The Power of Metal

the internets a major factor. i wouldn't know half the bands i know if it wasn't for the computer. then the bands have the cheek to moan about it.......

Quote :

What factors do you think have influenced this world dominance of metal these days?

Me. I tell people "Listen to metal" then smack them upside the head.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Me. I tell people "Listen to metal" then smack them upside the head.

...with your spork.

I was thinking about this the other day.With the new wave of old school metal bands,it seems like the scene is growing at a staggering rate.I think the internet really helps bands get their name out there.

Quote :

I think the internet really helps bands get their name out there.

Absolutely.

Yeah, I agree B-man. Metal seems huge today, which I find very cool. Yes it was huge back in the day, but now, its identity seems a little more refined and the genre is so vast and widespread in styles! I think it's great. I don't enjoy all of it, but It's awesome for sure.

I think more than the internet (which is a part of it for sure) its the availability of software and equipment in the last 15 years or so that's allowed more potential musicians to record and practice and develop. It's amazing what a talented musician can do in the confines of his own (non-sound proofed) house with a personal computer, guitar, keyboard..etc. So to me, it's more advancements and price reductions in technology and the arrival of the "modern" home computer and the software advancements that followed.

Personally, being a teen in today's high schools, there aren't too many metal fans. At first, there were just me and a couple of friends. Now that I'm a senior there are about 15 kids that listen to the Metal not just 4. Doesn't sound like much, but when theres 15 kids dressed in Metal gear, it gets intimidatin'.

EvyMetal wrote:

Personally, being a teen in today's high schools, there aren't too many metal fans. At first, there were just me and a couple of friends. Now that I'm a senior there are about 15 kids that listen to the Metal not just 4. Doesn't sound like much, but when theres 15 kids dressed in Metal gear, it gets intimidatin'.

When I was in High school (way back in the late 80's/early 90's) EVERYONE seemed to have a rock shirt on of some sort such as Metallica or AC/DC. We even had a local department store that supplied Savatage Hall of the Mountain King T shirts for $8! I was the only one in my school with a BulletBoys shirt. But it was easy to tell who was true metal and who wasn't. 99% of those people are Toby Keith fans these days.

The WWW is the biggest reason, I believe.

LONG LIVE METAL!

Metal was much bigger in the 80's. They got MTV play, were on the charts, and sold out arenas. Only the classic bands from that genre can say that is the case today, if you overlook the core crap, that is. (To me that is not metal). The bands of today, that started in the 90's, or this new millenium, are not as big as most of the bands during the 80's, and are still considered underground.

Besides music isn't selling like it used to. People steal music online, and the only chance for a band to really make it today is through touring.

There are a shitload of bands this day in age, but Kmorg is right. The only chance for a band to really make it today is through touring and merchandise. It is still growing though.

There are more bands now than there were in the 80's, but attendance at shows and such is still low when comparing the 2 era's.

Lurideath wrote:

There are more bands now than there were in the 80's, but attendance at shows and such is still low when comparing the 2 era's.

This kills me. I know you're right, as you and AOB are in the thick of the scene. But why don't fans go to see shows?

Personally, I just never know when a show is coming around here. I live in the Tampa Florida area and I'm sure there are a buttload of shows. There's a missing link and I don't know what it is. Could it be poor promotion?

People eventually get tired of being spoon fed crap music to listen to & rebel against it. You will NEVER here 3/4 of the bands mentioned here on this forum on the radio EVER. Let the sheep have their pop & nu-metal emo crap & keep the good stuff underground where it has always been so we wont have any more Metallica incedents on our hands. Mainstream + Money = St Anger. Dont ever forget it.

well, GOOD DAY to you too!!!

I'm with Kmorg, metal was way bigger in the 80's than it is now. Sure,
a lot of those were "fans" who went on to the next fad when it came
along, but bottom line is they were buying the albums and going to the
shows, so bands could make more at it.

Then again, bands get a lot more exposure on the internet now, and the
underground scene can network a lot better on boards and MySpace so
today's scene has it's advantages as well.

Hamer12 is right though.Once things enter the mainstream and the almighty dollar starts to fade their original vision it becomes crap.I prefer metal to stay underground.

spectrefate wrote:

What factors do you think have influenced this world dominance of metal these days?

Personally, I think it's the proliferation and normalization of the practice of corprophagia - due to ease of access on the internet.

I prefer corprolites which are easy to carry and don't get you all stenched up. Non-edible as well!!

TrogDawn wrote:

corprophagia

That's the HOM Word of the Day. Before you posted it, I was on Wikipedia reading about it.

In a weird kind of way, I think part of the resurgeance could come in part from the "Hot Topic"-bands (avengend sevenfold, trivium, etc.) that wear the Maiden and Sabbath t-shirts. If your a fan of those bands, you may be inclined to check out the bands that your band likes.

I'm pretty out of touch when it comes to what teens are listening to these days, so I'm just speculating. I do agree with the others that say metal will never achive the level of popularity or profitablilty as it did in the 80's. That was a golden time that we'll never see again.

80s metal annihilates today's scene, in terms of quality. Not even close.