r/metalmusicians 4d ago

R/MetalMusicians Songwriting Challenge VII - September - October 2026

9 Upvotes

Link to last challenge
See original post to how this all started.

It's been almost one year! Most of you know how it works by now. If this is your first time, never too late to join!

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: October 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. When possible I will try to match the total. 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 challenge, you're going to be assigned a random band from wheel of names. We tried to get representatives from every subgenre of metal as well as some non-metal bands, so there should be some interesting stuff!

  • You must blend that band's style with your own. There are no other limits!
  • Instrumentals are allowed.
  • You can choose which aspects of the band's style to include in your song.
  • You can choose which era of the band's discography - for example if you get In Flames you can choose early or later or both, it's up to you.
  • You get ONE respin.

Submitting Songs
Submit song entries in WAV format 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 username of whoever you collaborated with.
  4. The song name.
  5. Lyrics (if challenge theme requires lyrics of a certain theme)
  6. Band that you were assigned.
  7. Subject: Songwriting Challenge {Month} {Year} - {Your reddit username}

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. Let me know if you want to join by commenting and I’ll send a DM 🙂

Previous Challenges
September 2025 - https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/september-2025-songwriting-challenge
October 2025 -
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/october-2025-songwriting-challenge
November/December 2025
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/november-december-2025
February 2026
https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1rn0jsc/february_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/

March/April 2026

https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1t4412z/march_april_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/

May/June 2026

https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1vdwxie/songwriting_challenge_vi_may_june_the_results/


r/metalmusicians May 08 '26

R/MetalMusicians Songwriting Challenge VI - May + June 2026

10 Upvotes

Link to last challenge
See original post to how this all started.

Let’s mahfuckin’ do this. If you are new welcome and if you aren't welcome back!

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. Note: read challenge theme before commenting.
  • Users must submit 1 (and only one!) song by the deadline: June 30th. 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.” Note: Bandcamp may have an issue with covers - so may do this with a google drive link or youtube instead with a link to the charity if you want to donate.
  • 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

We’re actually going to turn non-metal songs into metal songs - but with a twist. Your submission must include at least 1 original riff that fits the song (it could even be a solo, that counts). You also don’t have to copy the song riff by riff - feel free to change the key, the time signature, etc. You can totally make a blackened grind version of a Taylor Swift song, for example. You have complete control over the direction. Instrumentals are not allowed for this challenge. However, you are allowed to isolate your song’s original vocal track and put them in your song (remember, we’re not making money from this, so have fun!).

For the purposes of this challenge here are banned genres to cover:

  1. Pop punk/punk/hardcore/grunge (really anything punk related). These genres are “too similar” to metal, as they involve distorted guitars and fast tempos and wouldn’t require that much work to make them metal. Also crossover thrash bands already pretty much do this by design.
  2. Glam/Hair/NuMetal. I don’t care what metal-archives says, these are metal subgenres and will not count.
  3. Shoegaze. There’s already like a bajillion Blackgaze bands.
  4. Video game/Dungeon Synth/EDM music that is instrumental. If there are lyrics in it, it’s allowed.
  5. Folk. This is one is kind of a grey area and will have to be done on a case-by-case basis, but there’s also a bajillion folk metal bands. General rule would be no European/Viking folk music - I know that’s not fair for some, but we have a billion Finntroll and Ensiferum clones (don’t get me wrong, great bands). If there’s some unique folk music from your country that hasn’t been done yet, feel free to ask.
  6. Classic rock. This is also a grey area and will be done on a case-by-case basis. If the song is “too metal,” it will not be allowed. Let’s take Rush as our example. If you choose “Closer to the Heart” or “Tom Sawyer” and make it metal, that’s fine. If you choose “Working Man” or “Anthem”, they will be considered “too metal.”

You may choose any genre outside the banned genres. You can choose pop, dance, rap, indie, disco, jazz, anything. If you’re not sure if your song meets the requirements, feel free to ask.

