The human voice comes in many forms, and in our list of nominees for 2012 Vocalist of the Year, an incredibly wide range is covered. Along with your classic clean style of singing, we’ve got musicians who wail, scream, yell and, in a few cases, create evil gutturals. In another Loudwire Music Awards category that pits veterans against debuting artists and everything in between, we’ve got 10 singers who have helped shape the sound of 2012. Check out the nominees and be sure to vote in the poll below: Bobby Blitz, Overkill Overkill’s 2012 album, ‘The Electric Age’ just barely missed our 2012 Top 10 list, but there’s no way that the vocals of Bobby Blitz could be left out of our 2012 awards. Blitz delivered a diamond-sharp performance for the album, as well as one of the sickest high notes ever unleashed during the intro of ‘Wish You Were Dead.’ ? Chino Moreno, Deftones As one of modern rock’s most iconic voices, Deftones frontman Chino Moreno strung together another masterful group of vocal tracks to tape on ‘Koi No Yokan.’ There are few modern rock bands as original and reliable as Deftones, and Moreno makes it simple to understand why. ? Corey Taylor, Stone Sour/Slipknot Corey Taylor had himself a massive 2012, both with Slipknot and Stone Sour. During Slipknot’s headlining spot on the 2012 Mayhem Fest, Taylor’s voice was in fine form. OnStone Sour’s 2012 album, ‘House of Gold & Bones – Part 1,’ Taylor shows a different yet equally powerful side to his voice. ? Chris Cornell, Soundgarden Still legendary, still solid. Chris Cornell has been a vocal force in the rock world for nearly three decades, and the Soundgarden frontman delivered once again with ‘King Animal.’ Along with the success of Soundgarden, Cornell went around the world for a string of solo tour dates. ? David Gold, Woods of Ypres The deep and haunting vocals of the late David Gold will be sorely missed in the metal community. As Woods of Ypres’ central figure, Gold played guitar and drums on ‘Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light,’ but his singing is the standout feature of the brilliant album. ? Emily Armstrong, Dead Sara Having exploded onto the scene in 2012, Dead Sara ‘s Emily Armstrong brings soul and ear-splitting aggression to the up-and-coming band. Although displayed prominently within the single ‘Weatherman,’ Armstrong’s versatile voice is captivating throughout the band’s entire self-titled album. ? Joe Duplantier, Gojira With warmongering screams, narrative gritty singing and a little French twang, Gojira vocalist Joe Duplantier left a massive stamp on 2012. His vocals captivate the listener throughout the band’s 2012 full-length, ‘L’Enfant Sauvage,’ and steered Gojira in a direction which would greatly shape 2012. ? Lzzy Hale, Halestorm Yet another breakout artist of 2012, Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale made a massive impact in the world of hard rock. Whether listening to ‘The Strange Case of…’ or seeing the band live, Lzzy Hale’s vocal prowess is undeniable. ? ? Myles Kennedy, Slash/Alter Bridge Myles Kennedy made some major strides in 2012. Along with providing vocals for Slash on his latest “solo” album, Kennedy was also featured in Alter Bridge’s 2012 live album, ‘Live at Wembley.’ The singer also stepped in to deliver a stellar performance during Guns N’ Roses’ set at the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. ? Randy Blythe, Lamb of God Nobody has had a year like Randy Blythe . The vocalist hit soaring heights with Lamb of God’s ‘Resolution’ album, but also had to undergo the hardship of being imprisoned for five weeks in the Czech Republic. Regardless, Blythe’s gutturals remain terrifying, like serpentine constriction coiling tightly around the listener. ? Voting for the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards closes on Jan. 15 at 11:59 PM EST. Fans can vote once per hour, so keep coming back to make sure your favorite vocalist wins! Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/guitarist-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards” title=”Next: Vote for Guitarist of the Year” align=”center”] Get Notified When Winners Are Announced Enter your email address below to receive the daily Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of our full list of winners in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards, as well as the top stories in rock and metal. Email
Posts Tagged ‘chris-cornell’
Vocalist of the Year – 2012 Loudwire Music Awards
December 4th, 2012 
Metalkult 
Posted in News 
Tags: band, chris-cornell, corey taylor, emily-armstrong, img-class, rock, strange, taylor, vocalist, voice 
No Comments »Dave Grohl, James Hetfield + Axl Rose Among Richest Rock Vocalists
