Help me, find me

[TheOkapi]

I've felt a change coming on for a couple of months now in my musical taste. A lot of the stuff that have been consistent favorites for years are now repulsive, so I'm finding myself in a void, lacking any real direction, but with a strong craving for something new.

Stuff that I did/do listen to:
Dragonforce
Blind Guardian
Metallica
Frank Sinatra
DangerDoom
Led Zeppilin (Only more recently have I realized the glory that is LZ, I actually wept the first time I heard "Since I've been lovin' you", I can't get enough bluesy stuff like that)
They Might Be Giants (all through middle school and high school, now I can't stand them, even the stuff I used to love)
Tool (some)
Rage Against The Machine (some, get into that in a bit)
Rammstien (some)
Jay-Z (some, prefer the Gray Album - Black album mixed with Beatles white album by Dangermouse)
Nightwish (only just found them, don't know much of their stuff, only have most recent album, and it's close, but not quite what I'm looking for)


Ok, so here's the thing. I don't like happy music anymore. I don't know why, it just suddenly started repulsing me about 3 months ago. I was hardcore into Dragonforce, then all of a sudden, their upbeat speed metal was nails on a chalkboard. The only stuff I can stand now is angry music, or blues. Now, before anyone rips on me for RATM, know that I am fully aware how much they suck, but the anger I get from...oh, about 6 of their songs is close to what I'm looking for. It's just hitting the right buttons for me right now. The only song from Nightwish I've really gotten into is Bye Bye Beautiful, and I could really not care less about the girl's singing, it's the chorus that the guitarist sings that I really like. If you've heard the song, you know what I mean. Most everything else I listed was stuff I've been listening to for years, and it's about a dozen songs from each that stay in my regular play list.

What I think I'd like (and feel free to prove me wrong and post something you think I might like) is something along the same lines as Dragonforce, just more angry, but with clear and excellent singing. I'd also love to introduced to more blues if anyone has any suggestions for that. I'd appreciate any help I can get here, as I'm feeling kinda listless without any music I love in my life right now.

[Occido]

You may find some of Testaments stuff to your liking. They're very diverse in their music, but for the most part they're pretty damn heavy and fast. A lot of it, is the "angry" type especially Testaments newer stuff.
Some songs, it's a "growl" type voice but can still make out what he's saying. For the most part though, he sings clearly. Their heavier shit however has a lot of harsh voice in it.

[Grave]

Rage Against the Machine doesn't suck, not sure if that's supposedly the popular opinion these days or something, but I disagree if it is.

I'll toss out a couple recommendations, some of it does not necessarily fit your requirement of being angry or blues, but it's good stuff nonetheless. I hate Dragonforce (especially after it was featured in GH3 and every geek on earth is blasting Through the Fire and Flames from their car) despite loving prog and power metal, so at least we have that to go on.

Anyway, check some of these out:


Adagio - good vocals, mixes between clear and growling. Incredible guitar and keyboards as well. Has sort of a gothic feel to it, but not in a lame way. Some songs remind me of Castlevania for example. Check out the album 'Dominate'.

Kamelot - really clear and excellent vocals, a lot of softer songs mixed in. Recommend you start with the album 'The Black Halo'.

Symphony X - Just awesome.

Devin Townsend - Devin is incredible, but an aquired taste for most people. I appreciated his talent and technique from the start, but couldn't really get into his music for just listening. A couple of years later, he's one of my all-time favorites. Your milage may vary, but at least give the albums 'Synchestra' and 'Ziltoid the Omniscient' a shot. If you like it, check out his other band Strapping Young Lad.

Einherjer - angry viking metal. Some folk influence similar to Blind Guardian with these guys, but other songs are just straight black metal.

Iced Earth - Check out 'The Dark Saga' and 'Alive in Athens'. Most people prefer either Schaffer or Barlow on lead vocals, but I feel both are good in different ways. The live album I mentioned is amazing and will give you a perfect sampling of different songs to see if you like them at all.

Katatonia - good for when you're in a certain mood. The older stuff is really heavy with gutteral death metal vocals, but with the later albums they've taken a softer turn while keeping some heavy instrumentals. I like both, most people like one or the other. Check out 'Brave Murder Day' for the old style, and 'The Great Cold Distance' for the new.

Soilwork - Good angry stuff, definitely check them out for what you're looking for. Start with 'Natural Born Chaos'.

Mygrain - just recently got into these guys, more angry stuff. The name is incredibly stupid, but the music isn't bad. Reminded me of Soilwork so I've been giving it a chance lately.

Non-Metal:

Boards of Canada
Tycho
Coldplay (yeah, i fucking said it.)
Radiohead

I find it's good to have some soft music to go to when mostly all you listen to is metal. Sometimes you need to come down a bit, and then when you return to the metal it sort of regains its edge, if that makes any sense.

[Menoz]

If you want blues.....

Derek and the Dominos - Layla
The Black Keys - Rubber Factory (or any album)
The Doors - The Doors
Gov't Mule - High & Mighty
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

These albums are all bluesy rock, if you want real blues (elmore james, bb king style) then let me know and I can make some other recommendations.

