For the better part of the past 3 months, I've been on a decidely non-metal musical kick. The majority of my time has been spent engulfed in three genres: early 70s prog (Jethro Tull, King Crimson, ELP, Nektar, Van Der Graaf, Camel, Gentle Giant, etc), early 70s blues rock (Humble Pie, Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Allman Brothers, Robin Trower) and some early 70s jazz-rock fusion (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis' Bitch's Brew, etc).
With this current 'distance' from metal, I've experienced a revelation of sorts: when I have gone back and thrown on a Maiden, Priest, Purple or Sabbath disc, it's sounded utterly heavy. The past weekend, I pulled out "Killers" and "Stained Class" and was practically blown away (again) by these classics as if I were experiencing them anew! I must have listened to each of these 1,000 times over the years, and I swear I heard new, heavy facets to the songs I hadn't noticed before! I then went to Rainbow's "Rising", Sab's "Master of Reality" and Maiden's "Piece of Mind" and almost felt the same hair-raising awe I first experienced upon hearing "Ride the Lightning" for the first time over 20 years ago!
In a nutshell, distancing myself from metal has allowed it's true heaviness to ring forth in ways previously unseen (to my eyes, at least).
Now, I'm almost afraid to throw on "Reign in Blood"!
With this current 'distance' from metal, I've experienced a revelation of sorts: when I have gone back and thrown on a Maiden, Priest, Purple or Sabbath disc, it's sounded utterly heavy. The past weekend, I pulled out "Killers" and "Stained Class" and was practically blown away (again) by these classics as if I were experiencing them anew! I must have listened to each of these 1,000 times over the years, and I swear I heard new, heavy facets to the songs I hadn't noticed before! I then went to Rainbow's "Rising", Sab's "Master of Reality" and Maiden's "Piece of Mind" and almost felt the same hair-raising awe I first experienced upon hearing "Ride the Lightning" for the first time over 20 years ago!
In a nutshell, distancing myself from metal has allowed it's true heaviness to ring forth in ways previously unseen (to my eyes, at least).
Now, I'm almost afraid to throw on "Reign in Blood"!