Most important aspect of a Metal song to you (pick ONLY one)

I just answered the question as posted. I am in the songwriting and hook department as most important. I have played in alot of bands with great players, who had a rich member to finance well prouced demos and in the end, the weak song writing pretty much doomed it. I have also seen poor players with a crappy 4 track reel to reel recorder in a garge have something going on. That being good songs with hooks in both the guitar and vocal department. In reality, timing has more to do with success than talent at either playing or writing (IMHO)

Attitude and Vibe........

ultmetal wrote:

I cannot pick one. It depends on the song, band, etc. It's a culmination of things IMO. A song could have the best riffs known to man, but if the vocals aren't to my liking, then I won't like the song/band. A band could have the best songs in the world, great vocals, riffs, solos, drumming and the production is so crappy it could make the songs unlistenable. To pick only one is sort of impossible IMO.

I'm with Ult - different styles of music lend to different importance for me.

Just my opinion.

It depends on the song and/or band.

Songwriting.

I know it's a broad categorization, but to me it is the most important factor. All else can be fine, but if it is put together in a way that has no soul, then it is boring.

If I have to pick one: Riffs

Riffs because they are the closest thing to "songwriting". Solos are a close second... again, because they are an integral part of good metal songwriting IMO.

vocal prowess - 15%
quality of riffs - 30%
quality of drumming - 7%
quality of bass playing - 6%
originality - 20%
quality of lyrics - 5%
quality of guitar solos - 25%
production - 10%