See also: Screaming (music).
The death growl, or simply growl, is an extended vocal technique usually employed in extreme styles of music, particularly in death metal and other extreme subgenres of heavy metal music.[1] Sometimes death growl vocals are criticized for their "ugliness" and inability to be understood without an accompanying lyric sheet, but the presentation of gruff vocals contributes to death metal's abrasive style and often dark, obscene subject matter.[2]
Death metal, in particular, is associated with growled vocals; it tends to be lyrically and thematically darker and more morbid than other forms of metal, and features vocals which attempt to evoke chaos, death, and misery by being "usually very deep, guttural, and unintelligible".[3] Natalie Purcell notes, "Although the vast majority of death metal bands use very low, beast-like, almost indiscernible growls as vocals, many also have high and screechy or operatic vocals, or simply deep and forcefully-sung vocals."[4] Sociologist Deena Weinstein has noted of death metal: "Vocalists in this style have a distinctive sound, growling and snarling rather than singing the words, and making ample use of the voice distortion box."[5]
Death growls and their variants are also known as death metal vocals, brutal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, growled vocals, low pitched vocals, low growls, unclean vocals, harsh vocals, vocal fry, glottal fry, false cord vocals and death cord vocals. Despite the misconceptions and stereotypes that are associated with them, usually by non-extreme metal fans, death growls require traditional clean/melodic vocal techniques to be done properly.[6]
In June 2007, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands reported that, because of the increased popularity of growling in the region, several patients who had used improper growling techniques were being treated for edema and polyps on the vocal folds.[7]
In 2005, professional vocal coach Melissa Cross released the instructional DVD The Zen of Screaming, to teach students the proper way to sing in several styles of rock, metal and hardcore. It has since been re-released as a digital download.[8]
The low, raspy, aggressive pitch of Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead, Conrad "Cronos" Lant of Venom and Tom Warrior of Celtic Frost were not unlike the death growl and may be thought of as precursors to the current style.[9]
How to Do Harsh Death Metal Vocals, WikiHow