The BLEGH Index - An Objective Inquiry
The Blegh Index - An Objective Inquiry
The date is February 4th, 2020 - the world was turning, society was still moving, and by and large, things were still (relatively) normal. All seemed to be going well.
But a twitter post changed all of that.
The BLEGH was dead - unceremoniously killed, the crown abdicated, a scene in shambles. In perhaps many ways, this foreshadowed a global crisis to come in the following weeks. While Sam Carter may not be the reigning champion of the artform, many around the world would be BLEGHing soon enough.
While the Brahms of the BLEGH may have abandoned us, there are many within the scene poised to reclaim the art form. In what follows, I describe a systematic process of cataloging the use of metalcore's most famous/hyped glottal expression throughout a sample of contemporary metalcore artists. In this inquiry, I aim to discuss not just the overall usage of the technique throughout these works, but also detail why it has such resonance within the scene.
Terminology
Before addressing this question in proper, a brief note must be raised regarding terminology. Throughout metalcore, the use of non-verbal, screamed vocals is commonplace. Whether they be at the end of a verse, a breakdown callout, or even an expression of intensity, we are all familiar with many of these expression; the common "Yeah!", "FUCK!", "SHIT!" and more can all be seen throughout the metalcore canon. But perhaps most interestingly, the BLEGH has had a lasting impact on the course of the scene, as well as its close linguistic cousins, the "EUGH", and the "AUGH". No doubt, many of these vocal expression have been the source of countless hype and solidarity within contemporary metalcore. For the purposes of this report, I will be focusing strictly on many of the non-verbal expressions, given their ubiquity and impact. These include the common BLEGH, its counterparts EUGH and AUGH, as well as any other non-verbal screamed techniques. For the remainder to this report, all of these expressions will fall under a common banner/denotation of BLEGH.
Methods
The sample for this report was generated through a series of data-driven methodologies. First and foremost, I generated an initial frame by reviewing numerous r/metalcore threads where the BLEGH was regularly cataloged. Users would routinely discuss their favorite BLEGHs in songs, who is capable of delivering the best BLEGHs, or playlists catered towards BLEGHs. In reviewing these data, I collated a series of common, repetitive, and highly-rated BLEGH craftsmen. Given the exploratory nature of this report, a small sample was generated in order to determine the extent, production, and veracity of BLEGHs within the scene. Following a systematic review, a series of five artists was selected for analysis. One album from each artist was chosen for analysis; this process was selected based upon user-feedback wherein a specific BLEGH (in a singular song) or across an album was routinely discussed.
Once the sample had been selected, data collection was conducted via a two-prong approach. First, data was housed using an Excel sheet, wherein BLEGHs were counted on a song-by-song basis, as well as the total runtime of an album. BLEGHs were verified by listening through the album in its entirety, while also having song lyrics opened in a separate window. Lyric verification was essential to reduce potential false-positive, as a BLEGH could possibly be a shrill or gutteral pronunciation of a word (the word "black", for instance). It must be noted, however, that the formal method of BLEGHology is not an exact science and that there exists the possibility for BLEGHs being missed, false-positives, and more. More data and research is needed to further refine these methods.
Following collation of BLEGHs, these data were then divided by the total runtime of the album (rounded based on whole minutes), resulting in a raw BLEGH/minute value. These data were then cross-examined and compared, with findings being discussed below. Quantifying BLEGHs in this manner is problematic, however, for reasons found in this report's Discussion.
Results
Data were collected from 5 artists within metalcore. The raw BLEGH/minute value will be presented below, alongside research notes collected throughout the process:
- Wage War - Blueprints, Runtime: 39 minutes
BLEGHs: 10
Index Score: 0.26
Wage War was one of the most popular examples of BLEGH-heavy artists found throughout the literature search of this project. Whether through the impact of Blue Prints, or the quality of the BLEGHs, this sample featured a wide array of styles and techniques used to present the BLEGH. The River is the most frequently referenced song within this sample and has seen a recent resurgence as a result of the coronavirus.
Rating : It BLEGHs
- Stray from the Path - Rising Sun, Runtime: 33 minutes
BLEGHs: 5
Index Score: 0.16
Another frequently discussed band, SFTP differs in the use of their BLEGHs. Rather than using a drawn out, deep BLEGH routinely seen from Wage War, Drew York's use of the BLEGH throughout Rising Sun is a sharper, more punctual delivery (see iMember). While the raw use of BLEGHs by SFTP is on the lower end of the spectrum throughout this sample, they are used to great effect, often times cutting out and accompanying the bouncy riffs of the album.
