# Obscure Death Metal question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100 "2002-06-03T05:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/1 "2002-06-03T05:38:49Z")
This is kinda an obscure question, but I know there’s some death heads on the board, and this is one place I know it might actually get a proper answer, rather than just abuse, which I’m sure I’d get on alt.deathmetalkiddies or whatever. My question relates to wanting to track down a particular type of sound, which a few bands have used sparingly, but I’d love to hear more of. It’s the vocal style that is used by the the singer from **Tormentor’s** demo (as well as when he sings on **Mayhem’s** album), and also on Vader’s cover of _Freezing Moon_ - sort of a laid back, horror movie voice sound, rather than the normal screeching or belching sounds (both of which I like, but not as much as this style). I had hoped that Vader used this style more often, but I listened to a bunch of songs on a Vader webpage, and none of them sounded anything like the FM cover. So DM/BM folks, any other bands fit the bill, or will I have to start my own band to do it? ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/2 "2002-06-03T06:08:32Z")
I’m at work now, but I have a Mayhem tape at home, I’ll dig it up and see if it has the song your looking for. I wasn’t too into that era of DM, so it might not even be the right album, I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/3 "2002-06-03T06:54:38Z")
Well I hope this isnt too far off base. I consider myself a Death Metal fan but dont care much for Black Metal. I assume you already know of these bands but if not I think it might be what you’re looking for. **Entombed** - \*Wolverine Blues, To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth, Uprising, \* and _Morningstar_. The lead singer, **LG** , basically still growls on these albums but it does also sound as if he is the evil conductor of a twisted circus. Plenty of MP3s at their website, mostly covers but go [here](http://www.maxm3.50megs.com/entombed/mp3.htm) and check out the album tracks _Seeing Red_ and _Chief Rebel Angel_. **Sentenced** , and now **The Black League**. The lead singer, **Jarva** kind of lets the acidic laquer slide from his tongue as he rumbles through the numbers. More of a death-n-roll outfit, at least you can check out a few MP3’s [here](http://www.theblackleague.net/tbl_misc.html). Also let me know if these are totally off-base and I’ll see what else I can come up with for you ! Hails, Lockfist ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/4 "2002-06-03T07:56:46Z")
Whoa, **Lockfist**! I know Entombed, so I didn’t listen to them, but the **Black League** song that was on the page you linked to (not the ballad - the more uptempo one) was amazing! Not really what I was talking about, but still very cool - I’d have to check out the rest of their work to know where they were coming from, but this was almost like if Tom Waits did a doomy goth/metal record. I’m sold. What I’m after though is more specifically death/black metal (probably more black metal now I think about it, but there ya go), and is a very put-on vocal style, a bit operatic, a bit Vincent Price, a bit Bella Lugosi. Hard to explain, which is why I mentioned the bands (Tormentor; De Mysterius era Mayhem; Vader’s tribute to Mayhem, which is pretty much done as homage to the style I’m talking about). And **blur** , thanks for checking for me 🙂 (Can you have smiles in a death metal thread ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/5 "2002-06-03T14:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > I know Entombed, so I didn’t listen to them, but the **Black League** song that was on the page you linked to (not the ballad - the more uptempo one) was amazing! If you like that you MUST check out the last **Sentenced** album with Jarva called _Amok_. It is one of my absolute favorite disks of all times. You can find samples at [http://www.sentenced.org](http://www.sentenced.org)… I really ike Taneli Jarve because he is one of the few people that uses a wah pedal on a bass! I like **The Black Leagus** ’s _Ichor_ more than _Utopia A.D._ by a slight margin if that helps as a recommendation. I have never heard **Mayhem** but you might also like **Wolverine** again the lead singer growls but it is really cool. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > What I’m after though is more specifically death/black metal (probably more black metal now I think about it, but there ya go), and is a very put-on vocal style, a bit operatic, a bit Vincent Price, a bit Bella Lugosi. Have you heard **Theatre of Tragedy**? They have an album that is quite operatic (the female vocals at least) with really deathy male vocals but it has Vincent Price sound clips in some of the songs. Check out the album \*Velvet Darkness They Fear \* especially the song “And when he falleth” samples [here](http://www.theatreoftragedy.com/) including the Vincent Price part (part 5b). (go to the Discography section for Real Audio samples) NP: **Haggard** - _Awakening the Centuries_ ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/6 "2002-06-04T00:50:04Z")
