Poll: On the topic of Heavy Metal

[ace_of_something]

I picked the 'RAAAAAAH' option because this poll is biased and I thought that one is the funniest.

It's just another musical genre like anything else. What bothers me is the two kinds of people that make up it's most fanatic fanbase; either misanthropic, pseudo-intellectual, gamers or the druken, violent, fratboy (despite not finishing high school) type.

Putting on aires about the genre or any type of music (yes classical and jazz too) is kind of goofy. Art is merely opinion and subjective.

 

[speedcoreXdandy]

What bothers me is the two kinds of people that make up it's most fanatic fanbase; either misanthropic, pseudo-intellectual, gamers or the druken, violent, fratboy (despite not finishing high school) type.

This. Very very much so, there's a fair few metal bands I like but damn, metal fans are up there with (modern commercial) RnB fans in the annoying stakes.

 

[Elite_Stranger]

I LOVE IT!!!!
im a total metal head

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

One of the few genres that will never die or stop growing.

 

[The Great JT]

I much prefer the older metal artists (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Dio in particular) but there are a few stand-out artists of the recent years. Couldn't list any off the top of my head, but I will say metal is my favorite genre of music (despite I listen to a number of various genres, including country, reggae, even a little rap and jazz (CURSE YOU, BOB CROSBY!) and whatever you call Bob Dylan and Jimmy Buffet). A lot of bands are really wearing the metal tag like a shield to protect them from having to deal with the mainstream artists of today, not the least of which are Velvet Revolver, Avenged Sevenfold and Dragonforce (who are all good, but far from the pinnacle of metal), but the best bands are definately back in 1980s-land.

Just remember, that there are metal bands and there are bands that SOUND like metal bands. Awesome as they are, AC/DC is not a metal band.

Dream Metal Band Lineup:
Vocals: Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven and Hell)
Lead Guitar: Slash (Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver)
Rythm Guitar: K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
Bass: Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell)
Drums: Vinnie Appice (Dio, Heaven and Hell)

 

[DiamondJim]

It's the next evolutionary stage of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHr8MJeZ44

/thread

 

[robinkom]

*snip*

And to dust off an even older one for my own personal bias... "DEATH TO FALSE METAL!"

But what is 'False Metal'? Metal is such a general term it could be anything! Growling and screaming are perfect if you know how to make sense with it. Children of Bodom is a perfect example. These were the first band that got me into Metal. They lack no skill whatsoever - but they never sing. How can there be anything wrong with that? Sure, screaming or growling is terrible, but if you can use it to amplify what you are doing with the instruments, then that is truly amazing.

It's kind of a tongue-in-cheek joke on my part. In the mid-80s Manowar's thing was "Death to False Metal," something they were targeting at the hair bands of the day. Manowar's just the kind of band that's SO "metal" that it's cheesy... but so cheesy that it's Metal. I frequently make jokes in vain of their seriousness on the matter, usually to my friends or any stranger in the music store I strike up a conversation with to describe bands that I don't like. For laughs.

On the other point, you just said it for me: "Screaming and growling is terrible." It's not amazing when 99% of the material is some jack-off just screaming along with the rest of the band. Conversely, he could also actually harmonize with the rest of the instruments... in key... with a steady note.

Screaming and growling take NO skill or talent. If I'm going to cough up $15 for a band's album, I expect some professionalism; the presence of a vocalist with some actual singing talent, guitar players that know more than 3 chords, and a drummer that can play at an appropriate speed that you can actually tell what the hell she/he's doing (i.e. NOT at the speed of light).

It's fine that you like Children of Bodom, that's your thing, but to me, bands like them border on complete noise. Keep in mind, I'm not trying to argue or insult you. You asked my opinion and you got it.

 

[DiamondJim]

It's the next evolutionary stage of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHr8MJeZ44

EDIT: (For those who don't want to watch, the ending line by anthropologist/metalhead Sam Dunn) "Ever since I was 12 years old, I've had to defend my love of Heavy Metal to those who say it's a less valid form of music. My answer now is you either feel it, or you don't. If metal doesn't give you that overwhelming surge of power, and make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, you might never get it. And you know what? That's okay. Because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me... we're doing just fine without ya."

