I have been a TRUE metalhead all my life.
I'm 30 years old, and I started to listen to metal when I was about 12 -13 years old.
I just want to say that of all the metal albums I've owned and heard, that two are outstanding pieces of art, and will, forever shine as life changing events (when I bought them).
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
Nevermore - Dead Heart In A Dead World
Both of these albums re-defined metal music for me, and changed the way I viewed music as an art form.
First, it was Pantera. With Vulgar Display, they made me see/realize music was something more than just "audible entertainment" This was the first time I was "moved", and touched emotionally and mentally by music.
The energy and power that Phil put forth on this album, made me think of him on a higher plane than just a human being, or "rock-star".
Doubled w/ Dime, they re-defined the Singer/Axeman duo.
The message of the whole CD is awash in power, strength, and pride through integrity. And now, w/ me at 30, and working in the corporate American filth I do, and constantly being around sharks and money hungry bulldogs w/ no morals or standards whatsoever, it still comforts me to listen to Phil's preaching and know, that I have an identity, and to be true to myself, and proud of what I am. It reminds me that all the money in the world, can't buy you your self-respect. And most importantly of all, it helps me to stand tall, and never forget or give up on my dreams......whatever they may be at that particular point in my life.
Now, on to Nevermore.............I don't know what can be said of this release, that would be much different than Pantera's opus.
I guess the main difference would have to be that it's a bit more artsy.......less raw, and overall, more intelligent.
Progressive thrash......that's what it is!
The reason it hit me so hard, (besides the obvious of course, the sheer beauty and unearthly musical talents of it's members) is because I was at a point in my life where I had absolutely no idea there was an explosive metal underground. I hadn't heard of the "NWOSMDM" and the great guitar movement of Sweden. I had no idead there were creations such as Opeth and Children Of Bodom.
And what I did know of these "new" bands, was foolishly filed away in the "Oh great, another fucking dumb, boring death/doom/black/satan-I-wanna-suck-your-cock/hi, we play at a million miles an hour, yet lack any semblance of talent whatsoever, category.
Boy, was I missing out.
At any rate, all I was listening to at this point in time, was all that I thought was out there for any self respecting metalhead. You know, the old standby's.........
Metallica
Megadeth
Pantera
Annihilator, etc. etc.
Hell, I didn't even know that Testament was still alive and kicking!
So needless to say, when I enlisted on the Pantera board, and all these chaps, and chappettes were talking Nevermore this, and Arch Enemy that, I was like....."Okay.....if I were to take a chance on all this stuff you rave about, and buy some new shit......what should I get"? And they said Nevermore........I had no idea my life was about to change in almost the same magnitude it did w/ Pantera.
Remember, the radio airplay was Limpkorn monkey creedbizkit linkinpork.
So I had no faith whatsoever in any major label record company. Enter......Century Media.
Their roster is of mammoth porportions in the underground. Wow.......a whole new metal world was opened up B4 my eyes. It almost reminded me of the metal hey-day back in '86-'91, when you could walk into everything from Camelot records to NRM and even K-Mart, and find a decent metal release on the shelves.
Ever since this awakening, I have been buying and listening to the same volume of metal I bought/listened to as a teen.
Now, I've got 10 x the selection to listen to.
For every Exodus there is an In Flames. For every Metallica there is a Sinergy. For every M.O.D. there is a Grip Inc. Kind of a Yin and Yang thing. New meets old, good meets better.......you get the idea. It makes me appreciate all of the choices I have.
And you can rest assured..............I'm loving every fucking second of it.
I'm 30 years old, and I started to listen to metal when I was about 12 -13 years old.
I just want to say that of all the metal albums I've owned and heard, that two are outstanding pieces of art, and will, forever shine as life changing events (when I bought them).
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
Nevermore - Dead Heart In A Dead World
Both of these albums re-defined metal music for me, and changed the way I viewed music as an art form.
First, it was Pantera. With Vulgar Display, they made me see/realize music was something more than just "audible entertainment" This was the first time I was "moved", and touched emotionally and mentally by music.
The energy and power that Phil put forth on this album, made me think of him on a higher plane than just a human being, or "rock-star".
Doubled w/ Dime, they re-defined the Singer/Axeman duo.
The message of the whole CD is awash in power, strength, and pride through integrity. And now, w/ me at 30, and working in the corporate American filth I do, and constantly being around sharks and money hungry bulldogs w/ no morals or standards whatsoever, it still comforts me to listen to Phil's preaching and know, that I have an identity, and to be true to myself, and proud of what I am. It reminds me that all the money in the world, can't buy you your self-respect. And most importantly of all, it helps me to stand tall, and never forget or give up on my dreams......whatever they may be at that particular point in my life.
Now, on to Nevermore.............I don't know what can be said of this release, that would be much different than Pantera's opus.
I guess the main difference would have to be that it's a bit more artsy.......less raw, and overall, more intelligent.
Progressive thrash......that's what it is!
The reason it hit me so hard, (besides the obvious of course, the sheer beauty and unearthly musical talents of it's members) is because I was at a point in my life where I had absolutely no idea there was an explosive metal underground. I hadn't heard of the "NWOSMDM" and the great guitar movement of Sweden. I had no idead there were creations such as Opeth and Children Of Bodom.
And what I did know of these "new" bands, was foolishly filed away in the "Oh great, another fucking dumb, boring death/doom/black/satan-I-wanna-suck-your-cock/hi, we play at a million miles an hour, yet lack any semblance of talent whatsoever, category.
Boy, was I missing out.
At any rate, all I was listening to at this point in time, was all that I thought was out there for any self respecting metalhead. You know, the old standby's.........
Metallica
Megadeth
Pantera
Annihilator, etc. etc.
Hell, I didn't even know that Testament was still alive and kicking!
So needless to say, when I enlisted on the Pantera board, and all these chaps, and chappettes were talking Nevermore this, and Arch Enemy that, I was like....."Okay.....if I were to take a chance on all this stuff you rave about, and buy some new shit......what should I get"? And they said Nevermore........I had no idea my life was about to change in almost the same magnitude it did w/ Pantera.
Remember, the radio airplay was Limpkorn monkey creedbizkit linkinpork.
So I had no faith whatsoever in any major label record company. Enter......Century Media.
Their roster is of mammoth porportions in the underground. Wow.......a whole new metal world was opened up B4 my eyes. It almost reminded me of the metal hey-day back in '86-'91, when you could walk into everything from Camelot records to NRM and even K-Mart, and find a decent metal release on the shelves.
Ever since this awakening, I have been buying and listening to the same volume of metal I bought/listened to as a teen.
Now, I've got 10 x the selection to listen to.
For every Exodus there is an In Flames. For every Metallica there is a Sinergy. For every M.O.D. there is a Grip Inc. Kind of a Yin and Yang thing. New meets old, good meets better.......you get the idea. It makes me appreciate all of the choices I have.
And you can rest assured..............I'm loving every fucking second of it.
ower Slave-Iron Maiden
