I agree that this article needs work. Fist of all, a while a troper which I now realize was you changed "types" in the description, which kinda messes up the article, because many of the examples refer to Type Labels, and now those labels are incorrect. For everyone else to see, the OP changed it from this:
- One long scream, no lyrics.
- Certain lines or words are screamed. The rest of the song has "clean" vocals.
- Everything is screamed.
This is found most often in Heavy Metal songs, especially with Type 3. Types 1 and 2 are becoming increasingly common in some alternative rock movements.
Interestingly, there are two different kinds of Metal Scream: One is simply a high-pitched scream. The best example of this is in Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast". The second type is more of a roar: a deep and throaty growl, for which 'scream' is another name, despite it not sounding at all like a scream. Most Death Metal and Black Metal bands use this.
- An animal-like, extremely low-pitched growl, as exemplified by Chris Barnes' early days.
- A phlegmy, almost gagging sort of scream, of mid to high pitch, as exemplified by Dead.
- A very loud, high-register "clean" singing style, done either as a single scream or short burst, or to construct an entire melody. Rob Halford is the standard by which all other users of this type are measured. Vibrato (like Geoff Tate) or some degree of harshness (like Eric Adams) may be added for flavor.
This is found most often in Heavy Metal songs, especially with Type 4. Type 3 is almost exclusively associated with Black Metal and forms influenced by it, but can also show up in metalcore or Death Metal. Types 1 and 2 are becoming increasingly common in some alternative rock movements. Types 1, 2, and 3 are often referred to collectively as Harsh Vocals.
Secondly, I agree that the definition right now is too broad. Metal Scream shouldn't include Harsh Vocals as part of the definition. A roar or a growl is not the same thing as a scream. This trope should focus solely on actual screams.
Thirdly, there's the issue with the Sister Trope Careful with That Axe, which needs more distinction from this trope. Currently Careful with That Axe is defined as when an artist uses "unexpected bloodcurdling cries and screams to convey fear, pain, and madness, or just to freak listeners out". The problem is many people are using the two trope interchangebly, and many of the examples are on both pages. There's also fact that Careful with That Axe is a really bad trope name. It's named after an obscure early Pink Floyd song in which the trope appears, but the name is very non-indicative. Maybe that page needs its own TRS thread.
edited 5th May '12 11:48:02 AM by djbj
but many of the examples aren't even metal, and some of them predate the existence of metal (the Beatles? Really?).
Helter Skelter is an example of proto-metal.
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"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer
This page has been bothering me for a long time, especially with the categories it sets up. Some time ago, I tried redefining the "types", but I'm still not satisfied and not sure what to do with it. Not only can "Metal Scream" refer to a whole host of different vocal styles, but many of the examples aren't even metal, and some of them predate the existence of metal (the Beatles? Really?). Harsh Vocals already have their own trope page, perhaps the "clean" high-pitched sort of scream should have its own trope name like Halford Clone (which is a common nickname for such vocals in the metal community)? The entire thing is just a mess, nobody is even sure what a "metal scream" even is, or even if it's metal at all. I think the trope needs a complete top-to-bottom rewrite and possibly even a rename. If it's going to continue being named Metal Scream, than it should be about metal.
Right now the meaning of the trope seems like "loud forceful vocalization in music", which is dangerously close to People Sit On Chairs.
Out of Context Theater: Mike K "'Bloody Pussies' cracked me up"