Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Blood Incantation frontman and guitarist Paul Riedl joined Chaoszine’s My Story As Metal Frontman series during Tuska Festival 2026 to discuss his journey into extreme metal, his evolution as a vocalist and guitarist, and why he’s still learning new things about his voice nearly 25 years after forming his first band.
Looking back at his earliest memories of heavy music, Riedl recalls being genuinely intimidated when he first heard Black Sabbath’s classic “War Pigs” as a child.
“I had never heard music like that before. The vocals, the atmosphere—it was genuinely scary. I think I was about 12 years old, and I’d never experienced anything so dark or haunting.”
Growing up in a highly musical household, Riedl was surrounded by music from an early age. His mother played piano and sang in a choir, his father was also a musician, and his older sister introduced him to bands like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins and The Prodigy.
Although music had always been present in his life, it was discovering the underground DIY punk scene that completely changed his future.
“I saw a local punk band that had printed their own shirts, released their own records, booked their own tours… I realized people were creating their own world. That day completely changed my life. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was play in bands, release records and build everything myself.”
Despite fronting one of modern death metal’s most acclaimed bands, Riedl says he has always identified primarily as a guitarist.
“I actually enjoy playing guitar more than doing vocals. I love the combination of guitar and vocals together, but I definitely don’t enjoy the physical pain that comes with extreme vocals.”
He explains that singing was originally something he took on simply because someone had to do it.
“Most of the bands I played in were trios or even duos, so I ended up doing vocals out of necessity.”
Over the years, however, his vocal style has evolved considerably.
Earlier Blood Incantation releases featured much deeper growls, but Riedl eventually realized they weren’t sustainable during lengthy tours.
“I had to completely rethink my technique. I don’t sing the way I did fifteen years ago because I physically can’t anymore.”
Like many extreme metal vocalists, Riedl admits he spent years damaging his voice simply because he didn’t understand proper technique.
In fact, he says he only truly learned how to perform safely during the past few years.
“Honestly, I didn’t really learn the right technique until about two years ago.”
For much of his career, he regularly lost his voice during tours.
“I’d usually blow my voice out halfway through every tour. I was pushing far too hard because I couldn’t properly hear myself.”
One of the biggest improvements came after switching to in-ear monitors and changing how he projected his vocals.
“Instead of pushing from my diaphragm all the time, I learned how to let my throat do more of the work. Combined with touring sober and actually hearing myself properly, I haven’t blown my voice out in three years.”
Unlike many modern metal productions where vocals sit prominently in the mix, Riedl prefers a more balanced approach.
“I’m a guitar player. I want to hear guitars. A band is only as good as its drummer, so I want to hear the drums too.”
He explains that he has always viewed vocals primarily as another instrument rather than the focal point.
“I like vocals to become part of the atmosphere instead of dominating everything.”
That philosophy also extends into Blood Incantation’s songwriting.
Known for blending death metal with progressive structures, ambient textures and themes exploring consciousness, spirituality and the unknown, Riedl believes every instrument—including the vocals—should contribute equally to the overall sonic landscape.
“A band is like an ecosystem. I don’t want to hear everything separated. I want all the elements working together.”
Although Riedl has spent most of his adult life performing extreme vocals, he says he’s still discovering new things about his voice.
In recent years he’s even begun enjoying clean singing—something he never expected.
“It turns out I actually like singing. First I couldn’t sing, then I thought I didn’t like singing… now I actually enjoy it.”
At the end of the interview, Riedl offered two pieces of advice for anyone starting their own journey as a metal vocalist.
The first is simple:
“Don’t push too hard.”
The second, however, is something he wishes someone had told him much earlier.
“Wear earplugs. Seriously. Your hearing is the most valuable thing you have. I didn’t protect mine when I was younger, and I regret it every day.”
He also encourages young vocalists to be patient and avoid forcing results too quickly.
“Take your time. You’ll know when something feels wrong. Don’t keep doing it if it hurts. Your voice develops over time.”
You can watch Paul Riedl’s full episode of Chaoszine’s My Story As Metal Frontman below.
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