How Important Are Lyrics?

The one thing that is most criticized about metal by non-listeners has to be the vocals. They ask why anyone would want to listen to something where you can't even understand what's being said. Although as we continue to listen we understand more, there are certain vocalists that we will just never know what they're saying.

Above: Crazy French guys

I was driving home the other day listening to Benighted. I've been listening to Benighted for years and yet I still don't understand half of the vocals. Even when I have the lyrics in front of me it's sometimes difficult to match them up. Here's the song I was listening to when I came up with this post. See if you can follow along with the lyrics.

There's this vision of red colour on the stainless snow
Painful senses, kindly coldness
The shy warmness fleeing little by little
Let the place to the emptiness of unknown feelings
Smile then bleed
You smile?
No affection on my face

Each heartbeat I can feel is like a slow step to chaos
Irremediably attracted to the other side

A long way to the breakpoint
I saw the gleam and followed it, this trail tinged with blood
As the macabre furrow of my life

I dream about beautiful work I let behind
Transported by the desire to lose all that remains me
My eyes are closed
And I hear this voice repeating this words "smile then bleed"
White and red together are splendid

A long way to the breakpoint
I saw the gleam and followed it, this trail tinged with blood
As the macabre furrow of my life

The landscape is peaceful and hostility has disappeared
A piece of resplendent cruelty, progeny of the sufferings inside

I let you as memory this glorious picture
Where the colours of life and death are mixed in a last breath
Then I put the light off

A long way to the breakpoint
I saw the gleam and followed it, this trail tinged with blood
As the macabre furrow of my life
Asleep with a smile on my face

The first thing I notice is how awesome those lyrics are. The second is that listening to it a second time without looking at the lyrics, I still don't know what he's saying besides a select few parts. This doesn't stop me from listening of course, Benighted is a damn good band.

Not all metal bands have crazy vocalists like that, as I'm sure you know. Amon Amarth is a popular example of a band that you can understand the lyrics of. I catch myself singing along to Amon Amarth songs, despite the fact that I can't growl (as much as I wish that I could). I also sing along to clean vocals of course. Damn that stuff is catchy.

Even though a lot of extreme metal bands have awesome lyrics, as long as I know roughly what the song is about, I can enjoy the content. I am always able to look up lyrics and have an understanding of the song if I so choose. Compare this to pop artists that you can completely understand but still have no idea what the hell they're saying.

GARGGLEMRPHAGRB

Furthermore, I find that I can only listen to lyrics in other languages if it's sung with harsh vocals. There's just something about the growling that I can relate with more. This of course does not apply to Korpiklaani, who sings in Engrish, because they're just plain great. Observe the following, a Swedish band by the name of Falconer. Despite the great music, I just can't help but feel something missing from the vocals. A lack of understanding.




What type of vocals do you prefer: clean or harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments section, it's free for all! Also feel free to give some music recommendations.

-Zombie Viking