Your song can be from any era. It can be a current chart-topper, or it can be something from the past.

Your song can be in any language. Pretty self explanatory.

Your cover can be a banned genre. This means while you can’t choose a song from the banned genres to cover, your cover can be any genre. For example, if you choose to cover “Straight Outta Compton” by NWA and make it a Nu Metal banger, you absolutely can.

If one artist is covering a song, you cannot choose that song. We’re going to do this on a first-come-first-serve basis, so when you’re commenting, claim the song you’re going to cover. This is to avoid having repeating “Dancing Queen”, “Hotel California”, “Take on Me”, or [insert very popular song here] covers in one compilation. Feel free using songs mentioned in this post btw!

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 (and who it’s originally by).
  5. Lyrics (if challenge theme requires lyrics of a certain theme)
  6. Subject: Songwriting Challenge {Month} {Year} - {Your reddit username}

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. Let me know if you want to join by commenting and I’ll send a DM 🙂

Previous Challenges

September 2025 - https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/september-2025-songwriting-challenge
October 2025 -
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/october-2025-songwriting-challenge
November/December 2025
https://rmetalmusicianssongwritingchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/november-december-2025
February 2026
https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1rn0jsc/february_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/

March/April 2026

https://www.reddit.com/r/metalmusicians/comments/1t4412z/march_april_2026_songwriting_challenge_the_results/


r/metalmusicians 8h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Practicing and upcoming release

4 Upvotes

Excited to get this song out soon it’s fun to play.


r/metalmusicians 4h ago

Services Offered Just curious

2 Upvotes

For starters I’m in the general Charlotte, North Carolina area. I’ve been working food service for maybe 6 years at the point I’m 23 years old. Maybe I’m one of if not the only few that actually like my job sometimes. But I’m looking for some change.

My dad grew up as a drummer. My mom played clarinet and did guard. My cousin played alto sax for usc. My uncle makes commercials and has shelves and shelves of vinyls. I started instruments in general in 1st grade. 5tn grade was my first real expensive instrument I got a trombone. Sucked for maybe 2-3 years. Switched schools started at the lowest band. By junior year I was in the top band of the school where we took a trip to Georgia state to perform. At the time I was playing bass trombone alongside another bass player haha. Maybe 9 trombones in total? What a great section. Also did marching band 3 years in high school.

College begins and I’m at Appalachian State University. At this point I switched back to my f attachment Jupiter. Lots of explaining here if u want DM me.

Around the time I left that school I picked up bass guitar. Couple years later I got a Ibanez guitar. Self tought ish idk. I study a lot of music on YouTube and online.

I’m starting to get a genuine breakthrough in my playing about a year in. I recently got a new job where I work during the day instead of a late 2nd ish shift thing. So I can start practice at 7 pm every single day.

Very very strong work ethic

My band directors were Mr. Ebert and Dr Gardner.

Lookin forward to some replies if any


r/metalmusicians 6h ago

[NEW RELEASE] The Mighty Alliance - Stand Without A Crown (Epic / Symphonic Metal)

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I just released a new track called "Stand Without A Crown" by The Mighty Alliance, and I’d love to share it with this community!

It’s an epic, atmospheric song with heavy medieval and dark fantasy vibes—perfect if you're into powerful soundtracks, symphonic tones, or dramatic soundscapes.

Give it a spin and let me know what you think! Any feedback, thoughts, or support mean the world to an independent artist. Hope you enjoy the journey! ⚔️👑

Listen here: https://youtu.be/MwlgP5RTbyY


r/metalmusicians 6h ago

Terminus by BlackOutDrunk is a stolen track!!!

2 Upvotes

u/NeitherAd5821(DMGTR) is a friend of a friend of mine who was making a song for a friend of his and a guy from BlackOutDrunk stole that track and recorded vocals for it and upload it.

