Uh huh. You had your chance. I'm going to stomp your fingers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Harvester
I'll echo a few other posts. I remember the initial reaction from the Anti-growl patrol when I announced Mercenary, Orphaned Land, & Therion. All three went on to receive a tremendous response & kept the place packed. Once those with even the slightest tolerance & an open mind get over the hurt of not having a traditional prog/power headliner, they will realize just how good these guys truly are.
I would say that I am/was part of the patrol in question? I know I ruffled some feathers here in the past on the topic and have no interest in repeating that. I feel that I am open minded but I also don't think that open minded equals accepting or enjoying anything thrown at you. (I am not saying that you are implying this Glen) But I have felt that there are some here that are of the opinion that if you don’t like growls then you don't have an open mind almost as if there is something wrong with someone who can't get into growls. I am open minded enough to understand that there are those that do like the growls and even within that group there are those who like it in varied degrees. Some like bands with 100% harsh vox where others like a mix and so on. I am guilty for saying in the past that harsh vox was a no talent style of singing and although I do not enjoy this style of singing for the most part ( I have enjoyed some in the Human Equation, some After Forever, the little bit used in Nocturnal Rights, etc) I do understand that my position was wrong.
Someone in this thread said "I am at a loss as to why harsh vocals are a total turnoff for a band, why is this still an issue with some?"
This person seems to be of the mind set that everyone should enjoy harsh vox. That's quite a large assumption. That would be like me saying I am at a loss that anyone likes hash vox in bands, why do people even listen to it?
Someone here said "I'm so glad I've left the blanket of what I thought metal should be, and opened my mind to what exciting new places music, especially metal, can go."
I don’t have any pre conceived idea of what metal should be. I just know what I like, and like in life, sometimes your likes and dislikes change. I am open to try things but if I don't like it, I don't like it. That is not to say that I can’t go back and try it again because I have and have found different results. I think is too much to suggest however that if any growl haters would just "give it a chance" that they will be a convert. I don't believe it (harsh vox) is for everyone just as clean soaring falsetto style vox may not be liked by a person who is into death metal exclusively.
As far as the comment about realizing just how good these guys are, I don't doubt that they are. Although I know the name, I am not familiar with the music. I have listened to many a harsh vox band only be left saying......man those guys can really play and the music is amazing but then here comes the vox that screws it all up(not to imply no talent but to say it not appealing to me). Most of these bands are very talented and much of the music it self is something I could really get into so I would never say that Amorphis is not talented as I would not say that about any other band you have booked in the past with harsh vox.
I had a great time at ProgPower last year and hoped to return this year but sadly will not. This in no way is a knock on you, the festival, or the bands. I don't think it is fair for someone to say the line up is not good because there are some very talented bands here. Having said that, I don't own one CD by any of the bands on this roster. Again, that's not a knock as I am not the barometer of what plays at PP or what is "good". I hope to return to PP in the future years to come. Make no mistake however, if I lived in Atlanta as many folks here do, I would go every year regardless to just help in keeping the scene alive.
I think Magius said it best when he commented on the lack of anti growling posts, he said" It could be they realize there's no point bitching about it. What's done is done, and they can either buy a ticket or stay home."
Having said that, I would not let a few bands that use harsh vox keep me from this festival alone if there were bands there I wanted to see. You could have had 10 harsh vox bands and Fates Warning and Symphony X headlining and I would be there.
It's been a while since I drummed up a rant on here and I hope that this one is less biting as rants before as I am happy for those who enjoy music of any kind as much as I enjoy what I like. If harsh vox is your thing, more power to you!
I will finish by saying that even though I have no intentions of attending this year that this is without a doubt the best metal festival period in the states by a long shot. The venue is great, it is run very well, the sound I found to be good despite what some would have you to believe, the people are great, and all of this and more lends to an experience that is just world class.
)... I don't remember them being all or even mainly growly, but I think you were about as ambivalent about them as I was.
