This totally comes back to my already stated point about harsh vocals being a great servant, but a terrible master. Or, well, to be a great seasoning but a terrible main course.
I can and do enjoy quite a bit of harsh vocals, but mainly when it's balanced with other vocal performance (Opeth, Swallow the Sun, SOAD) or in other way when it's mostly a part of a general whole that is just as harsh and uncompromising (Cattle Decapitation) or if they buy themselves out with other stuff (Death). The problem with the latter examples is that these are
never gonna be my favourite bands. They lack the variety.
I think I already made the comparison - you might not want to listen to a whole a cappella album (of regular singing performance), you might find it boring, but still, you'd probably be able to listen to it. Only a seriously damaged person would want to (or even be able to) listen to a growling a cappella album.
So yes, I'm not a fan in general. I admit there's a lot of nuance and a lot of great work and training behind that, but still, it's too out there, too limited. And a great growler is still going to be under a competent singer in my book. At least somewhat.
And I even
agree with him here
Plus they’re completely non-melodic, so they’re inherently more limited in what they can offer vs. melodic vocals, or even vs. rap vocals, which they frankly have more in common with.
(well, not
completely non-melodic, but
largely, I'd say)
But like I said, I can get the appeal, which is why
Jer's consistent whining grates on me as well. Yeah, I read what he wrote about it. But I'm much more interested in people willing to overcome their biases.
I am taste-wise very boomer-y myself. Yet I can appreciate the harsh vocals if they really fit. Or - at least - they won't make me rank something lower because of them. And that's from a huge Jim Croce fan. Take from that what you will.
).
, but they both had lots of people trying to sing in their vein.