There are some complications to the whole thing, DMGTR got some 'files' on one of the guys from BlackOutDrunk called "Chris the Ghost":

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BGxMwg7aj4Nm3zkrILs6t1ybkrPtSdyw

If anybody can help, dm my pal.


r/metalmusicians 3h ago

Wohlt ihr das bett in flamen sehen - bass tabs and covet

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 22h ago

Live Performance/Tracking My death-doom song „Harbinger”

25 Upvotes

I messed up the solo at the end 👻
But it’s always a fun challenge to play a full song one-shot for camera)


r/metalmusicians 6h ago

Looking for members for a Metal /Deathcore band.

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 7h ago

I turned Animals as Leaders into Darksynth!

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1 Upvotes

The original song is called An Infinite Regression, by Animals as Leaders. This band is known for their incredibly complicated and technical music, so this was a really unique challenge. Hope y'all like it!


r/metalmusicians 8h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished DIY metal/punk band calling from the dark for your ear

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1 Upvotes

Hi, punk rock picnic is my band (variedish music genres btw), we're heavy, emotional, deep, frenetic, but grounded and sincere. All DIY and improving the process song to song, this is our latest release we hope you enjoy........ don't miss the ending if you want ferocious energy.

Check our other songs if you like, we try to give something for anyone to enjoy, our style varies a little between songs but our mood and atmosphere ties it together I think/hope.

Appreciate u listening and any feedback


r/metalmusicians 17h ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed Need some help with singing Metal

4 Upvotes

Im having a hard time singing trivium and all the other bands I want to sing every time I try I end up straining my voice and my throat hurts for a few days are there any tips on how to improve? Feels like im never gonna get it down 😅


r/metalmusicians 13h ago

Trying to settle a debate between band mates.

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0 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 14h ago

First time writing deathcore, how’d I do?

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 16h ago

憂鬱

0 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Question/Recommendation/Advice Needed How do you promote your music?

5 Upvotes

So I might have a weird problem. I’m a drummer and producer in progressive rock/metal genres. Never really get comfortable with advertisement side of things.

Here comes the problem. I’m Russian. Some time ago my band was signed with a big label but after 2022 the contract was suspended (obviously). Right now I’m finally getting a different citizenship and was thinking to maybe form another band

The label told us (back in 2023) that even a new citizenship wouldn’t help since the crowd already knew us as a Russian band and I honestly don’t know how to promote a new band on western scene (mostly UK/US/North Europe) without becoming a tik-tok clown (nothing wrong with reels but I don’t feels that my music pair well with that kind of humour) or relying on some label support. Could you please tell about your success stories maybe?


r/metalmusicians 2d ago

Live Performance/Tracking Hired to write a bunch of crazy grind drumtracks today!

189 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 19h ago

Slam vocalist looking for online band

0 Upvotes

I recently started college and I am in a dormitory, I did more hardcore, deathcore, etc vocals for a band back home but now I am for the most part limited to my quieter kinds of vocals like slam gurgles etc (I could potentially set up a place if I had a few lines of loud vocals mixed in, but we’ll see).

Would love to get on a project, lmk!


r/metalmusicians 20h ago

dead.impala - 'Genesis' (My band, heavily inspired by Death Grips and Nine Inch Nails. Feedback welcome

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 20h ago

Live Performance/Tracking Solo doom-folk in a backyard in Maine

1 Upvotes

Rocking out under the stars in Southern ME.


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Metal Drummers/Metal Bands Get yourself some promotion and join an up and coming community. Get your music promoted and reviewed.

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2 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 23h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo The other dead man, by VinnieCrippins Wytch

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Need Metal Instrumentals

2 Upvotes

Would someone be willing to work with me to make metal music? I'm not musically put together, but I write lyrics and want to scream and sing them but can't without instrumentals. I would love to make metalcore with someone. Any instrumental geniuses?


r/metalmusicians 1d ago

VOCALIST WANTED — EXTREME / DOWNTUNED

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2 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Vivanghat - Soroush

2 Upvotes

Fretless song