The scream has been a crucial part of society since the dawn of time, signifying danger, excitement, outrage. But today the scream has a whole new purpose: music. The scream has been transformed and integrated into many new musical genres, such as metal and melodic hardcore. Some bands replace singing entirely, while others choose to have screaming sections. It’s even gotten to the point that some bands now have specific members known simply as “the screamer.”
Although screaming is growing in popularity, most of today’s music listeners to do not understand or appreciate the presence of screaming in music. Preferring instead to listen to their Top 40 repetitive pop music, they criticize this style of performance as not being “musical.” But screaming provides a new level to the music unknown in today’s popular tracks. Almost like a musical roller coaster, screaming adds adrenaline to the listening experience, which helps create an ideal genre of ‘pump-up’ music.
As amazing as the music is to listen to on an iPod or computer speakers, nothing quite compares to being temporarily deafened by the live performance of a band that screams. Being surrounded by a crowd of pumped-up alternative music fans with a variety of interesting clothing choices and hairstyles, everyone struggling to stay on their feet, with the music far too loud and the screaming on top of everything…it provides an adrenaline rush that is hard to find elsewhere.
Screaming in music provides a chance to separate from the world, feel a bit bad-ass, and empty all of your emotions into the music. You may say this seems a bit, well, sad, what with the emotions associated with this type of music, but I always feel that screaming music is something that makes me happy. Sure it frightens my dog and my mom thinks it’s evil, but I think everyone has the right to their own musical tastes. Mine just happens to include people screaming at the top of their lungs, often about nonsense.
Don’t think that I’m the only one who enjoys this musical phenomenon. More and more bands with screamers are appearing on the music scene, even gaining certain amounts of popularity and success. While iTunes still has some catching up to do in terms of genre-naming for these groups, the music of bands that feature screaming are doing decently in terms of album sales. On top of this, tours with multiple screaming bands are bringing large crowds of fans together, creating a culture based around screaming music. Even certain styles have developed out of this music—and while I may not dress the part, I believe screaming is a valid part of music.
The main quips of those who criticize screaming in music are the lack of clear lyrics or definite tone. Yet the lack of clarity in screaming is part of the enjoyment of listening to this style of music. I listen to a lot of jazz and indie rock, which provides me the melodic and harmonic beauty that I love in music. But when I need a break from the straightforward and clear, I listen to screaming music and get the chance to appreciate the wild, from-the-gut nature of musical screaming.
I know it’s easy to make assumptions about the type of people who listen to screaming music. My mom probably thinks it makes me seem like a punk. Most people just think we’re all emo assholes who hate everything about life. But I can’t say I’m any of those things. My wardrobe consists of mostly flannel and t-shirts and there isn’t anything colorful or spiky about my hair. This music isn’t about the look or the way you act in society. It’s about the music itself, and about the feeling of community that comes from a concert where the audience enjoys being yelled at for hours on end. This is music, and while it’s about as far from popular music as you can get, it packs a punch you can’t find anywhere else.