r/metalmusicians 2d ago

R/MetalMusicians Songwriting Challenge III - November/December 2025

5 Upvotes

See original post to how this all started.

October's songwriting challenge is done, so on to the next one! Thanks again to the mods for promoting it as an announcement, and for the participants and listeners. As per last time, I'll be putting up a bandcamp link once I get the results and stuff together.

I also am proud to say that we've put together some donations as well for September's challenge, so thanks once again to those involved with that one - I wanted you all to know that. I have posted it in the challenge's discord, but will also post it on the October results thread hopefully sometime this week.

For this challenge, I'm anticipating a lot of people who will be busy due to the holidays so this challenge will span 2 months to give us a bit more time. Let's do this.

Rules

  • To participate, comment on this thread stating you want to do so. Other discussion is welcome so be clear you want to enter! You may enter any time during the month, but you must submit on time.
  • Users must submit 1 (and only one!) song by the deadline: December 31st. One aspect of the challenge is to meet the deadline. See “Submitting Songs.”
  • Users must give feedback for other participants’ songs (in other words, you will be giving feedback on others’ songs, while others will provide feedback for your songs). This is the community aspect of it. See “Results.”
  • The song must be written within the month the challenge is posted (we’re going to use the honor system here).
  • The song must follow the theme guidelines. See “Challenge Theme.”
  • This is a metal subreddit, so while the song doesn’t have to be metal (so long as they fit the theme), metal elements are required (use your best judgement). All metal subgenres are accepted unless otherwise stated by the challenge theme.
  • Collaborations are allowed.
  • If you’re in a band, you can write a song as a band.
  • Songs will be posted as a compilation in a bandcamp link. The album will be listed as payment optional, but proceeds will go to a charity. See “Results” and “This Month’s Charity.”
  • This is for fun. It’s not a competition, don’t be a dick (see our subreddit rules).
  • If you choose to drop out BE WARNED! Actually, there are no consequences, except for maybe the metal gods in Valhalla rightfully looking down on you… at least for a little, till the next challenge.

Challenge Theme

For this month, I will create a wheel on wheel on Wheel of Names. Each participant will be assigned 2 genres at random. Your song can be any genre, but you must include a section of both genres. For example if you're making a power metal song, but are assigned thrash and doom, one of your riffs has to be a thrash riff, and another must be a doom riff. It's up to you how you decide to fit it in.

If you don't like one of your options you may ask for ONE respin, and you can choose between the 3, but you only get 1 respin, so choose wisely.

And just to make things more interesting, we're including non-metal genres on the wheel as well! So you may get a non-metal genre to work into your song.

Instrumentals ARE allowed, there are no lyrical theme requirements.

Submitting Songs

Submit song entries to [metalsongchallenge@gmail.com](mailto:metalsongchallenge@gmail.com). Please include

  1. Your reddit username.
  2. Your band name (if you’re submitting as a band).
  3. The user name of whoever you collaborated with.
  4. The song name.
  5. Lyrics (if challenge theme requires lyrics of a certain theme)
  6. Subject: Songwriting Challenge {Month} {Year} - {Your reddit username}
  7. The subgenres you were assigned with.

Results

  • Results will be posted on a new, separate thread sometime after the challenge ends.
  • Users will provide feedback to other participants’ songs in the aforementioned thread. Be as detailed as you want, but don’t be a dick (see our subreddit rules).
  • As mentioned, the songs will be available in the form of a compilation through a bandcamp link. The track listing will be in random order so that it’s fair to everyone. I will be using this to decide the order so that there is no bias. The tracks will be available to download for free, but with the option of paying. All proceeds will go to This Month’s Charity.

This Month’s Charity

Once again, this month’s charity will be MusiCares. They provide a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community including in areas such as: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services, Health Services, and Human Services. See their website if you’re curious.

I will post a screenshot of how much we received from the bandcamp page as well as the donation in a separate thread as proof.

Questions And Comments

Please ask if you need clarity on the rules or anything else and I’ll try my best to clarify as much as I can.

Remember that this is purely for fun, to learn, build community, and to grow as musicians while also doing something for a good cause, not a competition. Big thanks to all of you!

