Best Screamers of the 21st Century

Craig Owens Former Chiodos

Music can be classified among so many genres.  Rock has so many categories it can be broken down too.  For instance, punk rock generally consists of  hardcore, emo, screamo, post-punk, experimental rock, metalcore and so many more.  I want to focus on one in particular - Post-Hardcore music has emerged since the 90's.

Post-hardcore is typically characterized by its precise rhythms and loud guitar-based instrumentation accompanied by a combination of clean vocals and screams.  Although all these categories mentioned above can be categorized the same, I like the name of post-hardcore better.

I don't want to focus on the entire band though.  I have been listening to music for years and have seen hundreds of new bands emerge, break-up, and grow successful.  Each member of a band is important, but I want to focus on screamers.  Bands generally can replace instruments, but changing a screamer changes the entire perception of the band.

Below I have thoroughly took into consideration over a hundred screamers and came up with these among the top rankings - In no particular order:

1. Craig Owens (Chiodos, D.R.U.G.S. (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows))  is best known as the former lead vocalist of Chiodos, as well as for his involvement in various side projects such as Cinematic Sunrise, and Isles & Glaciers. He was part of The Sound of Animals Fighting and was given an offer to reprise his role in their third album, The Ocean and the Sun, but declined due to a full schedule. Owens departure from Chiodos was in September 2009.  Owens announced his new band will be named D.R.U.G.S. (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows). 
2. Dallas Taylor (Underoath, Maylene and The Son's Of Disaster) Former Vocalist of Underoath,  Taylor performed on three albums and was replaced by Spencer Chamberlain and is still good friends with the band.  In 2004 Taylor formed Maylene in the Son's of Disaster and has released three studio albums.  Taylor is currently the only original member of the band.  He has also stated he prefers playing in smaller venues instead of large venues such as Warped Tour. 
3. Casey Calvert (Hawthorne Heights) Hawthorne Heights was formed in 2001 out of Dayton, Ohio. Casey performed more than exceptional vocals on tracks "Ohio is For Lovers" and "Niki FM" and plenty more.  He  died of a reaction to his prescription medication in 2007, but was amazing on their first two albums. 
4. Tim Lambesis (As I lay Dying) One of the only two original members left remaining in the band, Lambesis, who started in 2001 has produced all 6 of As I lay Dying albums and several other side projects.
   
5. Matthew Tuck (Bullet For My Valentine) The heavy metal Welsh band from Bridgend is the most successful act of all-time in the Kerrang! Awards and their latest album Fever peaked at 3 in the U.S. and 5 in the U.K. 
6. Matt McChesney, Dennis Miller(The Autumn Offering) A metalcore band from Daytona Beach, Florida was formed in 1999.  Miller was the original vocalist and amplified screams and can be heard on two albums with Embrace the Gutter and Revelations of the Unsung.  Replacing Miller was nobody better than McChesney, who is on three of The Autumn Offering albums now signed with victory records.  McChesney is stunning and you should check out Silence and Goodbye off of the album Fear Will Cast No Shadow.
7. Ronnie Winter (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus) Since 2001, Winter has been successfully screaming and singing on stage with two studio album releases and an EP in late 2010. 
8. Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath, This Runs Through)  is an American christian musician, best known as lead vocalist for the metalcore band Underoath. Before fronting replacing Dallas Taylor, Chamberlain was also the vocalist for the band This Runs Through in which his brother, Phil Chamberlain, was the drummer.
9. Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria) I know,  Danny has only been screaming for Asking Alexandria since 2008, with one studio album, Stand Up and Scream, but Worsnop's screaming vocals have electrified fans all over the Thrash and Burn Tour.  Don't expect any less of Asking Alexandria - their upcoming release Reckless and Relentless  hits stores in December and Soundwave 2011 is nearby. 
10. Craig Mabbitt (Escape The Fate, BlessTheFall, The World Alive) Started in 2004 with Blessthefall, Mabbitt was let go, after leaving the European Tour in 2007 for "personal reasons".  Mabbitt then replace Ronnie Radke from Escape the Fate while he created The World Alive as a side project. While on tour with Escape The Fate,The World Alive replaced Mabbitt, so they could tour themselves. Mabbitt is on three studio albums with Blessthefall, two studio albums with Escape the Fate, the unreleased EP by The World Alive, and collaborations with Eyes Set to Kill, Greeley Estates, Caleb Shomo & Max Green.  Mabbitt also filled in vocals for Scary Kids Scaring Kids during for the remainder of their tour in 2009 when the band broke-up.
11. Dennis Lee (Alesana) This post-hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina, is extremely talented with their screaming vocals from Dennis Lee.  Since, formed in 2004 they have released three full length albums and The Emptiness "will haunt you!"
12. Mike Hranica (The Devil Wears Prada) The Metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio is a christian based band with three full-length albums formed in 2005. 
13. Ronnie Radke (Escape The Fate, Falling in Reverse) Former lead vocalist of Escape the Fate, Radke's departure from the band was due to a conflict with the law and landing in prison.  He started recording a demo for his new band Falling in Reverse and
14. Alex Varkatzas (Atreyu) Since 1998, Varkatzas has been screaming and singing with his talented vocals.  Atreyu has 5 studio albums and although they are going strong with their newest album Congregation of the Damned, I believe that The Curse is their best compiled studio album
15. Tyson Stevens (Scary Kids Scaring Kids) The band was formed in 2002 releasing three albums including their After Dark EP.  The band was in the middle of recording a new album that will not be released to the public due to their breaking-up before the vocals were recorded to the music.  Following their disbandment, the band continued their farewell tour in 2010. 
16. Oli Sykes  (Bring Me The Horizon) are a British metalcore band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, who formed in 2004.  They have 3 studio albums and were won the Kerrang! Award for Best British Newcomer 2006.
17. Shane Told (Silverstein) The Canadian based post-hardcore band was formed in 2000 in reference to Shel Silverstein - a children's author.  The band has released 4 studio albums and will be releasing their new album in 2011, which already has 16 songs recorded.  This will be their 5th album from Victory records.
18. Vic Fuentes (Pierce the Veil) Formed in 1998 - the post-hardcore band is from San Diego, CA.  They have 3 studio albums.  Fuentes isn't just the vocalist and screamer.  Being a four member band, Fuentes also place guitar, acoustic guitars, piano, keyboards, lap steel, strings, synthesizers, production and writes the lyrics.
19. Wil Francis (Aiden, William Control) is the lead vocalist of the band Aiden, as well as his electronic project William Control. Wil also acts as producer to the band A Midnight Tragedy. Wil has 7 studio albums with both of his bands and will be releasing his 6th album with Aiden later in 2010..
20. Phillip Labonte (All That Remains, Shadows Falls) is an American musician from Massachusetts, best known as the lead singer of the American metal band All That Remains and formerly of Shadows Fall. Labonte was asked to leave Shadows Fall due to "musical differences" and was replaced with current vocalist Brian Fair.  In 2010, he was asked to fill in as Killswitch Engage's vocalist during the band's tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquility after, while their lead singer, Howard Jones, couldn't make the beginning of the tour.
21. Brandon Anderson, Justin Denson(Eyes Set to Kill) The band was formed in 2003 by sisters Anissa and Alexia Rodriguez alongside Lindsey Vogt. When Vogt dropped out of the band the band gained 3 male members and Alexia took over on lead vocals, while Anderson did the unclean vocals.  Anderson helped release two albums, but dropped out, for personal reasons, before the third album Broken Frames was released. For this reason, Justin Denson filled in on the album for Broken Frames for the screaming vocals.  After the release, the band signed new screamer Cisko Miranda.
    
