Metal in Europe vs. Metal in the USA

[J. Golden]

Split Heaven is playing here next month. I can already tell you that this show will be empty. It sucks because they are a great band and people would love them if they actually took the time to hear them. American metal fans are way to lazy and stuck on a few bands and wont look into other bands it seems unless they are told that band is cool and worth a listen.

Dont even get me started about people leaving shows early.....

Might be more empty than you think, hasn't the Split Heaven tour been cancelled? It was something going on this summer, I could be mistaken about the band.
Yes those leaving or just not willing to take in anything new. It is obvious who they arem usual suspects and often the douches in forums who totally disagree with this obvious truth. Though they can't see it because they are not out there as a touring band busting there ass, they are not a label scrapping to make it work, or a promoter trying to figure out new ways to spread the word, so all these people can do is contest in a f@#kin forum.
I need to stop thinking about these things I know it is not a good idea to say it but goddamnit no one else has the balls to. I read all the time in these forum all the people talking about how things work and this and that, it is fucking halious. I can tell you how it works, it is a dead end road for most people working with heavy metal music but they drive it with passion only to have assholes spit on them. Day in and day out it is stress, lose of slepp, plans that go belly up, press that leads you on and blows smoke up your ass, "high praised" distros basically ripping you off, man there could be a book out of this. But the simple truth is most of the guys chattering here have no clue what really goes on but they will always think they do.
Man I'm getting way off topic and need to sleep, though busy working on the Blacksmith DVD, damn it looks good and not to pull my own chain but Metal Blade if you want to see what one should look like... HAHA

 

[dcowboys311]

Really, then you tell me if it works so well then way are clubs empty when tours are going around the state, labels are shutting there doors here, labels are not putting releases out over here. Goddamn how long of a list could a make here.
Hey Atlanta is a pretty good size city, obviously Progpower pulls a lot from there. So why do I here that the shows down there seem to fair no as well as expected? I have seen the same thing at Jaxx here in Raleigh. It goes on in NJ, NY, so it is not just middle of nowhere OH. I'm sure it is difficult to understand this if you are not out there going to these things and talking with these bands on a daily basis. But it's the truth, metal's appreciation and devotion is poor here.
I was jjust speaking to a festival promoter from Europe this morning and we were discusing the metal scene here. Even people there can see the difference. But maybe when you are in it you can't see what is around you.

You make it sound like every metal show is doomed from the start....

Sorry, but there are PLENTY of shows here that do great. Amon Amarth sold out the Masquerade here just a few weeks ago. There are plenty that do badly, too. Just like with any other genre of music.

Like I mentioned in another thread on this board a little while back, it's not rare at all to see decent sized bands (Wormrot, Magrudergrind, etc) pull in 150 kids to a warehouse in the middle of the ghetto in the middle of the week. And you call that BAD? Lack of devotion to metal?

Labels slowing things down is not unique to metal. At all. And I'd argue that there's been an influx of labels. Smaller and less capable labels, sure, but quite a few have popped up recently that do things pretty damn well.

You make it sound like Europe is the promised land -- GUESS WHAT??? Not every band sells out every show they play over in Europe. How's the metal scene in Iceland? Albania? Greece? I guarantee you that plenty of bands have trouble selling shows over there, too.

 

[J. Golden]

Jason and I discuss this all the time. Literally no one asides a small few would even give WHW the time of day before they were announced. While having them is great since they get more exposure but it is funny when you have the "i've been a fan forever" types coming out of the woodwork. I have been seeing this happen for years.

I am happy to see the band get it, honestly still have not made full sense off it but it's cool. I have ben familiar with that band for several years now but they are not to far removed from over here either.
Man it would be so great to people willing to try new things but simply they not.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

Like I mentioned in another thread on this board a little while back, it's not rare at all to see decent sized bands (Wormrot, Magrudergrind, etc) pull in 150 kids to a warehouse in the middle of the ghetto in the middle of the week.

Oh man, I once played a gig at some dude's garage. Literally hundreds of high-school kids came out to watch the show (and maybe do other things...>_>) but it was a HUGE success, and it was in the middle of nowhere, at some dude's garage. Weirdest show ever, but we made a lot of new friends and new fans.

 

[Diabolik]

Might be more empty than you think, hasn't the Split Heaven tour been cancelled? It was something going on this summer, I could be mistaken about the band.
Yes those leaving or just not willing to take in anything new. It is obvious who they arem usual suspects and often the douches in forums who totally disagree with this obvious truth. Though they can't see it because they are not out there as a touring band busting there ass, they are not a label scrapping to make it work, or a promoter trying to figure out new ways to spread the word, so all these people can do is contest in a f@#kin forum.
I need to stop thinking about these things I know it is not a good idea to say it but goddamnit no one else has the balls to. I read all the time in these forum all the people talking about how things work and this and that, it is fucking halious. I can tell you how it works, it is a dead end road for most people working with heavy metal music but they drive it with passion only to have assholes spit on them. Day in and day out it is stress, lose of slepp, plans that go belly up, press that leads you on and blows smoke up your ass, "high praised" distros basically ripping you off, man there could be a book out of this. But the simple truth is most of the guys chattering here have no clue what really goes on but they will always think they do.
Man I'm getting way off topic and need to sleep, though busy working on the Blacksmith DVD, damn it looks good and not to pull my own chain but Metal Blade if you want to see what one should look like... HAHA

I know Spellcaster dropped off because of van issues. Last I heard Split Heaven were still playing. It is a stop coming back from the W.O.M. 3 fest.

