(The Scream-Free Saviours of the Breakdown World) 🤘🎤
Let’s be honest — metalcore wouldn’t be metalcore without the beauty-and-the-beast contrast of savage growls and soaring clean vocals. And while the screamers get a lot of the glory (and saliva on the mic), today we’re raising a pint 🍻 to the clean vocal gods who belt out those emotional choruses, turn mosh pits into sing-alongs, and leave your throat ruined from screaming with them, not at them.
So grab your studded belt, dust off your fringe, and get ready for 15 of the best clean metalcore vocalists of all time. No growling allowed. Tidy.
🎤 15. Beau Bokan – Blessthefall
Ah, Mr. Arizona Sunshine himself. Beau took over from Craig Mabbitt and brought polish, passion, and some serious pipes to Blessthefall. Whether it’s the epic chorus of “Hollow Bodies” or the emo heartbreak of “Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted”, he’s the reason your eyeliner ran.
🎤 14. Dan Lambton – Real Friends / Rationale.
Alright, so Real Friends are pop-punk-tinged, but Dan’s guest vocals on metalcore collabs (like with Capstan) show off just how versatile and emotionally raw his clean style is. He sings like he’s reliving every breakup he’s ever had at once. We’re crying, butt.
🎤 13. Austin Carlile (clean moments) – Of Mice & Men
Yes, Austin is mostly known for his growls, but during Restoring Force, he flexed some surprisingly emotional clean tones. Tracks like “Would You Still Be There” showed he could hit you in the feels without tearing your face off. Respect.
🎤 12. Jonny Craig – Dance Gavin Dance / Emarosa / Slaves
Controversial? Always. Talented? Absolutely. When he wasn’t combusting every band he touched, Jonny brought R&B soul to the metalcore world. His voice sounds like it’s been dipped in honey, set on fire, and thrown into a post-breakup mosh pit.
🎤 11. Mattie Montgomery – For Today (cleans in later albums)
Better known for biblical beatdowns and hellfire growls, Mattie’s later clean vocal work showed an impressive vulnerability and range. Add in his message-driven lyrics, and it’s a holy combo. Metalcore baptism, anyone?
🎤 10. Telle Smith – The Word Alive
Smooth as silk and catchy as COVID at Download Fest. Telle’s hooks are pure arena bait, and his control over both scream and serenade is ridiculous. Tracks like “Life Cycles” and “Why Am I Like This?” hit hard and stick in your skull. Diolch for the anthems, butt.
🎤 9. Andy Leo – Crown The Empire
This guy’s like if Disney trained a metalcore singer. Full of theatrical drama, range, and clean tone perfection. Andy can go from whisper to wail like he’s on a Broadway stage — but with breakdowns. Go figure.
🎤 8. Spencer Sotelo – Periphery
OK, more prog-core than classic metalcore, but Spencer is in a league of his own. His cleans are pristine, his range is bananas, and he can flip styles mid-bar like a musical ninja. “Scarlet” is basically a clinic in how to do clean vocals in heavy music.
🎤 7. Joel Quartuccio – Being As An Ocean
Poetic spoken word? Check. Atmospheric post-hardcore beauty? Check. That aching, spiritual clean vocal that sounds like he’s singing directly to your soul? Also check. Joel doesn’t just sing — he bleeds emotion all over the mic. Only in Wales, mun…
🎤 6. Aaron Gillespie – Underoath / The Almost
Drummer and singer? Calm down, overachiever! Aaron’s cleans brought the light to Underoath’s chaos. Tracks like “Reinventing Your Exit” and “Writing on the Walls” became instant classics thanks to his heartfelt croons.
🎤 5. Caleb Shomo – Beartooth
Caleb’s rage is legendary, but when he flips to clean vocals — oh boy, you feel every bloody word. Whether he’s whispering confessions or belting out anthems, his voice carries raw, unfiltered pain. “In Between” still hits like a freight train of feels.
🎤 4. Howard Jones – Killswitch Engage / Light the Torch
The OG clean scream king. His voice is the reason Killswitch went mainstream. Powerful, soulful, and unmistakable. “The End of Heartache” is basically a religion for metalcore fans. Bow down.
🎤 3. Oli Sykes – Bring Me The Horizon (post-2013 cleans)
From pig squeals to polished pop-metal vocals, Oli’s transformation is wild. He’s not just a screamer anymore — tracks like “Drown”, “Sleepwalking”, and “Medicine” show off a lush clean vocal range that still gets you hyped. Versatility, thy name is Sykes.
🎤 2. Sam Carter – Architects
A vocal juggernaut. Sam’s screams are ungodly, but his clean delivery is emotional devastation with melody. When he breaks into that soaring refrain on “Doomsday”, you’d better have tissues handy. It’s like being punched in the soul.
🎤 1. Jesse Leach – Killswitch Engage
Let’s be honest — Jesse’s return to Killswitch was like metalcore’s second coming. His clean vocals aren’t just technically great — they’re uplifting, cathartic, and spiritual AF. Whether it’s “Strength of the Mind” or “My Curse”, Jesse proves you can be heavy and heartfelt. Proper job, legend.
Honourable Mentions (Because We Can’t Shut Up) 🎶
- Tilian Pearson – Dance Gavin Dance (clean king of chaos)
- Michael Barr – Volumes (smooth as melted chocolate)
- Dennis Stoff – Asking Alexandria (brief, but belting)
- Kellen McGregor – Memphis May Fire (secret weapon backing vox)
- Brendan Murphy – Counterparts (for when post-hardcore gets soft-core)
Got a fave clean metalcore crooner we missed?
💬 Shout ’em out in the comments or send us hate mail with a glitter bomb attached.
C’mon butt, let’s celebrate the ones who sing you through the storm and make you scream-cry in your car at 2AM. 🎧🖤
More lists, riffs, and chaos at staging.theriffreport.co.uk/ 🎸
