Answering the Smashing Pumpkins guy
An analysis of why many progressive metal bands lose quality when using clean vocals, with sales and streaming data from Opeth, Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Why growls in metal are not (just) a fad: the debate over musical quality and commercial success
Going through the discographies of Opeth, Leprous or Mastodon, many fans point out that the albums with purely clean vocals are the least appreciated. Is it a coincidence, or is there a relationship between vocal style and songwriting quality? Sales and streaming figures make it possible to analyze whether the change in style reflects artistic evolution or a loss of identity.
The myth of technical complexity
Many underground pogre metal bands rely on time signature changes, polyrhythms and complex solos to disguise a weak songwriting foundation. By contrast, bands like Queen, Metallica or Nirvana achieved massive success with simpler structures but powerful melodies. The question is whether growls act as a patch that hides the lack of memorable melodies.
Case studies: when clean vocals don't work
Opeth peaked with albums that alternated growls and clean vocals (Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries), while records sung entirely clean, such as Damnation or Heritage, are less impactful for most listeners. Leprous lost momentum after dropping harsh vocals from Malina (2017) onwards. Smashing Pumpkins, with 30 million records sold, survive on the strength of their 90s catalog; their later work generates hardly any interest. Jethro Tull, with twice the sales, shows that longevity is not always tied to innovation.
Commercial success and posturing
Oasis's 2025 tour sold 2.2 million tickets, but it is estimated that between 60 and 75% of attendees only know three songs. Real interest in Blur or Pulp among those fans is below 25%. Something similar happens with Bob Dylan: 125 million records sold, but his most successful album of the 70s, Desire, owes part of its appeal to Scarlet Rivera's violin. The line between genuine appreciation and cultural posturing is blurry.
The underlying question is whether growls are a legitimate artistic choice or a device to mask melodic shortcomings. The data does not offer a single answer, but it does show that the mass audience rewards simplicity done well over empty complexity.
Related debates in the forum
Going through the discographies of Opeth, Leprous or Mastodon, many fans point out that the albums with purely clean vocals are the least appreciated. Is it a coincidence, or is there a relationship between vocal style and songwriting quality? Sales and streaming figures make it possible to analyze whether the change in style reflects artistic evolution or a loss of identity.
The myth of technical complexity
Many underground pogre metal bands rely on time signature changes, polyrhythms and complex solos to disguise a weak songwriting foundation. By contrast, bands like Queen, Metallica or Nirvana achieved massive success with simpler structures but powerful melodies. The question is whether growls act as a patch that hides the lack of memorable melodies.
Case studies: when clean vocals don't work
Opeth peaked with albums that alternated growls and clean vocals (Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries), while records sung entirely clean, such as Damnation or Heritage, are less impactful for most listeners. Leprous lost momentum after dropping harsh vocals from Malina (2017) onwards. Smashing Pumpkins, with 30 million records sold, survive on the strength of their 90s catalog; their later work generates hardly any interest. Jethro Tull, with twice the sales, shows that longevity is not always tied to innovation.
Commercial success and posturing
Oasis's 2025 tour sold 2.2 million tickets, but it is estimated that between 60 and 75% of attendees only know three songs. Real interest in Blur or Pulp among those fans is below 25%. Something similar happens with Bob Dylan: 125 million records sold, but his most successful album of the 70s, Desire, owes part of its appeal to Scarlet Rivera's violin. The line between genuine appreciation and cultural posturing is blurry.
The underlying question is whether growls are a legitimate artistic choice or a device to mask melodic shortcomings. The data does not offer a single answer, but it does show that the mass audience rewards simplicity done well over empty complexity.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (42 replies).
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