RIFF(?) OV THE WEEK: The Repeating Vocal Thingy Edition
Guacamole Jim has something special for you this week. It’s not about the riffs, it’s not about the solos. It’s about the repeating vocal thingy. Everyone loves the repeating vocal thingy.
Straight from the dip’s mouth: You know that one part in a song where the singer repeats the same line over and over? The part where you hear it once and can’t help but scream along with it every time you hear it from that point on? The part where you can’t wait until the live show, because you know they’re going to play that song, and you know that part is going to hit, and you know the entire crowd is going to flip the fuck out and scream like banshees along with the singer? Yeah, that’s what we’re doing.
So, that’s that.
Last week, Brock Samson assblasted the competition with his feels-inducing Enslaved solo. What’s more impressive is that he called it – “Sorry fellow turd sniffers, but I believe I win,” he said. Presumptuous psychic bastard.
Once again I feel obligated to publicly thank my secret admirer, who voted for me even in the daunting face of ridicule. Where were you in elementary school when all the other kids got valentines and I ate my peanut butter and jelly under a fucking table?
NEXT WEEK:
- One of you guys suggested that we do a location-specific theme, but didn’t give me a specific location. So I blindfolded myself and threw a dart at a spinning globe, and it landed where women glow and men plunder. Next week, we’re only taking riffs from Australian bands.
- Send your riffs to toiletovhell@gmail.com. Include the specific time, your Disqus handle, and an explanation. Remember – the first 15 submissions are in (last week it filled up by Monday).
- If you have an idea for a theme, make it known.
- Thanks to everyone who makes this weekly deal possible by participating.
Masterlord
Not only do I have a hard time not wailing along to this, but I also have a hard time not actually slaying them. 3:32 of Ofermod’s “Death Cantata.“
Slay them! Slay them! Slay them! Slay them! Slay them! Slay them!
Guacamole Jim
Nothing tops off the end of a skull-crushingly heavy masterpiece like a well placed shout chorus designed to make you hate life. Shred your vocal cords along with The Ocean, as we “CELEBRATE THE GREAT EMPTINESS OF OUR LIVES!” – 4:24.
Stockhausen
Between the Buried and Me are usually known for their long, winding, ever-changing, layered songs. So when they take some time starting at 5:55 in “Lay Your Ghosts to Rest” to slog it out through 9 repetitions of “WEAK SOULS, WEAK MINDS (with a couple WEAK LIVES thrown in for fun)” it is especially impactful. You know that annoying guy that’s way too hyped at shows and bugs everyone around him? That was every single person in the crowd when I saw this song live.
Mr. Custodial Arts
ALL HAIL SHIRTLESS CORNELL… 6:10… “NOW I KNOW WHYYYYYYYY YOU’VE BEEN TAAAAKIIIIN!!!!”
D. Lee
GIVE ME SUMTHIN TO BREAK. Starts at 3:40.
Blackbeard
I’m going to do a bit of cheating: we’ve had a discussion about this song before. I wouldn’t be surprised if I wasn’t the only one submitting it. Nile’s “4th Arra of Dagon” repeats the song’s namesake over and over again, in a spell-like capacity. 5:24.
Call the Slambulance
This song does not fuck around. Immediately breaking into typical grindcore vokill shouts, then exploding forth toward a repetitive chorus with interchanging singers layered over an absurdly catchy guitar lick, directly followed by bestial blasts and the roars of Italian Satan. Plus there’s a siqq grind breakdown at the end. I have no clue what they’re saying, but that doesn’t stop me from making a fool of myself and pretending like I do.
JWG
I feel like I’ve definitely gone for low hanging fruit here, but so be it. If you know Primordial, you know this to be true. The repeated vocal section from about 4:20 to 5:40 inevitably becomes THE audience participation highlight at any Primordial gig: just look up any single live version of the tune for proof (especially the version off the “All Empires Fall” live DVD: this video @ 45:20).
Ted Nü-Djent
If you’ve ever seen Iron Maiden live and they play “Fear Of The Dark” you know your in for some mass audience participation. Whether it’s 10-20,000 people chanting “fear of the dark!” along with Bruce or singing the guitar melody, the whole experience is spine tingly-gingly and should be experienced by every single metal head. [Editor note: please note that while this is the obvious winner, you should not vote for it, as Johnny Crunch has broken the cardinal rule of ROTW – no Iron Maiden. – Masterpants]. 0:48.
Spear
METALLICA IS THE GOLD STANDARD!!! ALL HAIL THE DANISH PROPHET LARS!!!! *flushes all other hot topic poser riffs down the toilet* (starts at 3:31).
Satan ov Hell
You all know exactly the line in this song I mean. 1:14.
Gurp
THROUGH THE WORST, WE PREVAIL / SO OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD / THROUGH THE WORST, WE PREVAIL / SO OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD / THROUGH THE WORST, WE PREVAIL /SO OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD
*IS SUDDENLY MOTIVATED* / *RUNS 5K IN 15 MINUTES* / *RUNS TO BDUBS* / *HOLLERS INCOHERENTLY AT WAITRESS* / *PUNCHES OUT BDUBS BRO* / *STEALS BRO’S MILLER LITE* / *STRIPS NAKED AND RUNS OUT INTO STREET* / *DIES OF HYPOTHERMIA* / *BECAUSE IT’S COLD AS FUCK OUT* 1:19.
Zeke… or Isaac; whatever
Ihsahn wants you all to know that he is a black wizard. 5:17.
TheXenosapien
The first part comes out at around the 31 second mark and from then on you can’t help but sing along when it later comes around.
HessianHunter
The hardcore vocal breakdown is typically a space for unbridled machismo, but not in the hands of The Chariot. The dissonant chaos of “Teach” takes a break at 1:57 in this live clip for Josh Scogin to preach the futility of conflict and open up this pit in the name of collectivism. “VICTORY IS SUCH A LONELY WORD” Fuck, do I miss this band.
