Blog Shoutout: Heavy Latin

It's not uncommon to find Latin lyrics in your metal songs. The thing is, you usually have no idea what they mean besides a few words about Satan and hell. On top of that, the grammar is usually wrong and the possessive pronouns are all messed up. That's where the blog Heavy Latin comes in.

Looks like someone put more effort into a header than I did.

I originally came across this blog while searching for Powerwolf lyrics. I ended up searching for all the other bands I know use Latin lyrics. Markheim translates and tries to provide context to all the lyrics he finds. It's an insightful look at a language not many of us understand and it helps understand the songs from your favourite bands just a little bit more.

Best of all, he's been posting semi-regularly since 2008. That's more than you can say about the blog you're reading this on. So check out Heavy Latin and see if there are any songs you're curious about. If not, you can always send Markheim a request for all the songs you want.

You can find Heavy Latin at http://heavylatin.blogspot.com or by searching "Heavy Latin" on Google.

-Zombie Viking

P.S. Completely unrelated to the subgenre of Latin metal which I didn't even realize was a thing.

A Changing Vocalist

Before you start reading this post, press play on the song embedded above. Let the sound wash over you and take you to a mystical place you've never been. The waves crash on either side and strange but enchanting beings fly all around. A new age dawns before your very eyes and takes over your soul.

The first thing I thought when hearing that song is how surprised I was that a band called Fairyland was so awesome. I mean, no one in their right mind will ever take this French band seriously. Poor guys. They make good music though and that's all that matters. So I thought I'd check out their previous work. Turns out Fairyland has 3 albums total, with Score to a New Beginning being their latest and greatest. When I found a song from the previous albums and pressed play, there was something pretty unexpected in the sound.

This band has changed vocalists every single album. It's such a weird concept and it changes the sound so much. Every album sounds like a different band, and I found myself only really enjoying Score to a New Beginning. They even switch from female to male vocals between their first and second albums. It's a shame because I'm a pretty big fan of what I heard initially. Just the fact that I can say I listen to a band called Fairyland is enough for me to add them to my library.

You hear all the time of bands switching up guitarists and drummers. Even that is more newsworthy than a new keyboardist or bassists, poor guys. An instrument can be made to fit a band's sound and the style can be changed to fit that of a musician that has left the band, but vocals can only change so much. This is of course added to the fact that vocals are usually the main focus of the song.

I'll compare this to another band that has a constantly changing lineup: Ensiferum. The only two albums where they've actually kept every member of the band is between From Afar and Unsung Heroes. Oddly enough, these albums have some of the biggest changes in sound between them, but that's besides the point. Between Iron and Victory Songs, the entire band changed except for guitarist Markus Toivonen. The only thing people seem to have a problem with though is the new guitarist/vocalist Petri Lindroos. The songs generally sound the same as the first two albums, it's definitely the same band, but the most noticeable change is the vocalist. Perhaps this is an unfair comparison because Jari Mäenpää had a big part in writing songs for the first two albums and is a very talented musician in his own right, but I think it still argues the whole idea of a vocalist changing in a band.



It's interesting how much one member can change the entire sound of a band and it leads to the question of how many member changes a band can go through and still be considered the same band. There are bands that have completely changed every single member since their inception yet still go by the same name and still play songs that they had no hand in creating. One such band is Stratovarius. Their longest-lasting member has been in the band since 1994. The band itself was formed in 1984 and released three albums before Timo Kotipelto joined. While the don't necessarily play any songs from those first albums, they still carry on a name that other people made for themselves. Should this be considered stealing? Well there's a pretty famous case between the former and current members of Gorgoroth that tried to argue that very point. Give it a read if you want a laugh. Those black metal guys are crazy.

Anyway, I think I've rambled enough. These are questions that may never get an answer, though they're still something to think about. Even though Fairyland has a very different sound album to album, it doesn't change the fact that they're a good band and should be listened to. After all, it gives a whole new feel to old songs hearing them live with a new vocalist. The albums released will always stay the way they are, nothing can change that, but the band will live on.