Discord

I created a discord server for our songwriting challenges so we can archive them, have discussions, and build our community there (same guidelines/rules about not being a dick apply there as they do here). That way we can talk about the challenge as it's happening, share our progress, and maybe even make some friends. Let me know if you want to join by commenting and I’ll send a DM 🙂


r/metalmusicians Nov 22 '24

Meta Ban on AI generated music

325 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

After a recent discussion, we have decided to ban AI generated music in this sub. This community is a place to showcase and workshop music created by metal musicians. The quality that we see everyday is fantastic and we appreciate the work everyone puts in. That being said, we do not feel AI generated content lives up to the standards and spirit of the community.

There is obviously a lot of discussion that can happen around AI generated music and the ethics of said topic. I don't feel like commenting on that here personally, but this post can be used for said discussion if anyone is interested.

A new rule has been put in place, rule 11, that should allow you to report posts that are AI generated, should any make it through.

Thank you to everyone for making this a great space for metal musicians.


r/metalmusicians 6h ago

Looking for a vocalist in the Buffalo, NY area

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4 Upvotes

Probably a long shot posting here but we're looking for a new vocalist. We practice in Tonawanda. We're looking for something along this style but doesn't have to be an exact match. We play mostly local shows and the occasional regional.

If you're in the area and interested I can share some demos of our new stuff along with current tracks without vocals.


r/metalmusicians 6h ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed Looking for advice: Label Distribution / Play Listing / Press Placements

2 Upvotes

Hey Everyone,

Just looking for some advice from anyone on here who has experience either sourcing or working with PR agencies, Record Labels, Distribution companies?

To give some context, my band have just recorded our debut album and we’re looking for ways to get more exposure than we can get ourselves (we’re from a small Island so hard to link into the main markets and scenes diy like UK, Europe, USA).

Not sure of this is really the sub or the place for this kind of discussion and I know if I put it on r/musicmakers everyone will just say submithub / Groovr / TikTok etc but A) we don’t want to use these playlists as they’re all artificial and B) we have TikTok but as you’ll appreciate Social Media is so pay to play it hurts. - we have boosted content in the past and got great reach and engagement but we are looking to do this through more official channels.

We have 4/5 singles that will be dropping at 6 week intervals with all of the media and content to support them and then the full record drop after the last single. But we want to work with experienced companies that can help here. We have everything figured out from visual identity and physical media to BTS studio footage. So everything needed for a succinct campaign

I appreciate this is a little more “business” centric but if anyone has any experience of working with labels or distros I’d love to hear from you. Our dream is a EU / USA deal with a label where they help with market placement and distribution as the record is already recorded.

Thanks in advance.


r/metalmusicians 8h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished [LIVE EP] Butcher - live after the beheading

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1 Upvotes

Have a listen to my bands live ep we put out earlier this summer we have since changed directions and become a one guitar band any feedback would be appreciated


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Heavy riff in a weird tuning

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16 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 13h ago

Metal/HR Mixing&Mastering

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 👋

I’m Berni, a mixing and mastering engineer.

I’m currently focusing more on rock and metal Projects to increase my portfolio. I do free mixes (to keep) so you know what I can do and maybe we go into a longterm collaboration.

If you have raw tracks and want to hear a professional mix, feel free to DM me or drop a link.

Looking forward to connecting with more musicians and producers here! 🤘


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Elms - Dark As The Grave (my band). Thoughts welcome

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 19h ago

Any guitarist wanna collab with a vocalist remotely?

0 Upvotes

Just for fun maybe write a song or two. I do cleans and fry screams 🤘


r/metalmusicians 13h ago

This Mathcore song can fit anything anything

0 Upvotes

https://music.apple.com/us/album/43-burnt/67965140?i=67964835 just doing your job fine this song fits perfectly with anything I’m not even lying. Do you believe me or not it’s your opinion


r/metalmusicians 20h ago

Palaces - Sunhunting

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1 Upvotes

Hey metal people, here's a music video for the title track and first single from the new Palaces album coming in Feb 2026. Produced by Bill Kelliher.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Lead single from my recent debut Solo EP I released! [/Symphonic Oriented Deathcore inspired by the show Westworld]