**Opengrave** , thanks for the tip on **Sentenced** - I’ve seen them in the racks but never heard them, so I’ll add them to my list. **Theatre of Tragedy** don’t really sound up my alley - female vocals in that sort of music don’t do anything for me (until Dolly Parton does a death metal record ;)). np Nuggets II box set ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/7 "2002-06-04T01:39:58Z")
Regarding the title … ALL questions about death metal are pretty obscure, aren’t they? 🙂 How many questions about death metal are, by contrast, obvious? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/8 "2002-06-04T17:52:27Z")
Well I’m not into Death Metal, but if you want some good answers the best board I’ve found, for metal anyway, is [www.hardradio.com](http://www.hardradio.com) I post a little over there and almost everyone except the trolls are really good and know their stuff. That’s all I can help you with sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/9 "2002-06-04T22:32:17Z")
Snoooooooooooooopy, obviously this question _was_ just that little bit more obscure than any others 😛 And Eddie, I’m heading over there (on your recommendation, so they better be good ;)). BTW, isn’t the **Maiden** live in Rio a hoot! ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/10 "2002-06-05T01:05:00Z")
**HenrySpencer** , I haven’t forgotten you, I just can’t find the tape. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/11 "2002-06-05T01:43:30Z")
Well, here is an older fart with a possible answer. King Diamond. He either wails away in a high register or growls. Here is his link [http://www.covenworldwide.org/](http://www.covenworldwide.org/) It seems that they don’t have any samples up. Bummer. I love his stuff for the most part, though his voice sometimes bugs me. If I am hopelessly out of date please don’t tell me as I like to pretend that I am still hip. Slee PS, anyone remeber bands like Crimson Glory, Sanctuary, Fates Warning or Savatage? ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/12 "2002-06-05T02:07:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Regarding the title … ALL questions about death metal are pretty obscure, aren’t they? 🙂 How many questions about death metal are, by contrast, obvious? \*\* Well, I’d have to agree with you on one level. However, this question is more than a bit obscure in the sense that the OP was asking for references based on vocals from a demo tape and an obscure cover song… I wish I could help you out a little more here \*\* HenrySpencer\*\*. The only thing I can really say is maybe you might dig **Blacktar (Rising)** - _Barbed Wire Soul_. This band consists of the remaining scraps of **Carcass** including Jeff Walker delivering a gritty tongue-in-cheek vocal performance. Careful I think their might be horns on a few songs, although I love the album. IF you have heard the album _Swansong_ then this would be a natural progression from that… Otherwise man I wish I had a better idea of what you’re looking for. Throw out some other bands and lets see if we can play some more. **Edward The Head** , you post over at the **Hard Board**? I used to be a member there a few years ago. One certain member caused a lot of the old-timers to leave in an exodus. Maybe its been cleaned up since then, but I didn’t care for the moderators at that board. Tell **Nitro** I said “hi” if you see him. \*\* sleestak\*\*, don’t you worry about your answer. THe wonderful thing about the music is that all Heavy Metal is _timeless_. Yours are good recommendations for anyone, actually… ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/13 "2002-06-05T02:43:42Z")
**Lockfist,** Thanks. I am sorta out of the new Metal scene these days. I love loud angry music but I have also found a taste for other things. (Steve Morse is GOD) I would try to keep up but I have alot of other things going on. I have been listening to heavy stuff forever (I saw Metallica on their first tour for 6 bucks). Bands like Black Sabbath, Accept, Maiden, Judas Priest and Ozzy were my life blood when I was growing up. I’ll hunt down some of the other bands listed in this thread when I have the time. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/14 "2002-06-05T04:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sleestak \* > \*\*Well, here is an older fart with a possible answer. > > King Diamond. He either wails away in a high register or growls. Here is his link [http://www.covenworldwide.org/\*\*](http://www.covenworldwide.org/**) **Sleestak** , it’s funny you should mention King ;). I was actually going to mention him as a similar vocalist, although the style I’m thinking about is like a combination of the laid-backness of King’s high singing (circa Conspiracy), with the ‘strangeness’ of his character voices (“Now that you are stuck with me you better be my friend…”). