Part 1 – General Knowledge about Heavy Metal
- what does heavy metal mean to you?
One of the greatest if not the greatest forces of expression, passion, and art in music.
- how did you get to know heavy metal? How old were you then?
8 or 9 years old and it was with Iron Maiden's "Fear of the Dark" and Metallica's "Blackened" songs. Of course, if you consider Def Leppard metal, then Hysteria was my first metal album.
- with what sub-genre(s) (power metal, black metal etc) do you identify with the most at the moment?
Power metal, progressive metal, technical metal.
- how did you get to know this/those sub-genre(s)?
Just through various bands, but in the beginning from Gamma Ray (power metal), Queensrÿche (progressive metal), and Extol (technical metal).
- what does this sub-genre mean to you musically and in terms of ideology?
I appreciate the level of passion that is presented in a positive and uplifting light within most power metal, as it stands as a great and refreshing contrast to the general public's idea of metal and also sometimes helps me out in bad situations. In technical and progressive metal, I love the different angles of creative expression merged with the musicianship as well as the varied, usually thoughtful lyrical themes.
- what other sub-genres do you know? What do you feel towards them? Please list and state your opinions. Is there any band that you despise? Which one(s) and why?
Black Metal - Good, good genre, but overdone and made cliche by a lot of bands especially in the lyrical department (Satanism, paganism, etc), although of course an elitist BM fan or one who takes it a bit too seriously would argue that BM is meant to be that way. I'm a bit picky about bands in this genre, but the ones I like I REALLY like, such as Lengsel and Immortal.
Death Metal - Same things I said about Black Metal, only a bit different lyrical themes. I'm not big on your "standard" DM band, I like stuff more like Death or Extol, stuff that differs from the norm.
Doom Metal - Not too big on this, tends to be a bit bland for me, but perhaps I have not found the right band yet.
Traditional Metal - Always loved it, still love it. Some lame bands here and there but overall very solid genre, and the backbone for all others.
Speed and Thrash Metal - Same as traditional, but more lame bands. Still a huge love when it's done right though.
Gothic Metal - Well, one of my favorite bands, Darkseed, falls into this category, but in general I don't care for it too much..
Hamster Metal - This doesn't actually exist. I made it up. But I'm sure I would love it, because hamsters own.
I dislike any band who's attitude is too messed up for me to respect them enough to listen to or buy their music....some of these include: KISS, Deicide, Limp Bizkit............
- did you ever identify yourself more with other sub-genres? If yes, what were them? Why did you change?
When I first started getting heavily into music I was more of a 90's industrial/alternative rock kind of person (Stabbing Westward, Live) with some metal on the side (Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., Metallica), but I have always explored music as much as I could so I soon found more and more good bands on the metal side of things rather then the other side and jumped fully over on that fence.
- do you dislike being labeled in any form (headbanger, metalhead etc)? Why?
I dislike being labeled as anything I'm not. Fortunately though headbanger or metalhead don't fall into that category..
- for you, what identifies a true metal person?
Ha....anyone who truly loves heavy metal.
- for you, what identifies a false metal person?
I don't think it can be limited to that at all, that's just worthless jargon, there are more just posers in general.
- how do you feel towards new metal? Please explain why.
Well, you said "new" as opposed to "nu" so I must say that I really love a lot of the newer metal coming out. Europe is a fantastic continent.
As for "nu" metal...I despise the trend and the great majority of the music and attitude.
Part 2 – Personal data
- how old are you?
17
- what is your gender?
Male
- how far did you go in schhol? (some college, high school etc)
I made it to 8th grade.
- where do you live? With whom?
Jacksonville, FL, with the mother and her embodiment-of-southern-cliche boyfriend.
- do you believe in God? Is an adept of any religion? Why?
I absolutely believe in God, in a creator. I am a Christian but I am not "religious", rather spiritual. I was something of an agnostic before I delved into Scripture and other religious writings and beliefs and what have you and everything in every way has led back to the Gospels, and that's not even including their influence and breath of fresh air to me, and so what I believe is simple: I believe that Christ and all his words were and are the truth. As for the rest of the Bible, some parts in many translations have errors, yes, and so on and so forth, and the Gospels are THE most important part to me, the focal point, however many other books are also full of worth to me, including extrabibical text such as Enoch. I suppose you could also call me a conspiracy theorist of sorts...... as I find many disturbing things I won't go into when studying bibical and world history in general, in relation to various social tendancies and events of the present...We'll just say that most of you would think of me as crazier then you do already, but I can still back what I say up.
