I'm aware that most people will disagree, but I think Varg's vocal performance on "Lost Wisdom" is one of the finest in black metal (from what I've heard of the genre anyway). He sounds genuinely tortured on that track; emotionally and physically. That song is one of the most depressing I've ever heard and the vocals have a lot to do with that. And I'm not even a very big fan of Burzum.

I'll come back and post more later, if I can find time.

Azaghal - Kun Aurinko Kuoli (Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä)

This song features a combination of some insanely high-pitched shrieking vocals and extremely raw vocals. Probably the best Azaghal song I've ever heard. It blew me away the first time I heard it.

Though it isn't Black Metal, the vocal approach has some parallels..

Peter Tagtagren's shriek at the beginning of Warpath on the Virus album

The screams at the opening of "Malice through the Looking Glass", just before the solo on "Nocturnal Supremacy", the opening to "Ebony Dressed for Sunset" and the outro to the redone version of "Summer Dying Fast" all by Cradle of Filth (calm down Buford, I know their not black metal).
As far as black metal goes the scream in the Middle of "La Flamme Et Le Lys" (or "Une Nuit Pour La Patrie", I'm terrible with remembering songs) by Forteresse has a really haunting scream and I am a big fan of Hat's vocals on Pentagram.

And on "Carved Up", possibly some of the best death metal screams on that song

Are we talking songs or jsut in general? As for Burzum, while I like some of the music, I'm one of those people who just hate Varg's voice.

The bit in the middle part of Gorgoroth's "Open the Gates," I'd give an exact minute:second but I don't have it with me right now, there is that quieter midsection and then just a wordless scream. Probably just about the coolest thing I've ever heard, that part. This song is the reason I like Gorgoroth. But in general, Pest>everybody, when it comes to vocals, though I think his best was probably Under the Sign of Hell.

Also the end portion of Blodarv's "Under Satans Vinger." Not sure why, but I just absolutely love the vocals in this song, especially toward the 4-minute point, Hugin sort of squawks likes a dying bird or something. That probably sounds like an insult, but I mean it in a good way. On that note, I also am inordinately fond of the vocals in "Beyond Life."

Honorable mention to Trelldom "min doed til ende," which I also like a lot, and I think anything Gaahl did outside of Gorgoroth was infinitely better than anything he did with Gorgoroth.

TO and AE from Avsky on their album "Malignant". They kill on that record. It's brutal.

Holy shit, Svein Egil Hatlevik on Fleurety's "A Darker Shade of Evil" is absolutely insane

Mikael Akerfeldt From bloodbath is pretty amazing. I like the high pitched shrieking from Anaal nathrakh, and Anorexia Nervosa has some pretty pissed off sounding screaming at times.

Those two define them perfectly. Though I must add Varg's scream on Filosofem..
"Suddenly...... LIIIFEE!!! HAS!! NEW! MEEEAAAANNNIINNNGGG!!!"

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Did anyone say Orlok of Countess? He's up there with the best screamers.

Oh, yea, without a doubt. Peter can get some pretty inhuman screams at times. I absolutely love Hypocrisy.. Probably one of my most favorite Death Metal acts. They aught to record a new album, and yes, I know they just rerecorded Catch 22 (which is now quite amazing), but they need a brand spanking new album.

Indeed. It's been far too long, and Catch 22 Version 2 wasn't anything miles ahead of the original, just somewhat better. Peter seems to be busy with Pain right now, he wrote two albums for that band since Virus.

Did you hear about him getting mugged in Leipzig on their latest tour? They had pictures up on the Hypocrisy myspace, I think... Anyway, they busted him up pretty good.

As far as Catch 22 is concerned, you have to admit that the new version is much better than the original.

The scream at the very beginning of "Fire in the Sky" is also pretty swesome....

Wintersun- Sleeping Stars at 2:07. The song just explodes there and Jari's amazing voice screaming over the top of it all makes for an amazing musical moment.

And to continue the Peter fellation, I adore his vocals on Nightmares Made Flesh. That's the only album I have with his vocals but I am currently conserving my funds to buy a bunch of albums and I'm sure Hypocrisy will be among them. A few notable examples from the afore mentioned album include; Cancer Of the Soul (1:10), Soul Evisceration (3:17) and I can't not mention Eaten at 3:35.

Those examples aren't black metal so here's one that is.

Vinterland's Our Dawn Of Glory has one of the most brutal beginnings to any song, ever. At about 10 seconds in, it just erupts into a blazing barrage of quick paced and frozen instrumentation with a blood curdling scream leading it. Fantastic.

The guy from Wolves In The Throne Room is also a good vocalist; sounds quite tortured in his delivery.

This.
In addition, Wintersun has great black metal vocals, especially the vocal's entrance in Sadness and Hate. It is so aggressive and powerful.

I'm probably one of the few who likes the vocals from Aaskereia. One of my favourite black metal screams would be the on in the song 'Gedanken' right at the start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2eqolx5OpY

I also enjoy the very unique howling owl-like screams from Nazgul (Ita). In the song Hult-Garth very noticeable around 47 seconds in the song.

