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Avant-garde metal

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"Experimental metal" redirects here. For experimental equipment, seePrototype.

Avant-garde metal
Other names
  • Experimental metal
  • avant-metal
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsMid-1980s,
Subgenres
Regional scenes
Local scenes
Other topics

Avant-garde metal(also known asavant-metal,experimental metal,art metalandexperimetal) is a subgenre ofheavy metal musicloosely defined by use of experimentation and innovative,avant-gardeelements, including non-standard and unconventional sounds, instruments, song structures, playing styles, and vocal techniques. Avant-garde metal is influenced byprogressive rockandextreme metal,particularlydeath metal,and is closely related toprogressive metal.Some local scenes includeLos Angeles,theSan Francisco Bay Area,Boston,andSeattlein the United States,Osloin Norway, andTokyoin Japan.

Characteristics[edit]

"Avant-garde metal" is interchangeable with "experimental metal"[1]and "avant-metal",[2][3]and may also refer to a separate genre of "atmospheric metal" or "post-metal",which was named in reference topost-rock.[4]Avant-garde metal is related toprogressive metal,but avant-garde metal often has more experimentation, while progressive metal usually has a tighter focus ontraditional metalinstrumentation and higher levels of technical complexity.[5]Avant-garde metal also uses unusual sounds, breaks conventions, and often includes new elements.

The lyrics and visual presentation of the genre are eclectic as well.[5]According to Jeff Wagner inMean Deviation,electronic percussion anddrum machinessee widespread use by avant-garde metal bands, along with female vocals andoperaticelements, all of which he attributes to the influence of the bandCeltic Frost.[6]The Canadian groupVoivodalso influenced future bands in the genre, pioneering technique such as robotic vocal effects, unusual time signatures, and fractured, dissonant, unorthodox guitar sounds.[6]

History[edit]

Atsuo ofBorisperforming in 2011

According toIan Christe,avant-garde metal emerged fromdeath metalas a number of musicians "abandoned the tightly wound structure of the music and experimented with abstractions of its founding elements".[7]Progressive rockhas also been cited as an influence.[8]Some early examples are theKing CrimsonreleasesLarks' Tongues in AspicandRedin 1973 and 1974 respectively, with the latter album's title track defining an "avant-metal style" thatRobert Frippwould revisit years later.[2][9]Another early example is the 1976Led ZeppelinalbumPresence.[10]Pioneers of avant-garde metal includeCeltic Frost,[11]Gorguts,Boris,[12]Earth,[13]Helmet,[14]Mayhem,[15]Maudlin of the Well,[16]Neurosis,[17]Sunn O))),[18]Mr. Bungle,[19]Today Is the Day,andVoivod.[11]

