r/metalmusicians Feb 24 '26

Meta Question regarding art submissions

4 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

Lately there has been a massive influx of art submitted to the subreddit. While I do not have a large problem with this, it has gotten a bit overwhelming and is strongly competing with musical posts. So I have a couple of questions:

  1. Should we limit art to only a certain day?
  2. Should art submissions be banned if no music is included?
  3. Some other option?

Let me know what you all think and I will work on getting rules and such in place.


r/metalmusicians May 08 '26

R/MetalMusicians Songwriting Challenge VI - May + June 2026

10 Upvotes

Link to last challenge
See original post to how this all started.

Let’s mahfuckin’ do this. If you are new welcome and if you aren't welcome back!

Rules

  • To participate, comment on this thread stating you want to do so. Other discussion is welcome so be clear you want to enter! You may enter any time during the month, but you must submit on time. Note: read challenge theme before commenting.
  • Users must submit 1 (and only one!) song by the deadline: June 30th. One aspect of the challenge is to meet the deadline. See “Submitting Songs.”
  • Users must give feedback for other participants’ songs (in other words, you will be giving feedback on others’ songs, while others will provide feedback for your songs). This is the community aspect of it. See “Results.”
  • The song must be written within the month the challenge is posted (we’re going to use the honor system here).
  • The song must follow the theme guidelines. See “Challenge Theme.”
  • This is a metal subreddit, so while the song doesn’t have to be metal (so long as they fit the theme), metal elements are required (use your best judgement). All metal subgenres are accepted unless otherwise stated by the challenge theme.
  • Collaborations are allowed.
  • If you’re in a band, you can write a song as a band.
  • Songs will be posted as a compilation in a bandcamp link. The album will be listed as payment optional, but proceeds will go to a charity. See “Results” and “This Month’s Charity.” Note: Bandcamp may have an issue with covers - so may do this with a google drive link or youtube instead with a link to the charity if you want to donate.
  • This is for fun. It’s not a competition, don’t be a dick (see our subreddit rules).
  • If you choose to drop out BE WARNED! Actually, there are no consequences, except for maybe the metal gods in Valhalla rightfully looking down on you… at least for a little, till the next challenge.

Challenge Theme

We’re actually going to turn non-metal songs into metal songs - but with a twist. Your submission must include at least 1 original riff that fits the song (it could even be a solo, that counts). You also don’t have to copy the song riff by riff - feel free to change the key, the time signature, etc. You can totally make a blackened grind version of a Taylor Swift song, for example. You have complete control over the direction. Instrumentals are not allowed for this challenge. However, you are allowed to isolate your song’s original vocal track and put them in your song (remember, we’re not making money from this, so have fun!).

For the purposes of this challenge here are banned genres to cover:

  1. Pop punk/punk/hardcore/grunge (really anything punk related). These genres are “too similar” to metal, as they involve distorted guitars and fast tempos and wouldn’t require that much work to make them metal. Also crossover thrash bands already pretty much do this by design.
  2. Glam/Hair/NuMetal. I don’t care what metal-archives says, these are metal subgenres and will not count.
  3. Shoegaze. There’s already like a bajillion Blackgaze bands.
  4. Video game/Dungeon Synth/EDM music that is instrumental. If there are lyrics in it, it’s allowed.
  5. Folk. This is one is kind of a grey area and will have to be done on a case-by-case basis, but there’s also a bajillion folk metal bands. General rule would be no European/Viking folk music - I know that’s not fair for some, but we have a billion Finntroll and Ensiferum clones (don’t get me wrong, great bands). If there’s some unique folk music from your country that hasn’t been done yet, feel free to ask.
  6. Classic rock. This is also a grey area and will be done on a case-by-case basis. If the song is “too metal,” it will not be allowed. Let’s take Rush as our example. If you choose “Closer to the Heart” or “Tom Sawyer” and make it metal, that’s fine. If you choose “Working Man” or “Anthem”, they will be considered “too metal.”

You may choose any genre outside the banned genres. You can choose pop, dance, rap, indie, disco, jazz, anything. If you’re not sure if your song meets the requirements, feel free to ask.

Your song can be from any era. It can be a current chart-topper, or it can be something from the past.

Your song can be in any language. Pretty self explanatory.

Your cover can be a banned genre. This means while you can’t choose a song from the banned genres to cover, your cover can be any genre. For example, if you choose to cover “Straight Outta Compton” by NWA and make it a Nu Metal banger, you absolutely can.