Herr Morbid screams in Forgotten Tomb band are suffered and incredibly emotional, especially on "Alone" song and "Disheartened"...majestic pieces of black/doom metal.

Hell yes. In "Velvet Thorns (of Drynwhyl)", when he screams "dreaming of the queen, the queen of roses!!!!!!!". Wonderful.

And Peter's Hypocrisy vocals were my first thought, "Roswell '47" and "Fractured Millenium" being prime examples"

I don't really have a specific scream/shriek, but Burzum's in general from what I've heard are simply the best.

"I will open the gate to HELL.........*solo*....ONE DAY *melodic riff*

There's countless imitators but I don't think none of them sound as vulnerable and tortured as Varg's.

Holy shit! I forgot to mention Pete's ones from Angelcorpse on "Phalleluja" song, during the chorus...!! By the way, his vocals are truly nasty, scratchy and brutal on each song.

For sheer ludicrousness - the Fleurity - A Darker Shade of Evil EP, the vocalist permanently damaged his voice by emitting screeching eagle-like screams. Totally bizarre, the vocals start and you think, "Is that a bat?".

The scream at the beginning of "A Shield with an Iron Face" by Absu. Absolutely kicks ass!

Oh yeah: <insert many King Diamond-screams from the early Mercyful Fate-era>

Damn, those are insane. I can easily see how he stuffed his voice.

I shit my pants the first time I heard that, it's well done.

I completely agree. Aaskereia has some of my favourite vocals from any band or genre.

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Dissection accomplishes some of the best black metal screams ever done by human beings. I won't go into any specific ones, but the screams off the Storm Of The Lights Bane album always seem to sound intensely emotional, breathtakingly tormented and overall supremely authentic. The vocals are actually the part of that album I like the best. Sad that they lost the amazing vocals on Reinkaos though, even if I still find it to be quite enjoyable (although on completely other merits).

Arioch/Mortuus also deserves a mention. Not at all for the shit he's done with Marduk, but for his work with Funeral Mist. Quite simple, he screams like a complete madman and pulls it off surprisingly well. The screams at the beginning of the song In Manus Tuas are just breathtaking, and this is also my favourite Funeral Mist song. The only thing wrong with it is they could have afforded to lose some of the bizarre violin passage at the end, as it's just too long and monotonous for it's own good.

Also, I love Malign, and even if their screams are quite often more directed towards a death metallish approach, they still sound intensely compelling. Sinful Fleshspear from their Divine Facing EP is a great example.

"AND AGAIN! THESE EYES SHED TEARS... OF JOY!"

For people mentioning Aaskereia, be sure to check Hagal. The same type of vocals, only much more high pitched and extreme, with some real epicness in the music thrown in for good measure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76iqRbZdst0

The vocals in that album are pretty tame though, be sure to listen to the demo, it's insane!

How are his vocals on the last two Marduk albums bad?

They aren't all that bad. They're just not in any way exceptional, and compared to the stuff he did with Funeral Mist they show a major decrease in quality.

They don't suck though, they're just not that good either.

Mmhmm 'cause you know Halford is such a great Black Metal voxalist.

This thread is worthless without the mention of Antichrist's hateful scream at the end of Sarcofago's "Christ's Death".


"FUCK YOU JEEEEZZOOOS CHRRIST. I FUCKING HATE YOOOO!"

Urfaust - Die Kalte Teufelsfaust
IX delivers some convincing screams throughout most of Urfaust's material, especially on this track. The screams are made even more powerful by the way in which they're delivered, sandwiched smack dab between IX's deep romantic bellows; it's a unique style that wins Urfaust infinite points in my book.

Bethlehem - Schatten aus der Alexander Welt
This opening track from the band's impressive second full-length "Dictius Te Necare" features a good amount of nasty screams. It's the sound of hell being regurgitated. What more could one ask for?

Silencer - I Shall Lead, You Shall Follow
Really, every song from "Death - Pierce Me" is just brimming with horrifying screams, making the entire album a valid mention here, but this track in particular is probably my top choice because the screams are nicely scattered amongst shrieks, grunts, gasps, weeping and even some wicked laughing. Completely insane, to say the least!

Just read this. I'm sure it was actually Nordgaren who sung on that record. Svein Egil Hatlevik is the current vocalist because Nordgarden permanently damaged his voice singing on that EP. Anyone who hasn't heard A Darker Side Of Evil, should. I'm not saying the vocals are good, but they are certainly unlike any other vocal performance your likely to hear anywhere.

definitely not black metal, but i like the scream at the the kick in to the climax of "burn" on neurosis's eye of every storm, that shit curdles my ball hairs, and ball hairs dont normally curdle

The screams from Lord Of Command (Bringer Of Hate) by Old Man's Child at the beginning still give me chills. They're amazing.

In the song World of Plague by Craft. Best scream to open an album ever.