November 17th, 2012 Metalkult Justin Sullivan / Theo Wargo / Jason Merritt, Getty Images Being the frontman of a rock band can provide you with plenty of opportunities, including financial ones. Some rockers have benefitted more than others over the years, and Celebrity Net Worth has compiled a list of the richest rock singers, with Dave Grohl , James Hetfield , and Axl Rose among those doing well. The site compiled their list using publicly available information on salaries, real estate holdings, divorces, and endorsements as well as record sales and royalties. They then worked out a formula that subtracts taxes, manager’s fees, agents’ fees, and lifestyle to come up with their final estimate. As expected, the rockers that have been doing it the longest have amassed the biggest fortunes, with Paul McCartney leading the way at $800 million, followed by Bono at an estimated $600 million. Hard rock fans have to scroll all the way down to No. 11 on the list to find Foo Fighters singer and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who was estimated at earning $225 million. The next highest hard rock vocalist is Metallica ‘s James Hetfield, who reportedly netted $175 million, good enough to place him at No. 17. Following closely behind is Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, who is worth $150 million, which lands him at No. 19. Other hard rock vocalists of note inside the Top 50 include: Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘ Anthony Kiedis at No. 25 with $125 million; Iron Maiden ‘s Bruce Dickinson at No. 28 with $115 million; AC/DC ‘s Brian Johnson at No. 30, tied with Black Sabbath ‘s Ozzy Osbourne with $95 million; Pearl Jam ‘s Eddie Vedder at No. 34 with $80 million; and Soundgarden ‘s Chris Cornell at No. 48 with $60 million. Aside from McCartney and Bono, the rest of the Top 10 includes Jimmy Buffett ($400 million), Elton John ($320 million), Mick Jagger ($305 million), Gene Simmons ($300 million), Sting ($290 million), Phil Collins ($250 million), Dave Matthews ($250 million), and Prince ($250 million). [button href=”http://loudwire.com/nirvana-metallica-green-day-members-land-on-30-richest-drummers-in-the-world-list/” title=”Next: See the Richest Drummers List” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: a-rock-band, anthony-kiedis, axl rose, brian-johnson, chris-cornell, dave grohl, eddie vedder, elton-john, james-hetfield, jason-merritt, news No Comments »Soundgarden, ‘King Animal’ – Album Review
November 12th, 2012 Metalkult Seven Four Entertainment/Republic With a monstrous 16 year hiatus between Soundgarden ‘s last studio release and their newest offering ‘King Animal,’ the group’s fans likely had a lot of questions leading up to the return of one of rock’s most beloved bands. The biggest question of course lies within their sound. While it helped mold a new revolutionary genre back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, does it have staying power for a whole new century? The answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ ‘King Animal’ settles in nicely, picking up right where the band left off so many years ago and taking care of a lot of unfinished business. ‘King Animal’ displays the familiar sounds of Soundgarden without getting too caught up in nostalgia, something that can often handcuff bands trying to rise up from the ashes of their past. The band, feeling revitalized and a sense of renewal with this disc, see their reunion as more of a rebirth rather than a comeback, and the creative inspiration fueling that sentiment can be felt throughout ‘King Animal.’ Although the vibe is undeniably Soundgarden — moody, groove-laden rock — the band’s evolution is on full display, as Chris Cornell’s iconic vocals and Kim Thayil’s guitar work provide a sonic power that’s impeccably complemented by the the rhythm section of drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd. The first single ‘Been Away Too Long’ serves as a battle cry for the band’s triumphant return. It’s almost as if the band wrote a personal letter to their fans with Cornell’s brooding confessions, “I’ve been away for too long” and “I only ever really wanted a break.” Sixteen years may have been too long indeed, but Soundgarden are clearly back. With everyone in the band with at least one writing credit to their name on ‘King Animal,’ the songs cover a lot of sonic terrain from the explosive drums that fuel ‘By Crooked Steps’ to the ethereal swirling vocals on ‘Blood on the Valley Floor.’ The haunting lingering vibe left by the intricate web of sound spun in ‘Bones of Birds’ is arguably one of the disc’s best offerings, followed by the visual soundscape painted by ‘Taree.’ ‘King Animal’ offers up an eclectic mix of visual imagery, thought provoking prose, all set to a timeless soundscape of flourishing rock with a reminiscent feel. In music, it’s sometimes difficult to stand the test of time but Soundgarden prove with ‘King Animal’ that they did not reassemble simply to preserve a legacy but to build on one that’s already firmly in place.
