I haven't answered questions I promised to. Sorry! It's been crazy busy in our house. My wife is getting ready for another year of teaching piano, and this year she has way more students than ever before - just over 50 a week. Then we have 3 kids getting ready for school, and we're preparing our oldest to get out of the house, work a full-time job, rent for the first time, etc. 

Anyway, a couple things:
1) I'm only using Deliverance as the example of many metal bands that have had off-tune vocals. I love Deliverance and Weapons is in my top favourite albums of all time.
2) I'm wondering if the out-of-tune vocals is a bug or a feature. Do we put up with them b/c we love the music and the tone/style of the vocals? Or do they actually add to the heaviness/atmosphere/edginess of the whole music package?
3) Solitude and, to a lesser degree, Slay the Wicked would be my examples of the most egregious out-of-tune vocals.

I agree on both Solitude and Slay the Wicked.  I never gave much thought to it, but just thinking about those songs--especially the high-pitched extended notes--I know exactly what you mean.

Stevegarvey, I see you quoted me (which definitely flatters me  ), but I don't see any response. Did my browser mess-up, or did something glitch on your end so your text didn't show up?