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sonic_enemy_333
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2017 10:56 am
Posts: 366
Location: India
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 12:56 pm 
 

Can someone explain to me? Hopefully with examples?
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droneriot
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PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 1:06 pm 
 

Band plays normally, then breakdown, take the word literally:

https://youtu.be/z8ZqFlw6hYg?t=131
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MetallicaTrueFan
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 8:23 pm
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PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 1:33 pm 
 

Breakdowns are slower and hardhitting sections in otherwise fast and aggressive songs. Extreme Metal subgenres or Punk influenced Metal subgenres are prone to breakdowns. Many songs build up to the breakdown and for me there are many songs where the breakdown is the best part.
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~Guest 285196
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:11 pm
Posts: 2187
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 4:44 pm 
 

I struggle with this as well.

I saw someone claim that Dimmu Borgir's "The Serpentine Offering" had a breakdown. Would that be around 1:35 here?
https://youtu.be/eAmMcBQavKE?t=1m35s

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blackmantram
Metalhead

Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 12:51 pm
Posts: 997
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 4:52 pm 
 

I'd say pretty much every metal genre has some form of 'breakdown', yeah, even black metal, however it is more common in slam, metalcore and deathcore, in fact, as far as I understand, the word is mostly associated to those genres as an inherent characteristic of them.

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alexo666
Metalhead

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:53 am
Posts: 494
Location: United States of America
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 5:45 pm 
 

blackmantram wrote:
I'd say pretty much every metal genre has some form of 'breakdown', yeah, even black metal, however it is more common in slam, metalcore and deathcore, in fact, as far as I understand, the word is mostly associated to those genres as an inherent characteristic of them.


Thrash also has numerous (and the best) breakdowns. Overkill, Power Trip, Vio-Lence, Sepultura, Slayer, etc.
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thrashinbatman
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:31 pm
Posts: 1534
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 6:41 pm 
 

alexo666 wrote:
blackmantram wrote:
I'd say pretty much every metal genre has some form of 'breakdown', yeah, even black metal, however it is more common in slam, metalcore and deathcore, in fact, as far as I understand, the word is mostly associated to those genres as an inherent characteristic of them.


Thrash also has numerous (and the best) breakdowns. Overkill, Power Trip, Vio-Lence, Sepultura, Slayer, etc.



@2:15

Thrash breakdowns are definitely the best.

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Xenophon
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:07 am
Posts: 1184
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 6:45 pm 
 

When the guitar plays a syncopated, generally palm-muted rhythm over a slow or mid-paced beat.

Breakdowns are similar to grooves, which are generally more "riff-like" and have a shorter, repeated pattern:

https://youtu.be/BWaHfVtnen4?t=35s

There are different styles of breakdowns:

The "classic" type of breakdown is very similar to the groove riff above:

https://youtu.be/37OXNakWPEE?t=50s

There's also a "stuttering," random-sounding burst of notes on the low string, generally in deathcore, sometimes in death metal:
https://youtu.be/Ep0vCSwP1f4?t=19s
I generally don't like this type of breakdown as much, but the song above does a really good job with it. It seems like for most people this is what they think of when they hear the term "breakdown."

There's a type of breakdown commonly seen in "Entombedcore" bands, which is similar to the groove or the classic style of breakdown, and generally has non-palm-muted chords thrown in to take advantage of the Boss HM-2 guitar tone:
https://youtu.be/_bWKVE2Qq_k?t=42s from 0:43-0:53
https://youtu.be/sLu7eawM3ZI?t=48s from 0:50-1:20
Beatdown hardcore sometimes features a very similar style of breakdown, which generally takes the form of a steady, moderately-paced stream of chugging chords with some open chords thrown in:
https://youtu.be/9M-F2sfXPbY?t=1m52s
https://youtu.be/f-uy0h3eOH0?t=1m38s

There are two very closely related types of riffs called slams and slowdowns, which are similar to a breakdown and generally involve a series of slow power chords, sometimes with a bit of syncopation (usually for the more slam type of riffs).
Slowdown:
https://youtu.be/Xt7JSI9y46g?t=1m13s
Slam:
https://youtu.be/72BkII5Z9Cg?t=2m55s

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MawBTS
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2014 2:16 am
Posts: 1046
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 7:54 pm 
 

Like porn, breakdowns are hard to define but easy to recognise.

