Metal Reviews

Actually, a lot does depend on the individual. I've seen some interesting points relating to music with respect to personality tests and types. Not only do people react differently to music, but some people listen to music that reflects how they feel and some listen to it to in order to (help) shape how they want to feel (or think). And of course, it can depend on the particular moment, etc.

That's part of why I've always thought it's important to separate one's feelings for a band or a piece of music from the music (and the artist's intentions) itself. Like you, Seinfeld26, I really get annoyed at the "How can you like that piece of trash??!" types of comments.

...I don't know about the "great bands never make bad music" comment. I think that's maybe true to an extent, but a certain amount of it depends on how you want to define a "great" band and how many "great" bands you think exist. I think that, for the most part, if a band never takes a misstep they probably either didn't put out all that much material or they never pushed themselves (particularly outside of any kind of niche).

On the other hand, I don't find any glory in hanging on too long either, and there are many bands who have arguably done this too. But of course, even in those cases, I think it's important to look at why the band is "hanging on". If they simply love what they're doing, it's pretty hard for me to say that's a bad thing, despite a bit of a drop in quality or consistency. Then again, I can always stop listening once my threshold has been reached, and so can everyone else...

Anyway, you'll find that at the core of each person, they're driven by either logical thinking or emotional feeling. Sure it can be a bit situational and is something that tends to defy any kind of accurate self analysis, but I think you already know which group you're referring to anyway.

-Tyrion

Exactly.



Again, I say "Exactly." For example, I naturally have a soft spot for bluesy rock and roll. A lot of it probably has to do with such non-music related factors as my love of camping. So, I naturally enjoyed Metallica's mid/late-90s output for that particular reason. I could listen to it and be reminded of some fond experiences camping, walking through the forest, etc. Because Load in particular just has a very summery atmosphere about it. I see people saying, "How could you possibly like Load and ReLoad after listening to Master Of Puppets, Ride The Lightning, etc.?" Well, there's your answer!



I think Motorhead's a good example, here. They've been active for literally thirty years now. And while most say they've never released any bad music in their entire career (I'd have to disagree with that - I can't stand Please Don't Touch and Emergency), the band hasn't taken any serious musical risks since their inception. They've played may be one or two risky songs. But they never released a really "gutsy" album before. Not even with 1916.

Interesting topic. I've never really understood the whole 'sellout!' movement, as many bands continue to make great music even once they have 'sold out'! Examples? Arch Enemy, Opeth, Ulver, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer... I understand that not everyone agrees with this, but that's not anything to do with me. As someone who spends a fair amount of time with music that truly IS crass, commercial and more plastic than... something very plastic, most of the time I don't see what people are whining about. At least they're actually playing it themselves...

If you're going to whine about corporate monsters sucking the life out of metal, then at least throw your designer t-shirts, trainers, fast food, beer etc away. It's not a different issue at all.

i have a question... do you guys think metallica's sound automatically evolved to what it is today? I personally think not, because of the previous lawsuits and stuff, and because Lars is referring to Korn as their peers.

speaking of evolving, are bands that evolves different sound as for example Children of Bodom or In Flames selling out? Has these band become more "radiofriendly"?

Metallica I'm not so sure about. But I don't at all think In Flames ever "sold out." I'm going to say something, for the record, that I think should definitely turn a few heads:

May be some bands just LIKE nu-metal, and are implementing it into their music because they LIKE IT rather than because they want to "sell out."

That's what I believe was probably the case with In Flames. I don't think they so much meant to "sell out" as they were just fans of nu-metal and naturally used it as an influence for some of their more recent music. You can't fault a band for something like that. And I think it's ridiculous how a lot of metal fans are so bent on hating anything that might be a little "popular" that they feel they MUST hate In Flames for actually daring to be influenced by bands like Korn. Metal-Rules.com is the worst offender in this case.

yeah i think thats a good point. but that doesnt make numetal not suck

Personally I'm of the opinion that good musicians are good musicians, and it doesn't matter what genre they're playing. The bands listed here as sell-outs or whatever generally weren't that great in the first place.

Yeah because this can of coke I'm drinking is completely comparable to an art form.

Well it's a big coporate thing isn't it? much like big bands.

It shouldn't be. An art form shouldn't be treated as a beverage or a condom or a fucking mp3 playing cell phone. It should be art.

But artists need money to survive...

That's what I say to people who say "It should be about the music not the money," It has to be a little bit about the money because if they're making no money, how can they make music? Though to be fair most underground musicians have day jobs, even Fenriz, apparently.

I bet if Darkthrone did a bit of touring he'd rake it in. Not that he should, just saying he had that choice.

I hate to break it to a lot of metal fans, but it's unrealistic to expect that a band will care only about the music and not at all about the money. If they didn't care at least a little bit about money, then they would be giving away their music for free. And while there are many underground musicians that hold day jobs (some quite lucrative, I may add), there are also many that don't. Many of them live well below poverty level AND have wives and kids to support. It's almost cruel to say that a metal musician must live that kind of life in order to be good. And seriously, if you were in that kind of position, wouldn't you want just a little bit of mainstream exposure so that you can at least LIVE?

Absolutely. It's very easy to say we wouldn't sell out, but how many of us are in the position of music having to support our families? It must be great to make enough money to not have a day job playing the music you love though.

On the subject of musicians having regular jobs, I find it quite surreal. Apparently Nocturno Culto's a primary school teacher. How weird is that?

There's nothing wrong with becoming a millionaire with your art. Whoring your art (i.e. selling out) is another thing entirely.

I think Jurgen has the right view on this one. Music isn't just an art form, it's also a profession, and we should respect musicians that want to improve their situation within that profession.

What I hate is when people make a grab for the lowest common denominator in order to make some cash. That's where I think integrity takes a beating and I lose respect for that person.

I don't think there's too many bands that this applies to within metal. It applies to a hell of a lot of pop bands, but most people in slightly less mainstream genres are to serious about their music to truly whore themselves out in such a fashion.

Yeah that's always strange. The one I've found funniest is Jon Cobbett from Hammers of Misfortune/Slough Feg/Ludicra, who writes pop songs for video games and ads stuff

Not really a metal example, but Greg Graffin of Bad Religion is also a professor at Cornell University.

Mirai Kawashima writes music for videogames, which isn't surprising listening to the classical bits on Sigh albums. Apparently Ihsahn teaches as well. What is the connection between Black metal and teaching?

Lord Worm is also a teacher apparently. Maybe it has something to do with being a nerd