Post by TheCMRecluse on Feb 22, 2024 5:29:34 GMT
Nyk Edinger
Associated Acts: Heirborne (1987-1991), Possession (1991-2000), Frost Like Ashes (2001-present), Old Man Frost (2010-present), Ninth Sphere (2012-present), Unblack Metal Fist (2019-present), Elgibbor (2021-present)
Vocal Range: D2-C♯6 (3 octaves, 11 notes)
Vocal Type: Unashamed Snowy Tenor (Unblack Version)
{Vocal Summary}
When it comes to a genre like black metal the biggest cliché of them all is that it automatically has to be Satanic or at least dark. Ever since Christians tried to make their take with the genre calling it “unblack” metal it was a subject of ridicule by both black metal fans and even other Christians themselves saying that the genre is too much of an antithesis to Christianity and everything it stands for and to black metal fans finding it pathetic the attempts to “Christianize” black metal lyrics to be against Satan, evil and darkness. Enter, North Dakota native, Nyk Edinger also known as Azahel Frost from the controversial unblack metal band Frost Like Ashes. By listening to the band itself one would assume another black metal band as Azahel’s vocals are well fit for the genre. His almost Dani Filth-inspired high shrieks, mixed with death growls make him one of the most unhinged vocalists in Christian music ever. At the beginning however, he didn’t start like that. In his younger years with thrash bands such as Heirborne and Possession his vocal style was more similar to the likes of someone like Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth or King Diamond as he would sing with his tenor voice in high falsetto with a lot of that thrash aggression. Around the time with Possession however, there were glimpses of his talents soon being used for black metal as he would do death metal growls and high phlegm shrieks mixing it with the falsettos. While Azahel screams more in recent projects there are sparse moments of him doing cleans as before. His lower range while not used as much can vary with him using it when needing to sound moody, and spoken word passages with a creaky voice to add to the genre’s eeriness. Azahel is definitely a vocalist whose projects may not look all that appealing to a casual Christian and may piss off a purist of black metal, but no matter what, he is a very talented vocalist and one of the best in black metal.
When it comes to a genre like black metal the biggest cliché of them all is that it automatically has to be Satanic or at least dark. Ever since Christians tried to make their take with the genre calling it “unblack” metal it was a subject of ridicule by both black metal fans and even other Christians themselves saying that the genre is too much of an antithesis to Christianity and everything it stands for and to black metal fans finding it pathetic the attempts to “Christianize” black metal lyrics to be against Satan, evil and darkness. Enter, North Dakota native, Nyk Edinger also known as Azahel Frost from the controversial unblack metal band Frost Like Ashes. By listening to the band itself one would assume another black metal band as Azahel’s vocals are well fit for the genre. His almost Dani Filth-inspired high shrieks, mixed with death growls make him one of the most unhinged vocalists in Christian music ever. At the beginning however, he didn’t start like that. In his younger years with thrash bands such as Heirborne and Possession his vocal style was more similar to the likes of someone like Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth or King Diamond as he would sing with his tenor voice in high falsetto with a lot of that thrash aggression. Around the time with Possession however, there were glimpses of his talents soon being used for black metal as he would do death metal growls and high phlegm shrieks mixing it with the falsettos. While Azahel screams more in recent projects there are sparse moments of him doing cleans as before. His lower range while not used as much can vary with him using it when needing to sound moody, and spoken word passages with a creaky voice to add to the genre’s eeriness. Azahel is definitely a vocalist whose projects may not look all that appealing to a casual Christian and may piss off a purist of black metal, but no matter what, he is a very talented vocalist and one of the best in black metal.
