Notable voices

Started by jmbto, January 01, 2026, 05:12:22 PM

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John Cagefight

#15
The fried-sputter treatment of Can't / Jessica Rylan's vocalizations

Edit : Also another vote for Jeremy Kart / Strict... and perhaps in the same vein for a more contemporary shout out Interracial Sex is worth mentioning.

Cranial Blast

Definitely like how Scatmother comes with the savage vocal delivery.

Kaaoskultti

When it comes to PE/Death Industria/etc. I believe it's safe to say that there are four main types of vocal delivery:

- Bennettian falsetto screams
- Straightforward, punkish, guttural accusations
- Whispered manipulative intimidations
- Sonically altereted crazed effects

It might be a bit broad, but everyone would get what I'm saying. Not all high-pitched vocals are reminiscent of Bennett or Tomkins, but it's still a landmark for savage lyrics. Also as influential are those who are whispered, but so distorted that they manage to drown out all the other noises (like Taint's). Musically, though, I came to the conclusion that GO and Taint might be the most infuential bands in the realms of PE which is being made today. Add Con-dom certainly. Sj and WH are too idiosyncratic, specially in their later years, to spawn quality progeny. I've seen people complain that they receive an endless stream of "GO clones", whilst wanting to listen to something as good and atmospheric as Leichenlinie, and I certainly get the point, even if I don't personally agree with that. A lot of modern projects have been built around the vocal and sonic blueprints set out by those two projects, and it's safe to point at the potential for formulaic repetitons. It all boils down to a matter of being musically substantive. Having a soul, so to speak. Heretic Grail, SD.FKZ, Pharmakon, Institut, S.T.A.B. Electronics, Koufar, Herukrat, Young Hustlers etc. are clearly GO-ish. Grunt, FFH, also - the Con-dom influence is also intense on the latter. While Expensive Tastes, Striations, Sectioned, Pubic Eminence have more of a Taint influence on them. And yes, one could argue that the other way around is also true, but that's how I see it anyway. Thus I assert that it's easier to find the music of GO or Taint in modern projects than it is in the case of masters WH & SJ.

Also one could point to Prurient & HP as masterminds of a more industrial, rhythmic, atmospheric, and even melodic approach found in bands such as Linekraft, Laureate and so on. Despite the volatility of noise music, there are definitely, deservedly well-praised canon artists which remain classic. Maybe this is not the focus of this particular thread, but anyway. Curious to know what people think about this.

One particular aspect that makes the vocal delivery quite pleasent is the artists' native language aswell. Finnish is beautiful for PE. Talk about Sick Seed, Grunt, Strom.ec. Brethren's vocals and lyrics couldn't fit better in the genre's general aesthetics and sonic presentation. Also, a huge shoutout to Nicole 12's whispered perversities, perhaps my favourite when it comes to this formula.
ZOB ZYGGLAN - Brazilian Power Electronics - https://zobzygglan.bandcamp.com/

Vrenndel

Very nicely put and said. I wonder if the GO/Anenzephalia sermon-like vocal delivery would either fit in the straightforward case or the sonically altereted one, even though I recognize there's not just one pattern to be chosen. Maybe a fifth option?

Anyway, I do agree about the fact that in some cases we, as listeners, might indeed encounter a lot of GO-ish clones, so to speak, but that's not that much different from other scenes, I guess - Black Metal and Death Metal, just to give a couple example.
Personally, I do not find vocal similarities a bad thing - if it works, there sure is a reason for it - although it can also simply become quite uninteresting, in a way or another. Is it necessary to do the same thing over and over? Maybe for the sake of preserving some kind of old school feeling, then why not. Just like some themes, never getting old, I guess.
But in the end, even if some patterns are repeated, it is still possible to "find"/"witness" (?) some refreshing old approach suiting the listener's desire in that particular moment, when it comes to noise and power electronics, at least.

Personally, I think I'll never get tired of listening over and over again to the hair-raising vocal brutality of a Scatmother or the cancer-ridden throat-sounding vocals of FFH, just to give a couple of examples.

Clinton Foundation

Good coverage on this topic, a few yet mentioned are:
Black State - Hlose a personal favorite when looking at albums from an artist with vocal delivery. Brilliant although not replicated often. Dirty, grimy, distorted aggressive whisper like vocals delivered from what could be a maniac or a martyr.

Caligula031 is another favorite when it comes to vocal delivery, all different flavors of filth.

Coma Detox / Disgusting Sanctum's work with Agonal Lust is top level delivery, the damn flanger / delay / reverb combo is staple and vocal delivery throughout all the work he's apart of is peak. RIP.

