Melodic metal: what is it

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Melodic metal is an offshoot of thrash metal that combines rough vocals with the expressive melody of new wave British hard rock. The compositions of the described subgenre can be heard performed by many popular bands, among which are Dismember, Dark Tranquility, Hypocrisy.

Definition

Melodic metal, as already mentioned, somehow continues the development of thrash metal. Melodic metal itself combines the features of several musical genres. This is:

• guitar riffs used in thrash metal;
• virtuoso power metal solo;
• magic vocals used in death metal.

So, its "relatives" are also heavy metal and speed metal.

Unlike traditional death metal, melodic metal is characterized by low tuning of electric guitars and acoustic inserts, heavy use of keyboards and a wide variety of riffs.

The English band from Liverpool Carcass is considered the founder of the genre, andtheir fourth record called Heartwork. The album was distinguished by its originality, fast guitar riffs, extensive solos and lyrics without an emphasis on necrophilia. Why many fans critically perceived the work and accused the group of commercialization.

Swedish and Finnish schools

The first to start working in the melodic metal genre were the rock bands Eucharist, Excretion and Unanimated. Their wave was picked up by the legendary band At the Gates. Their album Slaughter of the Soul presented the listeners with all the characteristic features of Swedish melodic death: this is a peculiar style of riffing, heavy metal solos and screaming. By the way, the same record is considered the most influential in the world of melodic metal.

Another two Swedish kings (Gothenburg) are Ceremonial Oath and Dark Tranquility. The latter were the first to use electronic instruments and background keys, thanks to which they became easily recognizable and unique. The band claims to create the unique and special sound of Gothenburg.

As for the Finnish school, two melodic metal bands should be singled out here - Swallow the Sun (with two singles) and Children of Bodom. These two projects skillfully combined Swedish classics with neoclassical power metal and black elements. They are characterized by high melody and intensity of the use of keyboards as a solo component.

Modern bandstand

With the advent of the nineties, a lot of bands started adding more choruses and riffs. Cleaner vocals appeared, and in first placecame out frequent use of electronics. Thus, "conservatives" repeatedly accuse musicians of their commercial performance.

Many modern bands have moved away from the lyrics of violence, the devil and death, which is inherent in traditional death metal bands. This direction even got its own name - modern melodic metal, and gained popularity in Western and southern countries (United States of America, Spain, France, Austria, Germany). Even Japanese artists make a special contribution to the development of the described genre.

Typical representatives of the musical subgenre are Blood Stain Child, In Flames, Mercenary, Scar Symmetry, Sonic Syndicate, etc.

You can also note the unconditional influence of folk. So, the sound of traditional folk instruments or other folk motifs is noticeable.