Go to Youtube, search for "heaviest breakdowns" or something, and watch the videos. You'll soon get an idea of what they are.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... breakdowns

In a metal context, breakdowns are the part of a song where you "dance" (meaning moshing, or a circle pit). The tempo slows down, usually to half time, or there's a heavy rhythmic feel, with the guitars chugging on the open strings.

Quote:
I struggle with this as well.

I saw someone claim that Dimmu Borgir's "The Serpentine Offering" had a breakdown. Would that be around 1:35 here?
https://youtu.be/eAmMcBQavKE?t=1m35s


I don't think so. Usually a breakdown sounds pretty different from the rest of the song, but that one doesn't really. It's basically as fast and as energetic as the section that came before it - there's not an obvious slowdown.

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PvtNinjer
Metal freak

Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:45 am
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Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 9:07 pm 
 

I always thought Tired and Red by Sodom had the best thrash breakdown ever.

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Subrick
Metal Strongman

Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Posts: 10167
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:23 pm 
 

raumr wrote:
I struggle with this as well.

I saw someone claim that Dimmu Borgir's "The Serpentine Offering" had a breakdown. Would that be around 1:35 here?
https://youtu.be/eAmMcBQavKE?t=1m35s


That part kinda counts, but the section starting at 3:52 is more like a breakdown how people generally think of it in metal. Most of the songs on the follow up Abrahadabra are loaded with breakdown-esq sections, actually, but it's more to mask the uninspired, lazy songwriting on that album than anything.
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AcidWorm
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Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:37 pm
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PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 10:44 pm 
 

Deathcore gave breakdowns a bad name, and is one of the things that puts me off of the genre, but I like them in other genres. Breakdowns work really well in grindcore.

Thrash breaks, which are very abrupt tempo changes, but not full on breakdowns are among my favorite. Demolition Hammer, and Morbid Saint are a couple bands that did thrash breaks very well.


And, this is a very iconic breakdown.
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Xenophon
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:07 am
Posts: 1184
Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 11:22 pm 
 

I'm not a fan of thrash breaks. They just sound like they're slowing down the intensity of the song, but they're still too peppy and not syncopated enough to really add any heaviness. Even the name "thrash break" sounds lame, like the guitarists need to take a break because their poor widdle arms are getting tired from playing all those faster metal riffs.

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RichardDeBenthall
Metal newbie

Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 2:46 am
Posts: 354
Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue May 09, 2017 4:43 am 
 

I love a good breakdown. It's a thing that was first really used to great effect in hardcore punk and was taken as a big influence by early and later extreme metal bands.

The slower bits of hardcore punk were a big influence on early Doom metal e.g. Sleep, The Obsessed, Cathedral.

I think there are examples even earlier than punk though. Listen to the end of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and say that doesn't feel like a breakdown in context. Also the mid/end of Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin. That thud thud, followed by guitar solo. It's powerful, it's visceral and it makes you want to move.

Thats a breakdown!

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Resident_Hazard
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PostPosted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:26 am 
 

Brian Posehn points it out in his Metal by Numbers video:

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Rasha_yad
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Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:46 pm
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PostPosted: Tue May 09, 2017 1:30 pm 
 

I saw someone on here a while ago describe the difference between breakdowns and slams, likening slams to 'trudging through muck' and breakdowns as 'bouncing in place'. I've found that a useful visualization, and it works spookily well on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. As RichardDeMenthall points out, the ending is pretty much a breakdown, and the part at 3:16 is definitely a slam riff.


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accursedordnance
Mallcore Kid

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:56 pm
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:59 pm 
 

Xenophon wrote:
I'm not a fan of thrash breaks. They just sound like they're slowing down the intensity of the song, but they're still too peppy and not syncopated enough to really add any heaviness. Even the name "thrash break" sounds lame, like the guitarists need to take a break because their poor widdle arms are getting tired from playing all those faster metal riffs.


BLASPHEMY!!!

