Nothing serious and not that it matters. Just inspired by talks seen in H&H and in the shoutbox, seems to spill discussion The poll could only have 10 options. I tried to have picks that seemed logical but there are forced omissions. And yes, I cheated for the first pick, they're just so similar. Feel free to discuss anything else related to that topic too. What's your favorite kind of heavier music LP has done? How could LP improve its songwriting when it comes to heavier music? Is LP carnivorous enough? Etc etc.
It’s Casualty. It’s them pulling off a hardcore/crossover thrash sound in a way that is super convincing, it doesn’t feel forced like on THP, or just a largely pop rock band wearing heavy metal clothing. Second behind it would probably Given Up.
I can see a case for quite a few of these - it's between "Casualty", "Keys" and "QWERTY", in my opinion
QWERTY easily. It has by far their heaviest riffs, and the most intensity throughout the whole thing.
I think it's a great discussion because "heaviness" is really such a nebulous idea that I think everyone has a different concept regarding. It's not something that is really defined as a certain set of universally-agreed characteristics. When I think of songs that are heavy, a certain idea of aggressiveness and viscerality comes to mind. The "heaviest" songs for me generally tend to follow that pattern, and some of my favorite songs I consider heavier match this idea: "All Hail the New Flesh" by Strapping Young Lad, "Kingslayer" by Bring Me the Horizon, "Eyeless" by Slipknot, even "Nil by Mouth" by Haken. Stuff like that. Even some TOOL songs really just feel heavy to me in a way that some people might not consider traditionally "heavier." It always seems to come down to the composition, recording, and production of the drumming for me that makes or breaks it. Double-kick, polyrhythms, and the like definitely play a part for me. BMTH and SYL definitely go for that very resonant but also punchy drum sound with a more aggressive playing style (Gene Hoglan the beast!), and Haken definitely has complex aggressive stuff coming from Ray. Slipknot isn't even a question, with three percussionists, and that really wide resonant tone the keg barrels produce. I guess more than anything, heaviness resonates with me when rhythm is employed in a way that sonically creates a strong dynamic that evokes a feeling of physical reaction. With LP, unsurprisingly, songs like "Guilty All the Same," "Keys to the Kingdom," and "Casualty" scratch that itch for me (heh... ). Rob's doing more aggressive and complex drumming than usual, with more snare hits and complex kick work, and Colin does that on "Casualty" as well, which has to be one of my favorite heavy songs they've done.
I agree with it being a close call between QWERTY, Keys, n Casualty. I could understand any of the three, for sure. I like this blanket “Heavy” topic in music in general, too, though. Over the past few years or so, I’ve been really thinking on it because I’ve seen artists like Missio, Denzel Curry, and JPEG, (personally), pop up and show me different flavors of what “heavy” could look like. ”Heavy” music that is purely conventional doesn’t grab me anymore and if it does there must be something special to it. Tempo, distortion, and technicality isn’t enough and having these artists in other genres make me pause and wonder “Hey.. is this ‘heavy’?” has been refreshing because it’s not like I don’t want it. I really do, actually. I feel like it’s what my playlists lack most, lately.
I love this, because of how much I can relate to it. When I got into "heavy music" as a teenager, it was simple : all about the screams and the riffs. Then at some point, I had a realization about how cool / technical / confusing drumming patterns can be in really extreme heavy/hardcore music. I got really into stuff like Converge. It was all so fast, so many things going on a the same time, that my brain couldn't grasp and follow what was happening anymore. Especially if those rhythms would be combined with disjointed dissonant riffs, and yet produce something oddly enough musical. Not being able to grasp that music made it all fascinating to me. I liked the idea of order in the chaos. Nowadays, the groove, feel, and technicality of the drums, how it is produced, and how it combines with punishing bass and guitars, is maybe the aspect I'm looking the most into when it comes to really heavy music. ------ About LP, I like how @IGibbedYEIH described Casualty. I feel LP had never hit this well the hardcore/punk attitude a track like this requires. I can literally imagine the track being played at some dark underground rave/industrial/punk party. Everything just match in the coolest way, and the track is slowly becoming one of my absolute favorite off the record because of it.
Casualty. The drums in the chorus are almost thrash, the main riff is really heavy, and the chorus vocals are really intense. But one of the main reasons is that there's no real breaks. Usually, in even the heaviest LP songs, the verses are prett mild. But here, even Mike's doing hardcore vocals. So we have one of their heaviest songs anyway, and then without the usual mellow spots in most heavy LP songs. That's my pick
Vocally, I think it's Keys to the Kingdom no questions asked. Chester was on another level there. But instrumentally I think it's more abrasive and energetic than heavy. Guilty All the Same has almost the complete opposite effect. It might be Casualty honestly. Although personally, from start to finish, I've always found No More Sorrow fits the bill. I think QWERTY from Summer Sonic 2006 is the band at it's heaviest on all fronts. But the studio version loses all bite.
If I could combine Victimized and Qwerty like we got during the Living Things tours maybe I'd argue hard for that one. I think its a tossup between Qwerty and Casualty and the coin flipped up Qwerty.
One thing I'd like to see LP attempt is a song where the verses are extremely heavy / screamy / fast-tempo, with a more laid-back/ atmospheric chorus. I know it's for example a metalcore classic formula, but I don't really mean it this way. It could instead be something like a hard-hitting industrial Shinoda beat embellished with some harsh vocals / yells, before diving into some Overflow-esque chorus. LP is a band known for its dynamic shifts and big choruses. I guess the idea of reverting the dynamics sounds fun in my mind
IGYEIH is heavier than all of these, why is it not on the list? Should have cut Hit the Floor from the poll