What is it about?
What makes heavy metal music feel so powerful and 'heavy'? It's not just the instruments. Our study explores how voices, particularly when grouped together, contribute to this feeling. We found that things like how clear the vocals are, how they're mixed with other sounds, and even the contrast between different singing styles can make a big difference to a song's impact.
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Why is it important?
Our research is innovative in its dedicated analysis of ensemble vocals as a key ingredient in metal's 'heaviness', moving beyond the usual focus on instrumental distortion. By distinguishing between the physical sound of voices and how they're used in context, we offer novel insights. This is timely as metal's sonic and aesthetic spectrum expands, and it makes a difference by providing a more detailed understanding for researchers, musicians, critics, and fans alike.
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This page is a summary of: The effects of ensemble singing on heaviness in metal music: Revisiting a systematic approach, Metal Music Studies, March 2025, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/mms_00166_1.
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