Okay. If you ever jump into the maelstrom of the In Flames board on this here fine site you know what I'm talking about. Same on Soilwork's though not nearly as caustic.
The battle cry of "why don't they play more old shit?" (insert whining, bitching, threats...quite comical). Well, it brings up a good point. Headlining bands don't play as long as they used to. Fact. I saw In Flames' set list from this current tour and liked it. R2R is not my favorite album, but it's their newest album and of course they're gonna play a lot off it. And they should too. Same with Soilwork. In In Flames' case they interjected some cool Colony-era gems and see them graduating slowly into a live role moreso like the kings of yesteryear.
Bands used to play much longer in the 80's in the headlining slot, but I think due to the intensity of metal music having been "upped" over the last decade even headlining slots are much shorter. We love the speed, aggression and all out energy-draining stage presence of our newer underground & European metal heroes, but are unwilling to accept that this makes it much, much harder to play a two hour set like the Maiden's and the Priest's of yore. So what suffers? Old catalog material. Because a band *should* be promoting their latest album on tour. That's the whole goddamn reason they're out, their label gives them money to go out for that album. To sell it. The whole spiel, you know? If you don't like that album, or that recent string of albums and complain they don't play enough "old shit"...stay home! Because that's what they're gonna play if they have a head on them and want to pay off their advance and recording costs...their new album material!
This also brings up yet another point. For the ultra extreme bands, what do we expect longevity-wise? I can see drummers (especially, but all musicians) in very extreme, technical bands like Krisiun, Crytopsy, Hate Eternal, etc. not being able to consisently play that fast and precise into ages that metal veteran bands are playing in now. If they can, more power to 'em. I'll keep seeing my favorites. But it's a human body question. What are your thoughts on these types of bands and their endurance/career longevity playing nothing but this style?
The battle cry of "why don't they play more old shit?" (insert whining, bitching, threats...quite comical). Well, it brings up a good point. Headlining bands don't play as long as they used to. Fact. I saw In Flames' set list from this current tour and liked it. R2R is not my favorite album, but it's their newest album and of course they're gonna play a lot off it. And they should too. Same with Soilwork. In In Flames' case they interjected some cool Colony-era gems and see them graduating slowly into a live role moreso like the kings of yesteryear.
Bands used to play much longer in the 80's in the headlining slot, but I think due to the intensity of metal music having been "upped" over the last decade even headlining slots are much shorter. We love the speed, aggression and all out energy-draining stage presence of our newer underground & European metal heroes, but are unwilling to accept that this makes it much, much harder to play a two hour set like the Maiden's and the Priest's of yore. So what suffers? Old catalog material. Because a band *should* be promoting their latest album on tour. That's the whole goddamn reason they're out, their label gives them money to go out for that album. To sell it. The whole spiel, you know? If you don't like that album, or that recent string of albums and complain they don't play enough "old shit"...stay home! Because that's what they're gonna play if they have a head on them and want to pay off their advance and recording costs...their new album material!
This also brings up yet another point. For the ultra extreme bands, what do we expect longevity-wise? I can see drummers (especially, but all musicians) in very extreme, technical bands like Krisiun, Crytopsy, Hate Eternal, etc. not being able to consisently play that fast and precise into ages that metal veteran bands are playing in now. If they can, more power to 'em. I'll keep seeing my favorites. But it's a human body question. What are your thoughts on these types of bands and their endurance/career longevity playing nothing but this style?
