I realize this is a rehashed topic, and feel free to ignore it. But how does everyone feel about this seemingly more trendy wave towards metal (dragonforce being the prime example). I find myself angry when i see people who laughed at my purchase of a dragonforce cd two years ago now wearing their tshirts, or when in conversation with someone getting the line "I LOVE Iced Earth, they're funny." I try to ignore it but the idea of other people claiming to love this music and then just throwing it aside for the next trend gets me beyond frustrated. I know I will always be passionate about the music I listen to, but if their are any sociologist on the board please explain why people are such into whats trendy. Alright, I just needed to vent a little, that's all for my negative rant.
Opinions on Heavy Metal Trends
- Thread starter Anubisaxe
- Start date
Some metal fans are like that, but about people like Michael Jackson.
A lot of people have seen a general rise in popularity of true metal over the past few years, especially during the new millennium. It'll crest like a wave, then die back down whenever something else comes along. Time is the best test; some of us will still love metal years from now when the next thing has arrived and we'll be laughed at and dismissed all over again.
It IS genuinely irritating to see new people, especially younger kids, jump onto a bandwagon they either mocked two years ago or were unaware of two years ago. It's sometimes hard to control the knee-jerk reaction starting to dislike a band because you don't like their fanbase turnover, but that's life (i have this problem). A lot of times, new kids don't know the whole history of a band, or they haven't "been there" since the band's humble beginnings. If they care, they'll learn, and if they don't, then they'll be gone tomorrow.
I remember the very first nu-metal kid in my town, way back in the 90s, when Limp Bizkit toured before they had a record deal, when Korn was just a curiosity in a few kids' CD players. The term nu-metal didn't exist yet. He was the "real deal" back then, and was really looked at as an outsider, a "freak" of sorts among kids at my school. Fast forward 3 years, and of course we all know what happened. I kinda felt sorry for that one kid, because he was there before it was cool, and after a while people who didn't know him were passing him off as just a trendy, faceless nobody who was riding a fashionable bandwagon when in reality he'd been one of the "true first."
A lot of people have seen a general rise in popularity of true metal over the past few years, especially during the new millennium. It'll crest like a wave, then die back down whenever something else comes along. Time is the best test; some of us will still love metal years from now when the next thing has arrived and we'll be laughed at and dismissed all over again.
It IS genuinely irritating to see new people, especially younger kids, jump onto a bandwagon they either mocked two years ago or were unaware of two years ago. It's sometimes hard to control the knee-jerk reaction starting to dislike a band because you don't like their fanbase turnover, but that's life (i have this problem). A lot of times, new kids don't know the whole history of a band, or they haven't "been there" since the band's humble beginnings. If they care, they'll learn, and if they don't, then they'll be gone tomorrow.
I remember the very first nu-metal kid in my town, way back in the 90s, when Limp Bizkit toured before they had a record deal, when Korn was just a curiosity in a few kids' CD players. The term nu-metal didn't exist yet. He was the "real deal" back then, and was really looked at as an outsider, a "freak" of sorts among kids at my school. Fast forward 3 years, and of course we all know what happened. I kinda felt sorry for that one kid, because he was there before it was cool, and after a while people who didn't know him were passing him off as just a trendy, faceless nobody who was riding a fashionable bandwagon when in reality he'd been one of the "true first."
Formerly known as Chris F5
Member
- Mar 12, 2003
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Sorry if I sound like a shallow dicktoucher,but if it brings more cute young girls(and I mean non metal looking) into the fold,the better
I'm sorry,but the pickings(and you saw at Progpower) are slim at best.
I go for the show,but do you wonder why I always end up at Cheetahs
I'm sorry,but the pickings(and you saw at Progpower) are slim at best.
I go for the show,but do you wonder why I always end up at Cheetahs
dcowboys311
Member
woosta
Member
You sport your colors. You understand why you do. Fuck everyone else and their reason. For example, I've always been a fan of the band Winger. Now there is an endless stream of idiots ready to have at me because Winger was on Beavis and Butthead, Winger was on a Metallica video (and you wanna talk about fuckers that sold out!), or whatever.
At the end of the day, that fucking band is tight and you rarely hear anyone covering their music. WHy? Because it's not that fucking easy to cover that talented band. They were stacked with solid musicians from front to back and there aren't that many bands that can say that who achieve that level of mainstream success.
Fuck what everyone else thinks, their reasons, or their ideas. Isn't that what metal's all about? That's exactly why I've never laughed when I saw a KISS or Tangerine Dream shirt at ProgPower. It's about who YOU are and WHY you are. Nothing else. More power to those folks with the balls to sport it proudly in the face of a society that looks down at it.
At the end of the day, that fucking band is tight and you rarely hear anyone covering their music. WHy? Because it's not that fucking easy to cover that talented band. They were stacked with solid musicians from front to back and there aren't that many bands that can say that who achieve that level of mainstream success.
Fuck what everyone else thinks, their reasons, or their ideas. Isn't that what metal's all about? That's exactly why I've never laughed when I saw a KISS or Tangerine Dream shirt at ProgPower. It's about who YOU are and WHY you are. Nothing else. More power to those folks with the balls to sport it proudly in the face of a society that looks down at it.
