Guttural vocals in heavy metal

Guttural singing is throat singing, which is formed with the pocket folds ("false vocal folds"). The pouch folds are two pairs of folds lying horizontally on top of each other in the larynx, directly above the actual vocal cords. They are normally used to hold your breath or clear your throat.

Throat singing is used in many cultures to extend the normal vocal range up or down an octave. The voice becomes rough and somewhat distorted due to the vibrations of the pocket folds and is reminiscent of the sound of a didgeridoo. A similar effect can be achieved by using the so-called straw bass register (also known as the pulse or snoring register), the lowest vocal register in which the vocal cords are so loose that the individual vibrations are perceived as a kind of rattling or individual pulses.

Guttural singing is also used in modern music, mainly in extreme metal. The vocal techniques are mainly referred to as "growling", "screaming" or "shouting", depending on the pitch and proportion of "voice", the ratio of vocal cords to vocal folds. In other words, pocket folds as well as vocal cords are usually used. Depending on whether the sound is produced during inhalation or exhalation, the term "inhale" or "exhale" screams are used. There are numerous other names and variants of guttural singing in metal.

Growling is reminiscent of the growling of an animal and is mainly used in death metal and grindcore. The proportion of vocal chords varies greatly, especially in grunting, the lowest variant, they are hardly ever used. Screaming is usually high-pitched, uses almost exclusively the folds of the throat and is mainly used in black metal. Shouting is preferred in thrash metal and hardcore and is characterized by a high proportion of vocal chords. With this form of guttural singing, the risk of damaging the voice is highest, as the vocal cords are heavily strained.

The high intensity and volume and the extreme pitches in this music genre can quickly lead to vocal overload, which can manifest itself in hoarseness - temporary or permanent -, a sore throat or, in the worst case, blood in the mouth. If this happens repeatedly, long-term damage to the vocal cords cannot be ruled out. It can lead to dysphonia or, in the worst case, even aphonia.

Metal singing is also susceptible to typical "singer's diseases". These include rhinitis (colds), pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx), tonsilitis (tonsillitis), tracheitis (inflammation of the windpipe), bronchitis, sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses), nodules or oedema on the vocal cords and enlarged tonsils as a result of multiple tonsilitis. These conditions can affect the voice, even if they are not caused by incorrect use of the voice. It is therefore important to protect them until they are completely healed.

The big problem with the use of guttural singing techniques is that there is a lack of training and further education opportunities and a uniform theory, which is due to the fact that it is rarely used and is often not really recognized as an art form, but ridiculed as "noise". It is therefore advisable, even if you "only" want to growl or scream, to attend singing lessons to learn the basics of breathing and vocal technique. It is also advisable to follow the principles of vocal hygiene as a preventative measure, just as with classical singing or other professions that put a lot of strain on the voice. Even metal singers cannot do completely without vocal chords.