-Zombie Viking

The Many Languages of Metal

One of the great things about listening to folk metal is that most bands have lyrics in their native tongue. It brings an extra element to the music that you won't find anywhere else. Just recently though, I noticed just how many languages I actually listen to and it's pretty crazy. Check this list out:

1. English (obviously)
2. Swedish (Finntroll)
3. Norwegian (Iskald)
4. Finnish (Korpiklaani)
5. German (Varg)
6. Russian (Arkona)
7. French (Benighted)
8. Italian (Rhapsody of Fire)
9. Danish (Svartsot)
10. Gaulish (Eluveitie)
11. Latin (Powerwolf)
12. Greek (Rotting Christ)

I only speak one of those languages and I'll let you guess which one.I just think it's great that someone who doesn't understand any of the lyrics apart from one or two words can listen to and enjoy a song. If you want to hear what songs sound like in any of the languages above, check out the bands. There's a reason I gave examples.

-Zombie Viking

I Hate Whiny Vocals

As I was getting in to metal, the route I took was straight to death metal. I listened to some progressive and folk metal too when I was first starting out (and got back in to folk metal later on), but even then I didn't listen to anything without harsh vocals. Most people say they can't stand growls and screams, well I can't stand whiny vocals.

Sweet tats bro! So br00tal

I actually had to acquire a liking of clean vocals. I can stand Dragonforce, Sabaton, Korpiklaani, and anyone who's voice doesn't crack as they're singing. This made it significantly harder for me to get in to power metal. I do enjoy power metal, but there's a really fine line between epic and annoying that too many bands seem to cross. If you're going to sing clean vocals, sing like a man! Of course, when I want to find an example I can't.. so I'll just post an example of a good power metal band instead, Sabaton.


Obviously, since metalcore is the personification of everything wrong with metal, it has its fair share of annoying vocals. Metalcore especially feels the need to insert whiny vocals in every damn song, no matter how good their vocalist is (and some are actually good, I'll admit it). Clean vocals in these songs sound like kids going through puberty. This is possibly because most metalcore bands haven't reached puberty yet.

If you're going to do something, do it right.

-Zombie Viking

Musician Spotlight: Peter Tägtgren

Peter Tägtgren is one of those guys that's just able to do everything. You've almost definitely listened to something that he helped create in one way or another- whether you know it or not. He's been making awesome music since 1990 and in that time has become a huge part of the metal scene. Yes, the metal scene. Like, as a whole.

He also sorta looks like Johnny Depp if you look at him from the right angle.. in the right light.

Peter is best known for being the mastermind behind the huge death metal band Hypocrisy. He created the band after living in America for a bit and becoming involved with the death metal scene here. He returned to Sweden and created one of the most kickass bands ever. How's that for a vacation? Hypocrisy has been around for 22 years and released 12 albums. Also, Horgh (of Immortal fame) has been the drummer since 2004. Me likey. Hypocrisy has played all sorts of death metal from traditional to a more melodeath sound and back again. That's great and all, but it's not until you realize how much other stuff Peter has done in that time (while keeping the damn band alive, mind you) that you start to become amazed.

He also has a side project that I am a huge fan of: Pain. Well, if you call Pain a side project.. It's been just as active as any band in the time it's been around. Pain has released 7 albums since 1996 when it was formed. Peter basically just goes back and forth from Hypocrisy to Pain to record an album or go on tour. Also, he was the only member for quite some time and I'm pretty sure still makes the majority of the music. The reason why I like this band so much is because it's so different from the majority of what I listen to. Pain is industrial metal, grouped in with the likes of Rob Zombie and Nine Inch Nails. Peter sings clean vocals to round out the different style; something I bet most metal vocalists aren't able to do. The first few albums were almost entirely electronic before shifting to a more traditional rock-ish sound. Still great though. To hear the difference in these two bands, just listen to the songs below.




Same guy. He has also appeared as a guest musician in countless other bands including: Bloodbath, The Abyss, Lock Up and War.

Of course, this is not all Peter spends his time doing. For he lives his life the metal way. 24/7 metal. Metal in the morning, metal in the night. Etc. etc. He also owns The Abyss studio and has produced quite a few albums. You may have heard of some of the bands he's produced albums for. I'm going to post a list of them because lists make stuff seem longer and more impressive.

The Abyss, Naglfar, Death Organ, Dark Funeral, Fleshcrawl, Hypocrisy (obviously),  Setherial, Marduk, Pain (obviously), Dimmu Borgir, Abruptum, Therion, War, Amon Amarth, Dispatched, Love Like Blood, Enslaved, Raise Hell, Thyrfing, Immortal, Borknagar, Children of Bodom, Old Man's Child, Rotting Christ, Susperia, Grimfist, Grave, Celtic Frost, Noctiferia, Sabaton, Tarja, Overkill, Abigail Williams, Belphegor, Legion of the Damned, Kampfar, The Unguided, Loudblast, Septicflesh

Yeah!