/thread

 

[Sronpop]

I'm a big fan of metal as well. From a purely musical standpoint, a lot of the more technical bands' writing styles, seem to have more in common with classical composers.
Anyone who questions it, just needs to listen to Opeth.

Indeed. Ghost of Perdition still has me scraping my jaw off the floor every time I hear it.

I must also mention Strapping Young Lad, a criminally under appreciated band. Devin Townsend is a true musical prodigy and makes me happy to have ears.

I can't wait for his new project, 4 albums coming out by the end of the year i think, a radically different, and telling and ever evovling story and mood. Seriously, in what other genre of music can you do that. Metal ftw.

 

[Sronpop]

It's the next evolutionary stage of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHr8MJeZ44

EDIT: (For those who don't want to watch, the ending line by anthropologist/metalhead Sam Dunn) "Ever since I was 12 years old, I've had to defend my love of Heavy Metal to those who say it's a less valid form of music. My answer now is you either feel it, or you don't. If metal doesn't give you that overwhelming surge of power, and make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, you might never get it. And you know what? That's okay. Because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me... we're doing just fine without ya."

/thread

Couldn't have said it better actually, forgot how good that movie was. \m/

 

[smokeybearsb]

I devote most of my listening time to metal, on my school bus recently I've been listening to All That Remains (I just discovered them) but sometimes I listen to stuff like Presidents of the United States of America, or Queens of the Stone Age.

In addition to screamo heavy metal, I enjoy swing and classical music as well. I like violin and classical guitar, too.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

I like some of the more mixed metal: Korn, Tool, Rammstein, and RATM being examples. Korn, while a great band by itself, spawned one of the worst and most unoriginal genres of all time: Nu-metal... Bleh. Tool is a mix of alternative rock/metal and progressive metal, plus really odd music videos...(How I love Tool's music videos). Rammstein is considered "Industrial" Or "dance" metal (Although I would consider Rob zombie to be more dance-y) which incorporates techno influences into slow, hard riffs. Rage Against The Machine incorperates Rap lyrics well (hear that Linkin Park?)...
But Classic 70's Heavy Metal still kicks ass.

 

[Madshaw]

its brilliant, thers so much skill to it that people do not see, and its a perfect expression of rage

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Tool is God. That is all.

 

[ae86gamer]

Never been a fan of metal. I've tried listening to it several times but something about it just makes me go 'meh' but thats just my opinion. I guess I just prefer rap, pop, rock, etc. Now if you'll excuse me...*hides*

 

[Bleaghhh]

I think that metal is an amazing genre. It has so many different possibilities and sounds. However, nu-metal is for the mostpart crap. Emo metal is for the mostpart crap. The 80's metal bands were pretty much the best in my opinion. (wow, supporting music from before my birth.)

On a related note, does anybody know any newish bands that still have a classic metal sound. Not a copy but something a bit different. Similar to Trivium's relationship to say Metallica.

 

[Aegwadar]

Metalcore has become my new replacement for most thrash metal! It never used to be much of a genre, more "Hardcore" then "Metal". But, some good bands have made a great combo of Hardcore and Metal, and use the greater elements of each.

 

[NeutralDrow]

What an insightful and well-thought reply. <url=http://chamorrobible.org/images/photos/gpw-200703-03-UnitedStatesFishAndWildlifeService-Short-tailed-Weasel-Kanuti-NWR-Alaska.jpg>Have a weasel.

I'll keep that in mind. No one after Iron Maiden is considered heavy metal, because of a semantic dispute.

Semantic disputes are important. "Opeth is the best heavy metal band ever" is a nonsensical statement in the same way that "Opeth is the best marching band ever" is.

Except for the fact that it's not. "Metal" and "heavy metal" are effectively synonymous in most discussions that don't go specifically into early heavy metal (which this discussion clearly hasn't), or discuss the specific genre that Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and the like belong to. The analogy fails, because calling Opeth "heavy metal" makes much more sense than calling Opeth a marching band.

Better analogy: calling Opeth "the best heavy metal band ever" is a nonsensical statement in the same way that saying Night on Bald Mountain is "the best piece of classical music ever." It's technically incorrect, but who the hell besides music historians cares?

 

[ThatsBitch3n]

But it all sounds alike.