What was the first metal song to introduce harsh vocals?

Question

I just thought it'd be a cool bit of trivia to know....

Answer 1

According to some information in the internet the History of Harsh/Screaming Vocals



Some people regard the following song as the beginning of Harsh vocals in music:



Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell on You (1956)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXai-sgM-s



The Who have a song called Boris the Spider (1966) which contains some occasional growls performed by their bassist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvFuUaCe8eY



Believe it or not, but Rush and Scorpions occasionally used harsh screaming vocals in their early songs:



Scorpions (1972): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2rxCtRFqRg Wait for the chorus.





Some of the earliest who used harsh vocal constantly were:



1. Celtic Frost (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1DVq5C6AuI

2. Hellhammer (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJtJAZYsins

3. Living Death (since 1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvHVuEydias

4. Kreator (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-3H3LHRrGM

5. Protector (1987/88): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nFogfP-Bx4

6. Bathory (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQW7dHASkr4





Among female fronted bands, I would say that Holy Moses (1986/1987) was the first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryh42sGDY2s

Answer 2

Depends. Check out Boris the Spider, by The Who. It's something of a novelty song, from the 60s. It's not metal, and it's not serious, but it's an interesting historical use of harsh vocals in rock music. For my money, the first person to use modern harsh vocals is Chuck Schuldiner, from Death. I couldn't really pick out a song, though. Someone else, who happens to be a bigger fan of Death, could probably help you out with that.

Answer 3

Harsh vocals can be traced back to the song "Boris the Spider" by The Who (the growl resembles a death growl). Venom used harsher vocals in a time where most metal songs were "sung", not "growled". However, Possessed is quite often thought of as the first death metal band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6FZBIZ0Xbs



And 1984's Eye for an Eye by Corrosion of Conformity features what could be considered harsh vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WMZFtHNuyQ&feature=relmfu



The song Milk in Speak English or Die also opens with something that resembles a death growl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnJU7T8PBWA



Finally, bands like Death, Atheist, and Morbid Angel caught on and used the death growl, or "harsh vocal" in the late 1980's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ6b4DrMz2g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47ItlPoPCpY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cer5dnZ3kk



Entombed could not have been the first to use the death growl, as their debut was in 1990. Whoever says The Devil Wears Prada or Suicide Silence should really kill herself/himself. I genuinely mean that.

Answer 4

The first metal band that introduced some kind of harsh vocals was Venom, however the first band to fully use harsh/death metal vocals was Death.

Answer 5

The earliest form came from early thrash and black metal bands, who gradually fromed the blueprint. Bands like Slayer, Venom, and Bathory are probably the earliest examples I can think of, with the death metal acts of the late 80s/early 90s fully developing it. Death, Possessed, Morbid Angel, and Obituary were huge in pioneering the style.

Answer 6

I don't know the exact song, but I think Death might be the first band to use harsh vocals.

Answer 7

I waited FOREVER for this question lol



I don't remember when I first head them, I couldn't stomach them for a good month or two. Then one of my contacts asked a question about Death metal so I sayz let's give it a go and - surprise, surprise! I LOVED it!!! the colourful vista of spine snapping riffs and ear splitting screams has been oped to my virgin ears.



the band was Entombed (first wave of Swedish death metal) song was "Left Hand Path" (atmospheric growls maybe that's why it was easy on the ears..??)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6exw6xT0oo



And I totally got used to Bolt Thrower (damn groove) ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ssrpexU1o



Also, I couldn't handle Chuck's vocals (Death) but I loved their Painkiller cover so I forced myself to listen. Few days and my ears stopped bleeding. Some more and I was head banging like HELL ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5II-08-25yc

Answer 8

idk about song, but bandwise probably Amebix, Antisect, Doom, Extreme Noise Terror, and the other early crust punk bands. Then Napalm Death and Death harshened them a bit more and made them popular.

Answer 9

It was Still Fly - The Devil Wears Prada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwnICu1FJK8



Not too long after that I found Wake Up - Suicide Silence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyOSx62c2Ic



And I had just those to for harsh vocals for awhile.

Answer 10

I am guessing it's a Zeppelin track.