Definition
Screams and growls are vocal distortion techniques used in metal, hardcore, metalcore, punk, rock and in some forms of hip hop and alternative pop. Done well, they don't damage the voice: the distortion arises mainly from structures above the vocal folds (false folds or vestibular folds, aryepiglottic folds), while the true folds vibrate in a relatively normal way. Done badly (pressure, throat shouting), they cause hoarseness and, over time, injury.
References: Melissa Cross, “The Zen of Screaming” (instructional video, 2005); Cathrine Sadolin's Complete Vocal Technique, which describes effects such as distortion, creak, rattle, growl and grunt.
Main types
- Fry scream: starts from vocal fry and adds air and volume; high, rasping scream (metalcore, post-hardcore).
- False cord scream: vibration of the false folds, full “roaring” sound, mid-high.
- Growl / low growl: very deep, cavernous sound, typical of death metal and deathcore, with lots of chest resonance and a low larynx.
- Pig squeal, gutturals, tunnel throat: extreme variants of deathcore and brutal death.
- Raspy / grit: light distortion over a sung voice (rock, blues, soul: Janis Joplin, Chris Cornell, Brian Johnson).
- Inhale scream: a scream on the inhale; very controversial and risky, not recommended without expert guidance.
Safety principles
- No pain: if it hurts or pinches, stop. Hoarseness the next day is a sign of wrong technique.
- Breath support: constant, controlled airflow, active abdomen; a scream doesn't come from a tight throat.
- Reasonable volume: with the microphone close you don't need to shout very loudly; many professional screamers are surprisingly “quiet” in the room.
- Warm-up: 10–15 minutes of SOVT exercises (lip trill, straw), sirens, then light distortions.
- Hydration and vocal rest; avoid very long sessions (better to record in blocks of 20–30 minutes).
- Learn with a specialized teacher; in case of persistent problems, consult a phoniatrist or an ENT specialist.
Gradual exercises (indicative)
- 1. Relaxed vocal fry on a vowel (“a”), at low volume.
- 2. Add air to the fry, always without pressure.
- 3. A “laugh” or a “silent cough” to feel the false folds, without forcing.
- 4. Short distorted phrases at medium volume, alternated with clean phrases.
- 5. Only after weeks: longer, louder phrases.
Writing for distorted voices
- Rhythm: a scream is above all rhythmic: syllables on the kick and snare hits, doublings on key words.
- Clean/scream alternation: scream verse, clean chorus (metalcore: Killswitch Engage, Bring Me the Horizon, Architects) or vice versa.
- Highs and lows: two distorted voices, one high and one low, alternating or overlapping (typical of deathcore).
- Breath: short phrases with rests, so as not to tire the singer.
- Pitch matters even in a scream: there is always a base pitch, best kept close to the tonic or the fifth.
Recording and mixing
- Dynamic microphone (e.g. Shure SM7B or SM58) very close, preamp with headroom (peaks at −10/−6 dBFS).
- Firm compression: fast FET (ratio 4:1–8:1, attack 1–5 ms, 6–10 dB of reduction), possibly followed by parallel compression.
- EQ: HP at 100–150 Hz, presence at 2–4 kHz, watch the harsh frequencies between 3 and 6 kHz.
- Added saturation or distortion in parallel to even things out; doubles and triples for chorus screams (L/R).
- “Group” screams are done like gang vocals (see the dedicated sheet).
Examples
- Linkin Park — Given Up (2007): Chester Bennington alternates clean voice and long screams.
- Slipknot / Stone Sour: Corey Taylor between growl, scream and clean voice.
- Jinjer: Tatiana Shmayluk alternates growl and clean singing.
- Arch Enemy: Alissa White-Gluz, female growl.
Practice exercise
After a 10-minute warm-up, record a 2-bar phrase in three ways: clean voice, light raspy, fry scream at medium volume. Check the base pitch of each version with a tuner. Then write a metalcore verse in D minor (drop D) with rhythmic screams and a clean chorus, alternating the two registers.
Links
Vocal Fry and Extended Techniques, Vocal Registers and Breaks, Belting, Mixed Voice and Falsetto, Doubles and Triples, Gang Vocals.