By Melissa Russell
TAMPA – Ferocious vocals reverberated off the walls of the dark, cramped room located just off Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. The Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., has a history of hosting a variety of musical genres ranging from death metal to hip-hop.
TAMPA – Ferocious vocals reverberated off the walls of the dark, cramped room located just off Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. The Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., has a history of hosting a variety of musical genres ranging from death metal to hip-hop.
Jamie Stewart is lead singer of the death metal band The Absence, who performed in Saturday evening’s line-up. The majority of the vocals in death metal utilize guttural screaming and growling. Because Stewart relies heavily on his voice to carry him through night after night, he has learned to take special care of his throat and vocal cords.
“I’m like a classical singer,” he said. “I have to warm up before every practice and show.”
In addition to applying proper breathing and warm-up techniques, Stewart also uses concepts from The Zen of Screaming a method created by New York vocal coach Melissa Cross. Originally trained as a classical singer Cross developed this system when she crossed over to the rock scene. She calls her approach a vocal instruction for a new breed, and has worked with bands like Underoath, Maroon 5 and Slipknot.
“It’s all about using your diaphragm instead of your throat,” Stewart said of his screaming.
Stewart applies the approach of using diaphragm breathing to project, rather than tensing the muscles in the neck when screaming.
“If I screamed with my throat rather than my diaphragm, I would rip it (throat) to shreds,” Stewart said.
Jeramie Kling, drummer for The Absence, said he knew a singer from another band who had used improper techniques when screaming. Eventually calluses built up in his throat leading him to need throat surgery.
Mark Prindle, of Prindle's Record Review, interviewed George Fisher of the top-selling death metal band Cannibal Corpse who said that after 15 years with the band his voice has changed dramatically.
Mark Prindle, of Prindle's Record Review, interviewed George Fisher of the top-selling death metal band Cannibal Corpse who said that after 15 years with the band his voice has changed dramatically.
“If you hear me talk now, people think I'm sick but I'm not,” Fisher said. “They think that I have a cold or I just woke up - this is how I always sound.”
Cross’ techniques are designed to prevent this kind of wear and tear. By applying the Zen's concepts Stewart said it keeps his throat from getting get sore after the shows. This is evident at the end of the hour-long set on Saturday night when Stewart’s growl still rumbles over the crowd.
Screaming is not new to Tampa. In the 1980s, the city launched the death metal scene, giving birth to such bands as Death, Morbid Angel and Obituary.
The Absence was also Tampa-based making its debut in 2001. According to floridadeathmetal.com, the band is not the typical American death metal style because of the influence of Scandinavian metal in their music.
