Like, I love thrash/death/heavy metal music, but I could mostly do without the vocals. Is there a genre of music (or specific bands) I should look for?

I’m a big fan of Arcturus, Children of Bodom, etc, but I prefer the instrumentals way more than the singing.

So, is there a specific genre for that?

Edit: Imagine Silent Night, Bodom Night but without lyrics. It’s not that I dislike the vocals; would just appreciate the track more without them. It’s like they’re just in the way of what I want to hear.

Edit 2: Thanks, everyone. I have heard of Animals as Leaders but am not super familiar with them. Will definitely check them out as well as the other recommendations.

  • LordGimp@lemm.ee
    2·
    6 minutes ago

    So there’s a lot of ways you can go with this. You can definitely find instrumentals of death metal bands, but you can also try something new.

    Haggard is one of the best in symphonic metal, and while there’s still a stitch singer, imo they’re MUCH easier to understand.

    Native Howl has slayer played by some country boys on banjo and guitar. They also do a bunch of their own stuff that sounds pretty wild. “Thrash grass” is one of their better albums and pretty accurately describes their flavor of fusion (thrash metal played in the style of bluegrass)

    Older Arch Emeny stuff is also quite good, and having a pretty lady growling at me is a novel experience. Angela gossow also shows up in metalocalypse so that’s instant bonus points

    Dethklok does pretty well at straddling the line between melodic/symphonic/death metal, and if you like the metal without Nathan explosion you can check out Brandon Small’s other stuff where he isn’t growling like a cartoon character.

    Last but certainly not least is The Lord Weird Slough Feg. Exquisite technical metal wrapped up in an 80s/90s power metal package. I simp for Slough Feg wherever I can because it’s EXCELLENT metal that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition

    • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgOPEnglish
      1·
      38 minutes ago

      First one is def interesting, but a little too chip tune for my taste (still cool though). Definitely liking the second one. Will check out some more of them. Thanks.

  • Meron35@lemmy.world
    71·
    2 hours ago

    Power metal is more traditional metal but with clean vocals (no growls). Bands include DragonForce, Angra, Helloween, Stratovarius

    There’s also progressive metal, where the emphasis is more on the intricate instrumentals, so some banda don’t do growls. It is usually less heavier than traditional metal. Bands include Dream Theatre, Liquid Tension Experiment, Symphony X, Tessaract, Haken, frost*, Porcupine Tree

  • Mac@mander.xyzEnglish
    21·
    6 hours ago

    You might like some of Haken’s heavier stuff. They’re primarily prog but they go hard, too.
    Try the album Vector and the album Virus.

    From Virus i recommend you try the song Prosthetic
    and the song Messiah complex V: Ectobius Rex
    From Vector I recommend you try the song Puzzle Box
    and the song Veil

    Their new album Fauna is really good and has a good mix of different styles which includes heavy elements as well.

    Come back if you like them I will recommend more!

    🤘 Haken! 🤘

     

    It’s also okay if you don’t like prog, i recognize it’s too different for some. lol

    • Masta_Chief@lemmy.world
      2·
      12 minutes ago

      Haken (pronounced “hay-kin”) is fucking awesome. They have a pretty wide range of sound too so most people who like metal I think would enjoy their songs.

  • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
    32·
    9 hours ago

    Just to be clear; are you wanting heavy metal music that’s only instrumental? Or are you wanting heavy metal music where the vocalist doesn’t sound like a small angry demon with a cold that just got karate chopped in the throat?

  • oyfrog@lemmy.world
    6·
    6 hours ago

    I forget which one, but one of the Between the buried and me albums has an instrumental release. Honestly, all of their albums I recommend regardless because the musicianship is excellent.

    Scale the summit is more along the lines of prog metal but purely instrumental (I think).

    Protest the hero is prog metal that has a near minimal amount of death growl (still some).

    Animals as leaders which has been mentioned by several people.

    Exivious is decent, I’m like 90percent sure they’re instrumental.

    There’s a Japanese band called té, which is way more prog rock but you might like that.

    Death, despite being one of the progenitors of death metal, is less intense on the death metal growl vocals. To me, early death metal in general is a bit different sounding than modern death metal. Regardless, Death has a pure instrumental song called Voice of the soul which is part acoustic. It’s probably one of the most acoustically beautiful songs written in the genre.

    • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
      1·
      5 hours ago

      You just made me remember The Coma Machine.

      One day I’ll figure out the meaning of the song. Real banger, but still don’t have a full picture. One day.

  • PineRune@lemmy.world
    25·
    9 hours ago

    For instrumental music with no vocals, try: Wide Eyes, Invent Animate (their instrumental versions), Modern Day Babylon, I Built the Sky. These aren’t quite Death Metal, but they have really complex guitar and drum pieces.

    For with vocals: Sea in the Sky, Ignea, Unleash The Archers, Corelia (also has instrumental version of their 1 album)

  • Oaksey@lemmy.world
    3·
    6 hours ago

    Anthrax
    Haven’t listened to them much in years but I used to like their album, The Sound of White Noise. Singer can be a bit gruff but doesn’t quite scream like I think you are talking about.

  • Olap@lemmy.world
    6·
    8 hours ago

    Elder

    Dvne

    Bossk

    Keygen Church

    Julie Christmas

    Cult of Luna

    Sgàile

    Nightwish

    Skiltron

    Glorryhammer

    Creeper

    No real death in that list though - the vocals are part of the genre

    • abysmalpoptart@lemmy.world
      1·
      6 hours ago

      I was thinking this as well, add in some bands (album suggestions in parens) like epica (holographic principle), kamelot (epica/black halo), Symphony x (divine wings of tragedy), and even a band like battle beast (circus of doom) or unleash the archers (apex) and i think op will have a good time

  • Glifted@lemmy.world
    5·
    8 hours ago

    Check out a band called Pelican, especially their early stuff. It’s not exactly what you’re looking for but it might scratch that itch a little

    • PennyRoyal@sh.itjust.works
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Fuck yeah. I’m ashamed to say I’d kinda forgotten about them, so thanks for reminding me. Midnight and Mescaline is an absolute banger, as a recommendation for a gateway track