Originally posted by Static
I've made some stupid moves trying to get my friends into Opeth. Saying crap like 'Opeth are awesome...Opeth are better than Tool...you should listen to Opeth, they rock'...blah blah blah.
I now realise my stupidity, they aren't at all interested in it, its not their style of music...so I long ago stopped babbling about Opeth. Whats the point!?? I even said to my friend once...'Opeth make really technical music'...then he heard it and was like 'Wheres the mega-technical ness?'. That was totally the wrong way for me to describe them...their not about the technical but the emotional. Its just in my desperation to get someone I know into Opeth I began saying whatever I could to make people interested.
Yeah...the more you go on about it to fans of other music the more they want you to shut up. Why bother? I gave up ages ago...let them like what they like...if you think someone could enjoy Opeth by all means let them borrow an album, but AVOID preaching...it'll only annoy people.
Yep, making claims that cant be backed up is the quickest way to get people to turn completely against anything you show them. This includes making claims that cant be seen by non-metal listeners (even if the claims are true). Far far more useful is to get them in the right frame of mind to appreciate the music. It is different, it doesnt aim to be instantly likeable even if you are already really into the stuff (many metal cd takes a few listens to get right into), so its certainly not instantly likeable for people who listen to mainstream (theres just too much unknown in the music). The vocals will be a turn off at first, the music wont sound as 'nice', etc etc... if you explain how almost every person starts out disliking death vocals and such.... that it takes time to learn the ins and outs of it so they shouldnt dismiss it on first listen. I basically tell people "if you hear elements in this music that sound like what you'd like musically, or if you hear me talk about this music in ways that sounds appealing to you, even if you dont exactly see it at the moment, then you should give metal a good chance".
And of course its very important to start them out on bands they will like first, not
your favourites. In Flames or something else which has some basic common elements with commercial stuff. I guess you've got to give them music which has at least something in common with what they already like, so that they can instantly like that part and will listen and start to be exposed to and appreciate the other parts.
What this means is, basically if im going to have any effect on showing underground metal to people they really need to have already started their own journey (or at least be on the search for something more in music) and i can help direct them... or i have to be a close friend or something because it takes too long.
But whatever, people listen to what they listen to, im not too fussed as long as they seem like they really enjoy the music. And that it seems like they have chosen the music (ie that it suits their lifestyle and attitudes and such).
Originally posted by the stone's hinge
as long as "extreme metal" or whatever you called it remains rich in quality, even if it goes mainstream, i don't care.
And as long as this icecream doesnt melt, even if i leave it in the sun all day, i don't care.
Your statement is simply impossible. The quality of the music is due to the lack of all the mainstream stuff (ie the focus on money).