Zyklon SS, surprised artist hasn't been mentioned yet. Another legend when it comes to vocal delivery. All of his work is a good representation of how PE vocals should be delivered. A well respected hand off from the previous generation of legends to a newer generation.

Roases comes to mind as well, goes hand in hand with electronics & low blending in the mix. Really scratching the early 80's PE itch that people don't even try to do let alone capture perfectly anymore.

prolapsedlielack

Quote from: Clinton Foundation on January 05, 2026, 07:44:36 AMComa Detox / Disgusting Sanctum's work with Agonal Lust is top level delivery, the damn flanger / delay / reverb combo is staple and vocal delivery throughout all the work he's apart of is peak. RIP.

Big fat agreement here. I've been chasing how to achieve that effect he used on tapes such as Modern Atrocities or Hideous Salvation, even if his delivery is unmatched. Rest In Power Jamie!

Vrenndel

I second both Jamie Van Blake and Hal Hutchinson vocal deliveries indeed. Both great, both threatening, especially live, from the little excerpts avaible on youtube, as far as it concerns Agonal Lust, at least. Last year, The Key, from Chile, issued the very first Agonal Lust live show on tape. The sound captation is amazing.

No words needed about ZSS vocals. Perfect from start to end. Pure maniacal vocal delivery.

HateSermon

Quote from: Clinton Foundation on January 05, 2026, 07:44:36 AMGood coverage on this topic, a few yet mentioned are:
Black State - Hlose a personal favorite when looking at albums from an artist with vocal delivery. Brilliant although not replicated often. Dirty, grimy, distorted aggressive whisper like vocals delivered from what could be a maniac or a martyr.

Caligula031 is another favorite when it comes to vocal delivery, all different flavors of filth.

Coma Detox / Disgusting Sanctum's work with Agonal Lust is top level delivery, the damn flanger / delay / reverb combo is staple and vocal delivery throughout all the work he's apart of is peak. RIP.

Zyklon SS, surprised artist hasn't been mentioned yet. Another legend when it comes to vocal delivery. All of his work is a good representation of how PE vocals should be delivered. A well respected hand off from the previous generation of legends to a newer generation.

Roases comes to mind as well, goes hand in hand with electronics & low blending in the mix. Really scratching the early 80's PE itch that people don't even try to do let alone capture perfectly anymore.

Both Black State's "Hlose" and ZSS' "Racial Superiority" have some of my favorite vocals on them. Slow and grimy. I prefer vocals on the lower side, as opposed to screaming into a mic. The first Vihanmiehet has some of that nastiness, too. Predominance "White Ashes" also comes to mind.

k.p.g

Quote from: John Cagefight on January 03, 2026, 04:14:53 PMThe fried-sputter treatment of Can't / Jessica Rylan's vocalizations
Absolutely some of the best to do it.  In a similar vein, the vocals of Chris Forgues were always great in Kites.
Dead Door Unit
French Market Press
etc.

ballerinainblood666

Mangled Clit
Slogun
Prurient
Pasi (especially Xenophobic Ejaculation)
Strict
Taint
Grunt
WCPC/Never Sorry
Frataxin
Brethren
GO
Atrax Morgue
Con-Dom
Early SJ
Final Solution

Kaaoskultti

Quote from: ballerinainblood666 on January 05, 2026, 06:06:20 PMMangled Clit
Slogun
Prurient
Pasi (especially Xenophobic Ejaculation)
Strict
Taint
Grunt
WCPC/Never Sorry
Frataxin
Brethren
GO
Atrax Morgue
Con-Dom
Early SJ
Final Solution

Amazing selection!
ZOB ZYGGLAN - Brazilian Power Electronics - https://zobzygglan.bandcamp.com/

prolapsedlielack

Quote from: ballerinainblood666 on January 05, 2026, 06:06:20 PMWCPC/Never Sorry

His yells are top notch. Recent 8-track "Problematic" was a RIPPER, especially with his cover of "I'm Not In Love".

BatteredStatesofEuphoria

Kind of surprised no one's mentioned Haus Arafna yet. Mr and Mrs Arafna's vocals are a huge part of what makes their atmospherics work. Their more usual, almost crooning sound gives off creepy vibes of some demented Weimar cabaret, but when its screaming, its as fierce as the best.

cr

Pierpaolo Zoppo, Mauthausen Orchestra

cr

The vocals of Lee Howard/Iron Fist Of The Sun I also find remarkably good.