As a side note, it's painful to see a person reject God or spirituality and label those things "religion" based on what man has done, as I can relate, but what can you really do.... hopefully things will get better that way, because mankind in general surely won't and we'll continue to have spiritual homocides and suicides abound.
- do you, or have you at any time, let your hair grow? Why? If you haven’t, would you like to? Why?
I haven't cut my hair since 1999 and it's now almost touching my buttocks (Anytime is a good time to say "buttocks"). I like it because: 1. it looks much better on me than short hair 2. it works for my personality better somehow 3. it's much better for headbanging
- do you suffer any kind of preconceiving? If you do, please explain.
Yes unfortunately I do......I am generally suspicious and sometimes spiteful toward any "thug" or wannabe thug/gangster, black, white, latino, whatever. I simply cannot stand it. Not only do they walk in all ways of pure ignorance but I have had many bad experiences with them or pertaining to them in some way. I have been too deep into the culture to take it as a joke or stupid silliness like most of the mainstream does. If the culture was a person, I would personally assassinate it so that nobody else would be hurt.
- how do your parents and neighbours act before your musical preferences?
My mother and I are not close at all and same with neighbors so they wouldn't even know a thing about it if it wasn't playing all the time, and even so nothing is ever said, so I suppose it's irrelevant to them.
- do you prefer to have quick or long lasting relationships with the opposite sex?
Long lasting, if it ends it hurts more, but it's the only worthwhile thing. Try until you make it..
- how many long lasting relationships have you had? How much time did they last on average?
2 to 3.....all a bit past a year, then something mysterious happens with them and things get messed up.
- do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? How did you get to know her/him?
Yes and I met her on the Iron Maiden BB....how romantic
- have you ever had sexual intercourse? How old were you when your first experience happened?
Unnecessary and inappropriate question IMO..
- what are your entertainment habits? Any hobbies?
Music's always first and foremost, but also taking walks/exploring, photography, and video games.
- in what places are you usually found (shopping centers, home, concerts etc)? Which places do you refrain from visiting?
My city sucks, so I'm usually found at home. Can't think of anywhere I explicitly avoid..
- do you watch TV? What do you usually watch on TV?
I have a T-shirt that says, "Kill Your TV", this sums up my attitude for the most part.
- do you listen to the radio regularly?
Only when I'm not in control of the car I'm in.
- with what kind of people do you identify yourself? What kind do you dislike or despise?
I just identify with anyone I can relate to or can relate to me, that's really how I get close to anyone.....it doesn't much matter what "group" you're in, although you'd think most people I'm close to would be total metalheads - and they are, but they're more just strange, odd thinking people in general. I have no tolerance for the aforementioned thug/gangster thing, or for extremely materialistic, superficial, or manipulative people.
- what do you eat in general? Do you often eat what you’d like to eat?
Seafood, Chinese food, Italian food, fast food
and yes I do.
- when you have money, how do you spend it? What do you buy?
I spend most of my money musically, on gear and CD's for the most part, the rest goes to food or gifts and things for other people.
- if you had an unlimited ammount of money but could only use it for buying ONE thing, what would you buy? Ignore resell value.
Impossible question.
- do you smoke or drink alcoholic substances? Have you ever tried any drugs? Do you use drugs?
No, and I don't ever plan to.
- do you play any instruments? Which ones?
I am a vocalist/guitarist, and I write on keyboard sometimes.
- are you in a band? What is your band’s style? What’s its name?
Yes, my band's name is Skyliner, we've been together for 3 years and a couple of months and are getting ready to release our debut EP/demo. The basic sound is like traditional/old school heavy metal (old Savatage, old Metallica, old Stryper, etc) with progressive, death metal, and power metal influences thrown in. You can visit us at
http://www.skyliner.cjb.net - be sure to sign the guestbook