{Discography Checked}
Heirborne
Genre: Thrash metal
EPs
Morbid Reality Demo(1990) F♯3-B♭4-B♭5
Possession
Genre: Death/thrash metal
EPs
Mad Crazed & Violent Demo (1997) NA-G4-A5
The Unnameable Suffering EP (1997) A2-G4-A5
Scourge & Fire EP (1997) E♭2-G♯5
Studio albums
Eternally Haunt (1995) D3-G4-B♭5
Frost Like Ashes
Genre: Blackened death metal
EPs
Pure As The Blood Covered Snow EP (2003) F♯2-E5
Born To Pieces EP (2008) E2-F5
Fellowship Of Suffering EP (2021) G2-G♯5-C♯6
Studio albums
Tophet (2005) G2-F5
Unblack Metal Fist
Genre: Black metal/crust punk
EPs
Unepoch EP (2019) B2-E♭5
Ninth Sphere
Genre: Blackened death/thrash metal
EPs
Uriel EP (2022) A2-E♭5-E5
Heirborne
Genre: Thrash metal
EPs
Morbid Reality Demo(1990) F♯3-B♭4-B♭5
Possession
Genre: Death/thrash metal
EPs
Mad Crazed & Violent Demo (1997) NA-G4-A5
The Unnameable Suffering EP (1997) A2-G4-A5
Scourge & Fire EP (1997) E♭2-G♯5
Studio albums
Eternally Haunt (1995) D3-G4-B♭5
Frost Like Ashes
Genre: Blackened death metal
EPs
Pure As The Blood Covered Snow EP (2003) F♯2-E5
Born To Pieces EP (2008) E2-F5
Fellowship Of Suffering EP (2021) G2-G♯5-C♯6
Studio albums
Tophet (2005) G2-F5
Unblack Metal Fist
Genre: Black metal/crust punk
EPs
Unepoch EP (2019) B2-E♭5
Ninth Sphere
Genre: Blackened death/thrash metal
EPs
Uriel EP (2022) A2-E♭5-E5
Significant High Notes:
C♯6 ("The Weight Of Ice And Fog")
B♭5 ("The Mastery", "The Terror")
A5 ("Immortals" (Demo), "Morbid Reality", "Possessed", "Shades Of Death", "Sounds Of Sorrow", "The Crucified")
G♯5 ("Behind Enemy Lines", "Legion", "Seer's Vision", "Scourge & Fire", "Shrine" [King Diamond cover], "The Mastery" (Demo), "The Weight Of Ice And Fog")
G5 ("Onward To The Kingdom", "Opening A Doorway Into The Occult: Beyond The Grave", "Steel Jaws Of Fate")
F♯5 ("Ghost Of Our Heart", "Have No Fear", "Sounds Of Sorrow", "The Return")
F5 ("Danse Macabre", "Goer", "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent/O Come O Come Emmanuel", "When The Man Comes Around" [Johnny Cash Cover])
E5 ("A Cruel Verse", "Adorers Of Blood", "After Forever" [Black Sabbath cover], "From East To West", "Ghost Of Our Heart", "Plan 2" [Saint cover], "Rebirth", "Rose Colored Stain Glass Windows" (Petra cover live), "The Comings And Goings Of Suffering", "The Mountains, They Said")
E♭5 ("A Terrible Visitation", "From East To West", "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent", "Lord Of Darkness", "Nails, Thorns, Cross", "Nightfall's Cold Kiss", "Where Cold Dies", "Ununlight (Dark Version)", "Ununtruth", "Unblack Metal Fist (Irony Of Satanism Version)")
D5 ("Balaam's Error", "Exaltation Of The Afflicted", "Execution By Fire", "Heaven Scoffs", "Nightfall's Cold Kiss" (Acoustic), "Of Spirit And Power", "Pale Shadows", "Shattered Gods", "Unhypocritical Pedophile Priest (True Satanic Version)", "Unwar (True Peace Version)", "Warmageddon" by Ecthirion)
C♯5 ("Born To Pieces", "Burning As A Furnace", "Desecrator", "Immortals", "Notions Of Insanity")
C5 ("King Of Tyre")
B♭4 ("Morbid Reality")
A4 ("Onward To The Kingdom")
G♯4 ("The Crucified")
G4 ("Possessed", "Seer's Vision")
Significant Low Notes:
D3 ("Shades Of Death")
C3 ("Execution By Fire")
B2 ("Ununlight (The Dark Version)")
B♭2 ("Heaven Scoffs")
A2 ("A Terrible Visitation", "From East To West", "Sounds Of Sorrow" (Demo))
G2 ("A Cruel Verse", "A Terrible Visitation", "Lord Of Darkness", "The Comings And Goings Of Suffering")
F♯2 ("A Cruel Verse" (Demo), "Immortals")
F2 ("Born To Pieces", "When The Man Comes Around" [Johnny Cash Cover])
E2 ("Nightfall's Cold Kiss" (Acoustic))
E♭2 ("Scourge & Fire")
D2 ("Immortals (Demo)")
{Questionable Notes}
C7 ("A Cruel Verse"[4])
B6 ("A Cruel Verse (Demo)"[4])
G♯1 ("A Terrible Visitation"[4])
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[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
C7 ("A Cruel Verse"[4])
B6 ("A Cruel Verse (Demo)"[4])
G♯1 ("A Terrible Visitation"[4])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
......................................................
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Green marks harsh, distorted notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.