I think it is great that there are still labels like yours and Shadow Kingdom who will take the time to re-release some great old metal and put care into it.
I am am a person who still buys CD's. I am constantly getting stuff in all the time. There are lots of gems out there that people would love if they gave it a chance.

 

[Diabolik]

Oh man, I once played a gig at some dude's garage. Literally hundreds of high-school kids came out to watch the show (and maybe do other things...>_>) but it was a HUGE success, and it was in the middle of nowhere, at some dude's garage. Weirdest show ever, but we made a lot of new friends and new fans.

shows like this are always fun but those "fans" are the ones who showed up just because it was something to do that day. These are not the types that are going to race home to see where else you are playing. I have seen this 100 times through the past few decades. Beleive me. Sure maybe you may get a few of them to come back and see you. The average music fan has a short attention span. You would not beleive how many "real fans" I have seen come and go through the years.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

shows like this are always fun but those "fans" are the ones who showed up just because it was something to do that day. These are not the types that are going to race home to see where else you are playing. I have seen this 100 times through the past few decades. Beleive me. Sure maybe you may get a few of them to come back and see you. The average music fan has a short attention span. You would not beleive how many "real fans" I have seen come and go through the years.

You're absolutely right about that, but for every 50 guys who just wanted something to do, there will be 1 or 2 that sick around. And those 1 or 2 are worth it.

 

[AngraRULES]

If some of these, industry-involved people are so negative about metal in the US and think the metal shows, and metal in general is doomed and there's no coming back, THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED IN IT?

Guess what? Here's an idea that will leave the sour taste off your mouth and avoid the headache: get out! Leave "the business." Go do something else. It's that simple!

Why insist in something that you don't believe in?

 

[J. Golden]

You make it sound like every metal show is doomed from the start....

Sorry, but there are PLENTY of shows here that do great. Amon Amarth sold out the Masquerade here just a few weeks ago. There are plenty that do badly, too. Just like with any other genre of music.

Like I mentioned in another thread on this board a little while back, it's not rare at all to see decent sized bands (Wormrot, Magrudergrind, etc) pull in 150 kids to a warehouse in the middle of the ghetto in the middle of the week. And you call that BAD? Lack of devotion to metal?

Labels slowing things down is not unique to metal. At all. And I'd argue that there's been an influx of labels. Smaller and less capable labels, sure, but quite a few have popped up recently that do things pretty damn well.

You make it sound like Europe is the promised land -- GUESS WHAT??? Not every band sells out every show they play over in Europe. How's the metal scene in Iceland? Albania? Greece? I guarantee you that plenty of bands have trouble selling shows over there, too.

Well never been to Greece but from what bands have told me who have been there it is pretty amazing.
And I guess let me clear up then "the underground" of metal which Amon Amarth certainly are not. When your ass is in Best Buy you are a mainstream daryling in my eyes. Not saying I don't like them but it is two total different things to compare.
Well then tell me how often do you get out to your local shows? If Amon sells out where all all these kids in support of the other shows in your area? I understand that Crimson Glory show should have been much better, where was Atlanta that night? And do you get out of Atlanta area much to see shows?
No never mind.


"see I don't think I need to sit with you f@#kin dildos anymore" - The Breakfast Club

 

[Diabolik]

Well never been to Greece but from what bands have told me who have been there it is pretty amazing.
And I guess let me clear up then "the underground" of metal which Amon Amarth certainly are not. When your ass is in Best Buy you are a mainstream daryling in my eyes. Not saying I don't like them but it is two total different things to compare.
Well then tell me how often do you get out to your local shows? If Amon sells out where all all these kids in support of the other shows in your area? I understand that Crimson Glory show should have been much better, where was Atlanta that night? And do you get out of Atlanta area much to see shows?
No never mind.


"see I don't think I need to sit with you f@#kin dildos anymore" - The Breakfast Club

very true.....the Cauldron / Holy Grail show had 40 people there a few weeks back. Where were all the people who were getting into them at the Blind Guardian show???? People tend to forget that bands like Amon Amarth are not really underground anymore. This is why I will say it again...most shows they have at the Red Line Tap are great. The place holds 100 people and for most shows it is sold out or almost sold out. Everyone watches all the bands and supports the bands there. it is very refreshing to see. Bands like Deceased and Ignitor come through and people totally get into it. I think the average metal fan would be shocked with how many shows actually happen around them and they dont even know about it.