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sleestak \* > \*\*If I am hopelessly out of date please don’t tell me as I like to pretend that I am still hip. > > PS, anyone remeber bands like Crimson Glory, Sanctuary, Fates Warning or Savatage? \*\* I thought I was the only one on this board who would know those bands! **Awaken the Guardian** and **Transcendence** used to be two of my four or five favourite records of all time (along with **Piece of Mind, Operation Mindcrime** , and maybe **Keeper of the Seven Keys II**. Of course, that’s quite a while ago, but still, it’s nice to see someone mention them, particularly **Sanctuary** , who were even less known than Fates and CG. **blur** , no probs, man. Whenever you can is fine :). **Lockfist** - Thanks for yet another tip. I lost touch with **Carcass** after **Necroticism** , or maybe that **Tools of the Trade** record (they got a bit too clean for me). I’ll still look out for Mr Walker’s work. I can’t believe I’m typing a post mentioning all of these bands! ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/15 "2002-06-05T15:19:34Z")
**Lockfist** Yeah I post over there, though not a whole lot. I’m guessing things have changed, I started posting there about two years ago. We’ve had our share of trolls but they leave pretty quickly usually. I don’t think Nitro does anything with the boards any more either, I believe that Scortchin’ (sp?) does all of it now. Maybe you should concider coming back. I think you were one of the people that some of the older members missed. **Sleestak** , remember Savatage? I’ve got some playing right now! I only just started listening to this band a few months ago but really like them. Too bad I didn’t know about them a few years ago. **Henry** , Maiden’s Live in Rio is pretty good. I’m just not much into live albums. Though it is nice to have some of the newer stuff live. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/16 "2002-06-05T19:53:32Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > \*\* > What I’m after though is more specifically death/black metal (probably more black metal now I think about it, but there ya go), and is a very put-on vocal style, a bit operatic, a bit Vincent Price, a bit Bella Lugosi._\* If I have this pegged right, you might want to check out **Hollenthon** , **Virgin Black** , **Borknagar** and **Solefald**. Maybe **Arcturus** and **In The Woods…** as well. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/17 "2002-06-06T00:55:02Z")
**HenrySpencer,** In case you didn’t know Crimson Glory put out a new album a while ago called ‘Astronomica’. It’s pretty damned good. Here’s the link [http://www.crimsonglory.net/](http://www.crimsonglory.net/) Fates Warning is also still around at [http://www.fateswarning.com/](http://www.fateswarning.com/). I haven’t picked up their latest CD but ‘A Pleasant Shade of Gray’ and ‘Still Life’ are always in my player. They are alot more progressive these days. **Edward The Head,** I pretty much lost track of Savatage when ‘Streets’ came out. Just didn’t like it that much. I’ll have to check out theier newer stuff Slee ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/18 "2002-06-06T06:08:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sacrilegium \* > \*\* > > If I have this pegged right, you might want to check out **Hollenthon** , **Virgin Black** , **Borknagar** and **Solefald**. Maybe **Arcturus** and **In The Woods…** as well. \*\* I second the **Arcturus** recommendation. I think this might actually be exactly what **HenrySpencer** is looking for. As a matter of fact, _La Masquerade Infernale_ is a song anyone (really, anyone) would enjoy. Like a theme song for a demented Wild Western Saloon. Who’da thought a Death Metal post at SDMB would garner 17 replies ? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/19 "2002-06-06T10:10:12Z")
**sleestak** , unfortunately I lost touch with Fates after John Arch (the ultimate singer) left, and with Crimson Glory when they did that weird semi-commercial album (the one with _Star Chamber_ on it). Also, Savatage were the only band I ever joined the fan club of, back after the amazing _Gutter Ballet_ album. To those who suggested **Arcturus** , you’re all on the money, again even though it wasn’t quite what I was after in my OP, what I’ve heard of them is cool. I found out that the particular singer I was talking about (Attila Csihar) is in a couple of newer bands, so I’ll be giving them a listen to as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100/20 "2002-06-06T10:31:33Z")
Another suggestion: Root: “The Book” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-death-metal-question/112100.md?page=2)