Poll: On the topic of Heavy Metal

[NeutralDrow]

DragonForce is not heavy metal. I don't care what anyone says. It's a cheesy, wimpy version of Metallica played at 8x speed. Sure, they're fast, but that's it.

What the heck do Dragonforce and Metallica have in common at all, other than being metal (power and thrash) bands?

Granted, you're not going to care what I say, but when it comes to Dragonforce's musical classification, you're <url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9jEizkEdis>quite clearly wrong.

 

[Oldmanwillow]

Hail MANOWAR, and kill.

That being said i like metal a lot. why? because its the only kind of modern music that doesnt bore me to tears. My favorite style is classical followed by jazz followed by metal. A good metal band has something that many mainstream bands today do not have, its called musical talent. I am so tired of music that spends more time on writing lyrics than writing music. While some metal bands do follow this trend as well most dont. Since iam a music major i like complexity in music so i do enjoy metal.

 

[Oldmanwillow]

It's ever evolving though I voted for the Classics being superior; it was a hard choice for me. I see it as bands like Saxon, Judas Priest & Iron Maiden paved the way during the NWOBHM boom of the late 70s/early 80s, but 30 years later, they're still at it and still pushing boundaries.

I think I just have particularly high standards for Heavy Metal. I definitely hold the classic groups in the highest regard overall, but I do like to see new bands hit the scene that do something inventive or unique. There are a lot of great new bands but I feel like many of them have yet to prove that they deserve to have a legacy to be remembered several years from now; Dragonforce for one. They're good, but it's nothing guys like Helloween, Gamma Ray, or Yngwie Malmsteen haven't already done... better.

As you can tell by my references, I mostly stick to the more established sub-genres of Metal; Power, Anthem-like, Progressive, early-NWOBHM, and "True" Heavy Metal. None of that Nu-Metal or Death/Black/Doom/Hardcore/Grindcore bullshit. Anybody can growl or scream into a mic and that's probably why there's so many groups like that; if anything it's easy money for permanently damaging your vocal chords. I like vocalists that can actually SING and guitar players that can actually PLAY and perform SOLOS.

And this... says it all.

Add one option:

"An genre that you have to have a mentality to get into, but once you get that you will be dragged into the wonderful artwork that will make you cry in the songs emotion or give you an amazing adrenaline rush powered by the world's most skilled musicians and their epic guitar solos."

You couldn't have described it any better, friend.


Say what you will about them, but I think ManOwaR said it best.

"The Gods made Heavy Metal 'cause they saw that it was good!
They said to play it louder than Hell! We promised that we would!
When the losers say it's over with, you know that it's a lie!
The Gods made Heavy Metal... and it's never gonna die!"

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

Hail and kill brother of true metal. Hail and kill.

 

[Lukirre]

I like the way that the genre of metal has evolved, but Heavy Metal itself is quite static.
It's neat to see all the bands experimenting with new stuff.
But it's so painful to see that metal/deathcore have been getting so much attention lately.

Especially since the other day I heard someone call Escape the Fate death metal.
I shit you not.

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

Perhaps. Though I have to say that overall, Ghost Reveries was my least favourite album by them.

I'm glad that Watershed revamped their sound, though.
Too bad I haven't heard anything that matched the entirety of Still Life.

 

[ix_tab]

I don't really have an opinion on metal. I don't listen to much of it, but I do hear a lot because my sister is a metalhead. Lots of metal is amazingly musically complex and I admire the skills of the musicians, but the singing puts me off.

On the other hand, one of my favourite band's drummers also drums in a thrash metal band. And they are so much fun live. Again the singing, I don't like, but the music is awesome.

 

[NeW SpEcTrUM]

I don't really have an opinion on metal. I don't listen to much of it, but I do hear a lot because my sister is a metalhead. Lots of metal is amazingly musically complex and I admire the skills of the musicians, but the singing puts me off.

On the other hand, one of my favourite band's drummers also drums in a thrash metal band. And they are so much fun live. Again the singing, I don't like, but the music is awesome.

Well, metal has very many different vocal presentations. Now, I assume that you're talking about growling and such, in which I would agree, but there are far more interesting vocal presentations available. I, myself, enjoy the operatic ones the most. Nothing beats a soprano.

 

[Archereus]

I enjoy metal, and the majority of its subgenres, but whether or not it can be said to be intelligent, mediocre or a a guy going "raaah" really depends on the band. There are a hell of a lot of metal bands, and there are so many different subgenres that fall under metal, and there is so much overlap between them that it's difficult to simply say "metal is this" or "metal is that".

Dark Messiah i love you so so so much. I know this might sound weird but read the rest. I checked on the band and i searched up the music and they became an instant favorite. Thanks for giving me a band which to my ears is the perfect sound.

 

[seanez]

Metal and all it's subgenres should be made into a conglomerate form and made into the Australia national anthem.

 

[The_Deleted]

There is nothing more exciting than a well played solo.

 

[The_Deleted]

Unless it's a Malmsteen or a Vai. They can fuck off.

 

[Brantyr]

Power metal does not fall under heavy metal.

Symphonic metal does not fall under heavy metal.

Speed metal does not fall under heavy metal.

Heavy metal hasn't evolved so much as to be unrecognisable since the 1970's.

Metal, however, has, and power-, symphonic-, and speed metal all fall under metal.

Get your terminology straight.