In the late 1990s,Misanthropy Recordsemerged as a promoter of Norwegian avant-garde metal until it folded in 2000,[20]and, according to Jeff Wagner, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a so-called "new wave of avant-garde metal" was spearheaded byThe End Records.[20]Wagner states that "with the support of [Misanthropy and The End Records] and other specialty labels, metal's new avant-garde had arrived."[20]Some other record labels which promote avant-garde metal are Aurora Borealis,[21]The Flenser,[22]Holy Records,[23]Hydra Head Records,[24]Ipecac Recordings,[25]Napalm Records,[26]the Release Entertainment imprint ofRelapse Records,[27]Seventh Rule Recordings,[28]andSouthern Lord Records.[29]In the United States, local avant-garde metal scenes have emerged in theSan Francisco Bay Areawith bands such asGiant Squid,Grayceon,andLudicra,[30]and inBoston,with bands such asIsis,Kayo Dot,andMaudlin of the Well.[31]Some regional scenes that developed in the mid-1990s included the cities ofTokyo,Los Angeles,andOslo.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Bowar, Chad."What Is Heavy Metal?".About.com.Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2012.Retrieved29 November2016.
  2. ^abFricke, David (29 March 2010)."Alternate Take: King Crimson's Royal Remix Treatment".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2014.Retrieved27 April2012....later turned up on the 1973 avant-metal killer Larks' Tongues in Aspic.
  3. ^Shteamer, Hank (1 October 2019)."King Crimson's '21st Century Schizoid Man': 50 Years in the Life of a Gamechanging Song".Rolling Stone.Retrieved20 September2021.Sol Niger Within, a 1997 avant-metal mindbender by Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal that features bursts of piercing saxophone
  4. ^Buts, Jeroen. "5.1".The Thematical and Stylistic Evolution of Heavy Metal Lyrics and Imagery from the 70s to Present Day(PDF).p. 81.
  5. ^abFreeborn, Robert (June 2010)."A Selective Discography of Scandinavian Heavy Metal Music"(PDF).Sound Recording Reviews.p. 842. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 31 March 2012.
  6. ^abWagner 2010, pg. 124.
  7. ^Christe, Ian(2004).Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal.Harper Paperbacks.p.253.ISBN0380811278.Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  8. ^Peterik, Jim;Austin, Dave; Austin, Cathy & Lynn, Cathy (2 August 2010).Songwriting for Dummies(2nd ed.).John Wiley & Sons.p. 37.ISBN978-0470615140.Retrieved22 March2012.
  9. ^Mojo(1 November 2007). "4".The Mojo Collection(4th ed.).Canongate Books.p. 337.ISBN978-1847676436.Retrieved27 April2012.
  10. ^Fricke, David (5 December 1996)."Aenima".Rolling Stone.Retrieved27 April2012.Still, the best parts of Ænima come when Tool just let the music rip and dip with the broiling, avant-metal ferocity of Led Zeppelin's Presence.
  11. ^abWagner 2010, pg. 109, 117.
  12. ^abWray, John (28 May 2006)."Heady Metal".The New York Times.Retrieved28 March2012.
  13. ^Cummins, Johnson (1 March 2012)."Album of the Week".Montreal Mirror.Quebecor.Archived fromthe originalon 4 April 2012.Retrieved22 March2012.
  14. ^Senft, Michael (6 July 2006)."Warped Tour a hit in new digs".The Arizona Republic.Gannett Company.Retrieved28 March2012.Early arrivals were able to see experimental metal pioneers Helmet as well as retro punks the Casualties.
  15. ^Wagner 2010, pg. 252.
  16. ^Wagner 2010, pg. 308.
  17. ^Guyre, Jen (8 February 2008)."Exclusive: Neurosis Q&A".Rhapsody.Retrieved30 March2012.
  18. ^Yuan, Henry (17 April 2010)."Sunn O))) to Curate Roadburn Festival 2011".Revolver.Future US.Retrieved7 August2011.Their metal-based drone experiments have proved groundbreaking and hugely influential for an entire new generation of musicians practicing the art of avant-garde metal, drone, post rock and psychedelia.
  19. ^Deiterman, Corey (28 July 2015)."Faith No More is Back...Could Mr. Bungle Be Next?".Houston Press.Voice Media Group.Retrieved10 October2015.
  20. ^abcWagner 2010, pg. 124, 301-302.
  21. ^Wilson, Richard."The Haxan Cloak".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved19 June2013.Distributed by experimental metal label Aurora Borealis, the release earned Krlic a recording deal with the London-based company.
  22. ^"THE FLENSER to Release Debut from Animate Metal Sorcerers SEIDR".Blabbermouth.net.Roadrunner Records.27 January 2011.Retrieved28 March2012.
  23. ^Wagner 2010, pg. 344.
  24. ^Brown, August (26 August 2009)."In a digital age, vinyl's making a comeback".Los Angeles Times.p. 2.Retrieved28 March2012....said co-owner Mark Thompson, who also co-founded and runs the experimental-metal label Hydra Head Records.
  25. ^Ruggiero, Bob (14 June 2007)."Unsane".Houston Press.Voice Media Group.Retrieved19 June2013.
  26. ^Palmerston, Sean (December 2003)."Draconian Where Lovers Mourn".Exclaim!.Ian Danzig.Retrieved27 March2012.
  27. ^Reesman, Brian (1 December 2001)."Hard Music Billboard Spotlight: Indies vs. Majors: Surviving in a Nu-Metal World".Billboard.Vol. 113, no. 48.Nielsen Business Media.p. 23.ISSN0006-2510.Retrieved27 April2012.
  28. ^Bowar, Chad."5 Questions with Wizard Rifle".About.com.The New York Times Company.Archived fromthe originalon 13 April 2014.Retrieved19 June2013.We'd like to give a shout out to Seventh Rule and the striking, experimental metal acts coming from this label
  29. ^Martens, Todd (6 January 2007)."Indies on the Verge".Billboard.Vol. 119, no. 1.Nielsen Business Media.p. 27.ISSN0006-2510.Retrieved29 November2016.
  30. ^Smith, Chris (July 2011)."Rehab of a strung-out musical scene".San Francisco Magazine. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2011.Retrieved7 August2011.;Smith, Chris (6 July 2011)."Our avant-garde metal scene".ca-smith.net. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2013.Retrieved7 August2011.
  31. ^Mier, P. D.; van den Hurk, J. J. (July 1975)."Lysosomal hydrolases of the epidermis. I. Glycosidases".The British Journal of Dermatology.93(1): 1–10.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1975.tb06468.x.ISSN0007-0963.PMID30.S2CID221485240.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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