Rating: It BLEGHs
- If I Were You - Inner Signals, Runtime: 49 minutes
BLEGHs: 12
Index Score: 0.25
If I Were You was a band that slowly crept up on many when I came to the use of BLEGHs. While not as popular or well known by many within the field of BLEGHology, the BLEGHs featured on Inner Signals are of very high quality. A critical element of any BLEGH is timing, and many of the BLEGHs found here are both placed in key areas (before breakdown, at the end of verses) and are paced in an effective manner. There's rarely a time where you think "It's been awhile since I've heard a dirty BLEGH...". Broken, Faithless and Hollowed are exemplars.
Rating: It BLEGHs
- Make Them Suffer - Neverbloom, Runtime: 47 minutes
BLEGHs: 16 (or 22)
Index Score: 0.34 - 0.47
Neverbloom presented the largest number of raw BLEGHs found within this sample and proved to be a bit difficult to analyze. Part of this difficulty came as a result of this being an earlier album within MTS's discography and having more of a deathcore bent to it, meaning that there were many instances of gutterals and EUGHs throughout that required attuned listening to decipher. Another interesting wrinkle in the data (and the reason for the range here) was due to Weeping Wastelands - during the bridge, vocalist Sean Harmanis punctuates the end of a verse with three, stacked BLEGHs/EUGHs, twice. If you ascribe to the theory that a BLEGH is a singular utterance, this would remove 6 BLEGHs from their score, but if you view BLEGHs as a phenomena sui generis, this would bring their BLEGH count up to a staggering 22, resulting in an Index Score of 0.47B/m.
Rating: It BLEGHs
- Architects - All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, Runtime: 46 minutes
BLEGHs: 9
Index Score: 0.196
As a bit of a barometer, I included Architects' AOHGAU both to analyze the use of BLEGHs once utilized by Sam Carter, as well as to view how its use on the bands most popular albums measures up to some others included here. As you can see, the use of the BLEGH isn't actually too excessive on this record - the BLEGHs were typically front-loaded, leaving the most atmospheric and contemplative back-end of the album more absent of BLEGHs. That said, many of the BLEGHs featured here are staples of the BLEGH mythos, due in part to their delivery, timing, and tone, with the BLEGH on A Match Made in Heaven being a standout.
Rating: It BLEGHs
In summation: Any album that registers a Blegh Index Score of 0.15 or higher officially BLEGHs - everything else is weak, insufficient, and unworthy of praise or dignity.
Discussion
This report details an exploratory analysis of the frequency of BLEGHs found throughout a small sampling of metalcore artists. The data here are presented in a largely quantitative fashion, creating an index score based on the use of BLEGHs per minute of runtime. While this does aid in understanding the ubiquity of BLEGHs and how they've trended throughout the scene, it does raise a more philosophical point: what is the meaning, the raison d'etre of a BLEGH?
An astute counterargument to these findings would be that the measure of a BLEGH ought not to be its frequency, but other, more qualitative elements. How does it feel? What is it's intensity? What does it add to a song? In this respect, I fully agree - I believe that this report does provide some interesting, initial insights into how the use of BLEGHs throughout an album can be quantified, but in many senses, a BLEGH is not a logical expression, but rather an emotional one. Rather than examining BLEGHs through the lens of science, we must instead experience them as they are. A phenomenological inquiry into the being of BLEGH would warrant increased observations, beyond the scope of any singular fledgling scientist.
In any event, more research is required to further develop the field of BLEGHology. Future research could investigate the use of BLEGHs throughout an artists career/discography - I was initially going to include how BLEGHs have trended over the Architects' discography but ran out of time. Others could research the location/positioning of BLEGHs within songs, determining the most appropriate use throughout a sample (i.e. what's more popular, a BLEGH at the end of a verse, or before/after a breakdown)? I was initially going to be much more ambitious with this project and chart how the BLEGH has changed over the course of Architects' entire discography but I honestly got bored and don't have the dedication for this. So if someone wants to take up the cause, feel free.
##Conclusion
This was a brief, limited, exploratory inquiry into the use of BLEGHs. Their use has shaped society as we know it - the modern musical canon would not be the same if not for it's use throughout time. Much more insight is needed to further refine these methods and uncover its many mysteries. Research from myriad fields have shown the importance of BLEGH throughout human existence: anthropologists have shown that the early man was capable of producing a BLEGH; microbiologists can detect BLEGH nucleotides in DNA; historians have noted that Charlemagne had the words inscribed upon his tomb. But these discoveries only come about through increased vigilance, awareness, and research. While Sam Carter may have discarded the use of the BLEGH earlier this year, we cannot. The preservation of the BLEGH is vital for the scene, for society, and for humanity writ large.
Thanks for the great community and here's to another 100K :)
Posted Apr 12, 2020, 2:24 PM UTC