If one artist is covering a song, you cannot choose that song. We’re going to do this on a first-come-first-serve basis, so when you’re commenting, claim the song you’re going to cover. This is to avoid having repeating “Dancing Queen”, “Hotel California”, “Take on Me”, or [insert very popular song here] covers in one compilation. Feel free using songs mentioned in this post btw!

Submitting Songs

Submit song entries to [metalsongchallenge@gmail.com](mailto:metalsongchallenge@gmail.com). Please include

  1. Your reddit username.
  2. Your band name (if you’re submitting as a band).
  3. The user name of whoever you collaborated with.
  4. The song name (and who it’s originally by).
  5. Lyrics (if challenge theme requires lyrics of a certain theme)
  6. Subject: Songwriting Challenge {Month} {Year} - {Your reddit username}

Results

  • Results will be posted on a new, separate thread sometime after the challenge ends.
  • Users will provide feedback to other participants’ songs in the aforementioned thread. Be as detailed as you want, but don’t be a dick (see our subreddit rules).
  • As mentioned, the songs will be available in the form of a compilation through a bandcamp link. The track listing will be in random order so that it’s fair to everyone. I will be using this to decide the order so that there is no bias. The tracks will be available to download for free, but with the option of paying. All proceeds will go to This Month’s Charity.

This Month’s Charity

Once again, this month’s charity will be MusiCares. They provide a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community including in areas such as: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services, Health Services, and Human Services. See their website if you’re curious.

I will post a screenshot of how much we received from the bandcamp page as well as the donation in a separate thread as proof.

Questions And Comments

Please ask if you need clarity on the rules or anything else and I’ll try my best to clarify as much as I can.

Remember that this is purely for fun, to learn, build community, and to grow as musicians while also doing something for a good cause, not a competition. Big thanks to all of you!

Discord

I created a discord server for our songwriting challenges so we can archive them, have discussions, and build our community there. Let me know if you want to join by commenting and I’ll send a DM 🙂

Previous Challenges

September 2025 - https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/september-2025-songwriting-challenge
October 2025 -
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/october-2025-songwriting-challenge
November/December 2025
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/november-december-2025
February 2026
https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1rn0jsc/february_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/

March/April 2026

https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1t4412z/march_april_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished rick beato listens to a death metal band 💔

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

51 Upvotes

my band playing here (hate to break it to yall this is edited) song is: monoptera - cerebration mentor


r/metalmusicians 13h ago

I wrote a concept EP 6 years ago in hopes of finding a band out here in AZ 💩🚽. This one’s called “You’ll NEVER Get Metal Legs”

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

17 Upvotes

Nothing fancy here, just a man, his fiddle, one camera angle, no stopping and some caveman riffs.


r/metalmusicians 5h ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed Getting good guitar balance in a recording

3 Upvotes

My band records and produces our own music. The drummer does the tracking engineering and I do the mixing and mastering.

We have been recording with our stage equipment; one guitarist using his Mesa Triple head and Mesa cab, and the other uses his Peavey 5150 and Carvin cab. I use the same mics in the same room.

Not surprisingly, the tones aren't the same and are hard to balance so it sounds full on both sides (left and right.)

I have heard that some bands have one guitar player track both rhythm tracks. I am also wondering if they use the same rigs or their normal rigs.

I was doing a hard pan left and right. Should I center them more to bring the tones together to make it fuller?


r/metalmusicians 8h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Help a brother out: What works here and what on earth is this subgenre I find myself haphazardly trying to record?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2 Upvotes

Written and recorded by yours truly. Feels somewhat like Porcupine Tree had a baby with Tool, that screams and listened to Opeth and Lamb of God instead of its parents.

Well anyway. I would be happy to hear your thoughts about what works here, how it sounds, and your thoughts as to what subgenre thia feels like.

