The times they are a changin'

[MadeInNewJersey]

And for once, changing for the better.

I just hopped over to the local monstrosity of commercialism, better known as the Garden State Plaza (a mall roughly 3x the size of Delaware), to get my eyeglasses repaired. I had 15 minutes to kill, so went over to Borders Books & Music to peruse the periodicals.

The cover of the most recent issue of Alternative Press jumped out at me. In addition to having an interview with NOFX (their 1st in 7 years if the mag is to be believed), there was an interesting cover story emblazoned um, on the cover, titled "25 Metal Bands A Punk Needs To Know." $3.95 later and I was eating some late lunch while reading this *scoff* music *scoff mag.

Lo and behold, I couldn't believe my eyes. Forget about the fact that there were mini-articles peppered throughout the mag featuring Glenn Benton of Deicide, a "top 10 bands ever" by Satyr of Satyricon, and coverage of more npearce/Dreamlord hardcore bands than you could shake a stick at. Forget about the fact that there wasn't 1 or 2, but dozens of full-color ads hyping the latest releases from Century Media, Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Southern Lord, Prosthetic Records and more. Forget about the fact that bands like Khanata, Converge, Isis and Mastodon were covered at length. What the fuck was going on here?

The main article mentioned above began with these words: "Nu metal is dead. Long live new metal." Woah.

This gives me mega hope. Headbangers Ball is back. Judas Priest, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir and that old daredevil Mr. Osbourne are headlining one of the best touring metal fests to hit the States since possibly the 'Monsters of Rock.' Things are picking up I dare say.

Thoughts?

 

[NAD]

Well I certainly like the idea that real (as in authentic) metal is coming around again, but stuff like this:

"Nu metal is dead. Long live new metal."

really scares me, because with impending popularity, it just leaves room for crappy bands to rise to the mainstream and plague the airwaves just like Linkin Pork and their ilk are presently doing.

Main problem: I don't really like a lot of these hardcore bands. Today is the Day, Burnt by the Sun, and Watchmaker yes I like, but I don't really consider even those bands as part of my "oh dear goat I need my daily dose" category.

 

[Black Winter Day]

i can't wait until khanate get on the radio...

 

[J.]

I must remain my skeptic self. Along with NAD, I fear this will only bring clone after clone and then MTV will step in (moreso than they already have) and beat the metal drum for as long as it can, or until the next big thing comes along.

Plus, wasn't AP praising nu-metal bands not too long ago?

Metal belongs in the underground. I say keep it there.

 

[JayKeeley]

Metal belongs in the underground. I say keep it there.

The thing I'm most wary of is the nu-metal crowds drifting over to the true-metal scene just because they've all become 'homeless' over night. Their scene imploded. I mean, what are they going to do now at something like OzzFest which they adopted as their own? Go from Limp Bizkit to Dimmu Borgir in the space of a year? I don't think so.

I don't mind true-metal getting the recognition it deserves (there are too many talented artists going unnoticed), and there is certainly a glimmer of hope that the times are changing, but you know what? Real metal fans were already here, and now we have to make room for newbie nu-metal jocks in the lines at Opeth and Nile shows?

I've always said, *in general terms* the worst thing about the metal scene is the fans. Just look at the average calibre of person on UM these days as a classic example. And now that average metal fan demographic just became a little more retarded.

I'm 50/50 on this.

 

[Russell]

Just look at the average calibre of person on UM these days as a classic example.

Hell, look at some of the staff!

 

[J.]

Get ready for it, because it looks inevitable that nu-metal wanks will be turning to metal very soon. Not to point fingers, but it has happened with the softer acts like In Flames, and somewhat with Opeth. These morons are already finding the lead-in bands and becoming fanboys overnight. Things are only going to get worse. They've got to hop onto the next trend to remain "cool" in their own little world.

I agree that the fans are a big problem. The thing is, many people blame elitists for metal many woes, but I look towards fanboys and scenesters for problems. You can't question an elitists motives or his love for metal. Fanboys and scenesters on the other hand....

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

I don't know, I understand some of everyone's "concerns," but I'm all for better exposure. I'm all for better and more frequent tour packages, playing places LARGER than my living room. I'm all for bigger and better festivals in the USA, not just the sub-2000 ProgPowers and NE Metalfests and BW/BK 6-pack weekends. I'm all for ease of availability and finding the music I want to listen to in any store on any given day.

Now more than ever, I'm reminded of the old adage: any publicity is good publicity.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

I agree that the fans are a big problem. The thing is, many people blame elitists for metal many woes, but I look towards fanboys and scenesters for problems. You can't question an elitists motives or his love for metal. Fanboys and scenesters on the other hand....

This statement I can't disagree with, but unlike many here, I will deal with the bad to get the greater good, i.e. what's good for ME.

 

[Caelum Adustum]

I'm all for better and more frequent tour packages, playing places LARGER than my living room.

I actually prefer small club atmospheres (not to mention you're closer to the band) a lot more than big places.

I found this qoute, but I don't know who said it...I think it was on the Opeth forum somewhere...

"Playing to 50 people who appreciate the talent, emotion and honesty that goes into your music is infinitely preferable to playing to an enormo-dome full of vapid, trend-whoring hipsters who've come along to the show to compare hairstyles and to be seen to be into the next big thing."

 

[Ayeka]

The main article mentioned above began with these words: "Nu metal is dead. Long live new metal." Woah.

Kerrap and False Metal Hammer have been saying words to those effects for...I dunno, nearly a year now. Trouble is, they still seem to be largely uncapable of picking up on a decent band.

