The term
clean vocals is used to describe
melodic and clear singing styles. It is most notably used to refer to
heavy metal music, as an alternative to harsh,
screamed or
growled vocals, which are mainly seen in
extreme metal bands, and occasionally in some
hardcore punk bands. Subgenres of extreme metal that do not focus on clean vocals, and rather put emphasis on the death growl or scream include
death metal,
black metal,
sludge metal, and some
thrash metal. They can range from operatic vocals to simple melodies to harsh yelling, which would only be considered clean vocals when compared to death growls. For instance, the American thrash band
Slayer screams most of their vocals, however, they are considered clean vocals by extreme metal enthusiasts.
Clean vocals are most often employed in the sub-genres of NWOBHM, progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal and the most doom metal, especially of the "stoner" variety. Examples of vocalists performing these vocals as the main style of their respective band include Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Klaus Meine of Scorpions, Rob Halford of Judas Priest (also famous for his scream), Geoff Tate of Queensrÿche, Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, Ronnie James Dio of Rainbow and Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray.
Bands can create contrast between harsh and clean vocals in two ways. One way, employed by bands such as In Flames, Silverstein, Opeth, My Dying Bride, A Day To Remember and Fear Factory is to have one singer produce both harsh and clean vocals. Other bands, such as Underoath, Alexisonfire, Dimmu Borgir, Sikth, The Project Hate, As I Lay Dying, Haste The Day, The Devil Wears Prada, and Caliban employ two singers—one for each style. Bands such as Vintersorg and Arcturus often shift between clean and growled vocals.
Many melodic death metal bands use clean vocals; well-known examples include Soilwork, In Flames, Gardenian and Scar Symmetry. In the majority of songs, clean vocals are mainly used in the chorus or as back up vocals during verses, but songs like In Flames' "Only for the Weak" (Clayman) and "Ordinary Story" (Colony) are exceptions in that they use clean vocals in the verses and growled vocals in the choruses.
