r/metalmusicians 11d ago

R/MetalMusicians Songwriting Challenge VII - September - October 2026

10 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 i feel like i’m ripping somebody off but can’t tell who

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34 Upvotes

was messing around w some riffage for fun and came up w this, have you guys heard this riff before i feel like i’m going crazy

edit: yea i threw some vocals over it was having a fun time


r/metalmusicians 10h ago

Live Performance/Tracking Song - Cant turn back - Currents ... Discussion on Vocals and mixing them

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7 Upvotes

Just a hobby vocalist and a newer guitar player so this is more on the tones and mixing more so the performance itself as i know its got a lot of issues. This is the same one take but i was clipping the audio and messing with the tones and all that jazz that i have the tiniest clue what i am doing so i would love to discuss and hear you're thoughts on either tracks or both.... Thanks!!!! https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1sqd7il037t20q9n35319/Cant-Turn-Back-Cover-New-Mix-4.mp3?rlkey=vpdk30fgu6hum3g0agqipsodd&dl=0


r/metalmusicians 13h ago

Decided to make some slight adjustments to this one, prob gonna finish it in the next day or 2. It's called "kill your god".

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9 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 18h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo One of my new riffs (age 18)

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19 Upvotes

Check out full debut album "Time Doesn't Apologize..."

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKjorhqn1IlU&si=LbAferW49XWbtBcj


r/metalmusicians 3h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Twisty Drop A Death Metal Intro

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 10h ago

Live Performance/Tracking A longer clip than usual because I love all the different changes in this song. Skin Cushion live with Sanguisugabogg at Dynamo Metal Fest

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4 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 5h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished my original "aftermath"

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1 Upvotes

end of summer 26 shred ,..the guitar is such an amazing instrument , for the time you put in you get so much back , like a journey every guitarist is on ,..i call it the search for the pure tone ,..we can't rest till we find it,...rock on metal heads of the world 🎸


r/metalmusicians 5h ago

Did a Lord of the Rings medley, check it out!

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 5h ago

Mad Wet Sea - new release

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0 Upvotes

Kingston, Ontario

Mad Wet Sea

FFO classic heavy metal...gritty and dirty

This EP was released on Aug 31, 2026

Five songs speaking of everything between modern times and dragons!

Check it out on your platform of choice through this link

Www.songwhip.com/madwetsea

Or support us directly through bandcamp

Madwetsea.bandcamp.com


r/metalmusicians 12h ago

Services Offered Offering low budget mixing services

3 Upvotes

Hey,

I'm a recording and mixing engineer and am currently offering mixing for bands on a limited budget. In the past years, I've mainly worked with local bands who play heavier alternative music (Metalcore, Death Metal, Hardcore, Prog, Punk, ...) but now want to expand into the online world and therefore created a fiverr gig to work with ppl all over the world. However, I need some reviews on my profile, thats why I'm working with cool bands for cheap rn to get things going. I'd be happy to help out if you need a mix for a single, EP, whole album or even just a live gig recording :)

If you're interested, just leave me a message. Price is negotiable depending on the song and recording quality, we'll find something that works :)

Moritz


r/metalmusicians 13h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished For fans of Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Gojira. We just released this month’s track, curious what other metal musicians here think.

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3 Upvotes

For those new to us, we’ve been releasing one new track every month, and this is our fourth release.

For fans of Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Gojira.

Would love to hear what you think!


r/metalmusicians 7h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Álbum de metal en producción (wip)

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 9h ago

GOSPEL OF ANNIHILATION - SILENCE OV THE ABYSS

0 Upvotes

​

https://youtu.be/8-RAEgKEKec?si=3mq2j5JiZ-2kKIqW

Hola q tal amigos

Les comparto un poco de mi banda espero les guste hacemos lo que podemos para sonar brutales ya que son grabaciones caseras


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo my original solo "throwdown"

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2 Upvotes

I originally made this as a finger exercise then tried to turn it into an instrumental, , i started playing in 1986 , same year my guitar was made , never took lessons to try to develop my own style, this jam is sort of a compilation of all the spots i picked up over the years all put together, my freind asked me what scale im playing at the beginning,..i told him , your guess is as good as mine 😅


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo I'm search of scream vocalist

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2 Upvotes

Hi, I am working on my project, and I am looking for someone to record vocals, it will be all collaborative, my idea is to work long term, I don't really know what genre this is, but my idea was to go for metalcore, it's not final yet and I might make a few changes, you can DM if you're interested, thanks!!


r/metalmusicians 11h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Lost Boatman [Death Doom Metal]

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1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

Please check out my new record.
As always recorded by myself at home.

Lyrics:

The boat without a pilot
No recognized lights
Without a course to steer
Cuts waves into the night

No crew assist the boatman
He’s lost and all alone
He tried to call the coastguards
But answer came from none

He rang the bell as mindless
But bell has made no noise
He cried as hard in silence
But soon he lost his voice

Mist spread out along the water
Boatman lost his count of time
Compass now is out of order
He had crossed the unseen line

Souls on the wave
No death, no grave
Out of the skin
fly high up into the wind

Who leads his way?
Where does he stray?
No voice to call
For the dead will speak no more

No goal in mind
No path to find
No place to stay
Miles and days he drifts away

Where will he land?
On what new strand?
Or is he bound
drift forever in the dark?

No light to guide his eyes
He drifts as tides arise
Through fog and hollow night
With no shore in sight

A crash beneath the hull
His feet felt ground below
He stepped into unknown
To find the place he know before

Souls of the lost roam all the land around
No living but the dead here can be found
He wished to run but can no more escape
As tide pulls back his ship from shore away


r/metalmusicians 11h ago

Original Song(s) - Finished Second single out, give it a listen , and ohboy, we would love some feedback from fellow musicians! So leave us a comment, what do you like, what to improve etc.!

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1 Upvotes

Torn From Morality - Don't Tear Me Off


r/metalmusicians 14h ago

First single/ feedback

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1 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

We're Sadistic Mortem, a melodic death metal band from Mexico City. Today we're releasing our first single, wich we've been working hard on, and we'd genuinely love to hear what you think about the song.

Thanks for listening!


r/metalmusicians 15h ago

Services Offered My First Lyrics Album!

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 15h ago

The Rose of Shreddin'

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1 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Demo First demo I wrote on this beautiful BEAST.

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50 Upvotes

I pre-ordered this Guitar and waited what seemed like years, but was honestly close to a year before I got it. I had given up hope and then one day I got a FaceTime from my guy over in New Zealand with a big smile and he turned the camera and let me pick from the baritone lineup finishes. She was at my door within the next week. Tuned her down to drop and this came out.


r/metalmusicians 18h ago

Original Song(s) - Demo Another great riff of mine "The Uncertain"

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0 Upvotes

r/metalmusicians 1d ago

Original Song(s) - Finished We are very excited to drop our first song with this new line up at midnight. Selias - Bastard

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3 Upvotes