Can death vocals be really combined with power metal music??

I do think that power metal and death metal are two different genres that should not be mixed together.

Therefore, the terms "melodic death metal" seem tasteless.

Many people seem to dislike bands like children of bodom and amon amarth because the vocals do not fit the music.

Can you imagine how awesome children of bodom would be if they had a vocalist like Andi Deris or rob halford for example???

Anyone else agrees????

Well depends really. Some melodic death metal is really good. Others horribly suck.

If you were to listen to At The Gates, the vocals fir perfectly. Same with the first few albums of In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and the like.

Personally I can't stand Children of Bodom. Good musicians, horrible music to me, and the vocalist is a bit too queer! But I don't consider them melodic death metal either. If they had a vocalist like Rob Halford or someone like that style, they would definitely be a lot better but they need an image overhaul and a big smack across their faces 1st.

I'm not down with the WOOOOAAARRRRGH vocal style, no matter what kind of music it's paired with. But that's just me.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I'm not down with the WOOOOAAARRRRGH vocal style, no matter what kind of music it's paired with. But that's just me.

Ditto.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I'm not down with the WOOOOAAARRRRGH vocal style, no matter what kind of music it's paired with. But that's just me.

I can like it if it fits the music, but I haven't heard it work in something like power metal. For example:

Not that they are power metal necessarily, but what ruins that Amon Amarth band for me is the vocals. They stick out like a sore thumb. Not to mention that the production is a bit too perfect.

SpectreFate wrote:

I can like it if it fits the music, but I haven't heard it work in something like power metal.

There are a couple of exceptions for me (mid period Sepultura, early Morbid Angel, etc.) but over the years it's seemed to me that Cookie Monster is in way too many bands at the same time.

I've always been quite a fan of melodic death metal. I honestly can't imagine bands like Norther or Children of Bodom without those harsh vocals. They initially took a bit of getting used to, but now I really like the juxtaposition between them and the music - I think it works really well. Perhaps it's a bit of an acquired taste though?

I am not familiar with Amon Amarth, but Children of Bodom, excellent musicians but I donot like his vocals, on the other hand I cannot imagine a singer like Rob Halford fronting a band like Children of Bodom, so to me its just a matter of getting used to vocals on bands like these. I like alot death/black metal so why it bothers me with some bands and other bands I can overlook it I am not sure why that is.

I've heard bands like Wintersun labled as power metal before but to me its just melodic death metal. I think there is a distinct difference between power metal and melodic death metal musically(and obviously vocally).

Stender wrote:

I've heard bands like Wintersun labled as power metal before but to me its just melodic death metal. I think there is a distinct difference between power metal and melodic death metal musically(and obviously vocally).

I agree. Throw a power metal singer on that stuff and it wouldn't sound like power metal. People would have to come up with some other ridiculous label.

True. It's not like if you had Andie Deris sing for In Flames they'd sound like Helloween. Melodic Death means what it says, Death with more melody in the guitar lines.

Eyesore wrote:

Stender wrote:

I've heard bands like Wintersun labled as power metal before but to me its just melodic death metal. I think there is a distinct difference between power metal and melodic death metal musically(and obviously vocally).

I agree. Throw a power metal singer on that stuff and it wouldn't sound like power metal. People would have to come up with some other ridiculous label.

true.

on the other hand:

the only "power metal" bands I've heard with growly vocals have been this recent stream of goth/power/symphonic type bands, and they all sound pretty bland to my ears.

Melodic doesn't necessarily mean "mostly melodic" or "dominated by melody". It is used as a modifier, so that "melodic death metal" means death metal with more than average melody involved. Or DM that uses melody, to some degree, throughout their songwriting. You wouldn't really say "melodic power metal", because that genre is somewhat defined by melody.

I am not a fan of your typical new school Swedish/Gothenburg melodic death metal, but I enjoy DM bands that incorporate some melody, especially more progressive bands.

Power Death? A new genre!

Scar Symmetry??

I think they do it some as well as Into Eternity.

I wouldnt consider C.O.B melo-death.Now Amon Amarth would fit that description well.I would like AA alot better if the vocals were better because the musicianship is outstanding.

Amon amarth and children of bodom share the same quality: awesome musicianship. But the vocals...

It can be combined but i dont like it. Death metal is great when its death metal and power metal is cool when its power metal.

Gilbert wrote:

Amon amarth and children of bodom share the same quality: awesome musicianship. But the vocals...

ARE AWESOME!

EvyMetal wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

Amon amarth and children of bodom share the same quality: awesome musicianship. But the vocals...

ARE AWESOME!

bodom's were cool in the beginning but they really gone south since hatecrew.

i learned a long time ago that you can almost do anything with heavy metal. the degree of success that comes from combining such styles usually depend on the band.

mc666 wrote:

i learned a long time ago that you can almost do anything with heavy metal. the degree of success that comes from combining such styles usually depend on the band.

Excatly. As long as the band avoids commercialism.

Gilbert wrote:

mc666 wrote:

i learned a long time ago that you can almost do anything with heavy metal. the degree of success that comes from combining such styles usually depend on the band.

Excatly. As long as the band avoids commercialism.

But I thought you were saying how melodic death metal doesn't work and is effectively an oxymoron?