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Could someone please tell me what Djent is?

MetalSifu666

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MetalSifu666 Newbie

MetalSifu666

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I've been struggling with this lately. Clearly this thing called "Djent" is becoming a huge deal nowadays. Apparently it is named after the sound of a palm mute. Honestly after listening to Periphery, I can't exactly figure out why it deserves a separate title like that. I would've just called it progressive metalcore. Am I missing something here? Or are we soon gonna be calling deathcore "chug"? and death metal "UUUURRRGGG?" lol I joke, but seriously...what's the deal with this whole thing?

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Iceni Newbie

Iceni

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Re: Could someone please tell me what Djent is? Well, I'd offer an answer but to be honest Zyggiefromjiu is the most knowledgeable guy on this topic, since he's a huge fan. Djent often has a combination of clean and harsh vocals (The Human Abstract, TesseracT, Periphery). Usually, the production is very clear. The guitar sound sets it apart, of course, but with newer djent bands the bass is very staccato and the drumming is as well, with few cymbal clashes. The notes also often seem to change pitch slightly while they're being held so that they sound like the strings are being bent on every note. Usually it is rhythmically complex. The fret hand doesn't move so much (of course that's not a rule set in stone) but the picking (finger or plastic pick, whatever you want) hand is very busy. Meshuggah is generally considered the band that came up with the whole genre but the bands I've listed, plus a group called Vildhjarta which I think is a djent group sort of typify the sound. But post something in the djent thread (there is one already) and someone should answer your question.

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Zyggiefromjiu Newbie

Zyggiefromjiu

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Re: Could someone please tell me what Djent is? The specific sound that Frederick Thordendal from Meshuggah was talking about when he coined the term Djent was a high mid, low bass and high trebble guitar tone, mix this with a very quick release noise gate and you get djent, the sound is what happens when you aggressively down pick a 4 note power chord on 7 (or 6) string guitar that is downtuned to shit with these settings on :) the start of the walk by periphery or the start of stengah by meshuggah is the exact sound that i'm talking about :) as for the music, djent is just a sound, not a genre, most bands that use the djent sound are progressive or tech metal :)

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The Metal Advisor Newbie

The Metal Advisor

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Re: Could someone please tell me what Djent is? Djent will likely replace (or is replacing) metalcore/deathcore in the mainstream, only to be replaced itself with something else when it comes along. I don't mind a few djent acts, but most are uninspired and generic relative to the collective group of bands in the style. Tesseract is worth checking out.

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Iceni Newbie

Iceni

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Re: Could someone please tell me what Djent is?

Djent will likely replace (or is replacing) metalcore/deathcore in the mainstream' date=' only to be replaced itself with something else when it comes along. I don't mind a few djent acts, but most are uninspired and generic relative to the collective group of bands in the style. Tesseract is worth checking out.[/quote'] One thing I will say - I have no idea why most djent bands have basically metalcore vocals. That to me indicates a real vacuum of creativity. They could easily go with more conventional death growls, or entirely clean vocals (yes, TesseracT does have nice clean vocals...but then they go back to screaming again). I personally think it would be really cool to see a female-fronted djent band. It would probably end up sounding a bit like this, at least in the feel of it: EBP8-ootc40 It could really lend a lot of power to gothic metal.
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