RM - Looking Into Metalcore Music Videos Summary

Whilst doing research into the Metalcore genre I decided to look at several music videos and deconstruct them. This allow me to pick up on the common conventionss The videos I looked at and deconstructed were (Click on the title above each video to view the deconstruction):

Bullet For My Valentine - Your Betrayal

- Performance and Concept music video
- Band members introduced to audience one by one, edited to fit in with the track
- The majority of the focus is on the, in particular the lead vocalist, lip-syncing occurs
- Majority of the shots used in the performance are two shots or group shots
- Concept features two women performing one of the deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride) anchored towards the end of the music video as these words appear on screen with the action
- Text is in red signifies blood

Motionless In White - Ghost In The Mirror

- Performance based music video

- Several locations have been used throughout the music video

- Religious aspect with the stain glass in one of the locations signifying a church

- Majority of the focus is on the lead vocalist

- Variety of shots used

- Group shots are used a lot, showing the entire band perform

- Shots have been quickly edited and to the beat

- Lip-syncing occurs

Killswitch Engage - My Curse

- Contains both performance and narrative aspects

- The performance aspect is in an unusual style of a flick-book format

- Focus in the performance aspect is on the lead vocalist

- Limited shot variation in the performance

- Narrative aspect includes different locations

- Narrative aspect features Propp's theory of a hero trying to obtain a prize

- The prize is in a wedding dress - reference to church and religious aspect

- In the narrative aspect there is a wide variation of shots

- Special effects are also used throughout the narrative - this bridging the gaps between the locations

Parkway Drive - Sleepwalker

- Concept music video with a small element of performance

- Special effects are used throughout the music video as the entire video is in black and white with the exception of red signifying blood.

- Fish-eye lenses are also used during the video

- Throughout the music video the majority of the shots are point of view, this leaves the video with a limited variation in shots

- Several jump cuts are used

- Fast paced editing is also used and matches the track

Meshuggah - Rational Gaze

- Entirely performance based
- Includes special effects throughout the music video e.g. blue tint, multi-layering, garbage matte and chroma key
- The majority of the focus is on the lead vocalist
- The band hardly appear on screen as a whole and not many two shots are included as well
- Editing has been done to the beat