Analysing the heaviness of the song 'To the Hellfire' by popular deathcore band Lorna Shore

What is it about?

This article analyses 'To the Hellfire', a popular song by deathcore band Lorna Shore, which was very popular when it was released in 2021 due to its extremity and perceived heaviness. The article examines what makes this song so heavy, looking at its composition and production. It draws on interviews and a mix walkthrough by the song's producer, Josh Schroeder. The findings suggest that the song’s heaviness is mainly provided as a result of sonic weight, harmonic distortion, hyperreal performances, disruption and unpredictability, contrast and dynamic development towards a climax. Musically, blending metal subgenres to increase heaviness is deemed beneficial, and concerning production, automated and dynamic processing responsive to musical structures and performances is highlighted.

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Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Heaviness, one of metal music's primary quality features, remains a poorly understood concept. This article is an in-depth case study of a popular song that made waves due to its perceived extremity and heaviness, offering detailed insights into what musical qualities are perceived as heavy and how they are produced.