Why Is Swedish Metal So Melodic?

I think Sweden have a tradition of melody, our folk music is very melodic. It felt natural to make our metal so melodic, and being influenced by traditional heavy metal and hard rock also helped

All that ABBA influence lmao

I actually asked this to the vocalist of Amaranthe and I’m assuming she is younger than these. Even if just slightly. She told me in Sweden they focus on learning to sing and play an instrument in school. And all Swedish folk songs are melodic.

As a Swede from Stockholm of the "right" age (50) I think there are other reasons. Sweden is one of the biggest countries in the world of music. It isn't limited to metal. Sweden was one of the first nations to develop good music schooling that was available for free to everybody. Sweden also had a good enough economy that most parents could afford getting instruments for the kids. Swedish language education - with emphasis on English has definitely helped. Lastly we used to have youth centers where kids could perform and try out their music on a small audience.

Another thing that might have influenced the music is the Swedish municipal music schools. Basically all Swedish children had the opportunity to learn to play an instrument with no costs, the drawback for a metalhead is that you have to learn more classical music first. This maybe made it more natural to make melodic music without even thinking about it.

Fun fact: Opeth, when they were recording their first studio album, had to wait for At The Gates, everyday, to finish while they were recording Slaughter of the Soul. In Mikael's own words; "I would show up early everyday just to hear what they were doing. It was incredible. I've never heard anything like that." In retrospect; that's awesome. The reason it's so neat is because Opeth have since become a much more iconic band. Mikael probably still doesn't believe it lol.

loudwire: swedish metal is melodic meshuggah: hold my juice

I live near Houston,Texas. It’s all blues, country, tejano, & classic rock here. Very few people I associate with listen to Swedish death metal. I’m drawn to it. Every time I hear a new band I dig, they happen to be from Sweden.

Def Leppard mentioned twice. Too many metalheads sleep on the first three Leppard albums. Joe Elliott was a powerhouse.

"I fear no man, but that presenter, he scares me" -TF2 Heavy

The truth: European Metal comes from classically trained musicians. American metal comes from experimental jazz and, rock and roll.

education is the key element, i think someone from In Flames recently said that around that time in Sweden, there were free music rehearsal spaces with free music lessons and studio time, it was a part of some kind of goverment funded program, of course it doesn't sound rebellious or metal enough but it makes a lot of sense

Opeth for life

That´s how we do it in Sweden böckling! Write melodic metal music and go to Ikea

Host needs to cut back on the caffeine.

I’m from Norway and Sweden so I’m proud of that now!

I'm from Mississippi and Swedish metal has influenced me greatly. Finnish and Norwegian metal too. It's a way of life!

Because every swedish metalhead where forced to listen to ABBA by their parents when they grew up. Just listen to Ghost.

Been getting into In Flames recently, it’s interesting how that really melodic sound spread and carried over into some bands from the next generation like Killswitch & Trivium. In Flames were also pretty early to add synth sounds that would later get incorporated into metalcore and other heavy genres.

Do an episode about symphonic metal, and how it is so popular around Europe. There should also be an episode about metal concerts, theatrics, pyros, audience participation and stuff.