3-Day Extreme Metal Songwriting Workshop
Rose City Guitar Company Presents
EXTREME METAL SONGWRITING WORKSHOP
September 12-14, 2025 | In-person & Online
Built for guitarists. Fueled by riffs.
Evolved for those ready to take it further.
Descend into the abyss—deeper, darker, and more intense.
After last year’s successful descent into the heavy arts, we return with Extreme Metal Songwriting Workshop—a next-level experience for guitarists, bassists, and songwriters ready to push their creativity, break through writing barriers, and explore new sonic territory. No songwriting experience is needed and it does not matter if you attended last year. This is for new and returning students. You just need to be at least at a lower intermediate playing level and can be a beginner-advanced for songwriting.
This 3-day intensive builds on our curriculum with more approaches to riff-building, more time for writing, and a new focus on performance, presence, and vocals. Whether you're composing for chaos or the void, this is your opportunity to sharpen your craft in a focused, supportive, and genre-honoring environment.
What You Can Expect
Riffcraft & Evolution
Shape and mutate your riffs using chromatic movement, polyrhythms, rhythmic displacement, extended phrasing, and layering techniques. Learn how to transform basic ideas into multi-section monsters.
Expanded Song Structure & Dynamic Flow
Go beyond verse-chorus. We’ll explore longform structures, ambient transitions, tempo shifts, and progressive builds. Study real-world examples from death, doom, and beyond.
Creative Rut-Busting Techniques
Break through writer’s block with guided exercises, chaos writing, subgenre mashups, riff prompt chains, and concept-based composition challenges.
Optional Vocal Sessions: Extreme Expression
While the focus remains on guitar and bass, we’re adding two new sessions for those ready to explore vocals:
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Intro to Extreme Vocals: Growling, screaming, punk grit, and distortion—safe and powerful technique-building.
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Sing and Shred: Learn how to perform vocals while riffing—master timing, breath, and confidence as a frontperson.
Collaborative Writing Sessions
Co-write with partners or small groups. Practice integrating multiple voices into a cohesive song. Receive feedback from instructors and peers, and rehearse for a final listening party.
Performance & Presence
Explore how to embody your music. Learn movement, syncing with drums, posture, and the nonverbal elements of commanding the stage—even if you’re not singing.
Recording, Demo & Tone Craft
Learn how to quickly capture your ideas using amp sims and basic DAW workflows. Build demos, shape tone, and document your musical vision.
Still a Guitar School First
At Rose City Guitar Company, we’re dedicated to building fearless guitarists and bassists. This workshop will strengthen your writing, performing, and collaboration skills—whether your voice is through your fingers or your throat.
Genres Covered
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Death Metal
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Black Metal
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Doom / Sludge
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Metalcore / Hardcore
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Thrash / Crossover
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Progressive & Technical Metal
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Blackened Punk / Crust
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…and everything loud, dark, or wild in between
Workshop Schedule
Friday, September 12 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, September 13 – 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, September 14 – 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Price: $350 (ask us about RCGC membership discounts - between 20-50% off based on your membership)
Location: In-person in Portland, OR
Online attendance available - contact us before purchase to get more information
Contact us if you have questions: 971-300-4202 or rosecityguitarco@gmail.com
Whether you’re returning to go deeper, or joining the inferno for the first time—this is the next level.
Pick up your instrument.
Plug in.
And let the world burn.
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skill Details: | In order to get the best out of this class, students should be able to play some basic power chords, play some metal riffs already, and be comfortable with down and alternate picking. You can be a beginner to songwriting but should feel comfortable enough to play sections of songs. Techniques: Intermediate - Advanced Songwriting & theory knowledge: Beginner - Advanced |
| Materials Included: | Lesson Packets & Videos |
| Requirements: | Equipment: a guitar, headphones, a practice amplifier, and a notepad and/or laptop |
| Instructor: | Samantha E Russell |
| Instructor Bio: | Samantha's metal expertise is extensive, having studied with renowned guitarists like Keith Merrow (Nightmarer & Conquering Dystopia) and performing in metal and punk bands since her teens. Her education includes classical guitar at the University of Arizona and Jazz Performance at Portland State University, giving her a diverse musical background. Samantha is a co-founder of Rose City Guitar Company and has been teaching for over a decade. She is a member of extreme metal bands Thirsting Altar and Nocteris. Previously, Samantha was a primary songwriter in her band Vela Pulsar and has contributed as a session musician to other projects named Tanagra and Swarm of Serpents. Her work showcases her versatility in guitar, bass, orchestration, and vocals. |
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