Carrying on from the recent Facebook question I posted where we discussed our favorite bands outside the metal genre, I decided to reveal a few names that many of you would be surprised to see on my playlist.

Goblin

Some of you may have all ready heard this band and didn’t even know it. Especially if you’re a fan of horror movies from the 70s, a time when Goblin truly made their mark. Scoring some of the great titles like Deep Red, Suspiria, and Zombi, the masters of progressive synth based horror themes were brought into the limelight by infamous Italian director Dario Argento.

Tori Amos

She’s one of the only singers who can raise the hair on my arms with her voice alone. Her piano playing is some of the best you will hear from a singer/songwriter, and her voice can crawl under your skin and into your heart with nothing but a slight whisper. Her drive and spirit hold enough inspiration to spawn a new generations worth of musicians, and she also remains the only person I know who made the harpsichord absolutely bad ass.

Tom Waits

I hate the cliche phrase “it’s an acquired taste”, but it’s a cliche for a reason. Its also the only way to describe the growling gentlemen who millions have come to love over his four decade long career. You’ve either heard Tom Waits or you haven’t, there’s not much middle ground on the subject. Chances are if you haven’t, you will more than likely raise an eyebrow upon first listen. His voice changes like a chameleon adapting itself to what best suits the mood and feel of the song at hand. I look at Tom the same way a lot of people look at metal bands. When they first hear a metal singer scream, they wonder why someone would bother with such nonsensical growling. When you hear a Waits record, you can better appreciate and understand the need to venture away from smooth mainstream melodies that we are all too familiar with. His music takes you into uncomfortable new territory that (after getting used to) almost brings you an eerie sense of calmness.

These are just a small few of the many bands that inspire me on a daily basis. If a metal band listens to nothing but metal, the resulting material is going to lack anything unique in order for the genre to move forward. It’s important to broaden your musical horizons, so feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments below!

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