Brothers & Sisters, if you employ the guttural vocal technique in your music, I have an excellent suggestion to make. A suggestion that will ensure that you don't alienate prospective fans, and that displays respect for the first generation of metalheads (such as myself, 59yo), we'll call them first-generation or first-gen metalheads, and the existing tradition of metal.

If you're a younger metalhead or metal musician, you might not realize that many, perhaps even most, or all, first-gen metalheads do not like that style of singing--at all. It might be fun to sing this way, or give you a sense of power, but that doesn't mean that it's fun for all members of your audience, or, more importantly, your potential audience.

Better that you younger metal musicians hear it gently from me:  older or, shall we say, first-gen metalheads in many, perhaps most instances are not going to care for the guttural, vomit vocal.

Ultimately In my case, for example, I hear any number of new metal material that is strong, that I'd be inclined to promote at either of both of my own heavy metal sites...but may not do so, as I just can't take the particular song seriously if includes what, to my 59yo heavy metal ears, this ridiculous vocalization. To me, and metalheads of my generation, the first gen of metalheads, this kind of "singing" turns a given song into a kind of cartoon caricature of heavy metal. Why do you think the guttural vocalization (you notice I'm not calling it "singing") is also referred to as the "vomit vocal"?

A real-life example is the superb piece by Melissa Bonny called Marching into Versaille. What a strong piece of music by a very unusual female metal artist. It's so well-done and listenable, overall, that as you notice I'm not even calling it a song, but a piece, as in a piece of music.

(By the way, male readers, in case you've never seen Ms. Bonny, when you get a gander at her you're going to immediately realize that there's a second "piece" present in this scenario...)

(By the way, male readers, in case you've never seen Ms. Bonny, when you get a gander at her you're going to see that this young lady, is, herself, a complete and total "piece"! Quite a "piece"! That this young lady is quite the "piece," herself!

The work of Melissa and her band is absolute, top-notch metal. Hell, it's top-notch music. But as soon as you find yourself lost in the sonic excellence, a noise erupts as if from the bowels of hell...made all the more incongruous (i.e. out of place) because, incredibly, it's coming from the person of Melissa Bonny, herself, this stunningly beautiful and hyper-feminine little ball of heavy metal energy.

Brothers and Sisters, note that there is no classic, successful metal band (to my knowledge), that employs this vocalizing technique:  Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, Motley Crue, Metal Church, the list is endless. NONE of those vocalists sing this way--and if they did, their fans would likely run for the hills. Personally, I probably wouldn't stick around, long.

From my older heavy metal perspective, many a superb new metal tune is compromised, even ruined, because of the inclusion of the guttural technique. Don't do it. Or if you feel that you really must, at the very least record an alternative version, which is my second suggestion. Let's not bifurcate (i.e. split into two) the metal community over this.

THE RAVE STRATEGY

I'm calling my suggestion RAVE:   RECORD AN ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF EVERYTHING. Everything that employs the gutteral technique, that is. If you follow my RAVE suggestion, then, please make it known that you read it here, from me, Vincent Frank De Benedetto, founder of THE INTERNATIONAL HEAVY METAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION, at ihmma.com, because just as you wish to succeed at, and get credit for, what you do, music, I wish to succeed at, and get credit for, what I do, which is (besides music) the generation of helpful, interesting, or powerful ideas.

And consider this fun economic fact:  if every song, from every band containing the gutteral technique were re-recorded into an alternative version, it would hand the recording, producing, and associated industries a real pot-of-gold, in other words, a lot more business. Which is this year of the pandemic and its consequent economic shutdown, isn't entirely a bad thing. Brothers and Sisters in industries ranging from recording, to management, to legal, to marketing, to distribution...could you use a bit of extra income? I thought so!

To be respectful to these older metalheads--and there are many of us around--and to ensure that you convert prospective fans into fans, I suggest that you either omit such vocalizing entirely, OR record and offer to fans and prospective fans an ALTERNATE version of your song or songs without the guttural vocal. Just your standard metal vocal--which is probably excellent, anyway.

Recording an alternative version of each song that otherwise includes the guttural technique also makes your band look progressive, that is, aware of the different kinds and generations of metal music and metal fan, and attuned, and sensitive, to their needs and preferences. They'll appreciate it--I know I would--and be that much more inclined to strongly support you, which includes, of course, buying your music. AND it gives you another opportunity to build legitimate publicity for your song, your release, and your band.

Everybody wins!

Will Still Promote

As this is the INTERNATIONAL HEAVY METAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION, I must make clear that gutteral technique or not, this organization, and I, personally, as its founder, will still promote you, your band, and your music. Ultimately, my self-imposed mandate (i.e thing you must do) is to promote metal, period, and that's what I will always do.