Metal Reviews

yea, the 80's were a golden age for metal. You had NWOBHM, Thrash, the beginnings of Black and Death, Progressive, Power ect..

But I think without Melodeath, there would not be any of this new metal explosion. The NWOAHM would be non-existent. Without Killswitch or Lamb of God there would be no new influence for alot of bands at that time. They would still be stuck in Nu-Metal. The whole Thrash Revival would not exist either. I think it was these bands who were trying to experiment with thrash, years before thrash revival exploded. Trivium being the most guilty. Take out Melodeath and you just have regular death. The main extreme and classic genres of metal form the core ideas of metal. It's the melodic, experimental, progressive, semi-catchy metal that really drives it foward.

without Black Sabbath>Iron Maiden>Metallica>In Flames>Killswitch Engage>Trivium>Warbringer

Eww

If you look at it like that it's almost as if metal music is destined to get worse as time goes on.

What the heck Warbringer after Trivium?

Trivium don't belong on an evolutionary scale. They belong in the bargain bin! Ha! Ha! Ha!

ha ha the music isn't getting worse. Trivium, meh, Warbringer, good. The problem is that I can't think of any great american metal band from the late 00's. Almost all of the great stuff is european. Just thinking about it most metal is a rehash or water-down version of a previous genre. Most american bands are guilty. The best genres are the ones that mix and experiment well together.

Good examples: Power Metal + Opera = Symphonic Metal
Bad example: Groove Metal + Rap = Nu Metal

Good Example: Thrash Metal + Hardcore Punk = Crossover
Bad Example: Brutal Death + Metalcore = Deathcore

This is a tough topic because everyone has their own take on things. But I definately think the eighties and nineties were far superior to the 2000's in terms of quality metal. Modern heavy metal has really run out of ideas. Granted, there are still good bands that are putting out good albums, but the really crucial factor here is the ratio. In the 80's and 90's the number of bands putting out good albums was remarkably higher than now. Granted, this colored by my opinion of what's good and what's band, but in this I an including albums from genres that I don't really care for. Death and Black metal did all of each's respective ground breaking in the late 80's early 90's and now each has plateaued with an endless amount of generic crap bands. Same thing with each genre. Because each of these genres have progressed so far, you either get something that is totally bizarre or something that has been done a million times. Unfortunately for the latter, it's impossible to have any new ideas and as such many bands sound generic because instead of trying to impose their own personality on the music, they just try to copy another band's imagery and sound. That's the chronic illness of the retro thrash movement. Everyone wants to be Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, Antrhax etc. Literally, they want to be exactly like them.

That's the problem with modern music. With that said, I still like a lot of it. But relative to the past, things are not so good.

I don't fundamentally disagree with the bulk of your post, HT, but you commenting on the state of black/death metal is like me proclaiming to know the state of thrash/power metal. I just don't buy you being an expert on those genres.

REBIRTH OF GORGOROTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I don't profess to be an expert on either genre, but I constantly have to hear from people who are experts on the genres. And just from my own opinion, as far as the music that I am willing to listen to from either genre, it comes mainly from the late 80's and 90's, bands like Darkthrone, Emperor, Mayhem, Autopsy, early Sepultura, Death, etc. These names are legends in the respective genres and all date from the aforementioned eras.

I guess that would be the gist of my argument.

Ok. I buy that. Not sure if I disagree or not.

Youz stuck in the past, old man.

That would be true if i only listened to bands from that era. As i said, there are also a few modern bands i like.

how does not liking modern music make somebody stuck in the past?

stupidest thing I have ever heard.

i can't believe someone said symphonic metal was a good idea

imo the 00s are the best decade for metal because that's when all my favourite bands were releasing their best albums.

Some bands actually pull it off rather easily, Hollenthon and Ancient rites are both bands that have gone far with symphonic elements.

Therion, on balance, has done more good than bad for metal.

Symphonic Metal is awesome. I've also thought of neo-classical metal being a great thing too.

Therion, Nightwish, Avantasia, Apocalyptica, Trans-Siberian Orchestra. great/good bands.

or how about extreme metal bands that use classical/orchestra/traditional instrumentation.

Equillibrium- legendary.

I honestly can't say which decade I prefer. IMO every generation has great bands to offer. I fail to see how you can compare the past ten years and the 70's for example.

Because you're only listening to music from the past.

Pretty simple if, then statement there, broham.