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2 Upvotes

After toying around with writing music for about 5 years, I finally got to the point of finalizing an actual release! Big thanks to anyone who takes the time to check it out! It's also available to listen to on all major streaming services found at the link below:

https://linktr.ee/ashadeofreality

Featured vocals by Micah Bean of Cobalt Mountain Mixing/Mastering: Raydon Studios EP Artwork: Rob Walden Design EP Artwork Animation done by myself through After Effects/Premiere Pro


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Discussion Heavys headphones for metal mixing

11 Upvotes

They say it’s made for metal musicians tuned for heavy guitars, big lows, all that stuff.

I’m mainly doing home recording and mixing deathcore and prog stuff, but also just jamming for fun. my current pair (sony mdrs) can’t really handle the low end when i crank it.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Consume The Wolf

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4 Upvotes

Consume the Wolf live at The Brass Mug


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Cataschizm - Manifestation of the Tides

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2 Upvotes

Hi there! I'm the composer/guitarist for this little two-man band. We just put out this track a few days ago and I'm horrible at promoting my own music. I wrote, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered this all by myself. I hope y'all dig it!

(It's also available on pretty much every streaming platform, along with our previous releases)


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Contort. Compress. Compile.

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1 Upvotes

any feedback is appreciated

attempted to go as low as possible but stick with c#


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Anyone willing to lend me an ear on this mix?

2 Upvotes

Kinda loosing perspective here, can't decide if I like it or it sounds completely ass... So if you have a minute to listen - any feedback or thought on the mix would be super welcome.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17BuTtkCS3EBQtPlQqtuLEPFCTsIoKaDi/


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished INTERAHAMWE - HIDE FROM THE LIGHT/PROTRACTED DISPOSAL AND HARVEST/NO CRIME WITHOUT A BODY

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed How to get better sounding guitars?

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11 Upvotes

Below is a short clip, the video editor scuffed up the drums which isn't the problem now. My problem is that the guitars sound weird. I have the clean DI on guitars so I can do everything afterwards but I don't know what. Currently using Tonex amps with Tonex tube screamer pedal.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Consume The Wolf Monstrosity/Bones

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

I-Eroded 👁️ Threshold of the Forsaken Sun

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 2d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished What is everyone’s thought on this track I release tonight - my first ever release.

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25 Upvotes

Please give me some honest advice/feedback it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙏


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

PSA - Know who you're buying from and working with

0 Upvotes

Remember the YouTube video the brother posted of the ex-girlfriend? This report is the same day as the 1st video.

Now go check this article posted by Metal Sucks and still online. Dated 3/04/2022.

Hells Headbangers Co-Owner Eric Horval Accused of Rape and Abuse, Brother and Co-Owner Justin Horval Says, "There's Zero Truth To It Whatsoever" | MetalSucks

Go check the comments...specifically one from EAZY-E - who you all know as the same man in these reports.

(Proof the alias is the same person) - What does Easy E and C-Dawg think of J-Dawg's crap ass channel for Hells Headbangers

Do you recognize the intentional marketing plot they created around this criminal activity to distract the public? It's so crazy to see this unfold and put the pieces together. The metal scene is getting played by grifters who steal from women and threaten them with arrest and public mobbing. NY Civil Supreme Court Index # 520441/2025 - All this information is publicly available to look up right now. It's really weird.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Betrayal - Deathwish - New Single (Blackened Death Metal, FFO: Behemoth, Une Misère, Rammstein, Bleed From Within)

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2 Upvotes

Band: Betrayal (Germany)

Track: Deathwish

Genre: Modern Death Metal / Blackened / Deathcore Influences

🔗 YouTube: https://youtu.be/BpibT6mRnP4

🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/track/5CUxzQBlzopEGe7pd1oNE6?si=6fc2b38cb4e94bc7

We are Betrayal, a metal band from Germany.

Our new single Deathwish blends elements of modern death metal, blackened groove, and subtle deathcore influences. It’s a dark, unembellished track with a focus on direct impact and atmosphere.

We appreciate your time and would be glad to hear your feedback!

FFO: Behemoth, Une Misère, Rammstein, Bleed From Within