It's okay man, you are allowed to rant here haha....as I am, I believe, allowed to rant and complain and speak my mind as well, I'd hope. This forum is great for fans and bystanders to be able to come together and voice their opinions, as is the way of the entire internet. I realise that at times, we may come across a bit heavy and defensive about things people say about us. The bottom line is, we are human beings like everyone else. As much as we want to just continue on with our craft and have little regard for what anyone else says or thinks, it is in truth not always that easy. The initial purpose of this particular thread (which was started by me, in fact) was to gain some insight as to what the outsiders perspective was of where we stand as a band in the metal genre, and how we are perceived...Did I ask this as a means to start an arguement with people, or to try and persuade people to think differently of us? No, not at all. I simply want to know what it is, if possible, that makes people still consider us as a "doom" band, because I myself can't hear it. I'm too close to it, so I do appreciate that outside perspective that helps me understand things a lil bit better. Will it affect my songwriting? No, of course not. That's not what it's about.
It is unfortunately a fact of this business, that labels and categories are highly regarded as being important tools for promoting and selling bands. When it comes to a band like ours, those things start to work against us, because we don't fit so neatly into any category. At this point, being promoted as an "american doom metal band" tends to work against us just as much or more than it helps us. My point of the statements I've made on here is not to so much defend our music as to just let people know where our heads are at, because regardless of how magazines or labels or websites might like to promote or push us as, we ourselves do not consider us to be "doom metal". Simple as that. If you disagree, thats fine. Im not trying to agrue with anyone about it, just to let them know where we stand, period. It bothers me that people seem to want to attack us or criticise us whenever we come across as being defensive or merely just stating our point of view on things that pertain to us. We certainly don't jump down the throats of anyone and everyone who doesnt like us or has criticism to throw our way, there's no point in that. But when people make statements to say " I'd like it more if you guys played pure doom", hey they're completely entitled to feel that way, and I dont hold it against them. But I also feel it's important to me to be able to explain to that person why we do not want to play "pure doom" anymore. It's not being defensive or taking offense to it, I just like to be able to state exactly where the band is coming from, rather than the many assumptions and misconceptions floating around from other people who truly don't know what makes us tick or not. If it bothers you that we seem "defensive" when I write these things on here, I'm sorry. But, just like I can't make apologies for the music I like to write and play, I also cannot apologise for speaking my mind when I have something to say.
I am really glad that people like you are able to appreciate what we do and care not about whether or not it fits into a nice little category or not. It is people like yourself that helps make this band continue on our path. Unfortunately there are people who dont see it that way, and while I cannot change their minds, nor do I care to try, I at the very least like to try and understand where they're coming from, and add my two cents to it, in hopes of coming to an understanding of it all. We come under fire alot from fans and critics for things we do and/or dont do, and at times I just feel like I want to use this forum (or the internet in general) to be able to speak for my side of things as well. Who better to clarify what is going on with the band and where the band is headed, than the band members themselves? lol
Anyhow, allow us our rants as well as we allow you yours. Playing the role of the "silent tortured artist" has never suited me well. And maybe its my fault too because I think sometimes I come across as being a bit more intense and stern than I intended it to be taken. I appreciate all input, both positive and negative, because I like to know how the band is perceived. If I didn't care about that, then I'd write music in my basement for myself and just never come out......maybe some people would prefer I do just that hahaha! Oh well!
Anyhow, this particular thread has gone on quite long enough. I asked a question initially with it, and many of you came back with alot of different answers, but all of them provided alot of input that we found very informative! I appreciate it all, good and bad. And I appreciate the time you took out of your day to even respond to it in the first place.