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Nocturnal_Evil
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:00 am
Posts: 668
Location: United States
PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:13 am 
 

Essentially, a breakdown is when a band takes a particularly heavy/catchy riff and plays it slower than usual, resulting in a heavier sound. It literally sounds like the song/riff is "breaking down," hence the name. It usually happens in death metal/-core genres, but I don't see why it couldn't happen in any genre.

Some thrash bands did this as well, but (at least in Anthrax's case), they called it the "mosh part." A good example is the choppy part of "Indians," right where Belladonna screams "War Dance!!"

As someone else posted above me, one of the first true breakdowns in music happened in "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath." It's crazy just how ahead of their time Black Sabbath were.
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thrashinbatman
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:31 pm
Posts: 1534
PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:19 am 
 

Xenophon wrote:
I'm not a fan of thrash breaks. They just sound like they're slowing down the intensity of the song, but they're still too peppy and not syncopated enough to really add any heaviness. Even the name "thrash break" sounds lame, like the guitarists need to take a break because their poor widdle arms are getting tired from playing all those faster metal riffs.

this is an awful opinion

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EvergreenSherbert
Metalhead

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:48 pm
Posts: 1271
PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:21 am 
 

You guys know this thread is really old, right?
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King_of_Arnor
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2020 12:35 pm
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Location: United Kingdom
PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 3:12 pm 
 

^We could revive it to post about our favourite breakdowns. Mine is in Malevolent Creation's Slaughter of Innocence @1:58-2:30
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funeralravens
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2020 1:08 pm
Posts: 296
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:27 am 
 

Would you describe this part of Limbonic Art - Through Gleams of Death at 6:35 as a "black metal breakdown"?
https://youtu.be/SLp8OSd9CSw?t=395

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Nocturnal_Evil
Metalhead

Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:00 am
Posts: 668
Location: United States
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2022 4:17 pm 
 

King_of_Arnor wrote:
^We could revive it to post about our favourite breakdowns. Mine is in Malevolent Creation's Slaughter of Innocence @1:58-2:30


I like this idea. Analepsy has some nasty ones.
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Kalimata
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Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2017 9:29 am
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Location: France
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 3:51 am 
 

The template for breakdowns in metal is the one of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and afterwards they've all been copying it.

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Xymosys
Metalhead

Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:19 am
Posts: 1253
Location: Croatia
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 8:05 am 
 

Can we call a breakdown that particular moment in song when all the instruments go mute, emphasizing remaining vocals??
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Nocturnal_Evil
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Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2021 12:00 am
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:12 am 
 

Xymosys wrote:
Can we call a breakdown that particular moment in song when all the instruments go mute, emphasizing remaining vocals??


This can definitely precede a breakdown, but I think some sort of guitar/drum pairing should be included in a definition.
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tomcat_ha
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Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:05 am
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 21, 2022 4:41 am 
 

I just want to post this song because it has a couple breakdowns and the one after the 2 minute mark is one of the hardest ever.


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thereflectingskin
Metal newbie

Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:38 pm
Posts: 108
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2022 8:37 pm 
 

Rasha_yad wrote:
I saw someone on here a while ago describe the difference between breakdowns and slams, likening slams to 'trudging through muck' and breakdowns as 'bouncing in place'. I've found that a useful visualization, and it works spookily well on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. As RichardDeMenthall points out, the ending is pretty much a breakdown, and the part at 3:16 is definitely a slam riff.



Wow I was skeptical at first, but this is totally right, that riff would work in a slam song.

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Sovl_Ov_Mvn
Metal newbie

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:53 pm
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Location: United States
PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:27 pm 
 

A breakdown: The point in a song that pops your metal cherry. :lol:
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Sovl_Ov_Mvn
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 5:07 pm 
 

EvergreenSherbert wrote:
You guys know this thread is really old, right?


resurrection is a helluva thing eh?
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Fearoth
Metal newbie

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:09 pm
Posts: 231
PostPosted: Tue Nov 08, 2022 12:24 am 
 

This reminds me of that time where Behemoth almost went full deathcore, I wonder what their die-hard fans thought at the time?


I do enjoy some ridiculous 808 bass drops once in a while myself.


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