The Fascinating Rise of Metal Bark Music

The Rise of Metal Bark

Metal bark is a new trend emerging in the world of heavy metal music. As the name suggests, it incorporates elements of dogs barking into metal songs and performances. This unusual fusion genre is quickly gaining popularity among metalheads looking for something fresh and innovative.

Origins of Metal Bark

Metal bark has its beginnings in experimental underground metal bands playing around with new sounds. The first instances involved incorporating dog barks and howls into songs for added effect. However, some bands began building entire compositions around the concept, syncing guitar riffs, drums, and vocals with elaborate barking patterns.

This novel idea soon caught on with other metal musicians who realized the potential for creating intensely energetic songs and live shows. The first all-barking metal bands started emerging, putting a unique spin on classics like black metal, death metal, and metalcore. Audiences reacted enthusiastically, hungry for original new genres.

Key Elements of Metal Bark

Metal bark retains the essential features of heavy metal music like distorted guitars, fast tempos, intense drumming, and aggressive vocals. But it adds recorded or live dog barks integrated creatively into the songs. The barks may complement the guitars, drums, or vocals to heighten the energy and emotion.

Some bands utilize audio samples of dogs barking, mixed to sync with the metal instrumentation for interesting effects. Others incorporate actual dogs brought on stage during live performances to bark in unison with the music. This achieves exhilaratingly chaotic concert experiences fans have praised.

Rising Popularity of Metal Bark Bands

The metal bark scene has exploded over the past few years. Some of the most popular bands playing this style include Dogthrone, Caninus, Hounds of Hell, and Bark to the Future. These groups have developed substantial cult followings, with fans loving the adrenaline-fueled intensity achieved by combining hardcore metal and dogs barking.

Dogthrone is known for incorporating three live Rottweilers into their thrash metal stage act, headbanging and running around the stage while unleashed dogs bark ferociously along. Hounds of Hell features a guitarist who has trained his Border Collie mix to howl certain notes on command during solos and choruses.

The Allure of Metal Bark

Metal bark has resonated with metalheads sick of the conventions of traditional metal genres. The infusion of dogs barking adds an element of chaos, surprise, and tentativeness lacking in overly formulaic metal. Fans are drawn to the experimental spirit driving bands to explore strange new territory.

Unpredictability & Intensity

Metal bark concerts offer thrillingly unpredictable and intense experiences. With dogs as part of the live shows, a rogue bark at any moment can disrupt everything in strangely exhilarating ways. The tension of wondering if and when the dogs will go off script keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

This dynamism gives metal bark bands like Dogthrone and Caninus an advantage over more predictable groups. Fans get to witness fresh new high-octane performances every time as the dogs’ spontaneous barking interplay brings unexpected twists.

Comedic Element

Beyond the novelty of their sheer loudness and aggression, dogs barking to metal music also injects an inherent comedic quality. Witnessing the apparent dissonance of hardcore metal instrumentation trying to sync with canine barks and howls can be amusingly absurd.

The humor draws in casual listeners who may find traditional death metal too gloomy and overly serious. Metal bark concerts invite fans to rock out while also laughing at delightful displays like dogs chasing each other haphazardly around the stage amidst shredding guitar solos.

Cultural Commentary

Some music critics have noted metal bark may offer insightful cultural commentary. The fusion genre could symbolize the chaos and uncertainty of modern times while demonstrating creative innovation rising to meet new challenges. Or bands incorporating dogs may aim to destabilize assumptions about order, boundaries, and control.

Either way, metal bark is seen as speaking to the complexities of today’s world through avant-garde artistry resonating with frustrated audiences. The dogs’ unpredictable contributions represent bucking conventions to build something beautifully messy and exhilaratingly imperfect.

The Future of Metal Bark

Metal bark is still evolving quickly only a few years into its inception but shows no signs of slowing momentum. More established metal bands are starting to experiment with integrating canine elements into recordings and live shows to cash in on the trend.

New Subgenres

As with any niche music scene gaining traction, metal bark has already fragmented into distinct subgenres. “Barkcore” features dogs extensively without typical metal instrumentation, while “Barkwave” incorporates synthwave's retro electronic soundscapes.

Crossover hybrid styles also emerged like doggrass (bluegrass), doggaze (shoegaze), and bark hop (hip hop). These rapidly multiplying offshoots attest to the genre diversification accelerating as metal bark penetration increases globally.

Mainstream Collaboration

Industry observers note it may be only a matter of time before top mainstream pop artists start inviting metal bark bands into the studio or onto festival bills to generate publicity through novelty factor appeal. These collaborations could radically expand metal bark’s popularity.

Indeed experimentalist DJ Calvin Harris recently released a remix track mashing up Rihanna’s vocals with Caninus' trademark death metal barking sound. This unprecedented crossover foreshadows more high-profile hybrid singles on the horizon.

Critical Recognition

Recent years saw metal bark acts get nominated for major awards like the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and even Grammys. While not winning yet, experts believe soon metal bark will start showing up in major award show nominee lists and take home trophies.

If artists like Dogthrone or Hounds of Hell continue pushing creative boundaries, it’s just a matter of time before the genre gets embraced by critics as serious art commanding respect. This would confer greater legitimacy to metal bark as a long-lasting cultural movement.

FAQs

What are some of the most popular metal bark bands?

Some of the best-known metal bark bands are Dogthrone, Caninus, Hounds of Hell, and Bark to the Future. These groups have developed substantial cult followings for their unique fusion of intense metal music with dogs barking.

How do metal bark bands incorporate dogs into live performances?

Metal bark groups either utilize audio recordings of dogs blended with the metal instrumentation or bring actual dogs on stage to bark along in unison. Some bands have members train their own dogs to bark or howl on musical cues.

Why are some music critics interested in metal bark?

Some critics see metal bark as cultural commentary symbolizing modern societal chaos or questioning assumptions about order and control. The fusion of metal music with unpredictable dogs barking seemingly speaks to current complex times.

Could metal bark ever win major mainstream music awards?

As metal bark bands expand their artistic ambition and critical acclaim, experts predict it’s only a matter of time before the genre gets nominated for and wins major awards like the Mercury Prize or even Grammy Awards.