So yeah. Chances are you've heard something that Peter Tägtgren has been a part of in one way or another. I thank him for everything he's given to the metal industry. He's quite an interesting person and a genius musician. Also he owns a small town in Sweden, so that's pretty cool too. Keep on rocking!

-Zombie Viking

A Vocalist Too Many

I just watched an Amaranthe music video. "Oh boy, he watched a music video" you say, "Why should I bother reading this?". Well I've had just about enough of you, I'm getting to the point already if you'd stop interrupting. "Fine" you say. Good. The point is that they have three vocalists.

Yes, half of this band is vocalists.

I have never been a fan of multiple vocalists in bands. One is enough. Two is fine if you want some male an female vocals, but it should stop there. Having a vocalist to do harsh and another to do clean vocals is just overkill. There are plenty of talented vocalists that can do both. I can spend the rest of the post naming them. If the main vocalist sings very high and does not do harsh vocals to prevent ruining their voice, fine, I can accept that. In those cases it's fine to have someone doing harsh vocals, as long as that's not all they're doing. And vice versa. Dimmu Borgir and Fleshgod Apocalypse have both proven that a bassist singing backing vocals can add another layer to the song. If there are so many musicians that can play an instrument and sing backing vocals, why the need for multiple vocalists?

Having more than one main vocalist in a band presents one big concern. All their songs will be the same crap. A vocalist will always sing in their style. Whether or not they mix it up with different vocal types, you still start a song knowing what to expect. When you bring more in, it just means that there needs to be sections in each song for each one of them. Take for instance Kivimetsan Druidi. I know it's not the best example but it's the first that came to mind. Their main vocalist is their guitarist. He does harsh vocals. They also have a female singer though that doesn't play any instruments. She literally stands around and is useless for the majority of the song. When I saw them live, she literally danced around on the stage for half the song before she was needed. Then her obligatory part comes along. She pipes up, regardless of if the song needs it or not, and afterwards proceeds back to doing nothing. For some songs it's a nice change of pace, but there's only so many times I can stand the exact same 'change of pace'. Here's a music video where she gets lost in a forest because the other band members didn't tell her they were having a video shoot that day.


Having multiple band members doing vocals is fine. Just as long as they're playing another instrument the rest of the time. It's always nice to mix things up with different vocal styles and even guest musicians. The problem comes when it's the exact same person every time. Bands should only have one main vocalist. Any more and it ruins the experience.

This rant does not apply to Van Canto of course, which is made up almost entirely of vocalists. They have my blessing to add as many as they need. After all, where would metal a cappella be without them?

-Zombie Viking

Rakka-takka mother effers!

Symphonic Metal

The internet often says that metal is the closest current genre to classical music. While I don't fully support that statement, symphonic metal definitely makes it easier to see where it comes from.

Lured in with promises of pretty women and symphonic metal.

Having roots in power and gothic metal, symphonic metal is metal that incorporates symphonic elements (obviously). These include everything from a strong keyboardist to an entire orchestra playing the backing of tracks. Operatic and female vocals are also a staple. It has become a hugely successful genre, even reaching mainstream success in some parts of Europe.

The Swedish band Therion is credited with creating, popularizing and influencing the symphonic metal genre. They started out as a death metal band, but since the mid 90s they've incorporated choirs and other classical elements into their music. Nightwish is another symphonic band you might have heard of that's been around since the origins of the genre.



Symphonic metal as itself isn't really the biggest genre though. As opposed to bands adopting the symphonic style, they've brought elements into their own genres. Symphonic power metal and symphonic black metal are two huge subgenres with arguably just as many bands as plain old symphonic metal. Symphonic!

Symphonic power metal includes bands like Rhapsody and Pathfinder. They play their instruments fast and create an atmosphere with keyboards and backing vocals. But you can read more about that in yesterday's post.

Symphonic black metal includes bands like Dimmu Borgir, Emperor and Carach Angren. They play a slightly slower melodic black metal and add in the typical keyboards and orchestras. Personally, I particularly enjoy this subgenre due to the clash of harsh black metal and beautiful symphonic.



Also be sure to check out Epica, the band in the picture atop this post. They are sort of like Nightwish but have a bit more of an edge to them. Plus the bassist uses growls instead of clean vocals.

-Zombie Viking

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