With the renewed interest in Iron Maiden, the success of The Darkness, shittiness of nu-metal and the fact that there are a damn good few good few great new Metal bands in Britain alone...and maybe some other minor reasons, I dunno...I think this increase in popularity is inevitable. It's been growing slowly and I believe it will continue to grow. Personally, I'm quite excited. Considering the wank we've had to put up with for the last few years I see nothing wrong with talented musicians becoming popular. As long as I continue to be an obnoxious, stuck-up bastard then no part-time fans will try and rip off me!

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

I actually prefer small club atmospheres (not to mention you're closer to the band) a lot more than big places.

I found this qoute, but I don't know who said it...I think it was on the Opeth forum somewhere...

"Playing to 50 people who appreciate the talent, emotion and honesty that goes into your music is infinitely preferable to playing to an enormo-dome full of vapid, trend-whoring hipsters who've come along to the show to compare hairstyles and to be seen to be into the next big thing."

Well, I'm not really talking about "enormo-domes" either. I'll use a NYC example. Rather than little shitholes like L'amours or North Six in Brooklyn, I'd much rather see Opeth in say, The Beacon Theater or Hammerstein Ballroom (both hold roughly 3,000-3,250 people). Still close enough to stand in the back and only be 100 feet away, big enough to get these bands making some money.

 

[NAD]

"Playing to 50 people who appreciate the talent, emotion and honesty that goes into your music is infinitely preferable to playing to an enormo-dome full of vapid, trend-whoring hipsters who've come along to the show to compare hairstyles and to be seen to be into the next big thing."

This is very true. Perfect example for me is Tool. I first saw those dudes in a 500 person capacity boxing ring converted to concert venue. Last time I saw them was at the Long Beach Arena, which seats probably 20,000.

Bigger (better) festivals I wouldn't mind, but the internet has made finding and hearing the obscure so easy that more exposure isn't all that necessary, from a fan standpoint.

It's always nice to see a favorite band of mine make some cash, it's just the half-fans that come with the territory that bother me.

 

[J.]

haha, I think that quote is from good ol' Dill the Devil. And yes, it is very true.

I don't care for more or better metal shows, as I don't really attend them. I don't care for easier to find music, because if you look hard enough, everything can be found. Metal is doing just fine where it is.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

Well, look at it this way, it'll blow up again, gain some notariety, then die a "public death" again and go back underground where you all can be happy. Again.

 

[Ayeka]

I actually prefer small club atmospheres (not to mention you're closer to the band) a lot more than big places.

I found this qoute, but I don't know who said it...I think it was on the Opeth forum somewhere...

"Playing to 50 people who appreciate the talent, emotion and honesty that goes into your music is infinitely preferable to playing to an enormo-dome full of vapid, trend-whoring hipsters who've come along to the show to compare hairstyles and to be seen to be into the next big thing."

BLAZE played to about that many people here last year in a pub. It was class, but we're trying to see if we can get him to do somewhere bigger. The band deserves better.

 

[lurch70]

I've always said, *in general terms* the worst thing about the metal scene is the fans.

Hell .. some of us here are in our 30's, so we might be a little more mature. But I was one of those assholes when I was a teenager also. I have no problem with the "fans" of other music. If you are an idiot, you are an idiot, no matter what your musical taste.

Well, I'm not really talking about "enormo-domes" either. I'll use a NYC example. Rather than little shitholes like L'amours or North Six in Brooklyn, I'd much rather see Opeth in say, The Beacon Theater or Hammerstein Ballroom (both hold roughly 3,000-3,250 people). Still close enough to stand in the back and only be 100 feet away, big enough to get these bands making some money.

I hate huge arena shows also. Especially outdoor ones. Give me a small shitty smelly club packed to the max with real fans of the band there. Bigger shows tend to bring, friends and girlfriends of the fans that ruin the vibe of a show.

I hate big arena shows for this reason.

Even when I saw Slayer wih Ali back a few months ago, 70% of the crowd was there standing clueless, with their arms folded.

I don't know, Metal to me is a "small, shitty, smelly, drug infested club" type of music.

I have been to over 100 concerts in my life and the best ones were always in small clubs. Sepultura/Obituary on the Arise/Cause of Death tour ... Death/Pestilence ... oh my God ... I was fearing for my life at those shows ... that's METAL !!!!

 

[JayKeeley]

"Playing to 50 people who appreciate the talent, emotion and honesty that goes into your music is infinitely preferable to playing to an enormo-dome full of vapid, trend-whoring hipsters who've come along to the show to compare hairstyles and to be seen to be into the next big thing."

Heh, there's something missing from that statement. The fact is, the lack of interest has forced metal bands into playing to 50 people (whether all those 50 fans appreciate the talent or not). It's not like Motorhead and Helloween choose to be playing in pubs in the US, considering their legacy.

I'm seriously divided down the middle on this, and I think I'll split it between eras:

- 80's bands: The metal bands that still carry the torch, i.e. the old school bands that headline OzzFest, Wacken, etc - mostly the bands from the golden era - all deserve to be back in the bigger arenas on each and every tour, with lots of smaller bands supporting. It is a downright embarrasment that someone like King Diamond, with all his history, should be playing at L'Amours in Brooklyn.

- 90's bands: With all those underground bands that emerged in the 90s (Opeth, Agalloch, etc), I have no problem with them staying in the smaller venues. That's what they're used to, that's what their fans want, and above all, their music isn't exactly 'geared' for arena worship and pyrotechnic explosions.

 

[Demonspell]

I have to agree on that...I don't think bands like Opeth would translate well into large scale shows, and while nu metal is dying, I doubt that either traditional or the current trends in metal will achieve the same mass popularity, and greater mainstream acceptance would eventually create its own problems as NAD and Dreamlord mentioned.