We had a metal CD shop here in Chicago called Metal Haven. This should have been the place to hang out at and get CD's and find out about shows....the "true metal fans" never went there. I am good freinds with the owner and we have had so many talks about this also. All these die-hards never supported the place. it is now closed and very much missed. It had it supporters but a place like that should have been a lot busier than it was with all the metalfans in Chicago.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

The biggest problem with this thread is that people here are too afraid to distinguish the reality that when they say metal isn't big here, they are really referring to their specific niche brand of metal. Boo hoo. Not anyone elses fault you listen to 20-50 bands and think everything else sucks. How about expanding your horizons a little bit?

 

[J. Golden]

very true.....the Cauldron / Holy Grail show had 40 people there a few weeks back. Where were all the people who were getting into them at the Blind Guardian show???? People tend to forget that bands like Amon Amarth are not really underground anymore. This is why I will say it again...most shows they have at the Red Line Tap are great. The place holds 100 people and for most shows it is sold out or almost sold out. Everyone watches all the bands and supports the bands there. it is very refreshing to see. Bands like Deceased and Ignitor come through and people totally get into it. I think the average metal fan would be shocked with how many shows actually happen around them and they dont even know about it.

We had a metal CD shop here in Chicago called Metal Haven. This should have been the place to hang out at and get CD's and find out about shows....the "true metal fans" never went there. I am good freinds with the owner and we have had so many talks about this also. All these die-hards never supported the place. it is now closed and very much missed. It had it supporters but a place like that should have been a lot busier than it was with all the metalfans in Chicago.

People have no idea. Just within the past month I had been talking to a chcik from Hickory NC just a few hours away from Atlanta who knew nothing about Progpower. I watch her all day long post videos on her FB page of every band that has ever played down there and she supposibly knows the "scene" well so how do you miss something like that.
I another thread Cauldron / Holy Grail tour was being talked about and someone said they did not hear of it happening, well neither had I until reading that thread. Ironically the Enforce/Cauldron tour seemed to have filter around pretty well, even though there seemed some pretty dumb routing choices being made. But you would think that it would be more publicized now.

 

[J. Golden]

If some of these, industry-involved people are so negative about metal in the US and think the metal shows, and metal in general is doomed and there's no coming back, THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED IN IT?

Guess what? Here's an idea that will leave the sour taste off your mouth and avoid the headache: get out! Leave "the business." Go do something else. It's that simple!

Why insist in something that you don't believe in?

See that is where you don't get it. It is nothing to do with not believing in it. We believe in it so much that is why we do what we do. One has to be driven by passion in this game because there certainly isn't money or frame there. I just tell it like it is, not going to candy coat anything. It does not suggest that I hate metal, hate what I do or whatever. And I'm not alone in thinking this or reallizing this, I'm only alone in speaking it.

 

[AngraRULES]

See that is where you don't get it. It is nothing to do with not believing in it. We believe in it so much that is why we do what we do. One has to be driven by passion in this game because there certainly isn't money or frame there. I just tell it like it is, not going to candy coat anything. It does not suggest that I hate metal, hate what I do or whatever. And I'm not alone in thinking this or reallizing this, I'm only alone in speaking it.

LOL, I wasn't necessarily talking about you, bro, but I get it. I just think it's not enough that metal gets a bad rep out there... call me naive, but a little bit of a positive attitude doesn't hurt either. It does work for some

I would hope you would have quit it a long time ago if you didn't believe it... otherwise you'd just not be very smart. I know there's not much money to be made in it, but the well isn't as dry as you painted it to be.

 

[dcowboys311]

you don't get it

I think someone just proved the picture right!

 

[J. Golden]

The biggest problem with this thread is that people here are too afraid to distinguish the reality that when they say metal isn't big here, they are really referring to their specific niche brand of metal. Boo hoo. Not anyone elses fault you listen to 20-50 bands and think everything else sucks. How about expanding your horizons a little bit?

Wow you so have no idea.

you want to see the other 6,000? Give or take a few.

 

[J. Golden]

LOL, I wasn't necessarily talking about you, bro, but I get it. I just think it's not enough that metal gets a bad rep out there... call me naive, but a little bit of a positive attitude doesn't hurt either. It does work for some

I would hope you would have quit it a long time ago if you didn't believe it... otherwise you'd just not be very smart. I know there's not much money to be made in it, but the well isn't as dry as you painted it to be.

I did not think of it personally directed, but I believe many others feel the same they just keep on keeping on though.

 

[Diabolik]

The Cauldron / Enforcer tour was a mess but a great show in Chicago here.

 

[Jasonic]

Just watch this forum, most of the chatter is about Euro bands and if a U.S. band comes up in is not talked about for long unless it is Jasonic going on about Manilla Road (preach on brother, one of the greatest metal bands ever).

Will do!!! Will do!!!

Yeah, I mean there are so many undiscovered gems right here in the States.
Both old and new bands.

Recently, I got into CASSLE, only having heard of them from SHADOW KINGDOM doing a reissue.

 

[ashaman7122]

Wow you so have no idea.

you want to see the other 6,000? Give or take a few.

The ol' whippin-out-the-collection-like-your-penis-to-prove-a-point trick, huh? Somehow, Purple Rain tarnishes the credibility...especially in such close proximity to Trouble.