Djent(/dʒɛnt/) is a subgenre ofprogressive metal,termed for anonomatopoeiaof the guitar sound that characterizes it.[1][2][3]While sources such asThe GuardianandGuitar Worlddescribe djent as agenre,some notable musicians includingRandy Blythe(Lamb of God) andStephen Carpenter(Deftones) say it is not.[4]
| Djent | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Mid-1990s in Sweden, England and United States |
| Typical instruments |
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| Regional scenes | |
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| Other topics | |
Development
editFredrik Thordendal,lead guitarist of Swedish bandMeshuggah,is considered the originator of the djent technique.[4]However, the band did not coin the term itself. In a 2018 interview by Rauta, Meshuggah guitaristMårten Hagströmapologized for the band's role in creating the "djent" style of guitar playing, calling it "a drunk misunderstanding".[5][6]
Other bands important in the development of the style areAnimals as Leaders,[7]Periphery,Tesseract,[8][9][10]andTextures.[11]
The scene has grown rapidly,[12]and members of the original online community, including the bandsChimp Spanner,Sithu Aye,andMonuments,have gone on to tour and release albums commercially.[4][13]Other bands influenced by djent includeA Life once lost,[14]Veil of Maya,[15]Vildhjarta,[16]andXerath.[17]Born of Osirishave also been described as being inspired by the djent movement.[12]Furthermore,Hacktivist[18][19]andDVSR[20]are djent bands that userappingas a primary vocal style.[21]
Characteristics
editDjent as a style is characterized by progressive, rhythmic, and technical complexity accompanied by a use of polymetric groove. An example is the song "Cafo" by Animals as Leaders.[10]It typically features heavily-distorted,palm-mutedguitar chords, syncopatedriffs,[4]andpoly-metersalongsidevirtuosicsoloing.[22]Another common feature is the use of extended range guitars that areseven-string,eight-string,andnine-string,or even more strings.[23]
Reception
editSome members of the metal community have criticized the term "djent", either treating it as a short-lived fad, openly condemning it, or questioning its validity as agenre.However, bands such as Tesseract and Animals as Leaders have received positive critical reception and multiple awards.Post-metalbandRosettais noted as saying, "Maybe we should start callingdoom metal'DUNNN' ".[24]In response to a question about "djent",Lamb of Godvocalist Randy Blythe stated in 2011, "There is no such thing as 'djent'; it's not a genre".[25]Deftonesguitarist Stephen Carpenter similarly opined in 2016 that "I thoroughly can get djent, I even have great appreciation for the bands, and I mean Meshuggah is one of my favorite bands. But it's just not a genre. It's just metal".[26]In an interview with Guitar Messenger,PeripheryguitaristMisha Mansoorsaid:
I was looking for gear that was djenty. I was like: 'Are these pickups djenty?' For some reason it caught on, but completely in the wrong way, because people think it's a style of music and they think it's a style of music I play.[27]
In a later interview with Freethinkers Blog, Mansoor stated that he felt djent had become "this big umbrella term for any sort of progressive band, and also any band that will [use] off-time chugs [...] You also get bands likeScale the Summit[who are referred to as] a djent band [when] 80% of their stuff sounds like clean channel, and it's all beautiful and pretty, you know [...] In that way, I think it's cool because it groups really cool bands together [...] We are surrounded by a lot of bands that I respect, but at the same time, I don't think people know what djent is either [...] It's very unclear ". Later in the interview, he stated," If you call us djent, that's fine. I mean, I would never self-apply the term, but at the same time, it's just so vague that I don't know what to make of it ".[28]In 2023, Periphery directly referenced the term's controversy with the subtitle of their seventh studio album,Periphery V: Djent is not a Genre.
Tosin Abasiof Animals as Leaders takes a more lenient view of the term, stating that there are specific characteristics that are common to djent bands, and as a result the term can be legitimately used as a genre. While stating that he personally strives not to subscribe exclusively to any one genre, he makes the point that a genre is defined by the ability to associate common features between different artists. He says that in this way, it is possible to view djent as a genre describing a particular niche of modern progressive metal.[29]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Hammerpublished, Metal (22 July 2017)."Currents: making waves in the djent-metal underground".loudersound.Retrieved20 March2022.