I'm sorry, I must have missed the announcement where you were made supreme adjudicator of all classifications of metal. Also you're wrong in common usage because heavy metal is all modern metal, 'metal' is pretty much reserved for older bands like Led Zeppelin who don't fit into the modern definition of metal at all (nowdays we'd call Led Zepp alternative rock or something similar). I suspect when you say 'heavy metal' you mean 'extreme metal' (look it up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_Metal )

Anyway now that's out of the way, I love it. Go to see most bands which tour to this state of Australia, couldn't live without it. I'm mostly into folk/viking/melodic death metal and variants. Love my Amon Amarth, Eluveitie, Kalmah, Ensiferum, Nevermore and of course another 100 metal bands

 

[PureChaos]

REALLY not my thing. i avoid it as much as possible.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I like the way that the genre of metal has evolved, but Heavy Metal itself is quite static.
It's neat to see all the bands experimenting with new stuff.
But it's so painful to see that metal/deathcore have been getting so much attention lately.

Especially since the other day I heard someone call Escape the Fate death metal.
I shit you not.

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

Perhaps. Though I have to say that overall, Ghost Reveries was my least favourite album by them.

I'm glad that Watershed revamped their sound, though.
Too bad I haven't heard anything that matched the entirety of Still Life.

Ha wierd, Ghost reveries was by far my favorite, followed close second by Blackwater Park.

The title track from deliverance is another favorite of mine, that last 4 minutes of sublime instrumental dynamics blows my little mind...

 

[I_LIKE_CAKE]

Other:
Like any music genre, Metal contains good artists, and utter crap. It is impossible to cover an entire genre with a blanket "like or dislike", the key is to learn to separate the innovators from the imitator cash-ins.

 

[robinkom]

You are right to a certain extent. I absolutely hate bands that "It's not amazing when 99% of the material is some jack-off just screaming along with the rest of the band." I.E. The Devil Wears Prada. It's completely moronic. But if all the vocalist sang, then there would never have been more hardcore metal. It would have stayed the same way it was and never grew. You cant sing to most of the bands in my library, it would take all the intensity out. But what about bands that both sing and have screaming/growing? Several bands do this (like Killswitch Engage). For me taking out that part of the band is like removing the caffeine from coffee, or removing the alcohol from beer. I think that maybe you are stereotyping what goes on here, maybe try listening to some good bands and you might enjoy it.

Heh, wasn't Devil Wears Prada a really bad movie? Anyway, I see your point, it's just not my thing. I prefer my Metal "decaffeinated" then to use your analogy.

I have heard a handful of newer bands (Killswitch Engage included) that combine screaming and singing together and honestly I really didn't sway one way or the other so I guess I'm on the fence as it were.

A friend of mine frequently brings me stuff like that to give a listen to and it never gets old reminding him that he's also liked Whitesnake since he was a kid, ha ha!

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Heh, wasn't Devil Wears Prada a really bad movie? Anyway, I see your point, it's just not my thing. I prefer my Metal "decaffeinated" then to use your analogy.

I have heard a handful of newer bands (Killswitch Engage included) that combine screaming and singing together and honestly I really didn't sway one way or the other so I guess I'm on the fence as it were.

A friend of mine frequently brings me stuff like that to give a listen to and it never gets old reminding him that he's also liked Whitesnake since he was a kid, ha ha!

TDWP is also a terrible post-hardcore band, I share your horror. Try listening to In Flames, a very amazing band that I think you would like, some songs you can search are Only for the Weak, The Mirrors Truth, My Sweet Shadow, and Come Clarity.

 

[robinkom]

You wouldn't even know where to begin on the various techniques to performing different harsh vocals. It requires a technique, therefore it requires talent, not to mention talent that you neither possess nor understand.

Also, I'd like to add that uninformed opinions are also worthless opinions.

Nobody should (or will) care what you have to say if you clearly don't understand the subject matter.

I understand it perfectly well and I'm glad I don't possess such a useless technique. Your opinion, though not explained blatantly, would dictate that you probably possess a uniformed opinion in favor of such a style of Metal based on your defense of it. In that case, yours would be equally useless.

Nobody has to care about either of our opinions, it's their choice.

 

[kaziard]

You wouldn't even know where to begin on the various techniques to performing different harsh vocals. It requires a technique, therefore it requires talent, not to mention talent that you neither possess nor understand.

Also, I'd like to add that uninformed opinions are also worthless opinions.

Nobody should (or will) care what you have to say if you clearly don't understand the subject matter.

I understand it perfectly well and I'm glad I don't possess such a useless technique. Your opinion, though not explained blatantly, would dictate that you probably possess a uniformed opinion in favor of such a style of Metal based on your defense of it. In that case, yours would be equally useless.

Nobody has to care about either of our opinions, it's their choice.

not really, you made a statement saying screaming is easy and useless with no clue of the mechanics involved. You may not enjoy the style but saying it is easy or useless is just narrow minded and arrogant. I have heard many people say "this is easy" then proceed to try screaming, growling which amuses me to no end when they fail epically.

 

[Taizan]

Metal, frankly, has limited scope for entertainment for me. Some of the 'old' stuff like Metallica and Sabbath, where it was all about sheer badassery and harcore songs, is where it's at frankly. I've yet to hear a new metal band that i realy like, and i mean 'like' as in playing their albums all the time, like i do with the Ol' Metallica. It just seems about sheer musical talent. Musical talent without any feeling is frankly boring.

 

[DarkMessiah]

I enjoy metal, and the majority of its subgenres, but whether or not it can be said to be intelligent, mediocre or a a guy going "raaah" really depends on the band. There are a hell of a lot of metal bands, and there are so many different subgenres that fall under metal, and there is so much overlap between them that it's difficult to simply say "metal is this" or "metal is that".

Dark Messiah i love you so so so much. I know this might sound weird but read the rest. I checked on the band and i searched up the music and they became an instant favorite. Thanks for giving me a band which to my ears is the perfect sound.

Haha, you're welcome but it was actually a total accident. I didn't know there was a band called Dark Messiah, I've just been using the name for ages (before Might and Magic ¬_¬).

Oh well, I'm glad I helped inadvertantly, call it fate