How Death Metal Singers Make Their Extreme Vocalizations - Science Friday Recap
Podcast: Science Friday
Published: 2025-12-30
Duration: 14 minutes
Guests: Dr. Amanda Stark, Mark Garrett
Summary
Death metal singers use unique vocal techniques that engage different parts of the throat and vocal cords. Research into these techniques may improve treatments for vocal injuries.
What Happened
Death metal singers create their distinctive guttural sounds through a unique use of their vocal cords and throat muscles. Dr. Amanda Stark, a speech pathologist, explains that these singers engage supraglottic structures, which are not typically used in other singing styles. She describes the process of bringing performers into the lab, using cameras and MRIs to study the vocal mechanisms at play during these extreme vocalizations.
Mark Garrett, lead singer of Kardashev, demonstrates various types of death metal screams, such as the 'false chord scream' and a crow-like scream that involves pulling on his beard to make his mouth resonant enough. These demonstrations highlight the complexity and skill involved in producing death metal vocals.
The show explores the taxonomy of these screams, where different names and classifications are given based on their characteristics. Amanda Stark emphasizes the sophistication of these vocal techniques, noting how they require precise synchronization of multiple throat tissues and muscles.
Interestingly, the research into death metal vocals might have practical applications beyond music. Understanding these techniques could aid in developing better rehabilitation methods for vocal injuries and disorders.
Mark Garrett discusses how these vocal techniques can be learned and taught, offering to teach host Flora Lichtman some basics of death metal screaming. He explains that techniques like the false chord scream are actually built on familiar sounds such as throat clearing.
The conversation delves into the source-filter model of sound production, where altering the vocal tract shape can significantly change the sound without overworking the vocal cords. This model is used by vocalists to create a wide variety of tones and textures.
The episode concludes with both guests reflecting on the joy and fascination of studying and performing these unique vocalizations, underscoring how much there is to learn about the human voice.
Key Insights
- Death metal singers utilize supraglottic structures in their vocal cords and throat muscles to produce their distinctive guttural sounds, a technique not typically employed in other singing styles.
- The 'false chord scream' and a crow-like scream are examples of death metal vocal techniques that involve complex coordination of throat tissues and muscles, showcasing the skill required for these performances.
- Research into death metal vocalizations could inform better rehabilitation methods for vocal injuries and disorders, as understanding these techniques provides insights into vocal mechanics.
- The source-filter model of sound production allows vocalists to alter the shape of their vocal tract to change sound without straining the vocal cords, enabling a wide variety of tones and textures.