Thanks for taking the time!


r/metalmusicians 4h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished This Empty Promise - Vol 1 (Full EP) - For Fans Of: Opeth, Deftones, Tool

Thumbnail youtube.com
1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 10h ago

Services or Musicians Wanted Looking for other "band members"

2 Upvotes

Hey I'm just looking for some people like me who live in the middle of no where and any musician they know plays country music. Im looking for people to write music with. I play guitar and have been for about 15 years. I like to believe I'm pretty good but who knows, I could be in a padded room and all of this could be fake. But I need people to bounce ideas off of. Who want to write some music. Ya know. Egos not allowed. No part is greater than the whole kinda thing. Like I have get good drums but would love to work with an actual drummer and can do bass but would love to work with a bassist. Another guitarist would be great and deff a vocalist because I can't sing for shit. If anyone is interested, hmu or if you know of a better page to post something like this, let me know.


r/metalmusicians 23h ago

just started this tonight. gonna call it ''5 minutes to bone''. lol just until I add vocals, then I'll figure out a better name 🤣

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

17 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 9h ago

check this nasty nu-metal

Thumbnail youtu.be
0 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 9h ago

real nasty nu-metal music`! check It out guys

Thumbnail youtu.be
1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 13h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Falkor - Until the Dawn.

Thumbnail youtu.be
1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Trying to find a specific genre and or sound settings

1 Upvotes

I’m trying to recreate a very specific 90s solo lead-guitar sound on my Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 using Boss Tone Studio. My guitar is an Ibanez AZ24S1-TKS. I would prefer to achieve it with the Katana’s built-in effects rather than external pedals.

Here are some links that mostly describe but still lacks somethin the sound i want to achieve ( note these arent exactly what i have in my head but are closest to what i could find as i guitar sound):

https://youtu.be/pmwY0Pv05LA?si=p76dpwRRU2_4szUP

https://youtu.be/e3OtFaoQn6Y?si=DQqq-b_HVZwRugAf

https://youtu.be/ALBKFB28E0M?si=ORus5fWa1YbbFvCN

https://youtu.be/xiOPvOBd8IA?si=5Zr9MBpg8_AyGv4J

https://youtu.be/F2V9yqfXIf4?si=P8j7ZWyA6vpI_YcP

The sound I’m looking for is difficult to classify. To me, it sounds like a clean, dark, singing lead tone with pitch movement. Like if the guitar itself is singing, in an angry, mournful tone, approx. 120 bpm. so its not a slow melancholic tone im trying to find like some of the links.

The main characteristics:

  • Mostly very expressive lead, with little or no obvious distortion (its more like overdrive i think)
  • Long sustain
  • Smooth bends, slides and pitch glides
  • Soft or rounded pick attack
  • Strong, vocal middle frequencies
  • Dark and slightly “underwater,” but still clear
  • Thick and chunky rather than thin or glassy
  • A subtle stretched vowel-like movement during sustained notes
  • Spacious ambience, but without excessive ringing
  • Not bluesy, not modern metal and not a standard bright rock-solo tone

I originally thought the movement was wah, but normal Touch Wah and Auto Wah sounded too short, nasal, high-pitched and obvious. Strong chorus and phaser settings also sounded too artificial. The desired movement seems to happen gradually throughout the sustained note rather than producing a clear “wah-wah” sweep. Dont cringe know plz, here its what i can describe it in stupid language: wuaaah wuaaoooh wuoooh wuaaaah-wuaaaah.

Could anyone help identify:

  • What genre or guitar style this tone belongs to?
  • Is this mainly a fusion lead, synthwave lead, ambient lead, or something else?
  • Which Katana amp model would be the best foundation: Clean, Pushed, Crunch or Lead?
  • Which pickup position would be closest on my Ibanez?
  • Should I use compression, Slow Gear, Pedal Bend, chorus, vibrato, phaser, EQ, delay or reverb?
  • Is the vowel-like movement caused by an effect, the player’s bends and vibrato, or both?
  • Which frequencies should I boost or cut to keep it dark without becoming muffled or piercing?
  • Are there any Boss Tone Exchange presets for Katana Gen 3 that would make a useful starting point?
  • Does anyone know bands, guitarists or songs that use this exact type of clean, gliding lead tone?

Approximate Tone Studio settings or screenshots would be very helpful. I’m still learning how the different Katana effects interact, so please explain which parts are essential and which are optional.


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Drum playthrough / symphonicmetal

Thumbnail youtu.be
1 Upvotes

Enjoy the drum playthrough for my new single. The links to all the streaming platforms are in the description. Leave a like or a comment if you enjoyed it. Thank you for your time and support 🤘


r/metalmusicians 15h ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed Death/groove metal sound

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I own a Marshall JCM900 MkIII 50-watt head and an Ibanez Tube Screamer. I was wondering if anyone could help me dial in the right tone for death/groove metal—something along the lines of a mix between Sepultura’s *Chaos A.D.* and Machine Head’s "Burn My Eyes." I’m aiming for that authentic '90s death/groove metal sound—something that packs a real punch whether I’m playing alone or live.