Posted in News Tags: a-sonic-power, band, chris-cornell, crooked-steps, entertainment, from-the-ashes, songs, soundgarden, stand-the-test, valley, without-getting No Comments »Chris Cornell to Perform Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert in New York City
November 9th, 2012 Metalkult Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Hurricane Sandy has taken monstrous toll on those affected by the massive storm. Much of the U.S. East Coast was hit by Sandy, with perhaps New York and New Jersey gaining the most media attention following the storm’s destruction. An inspirational amount of charity work has been done to help those in need, with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell being the latest to step up and help. The singer-guitarist has announced plans to play a benefit concert on Monday, Nov. 12, in New York City to raise money for the victims of the disastrous hurricane. Hurricane Sandy destroyed homes, left families without power for well over a week, flooded subway tunnels, completely halted the delivery of gasoline, but most importantly, left dozens of people dead. Chris Cornell will be in New York City with Soundgarden on Nov. 12 to perform on the ‘ Live on Letterman ‘ concert webcast series, but to make the very most out of his visit, Cornell will venture from the ‘Letterman’ stage straight to Bowery Ballroom for the benefit show. All the proceeds from Chris Cornell’s solo benefit will be put towards The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which directly helps those hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. Soundgarden will also be performing the next night (Nov. 13) at Irving Plaza in New York City to celebrate that day’s release of ‘King Animal.’ The album is Soundgarden’s first full-length studio disc since the 1996 release ‘Down on the Upside.’ For tickets to Chris Cornell’s solo Hurricane Sandy benefit show, click here . Also, to learn more about The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, click here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/soundgarden-stream-king-animal/” title=”Listen to Soundgarden’s ‘King Animal’ in Full” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: bowery-ballroom, chris-cornell, cornell, destroyed-homes, irving-plaza, news, performing-the, sandy No Comments »Soundgarden Stream New Album ‘King Animal’ Ahead of November 13 Release
November 6th, 2012 Metalkult Seven Four Entertainment/Republic It’s been an awfully long time between new albums for Soundgarden , but the band’s comeback disc ‘King Animal’ is almost here — and thanks to iTunes, we can actually hear it a week ahead of its release. While ‘King Animal’ won’t officially arrive in stores until next Tuesday (Nov. 13), iTunes is offering a free stream of the full album now (click on link below). And although it isn’t exactly the complete listening experience — you can’t skip between tracks, and the stream doesn’t provide song titles — it’s still a nice surprise for the fans who have been waiting more than 15 years for a new record from the band. The ‘King Animal’ stream follows months of buildup for the reunion album, starting with the release of the ‘Avengers’ soundtrack anthem ‘ Live to Rise ‘ over the summer, and continuing with teases and streams of an assortment of other tracks, including ‘ Worse Dreams ,’ ‘ Been Away Too Long ,’ and ‘ Non-State Actor ‘ — as well as the announcement of an expanded edition , complete with bonus tracks, that will be available exclusively at Best Buy. In the weeks and months to come, fans also have a North American tour to look forward to — but today, just crank up ‘King Animal’ and see if you agree with frontman Chris Cornell ‘s assertion that Soundgarden’s current creative vibe is “almost like it was in the beginning of the band.” [button href=”http://bit.ly/KingAnimaliTunes” title=”Listen to Soundgarden’s ‘King Animal’ at iTunes” align=”center”] Note: Outside the U.S. and Canada, ‘King Animal’ can be streamed at NME.com . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-soundgarden-songs/” title=”10 Best Soundgarden Songs” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: a-nice-surprise, a-week-ahead, actor, although-it-isn, animal, announcement, band, beginning, chris-cornell, new-albums, news, over-the-summer, soundgarden No Comments »Soundgarden Leave Nostalgia Behind for ‘King Animal’ Album
