| rdfs:comment | - A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, death grunts, growled vocals, unclean vocals, deadly howls, harsh vocals, black speech and also jocularly as Cookie Monster vocals, is a vocalisation style (an extended vocal technique) usually employed by vocalists of the death metal music genres, but also used in a variety of heavy metal styles. The progressively more forceful enunciation of metal vocals has been noted, from heavy metal to thrash metal to death metal.
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| abstract | - A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, death grunts, growled vocals, unclean vocals, deadly howls, harsh vocals, black speech and also jocularly as Cookie Monster vocals, is a vocalisation style (an extended vocal technique) usually employed by vocalists of the death metal music genres, but also used in a variety of heavy metal styles. Death metal, in particular, is associated with growled vocals. Death metal, which tends to be lyrically and thematically darker and more morbid than thrash metal, features vocals that attempt to evoke chaos, death, and misery by being "usually very deep, guttural, and unintelligible." 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." Sociologist Deena Weinstein has noted of death metal: "Vocalists in this style have a distinctive sound, growling and snarling rather than singing the words. Making ample use of the voice distortion box." The progressively more forceful enunciation of metal vocals has been noted, from heavy metal to thrash metal to death metal. To appreciate the music, fans first had to accept a merciless sonic signature: guttural vocals that were little more than a menacing, sub-audible growl. James Hetfield's thrash metal rasp was harsh in contrast to Rob Halford's heavy metal high notes, but creatures like Glen Benton of Deicide tore out their larynxes to summon images of decaying corpses and giant catastrophic horrors. The harshness of death growls are in keeping with death metal's intense music style and often dark and obscene subject matter.
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