22. Sonny Moore (From First To Last) known as Skrillex,  an electronic musician from Los Angeles, California, well known for his role as the former front-man for the post-hardcore band From First to Last. In late fall of 2007 he embarked on his very first tour as a solo artist, the Team Sleep Tour with Team Sleep, Strata, and Monster in the Machine. Moore currently DJ's at clubs in LA and has remixed the Bring Me the Horizon song The Sadness Will Never End, Lady Gaga's songs Bad Romance and Alejandro. On June 7, 2010, Moore released his official Skrillex debut - My Name is Skrillex as a free download.
23. Matt Good (From First To Last) When Moore Left the band Good took over lead vocals by himself.  Good has been on all 5 of the band's albums.  On July 28, 2010 Matt Good announced to FFTL fans that the bands was going on hiatus. On July 29, 2010 Craig Owens announed that Matt Good would be guitarist of his new band D.R.U.G.S (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows).
    
24. Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars) a talented actor, in films such as Fight Club, American Psycho, Alexander, Lord of War, Panic Room, Requiem of a Dream and more.  Leto is also a talented vocalist from 30 Seconds to Mars - a band Jared and his brother Shannon formed in 1998, where he directed several of their music videos.  Leto primarily focuses on clean vocals in his three albums, but occasionally will throw out raging screams that other artists can't manage.
    
25. Greg Puciato (The Dillenger Escape Plan) lead singer joined the band in September 2001. He is known for his reckless live performances, intimidating stage presence, wide vocal range, and outspoken views. While having 3 albums with TDEP, In the December 2007 issue of Revolver Magazine, Puciato was voted one of the "37 greatest metal frontmen" of all time.
    
26. Joe Brown (A Static Lullaby)  a post-hardcore band formed in Chino Hills, California in 2001. The band has 5 albums released and it was stated in an interview that there should be another release sometime this year, but As of June 2010, Lead Singer Joe Brown has started a side project with former guitarist John Martinez called "Elevate: I am". But A Static Lullaby isn't breaking up - not yet.
27. James "Buddy" Nielsen (Senses Fail) Since 200, this emo/post-hardcore band from Jersey has released 4 studio albums and is releasing their 5th later this year, which will be their 4th release on Vagrant Records.
28. Jonathan Mess (Dance Gavin Dance) Formed in 2005, the band has three studio albums with great screaming vocals.

Best Female Screamers:

Lacey Mosely of Flyleaf

1. Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf) Struggling as a teen, Lacey helped form the band in 2000 releasing 2 studio albums after finding Christianity.
2. Maria Brink (In This Moment) The band was formed in 2005 and have recorded 3 studio albums.  The band have played alongside the likes of Korn, Rob Zombie, Fiver Finger Death Punch, Hatebreed and Shadows Fall.
3. Laura Nichol (Light this City, Heartsounds) Light this City was formed in 2002 and disbanded in 2008 releasing 4 studio albums and a re-release of their first album in 2010.  Laura formed the punk rock band Heartsounds with drummer Ben Murray, who also is from Light this City.