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Thursday 6 January 2011

Blood-curdling Decadence: My top 10 metal screams of the decade list

Yes, I am back. I thought I would not return but I have. Those who have still visited this blog, I am eternally grateful to you.

So 2010 is over. 2011 begins. The closing of a decade means a lot of 'top 10' lists everywhere. I have decided to make one of my own. Yes of course, it has everything to do with metal but its not a regular albums or songs or even covers list. Presenting, the top 10 metal screams of the decade, 2000-2010. This was a huge decade for metal and if people who hate it think the vocals are noise, they aren't all noise. But when they are harsh, THEY FUCKING DESTROY!!!!!

Please see attached video for a sound clip montage:

#10. Kalmah- Time Takes Us All: A nicely held mid-tone rasp that gets progressively more shrill, Pekka Kokko starts this revolutionary epic in one of the most epic ways possible. From their 2004 album 'The Black Waltz'.

#9. Lamb of God- Ruin: Being one of the first Lamb of God songs I heard, the scream left me sleepless for a few nights. Still holds its charm and a rightful place at #9. Well done, David Randall Blythe. From their 2003 album, 'As the Palaces Burn'.

#8. Children of Bodom- Mask of Sanity: The screams here has a lot of nice reverb and is brilliant mood-swinger in the song. A well-executed shriek from Alexi Laiho. From their 2000 album 'Follow the Reaper'.

#7. Destruction- Devolution: Ja, ja mein Fueh...I mean Schmeier, I know it is illegal for a Destruction album to begin without your wondrous scream. But you have outdone yourself here with a high-pitched, almost operatic wail that then trails of as a raspy shriek. From their 2008 album 'D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N'.

#6. The Axis of Perdition- A Ruined Nation Awakens: One of the most terrifying music producers of the century, this particular song has a series of shrieks and growls with a lot of digitization, made for the post-apocalypse fetish person in you. From their 2003 album 'The Ichneumon Method (And Less Welcome Techniques)'.

#5. Opeth- The Grand Conjuration: What a performance of terror! After a lovely ping-pong round with audio levels of the song, this set of overlayed screams from Mikael Akerfeldt throws you straight in as the subject of the conjuration. From their 2005 album 'Ghost Reveries'.

#4. Mercenary- ReDestructDead: One of the most HONEST screams ever recorded, this one has high pitch all through and is a really well-sustained scream. Makes you feel as angry as the song's protagonist. Too bad Henrik 'Kral' Anderson left the band after this album. From their 2004 album '11 Dreams'.

#3. Bloodbath- Soul Evisceration: Peter Tagtgren sets of at a high pitch without needing to get there. A nearly 10-second long sustain makes your soul nearly leave you as well. From their 2004 album 'Nightmares Made Flesh'.

#2. Annihilator- Warbird: The most spine-chilling factor of this 16-second long, constantly escalating high rasp is the fact that it starts right at the absolute end of the song when you are just sitting and waiting for the next one. Frighteningly satisfying work, Dave Padden. From their 2005 album 'Schizo Deluxe'.

#1. Quo Vadis- Silence Calls the Storm: A growl maintained for nearly 17 seconds deserves at least #1 on a list, if not a national award. Stephan Pare still mesmerizes me EVERY TIME I hear this song. From their 2004 album 'Defiant Imagination'