Y'know, while we're on completely unrelated subjects, a test of genius is the ability to make complex, specialized subject matter easily accessible & understandable to the completely ignorant novice, which is exactly what Melissa Cross, with the help of all her screaming friends does on here. This DVD is so incredibly helpful that now that I own it, I feel guilty. What I figured would be a hilarious white elephant gift for my kids to pawn off on someone else during Christmas time now is something I'm slightly ashamed to own. It's like having my own personal grenade launcher mounted on the wall of the closet, because honestly, I'll never use in the way that it deserves to be used. People that wanna learn how to scream in a band & not end up unable to talk (or finish the entire lyric needing the scream treatment) need this DVD. It is chock fulla massively helpful instruction, provided by Melissa Cross, a voice coach who actually knows what she's doing & appreciates the unique problems screamers face. She is so admired by the screaming community at large that she got all the big screamers of the day, for instance, the Lamb of God guy, the Shadows Fall guy, the All that Remains guy, the Every Time I Die guy, the Madball guy, (& more, all of 'em, really!) to demonstrate her techniques & gush about her skill.

It is a very long DVD, almost 3 hours of instruction alone, plus fun extras, deleted scenes, bloopers, etc. The instruction is able to maintain even a merely curious watcher's interest level. It also comes with a CD of (I assume) noises to practice, with full explanation of each on the DVD. This is exactly the same CD she gives her students, who I assume pay her squillions of dollars an hour, at no extra charge! I have no clue what this DVD/CD combo costs, but given the quality of instruction, I would say that if you are at all serious about screaming, are too poor to afford one- on- one instruction, or too self conscious to make all those silly faces in front of someone you've paid, then not only is this is the DVD for you, but whatever price she sets is absolutely worth it. (Considering how cheap I am, that statement also testifies to the staggering value offered by this DVD.) It has the feel of a comprehensive crash course, as well as what it would feel like to be an actual student of hers. I never saw a hint of 'thanx for making me rich buying my DVD, sucker!' But rather, I have the distinct impression that anyone applying themselves to this instruction on here will be rewarded & you'll get to hear all those screaming guys on the DVD lining up to tell you so.

Also included in her instruction is really sympathetic stuff, that has nothing to do with voice instruction, that is helpful nevertheless, like screamer wanna be's embarrassment at doing this kinda stuff in front of people & how silly it all sounds. This is exactly the kinda stuff you can't help but to wonder about, how nice to see it addressed rather than ignored! In depth treatment of such an only slightly related subject really sets her above her instructional DVD peers.