Top 10 Modern Vocalists
10. Megan James (Purity Ring)
Megan has tiny facial features and great teeth which makes her pronunciation really sharp and clean. Her small nose makes sense that she has a really angelic like voice. She doesn't use it when she sings at all so it's like she's whisper singing a really soft tone.
9. Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches)
Chvrches have been compared to Depeche Mode but I think Chvrches have a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. Lauren's ability to sound like the album is a godsend in today's music. I hope she never returns to her elf kingdom.
8. Keith Buckley (Every Time I Die)
How do you go from being a high school English teacher to fronting the best southern metal band ever? Okay, that last part may be hyperbole. Fun fact: While recording Hot Damn!, Keith listened to The Used's self titled in between sessions and he almost quit the band because he was blown away at Bert's vocals. He also used distortion on his vocals. A bit like autotune for screams.
7. Vinnie Caruana (The Movielife)
Vinnie is a legend in the pop punk scene. The Movielife were originally a band from 1997-2003 but they've reunited since then and are working on a new album. His signature gruff voice is a breath of fresh air in the genre.
6. Tanner Merritt (o’brother)
o’brother is an amazing band. I finally got the chance to see them when they opened for The Dear Hunter recently. Every song on their new album, “Endless Light” is so emotional and beautiful; it’s honestly perfection. They are very impressive live, with their use of percussion, low driving riffs, and Tanner’s haunting vocals.
5. Brendon Urie (Panic! At The Disco)
Panic! At The Disco, more commonly known as The Brendon Urie Project, have outgrown their peers in the Hot Topic scene. The band started as a blink182 cover but quickly gained an audience with 2005's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. Brendon's impressive vocal range also includes screaming.
4. Anthony Green (Saosin)
It took me a while to like Anthony Green. I wasn't used to listening to vocalists with higher registers. Once I heard Blue Sky Noise by CIrca Survive (his main band), I was hooked. He rejoined Saosin in 2014 and put out a new record with them that makes you forget how bad the Cove era was.
3. Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
Lamb of God have been a driving force in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement for the longest time. Their latest record, VII: Sturm und Drang features Overlord, an Alice in Chains inspired track. It's the first song where Randy explores his clean vocals, which seemed to alienate their fanbase. He stated in an interview that it was him, no autotune. Let's hope they incoprtporate more singing into their future material.
2. Devin Townsend (Devin Townsend Project)
Devin Townsend is one of the greatest living musicians; let's just get that out of the way. The man has put out 21 albums since 1995 under Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Project. His operatic vocals are featured heavily on the album, Epicloud. The rerecorded version of Kingdom showcases his range the best. It's hard to believe he started out in a scream-heavy band.
1. Chino Moreno (Deftones)
Chino Moreno's vocals are unique in the fact that he can sing you to sleep and scare you to death, all at the same time. He's in multiple bands; Crosses, Team Sleep, and Palms. Plenty of slow jams to choose from for your "getting down to business" soundtrack.