Also, when I want depressed music, I listen to Radiohead. The logical first album to buy there is OK Computer.

[Aamina]

Some "harder" stuff I like is Silverstein. Great singer, great to Audiosurf to as well. Try "Your Sword Vs. My Dagger" by them.

[TheOkapi]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll be looking into them tonight. And I actually forgot to add, MUSE. I've been really getting into Muse over the past month or so. And I don't really like Radiohead, just for the record, except maaaybe 1 or 2 songs.

[tikkus]

Though these two sound nothing like any of the bands listed above, I didn't feel like they warranted a thread with maybe 2-3 people posting replies to them.

Daniel Johnston
Jeffrey Lewis

They're new-folk type guys, really abstract off the wall stuff. They both make comics, too.

[TheOkapi]

Actually, back in the day, I used to tour with a folk band during summer vacation, so I can dig it. I'll check them out too.

[Hathe]

Originally Posted by Grave

musical suggestions here.

Grave, be my friend. I also strongly suggest Soilwork. Their first 3 albums are fantastic.

Originally Posted by Grave

Iced Earth - Check out 'The Dark Saga' and 'Alive in Athens'. Most people prefer either Schaffer or Barlow on lead vocals, but I feel both are good in different ways. The live album I mentioned is amazing and will give you a perfect sampling of different songs to see if you like them at all..

You mean Owens and Barlow? I didn't think Schaffer really did any lead vocal work.

[Hateyou]

Dragonforce - Check out Cellador, Stratovarius, and Wintersun. Fast stuff with different vocals. You could also check out the last Demoniac album, Sam Totman and Herman Li's band before Dragonforce. I didn't really care for the first two albums though.

Blind Guardian - Try Demons and Wizards, Firewind, or maybe Hammerfall ^^

Metallica - If it's the old stuff you like, listen to some old Sepultura and Pantera. If it's the new stuff you like, check out Avril Lavigne and Hannah Montana~

Tool - Check out Karnivool.

Nightwish - Find some Lacuna Coil. Similar but better imo.

Also for some suggestions I think you'd like based on your taste, Opeth, Grip Inc., Swallow the Sun, DevilDriver, Norther, Children of Bodom, Imperanon, Ensiferum, and October Tide.

For some different folk/viking metal, check out Borknagar, Finntroll, Korpiklaani, and Turisas

For some nice industrial check out Turmion Kätilöt, and Flesh Field, they're great. Panzer AG and Funker Vogt are good too.

I think you'd dig most of the stuff listed, based on what you already listen to. If you want more like that I can keep going. If not, oh well, I tried~

[Hathe]

Originally Posted by Hateyou

Metallica - If it's the old stuff you like, listen to some old Sepultura and Pantera. If it's the new stuff you like, check out Avril Lavigne and Hannah Montana~

Zing. I also recommend Overkill and Exodus.

Karnivool reminds me a bit of 36 crazyfists. Not really a fan of that style of music, but I love a few of their songs.

[Grave]

Originally Posted by Hathe

Grave, be my friend. I also strongly suggest Soilwork. Their first 3 albums are fantastic.


You mean Owens and Barlow? I didn't think Schaffer really did any lead vocal work.

Yes, Owens is who I meant to say. Barlow is far superior for sure in my opinion, so he's the only one I think of as IE's lead. Glad to hear he's coming back this year, gives me hope that they could make a big return.

[Surlok TP]

Minor Threat . I dunno, what to say about them,just get some.

Bad Religion; anything really old , for something more modern form them get Recipe for Hate, it title should tell you all you need to know.

Misfits. Their entire Catalog, Misfits are not necessarily angry but the content isn't really positive either. Alot of horror themes as well as love songs that involve killing and all that fun stuff.There is something very liberating about singing I want your skulls and hacking the heads off little girls to a very 50 swinging blues beat. The Misfits are in my opinion one of the greatest bands that ever existed, make sure you are picking up Glen Danzig era stuff though,late 70's early 80's anything beyond him is hit and miss ...

You are into Metallica and such,I'll assume you like to actually hear lyrics and avoid the death metal style singing, try some Slipknot. Start with the radio friendly songs : Before I forget, Duality,Wait and Bleed and such where Corey taylor sings more than screams, once you are good with that the rest of their catalogue will become more interesting.

Again not really angry music but you aren't hearing love songs or any of that.


I'll kick a Canadian band in that I actually like more or less because of the guys Voice. 3 Days grace, they are just basic hard rock but the guy that sings for them has a really great loud hard rock voice,they sometimes wallow a little much for my tastes though and it gets a bit emo for me, but songs like better off alone that really showcase that guys voice really blow me away. There is some pretty kick ass albiet a little stock riffing in the songs to which is always a bonus. Pretty mainstream band though ,so you know there will be people that'll knock you for listening to them cause they might be cool or something I dunno.

[Celebrindal]

I personally don't like them, but what about Mastadon? They were heralded as the new Metallica when their first album came out.

[Zeste]

Protest the Hero