SharkBlack
Member
acidbasement
catalyst of entropy
TychoCelchu said:
So, we need to learn and care about a band's history in order to enjoy their music, or else some judgemental person will label us as being trendy? What if we just love music but don't like soap operas? Frankly I'd rather see newbies that are excited about new sounds at concerts than crusty territorial "true fans".
uke: If increased popularity means that more bands from Europe come closer to where I live than Atlanta, then I'm all for it. When they start playing stadiums I'll complain because I like more intimate venues. Plus I'm too cheap to pay stadium ticket prices
Kaosaur
Member
I love that Winger was brought up, I remember watching MTV growing up thinking anyone with long hair was cool. But specifically I had the Easy Come Easy Go video on tape and "in the heart of the young" as my first cd. You really struck a chord with me and my winger past.
acidbasement said:So, we need to learn and care about a band's history in order to enjoy their music, or else some judgemental person will label us as being trendy? What if we just love music but don't like soap operas? Frankly I'd rather see newbies that are excited about new sounds at concerts than crusty territorial "true fans".
You're taking what I wrote too far. I didn't mean that casual fans weren't allowed to like a band, or that people weren't allowed to become a fan on a late album or whatever. What I meant was that the type of person who tends to go in it for the long haul is OFTEN the type who does care about band history. But I probably didn't write clearly.
Bryan316
METAL... nuff said!
I went to the Dragonforce show last Saturday. It was awesome to see that many young kids going apeshit for a metal band.
But those little "hardcore" dancing kids flailing their arms and "punching the ground".... I might have to get violent, just out of principle!
But those little "hardcore" dancing kids flailing their arms and "punching the ground".... I might have to get violent, just out of principle!
edgeofthorns
24 Hours Ago...
woosta said:
Don't worry Woosta, I've got your back! I like Winger as well and I agree with your comments about the band. I've always caught hell for liking Stryper too, but I don't care!
By the way, Winger has a new one coming out on the Frontiers Label in October. I've heard a cut from it and it sounds really good!
acidbasement
catalyst of entropy
I don't think length of time on the metal scene is the best indicator of who is a "true fan" and who is not. Remember all those great empty seats behind the soundboard, each of which was saved for someone (usually a gold badge holder) who wanted to spend all day drinking in the lounge before catching the headliner's set? It looked to me like most of the noobs were in the pit getting really into every band.
Bryan316 said:
Well, that's what those kids are doing after all! Dragonfarce needs to get with some better tour packages.
Acidbasement, good point
mtndewqueen88
Mark the Music
Well I'm in a peculiar situation here. While I'm confident that I'm not a "scene kid," it is true that I've only been listening to metal for two and a half years. Moreover, if Lacuna Coil never garnered that minor hit "Heaven's A Lie," I may have traveled along my life ignorant of the wonderful world of metal. So no, I haven't been around since the beginning of Iron Maiden - but hell if I'm not working hard and loving hard every bit of good music I can get my hands on.
Yet, I guess I'm just trendy...
I suppose it's then very clear for me to say that I'm all for metal bands getting more attention and more fans. If some leave - who cares? I imagine there'll be atleast one new, devoted fan. My mission in life these days is to expose others to metal they've never realized exists.
Oh, and if I'm one of the non-metal looking young girls...
Yet, I guess I'm just trendy...
I suppose it's then very clear for me to say that I'm all for metal bands getting more attention and more fans. If some leave - who cares? I imagine there'll be atleast one new, devoted fan. My mission in life these days is to expose others to metal they've never realized exists.
Oh, and if I'm one of the non-metal looking young girls...
Jasonic
Doom On!
Trends come and go.
As long as the bands who get popular do not change their standard formula for the sake of appealing to the masses, then who cares?
Hopefully, because of DragonForce, some young kids who would purchase a crappy metalcore CD will instead pick up a Blind Guardian or Rhapsody CD next time they hit the CD store.
The people who are turned on to metal because of the trend who actually "get it" then will hopefully explore other underground bands. Those who don't will go away (leaving many copies of INHUMAN RAMPAGE in the used CD bins within 6 months
)
As long as the bands who get popular do not change their standard formula for the sake of appealing to the masses, then who cares?
Hopefully, because of DragonForce, some young kids who would purchase a crappy metalcore CD will instead pick up a Blind Guardian or Rhapsody CD next time they hit the CD store.
The people who are turned on to metal because of the trend who actually "get it" then will hopefully explore other underground bands. Those who don't will go away (leaving many copies of INHUMAN RAMPAGE in the used CD bins within 6 months
)
Entrerie
Member
- Sep 14, 2006
- 552
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Why does this thread remind me of that scene in Airheads where everyone admits how big a geek they are. One person says they play D&D and Lemmy says he was editor of the school newspaper.. that was a great funny movie btw .
Yeah I liked Winger(you couldn't turn on mtv without seeing/hearing "up all night, sleep all day" in the 80's, damn I miss those days, *Gasp* I even liked Mr. Big, Mr. Big's Hellsing(anime) ending song "Shine" is awesome if you haven't heard of them lately.
Yeah I'm not really adding much to the debate, there are already many cliches about being happy and doing what you like regardless of others. The only approval anyone needs is from themselves since it's their life.
Yeah I liked Winger(you couldn't turn on mtv without seeing/hearing "up all night, sleep all day" in the 80's, damn I miss those days, *Gasp* I even liked Mr. Big, Mr. Big's Hellsing(anime) ending song "Shine" is awesome if you haven't heard of them lately.
Yeah I'm not really adding much to the debate, there are already many cliches about being happy and doing what you like regardless of others. The only approval anyone needs is from themselves since it's their life.
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