- ^"What is Djent | Djent Hub".Djent Hub.Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2022.Retrieved20 March2022.
- ^"Meshuggah - Kings Of Underground Music Scene".UnBumf.Retrieved20 March2022.
- ^abcd"Djent, the metal geek's microgenre".The Guardian.3 March 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011
- ^"MESHUGGAH's MÅRTEN HAGSTRÖM On 'Djent': 'We're Very Sorry For Creating That Genre; We Didn't Intend To – Our Bad'".Blabbermouth.23 July 2018.Retrieved23 July2018.
- ^Camp, Zoe (24 July 2018)."Meshuggah Apologize for Djent: It Was" Drunk Misunderstanding "".Revolver.Retrieved21 April2020.
- ^Angle, Brad (23 July 2011)."Interview: Meshuggah Guitarist Fredrik Thordendal Answers Reader Questions".Guitar World.Future US.Retrieved10 June2020.
- ^GuitarWorld Staff Member (16 March 2011)."TesseracT Unveil New Video".Guitar World.Future US.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Rivadavia, Eduardo."One".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^abRivadavia, Eduardo."Concealing Fate".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Bland, Ben (3 October 2011)."Textures - Dualism (Album Review)".Stereoboard.com.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^abColgan, Chris (24 June 2011)."Born of Osiris: The Discovery".PopMatters.Retrieved19 October2011.
- ^"TESSERACT's ACLE ON THE BIRTH OF TESSERACT AND THE DJENT MOVEMENT".Metalsucks.6 October 2010.Retrieved9 November2014.
- ^Debenedictis, Matt (23 February 2011)."A Life Once Lost Took 'an Outsider's Point of View' During Time Off".Noisecreep.AOL.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Heaney, Gregory."[Id]".Allmusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Hart, Josh (6 October 2011)."Vildhjarta Unveil New Album Details, Post Teaser Video".Guitar World.Future US.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Rivadavia, Eduardo."II review".Allmusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Rosenberg, Axl (17 October 2011)."Djent-rappers Hacktivist Kind Enough to Put the Word Hack Right There in the Name".MetalSucks.Retrieved1 May2015.
- ^Islander (9 November 2012)."Hacktivist".No Clean Singing.Retrieved1 May2015.
- ^CroOZza (25 November 2013)."DVSR - Got-Djent.com".Archived fromthe originalon 30 March 2018.Retrieved31 March2017.
- ^Pasbani, Robert (5 May 2014)."Is Nü-Djent The Next Big Thing?".Metal Injection.Retrieved22 March2022.
- ^Bowcott, Nick (26 June 2011)."Meshuggah Share the Secrets of Their Sound".Guitar World.Future US.Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2016.Retrieved17 October2011.
- ^Kennelty, Greg (26 February 2014)."Here's Why Everyone Needs To Stop Complaining About Extended Range Guitars".
- ^"What is your opinion of Djent?".Rosetta band. Archived fromthe originalon 28 January 2012.Retrieved29 November2011.
- ^Blythe, Randy."Lamb of God's Randy Blythe on Djent".smn news. Archived fromthe originalon 8 September 2012.Retrieved29 November2011.
- ^"Deftones' Stephen Carpenter On" Gore ":" I Didn't Want To Play On The Record To Begin With "".Theprp.com.23 February 2016.Retrieved18 March2021.
- ^Mansoor, Misha."MARC OKUBO (VEIL OF MAYA) & MISHA MANSOOR (PERIPHERY) INTERVIEW".guitar messenger.Retrieved7 March2012.
- ^"Periphery interview part 3 of 3." FreethinkersBlog. 19 February 2012. Web. 28 August 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bE0Q_9nQ9U>.
- ^Abasi, Tosin."Tosin Abasi's Opinion of Djent".YouTube.Retrieved20 October2017.