The University of Utah is leading the charge in a new field of research: the science of screams. Their subjects? Metal singers.
“I think when people think of the musical genre of metal, the first thing they think of is, like, ‘Ow, it sounds painful,’” said speech pathologist and University of Utah vocal researcher Amanda Stark. “Their first instinct is ‘ouch,’ and I wanted to show people that it’s not an ‘ouch.’”
That’s why Stark and her team invited Will Ramos, the lead singer of New Jersey metal band Lorna Shore, into their lab to study how he manages to perform such harsh vocals.
“We were really interested to see what structures in the back of the throat were working,” said Stark.
A screamer by trade, Ramos has a variety of extreme vocalizations. “Will has what he calls a ‘false chord scream’ or a ‘pig squeal.’ He’s got names like ‘goblin,’ ‘pterodactyl,’ ‘tea kettle’ … and then on stage, he puts all of these different sounds together,” Stark explained.
Researchers wondered: Is it healthy to produce these noises?
Their findings, released earlier this year, determined that not only were Will’s vocalizations healthy, but they were operating with less strain on the vocal folds than regular speech.
His screams contorted his throat to rely on muscles and tissues above the vocal cords, protecting them from damage, said Stark.
The study, she believes, will help other singers stay healthy and sustain long, successful careers.
“This is absolutely something that can be taught,” she said.
Their research marks one of the first studies to ever quantify and image screams with cameras in the back of the throat. It will be the first of many similar studies, said Stark.
“This is just one artist that we’ve done this on so far. We have intentions and are actually going to be rolling out a lot more artists that we are trying to study and better understand these different screams,” she said. “And this will include looking at different men, women, and different sub genres within metal.”
The results of the study may also help “destigmatize” or “demystify” metal music as a genre, said Stark. Metal screams have historically been interpreted as “villain-esque,” but the study works to understand them.
Stark partnered with YouTube channel “Charismatic Voice” to release video of the Utah research team working with Ramos. The video features Ramos’s screams, including his “goblin” scream, accompanied with scientific analysis. As of early August, the video had garnered over half a million views.
Ramos’ band, Lorna Shore, is expected to perform at The Complex in Salt Lake City on Oct. 17, according to the venue’s website.