November 3rd, 2012 Metalkult Mark Metcalfe, Getty Images When Soundgarden got back together, they started by touring and playing the old hits and getting back in the habit of performing their music again. But now, a couple of years later, the group is preparing to move forward in their career with their first full original studio album since 1996, and frontman Chris Cornell says that they’re looking forward and evolving with their next record. Cornell tells Spin , “We don’t feel nostalgia trying to remember who played what parts on a song that we recorded in 1988. It doesn’t feel like looking at baby pictures of me. It’s nice that we have fans that were fans in 1988. That’s great, but that’s not enough for us. And I would’ve never expected that to be enough.” Earlier this year, one of Cornell’s contemporaries, Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan , called out the group for cashing in on a reunion, stating, “When Soundgarden came back and they just played their old songs, great. I was a fan of Soundgarden, but call it for what it is. They’re just out there to have one more round at the till.” Corgan would add that it’s important for bands to make music for the present rather than relying on their past, and Soundgarden are definitely of the same mindset by moving forward with their new record. Though not addressing Corgan’s comments specifically, Cornell says, “If we’re writing and recording new and vital music, it’s taking care of itself. I definitely feel like there’s a place for who we are and what we do. We’re doing what we’ve always done as a band and we’re fortunate enough to have a long enough history that someone could actually suggest that we’re a nostalgia act. Good for us.” If anything, Soundgarden may actually be coming from a creative space where many new bands come from, as the group has been away long enough that all of the label entanglements and outside pressures that weighed on them at the height of their fame have fallen by the wayside. The singer adds, “We’re writing and recording an album ourselves. We do everything, from choosing producers to picking packaging, until it’s done. Then we find a label to put it out on [Universal Republic], and communication’s what it used to be. It’s almost like it was in the beginning of the band.” Soundgarden returns with their ‘ King Animal ‘ album Nov. 13. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/soundgarden-unleash-new-king-animal-track-non-state-actor/” title=”Next: Listen to Soundgarden’s Song ‘Non-State Actor'” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: a-place-for, actor, billy-corgan, called-out-the, career, chris-cornell, cornell, getty-images, looking-forward, Music, news, playing-the-old, soundgarden, state-actor- No Comments »Soundgarden Unleash New ‘King Animal’ Track ‘Non-State Actor’
October 31st, 2012 Metalkult SoundgardenWorld.com Soundgarden are gearing up for the release of their comeback album ‘King Animal’ on Nov. 13. The band recently shared the first single ‘Been Away Too Long,’ and is now following it up with the debut of another new tune, ‘Non-State Actor.’ Sonically harkening back to the Soundgarden sound of old without getting too caught up in nostalgia, ‘Non-State Actor’ chimes in like an old friend that’s been away for, say, oh, 16 years. Soundgarden fans will feel right at home with ‘Non-State Actor,’ while the song invites in new listeners as well to find out what the band is all about. However, as frontman Chris Cornell pointed out in a recent interview with Yahoo Music , you can’t judge the tone of the album by just two songs. “There’s always a broad spectrum of what’s going on musically on any Soundgarden album,” Cornell explained. “They usually tend to be long, there’s a lot of different feels, you’re never going to get the feel of the album from listening to one or two or even three songs.” He also talked about the band’s constant evolution. “I feel like we’re all very conscious about what we feel is the musical identity of the band,” said Cornell. “That’s always been very important to us but we also have all felt pretty comfortable with each other and pushing the boundaries of what we all think that is too.” Listen to ‘Non-State’ Actor below for a taste of what the band has in store with ‘King Animal.’ Watch the Video For the New Soundgarden Song ‘Non-State Actor’ [button href=”http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/live/soundgarden-song-check-non-state-actor-exclusive-interview-155804275.html” title=” Soundgarden’s ‘King Animal’ Best Buy Edition Bolstered With Bonus Tracks” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: actor, bonus-tracks, boundaries, chris-cornell, songs, soundgarden, state-actor-, video, watch-the-video, yahoo-music No Comments »