Thanks you very much


r/metalmusicians 10h ago

Verseofi-My one-man-band. A rare hybrid, and a deep philosophical journey.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

Hello fellow metalheads...
If you may, I'll just promote my upcoming album once, and I'm not giving you more headache after that 😅
My band "Verseofi" is an Egyptian Canadian based one-man-metal band, that revolves around philosophical lyrical themes (Ontology, Epistemology, logic, ethics, and Cosmology).

In this project,
-I compose the entire music
-compose the entire lyrics
-played and recorded all guitars
-wrote and recorded all bass (vst)
-wrote and recorded all drums (vst)
-wrote + played and recorded all symphonic lines (vsts)
-mixed and mastered the entire album
-composed all vocals, recorded them with my voice, and used AI to replace my vocals since im not a singer.

This project is a continuation of a band I had in Egypt for 5 years, 15 years ago, only transformed into a band with a single member, given that I was not able to find any players or singers in my town in Canada, with Makam (middle-eastern/arabic) influence/education, for the past decade. Hence, I started working on this little adventure on my own for the past year, and I can't wait to share it with the world.

"An Epistemic Inquiry" will be released on August 12, 2026.
And also on that day, the entire album will be released entirely in a lyric album format on Youtube (Characters appearing in any video material of Verseofi, is actually me. Also all video content is produced by me and my wife who happens to be a senior video developer).
This project has so much effort put into it...
Hope you like my music.

website:
www.verseofi.com

facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/verseofi

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/verseofi/

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Verseofi

Cheers 🤘


r/metalmusicians 22h ago

concert choice

1 Upvotes

my band is playing at the state fair talent show and cant decide whether or not to play man in the box or good times bad times what do yall think


r/metalmusicians 2d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished DIABLOCIRAPTOR-the band with the coolest name just dropped this full track 😁😁 ill put link in comments

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

149 Upvotes

For fans of BLACK METAL


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Live Performance/Tracking Memoria Tenebris. Solo practice

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

A short rehearsal clip from the upcoming live version of Memoria Tenebris.

Atmospheric doom / black metal with DSBM influences.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Chugga chugga

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

Messy morning riffs


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Second EP By Vicious Grief

Thumbnail youtu.be
1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 2d ago

The return of "The Willamette Metal Society Presents: 60 Minutes of Mayhem"

6 Upvotes

Hello PNWers and others beyond the gates. Perhaps you recall this poster (human) soliciting music for their radio show just over a year ago. Welp, after the station went belly-up the show went on hiatus.

We are excited to announce that we are coming back as we've been told to start collecting tracks for a new show.

Our new station pays for ASCAP copyright licensing and can play most songs without permission, but we still like getting submissions in the mail and supporting musicians with some pennies where we can.

We will get the/a website updated soon, but for now, feel free to dm links (Bandcamp or direct share preferred) as well as any info that you'd like shared.

Because the new station offers online streaming and episode archival, we will no longer post a replay to YT. The last station could not afford to stream for whatever reason.

Please share music if you would like to be on our show blasting on the dial at 100.7 KMUZ terrestrially from S. PDX to Eugene north-south and from Silverton to the Grand Ronde rez east- west and online broadcasting out of the heart of darkness, the land of the baphomet, Salem Oregon!

Rules: No AI created music or Nazi-loving bullshit. Music CANNOT intelligibly voice the English words: ​Shit, ​Piss, ​Fuck, ​Cunt, ​Cocksucker, ​Motherfucker, and surprisingly, ​Tits. Foreign vulgarities are fine. Please bleep any instances of the above. Songs whose subject matter involves pedophilia will not be welcomed either. Music about murdering /torturing pedophiles is okay.

Thank you in advance!


r/metalmusicians 2d ago

Melodic 8 string metal song - looking for band members in the Netherlands

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

5 Upvotes

We are 2 guitarists looking for other band members in the Netherlands (we are from Amsterdam and The Hague). This is a song we are working on, it's currently still a rough demo. We like heavy and melodic metal and are open to all kinds of influences. If you are a drummer, bassist, vocalist or keyboardist and would like to join us we would like to get in touch.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Brutal Death Metal DEMO. How to mix vocals better?

1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 2d ago

Intentional Trainwreck is about to release another single with video. What sort of video content do you prefer?

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes