Am I going to have to move to Europe?

Dilemma:

I'm a metal guy, with a wide range of influences (honestly). I'm trying to find, or form, a band that you can consider 'European' metal. I love the 'Gothenburg' sound, plus Nightwish, Amorphis, Within Temptation, Emperor, Wintersun, Epica, all that stuff. Big, dramatic, melodic, epic kind of metal.

My problem is twofold: 1) In the greater NYC area, where I live, NO ONE wants to play this stuff. 2) The RARE person I find who does want to play this stuff is, well, not very good.

Am I just going to have to move to Europe, where this music is MUCH more popular?

I swear, I'll pack my bags right now. I'm too old to slog away in a band that I don't really enjoy. Life is too short.

Or maybe I've already answered my own question . .

[Skeet]

I want to play that stuff, esp. Emperor. But no one in Australia is like that either, i guess we are 2 lone bassplayers that want to play some good metal.

[J. Crawford]

Im sniffing the first Dual Bassist European Metal band!

Bass-opean Metal!

[pedalguy1]

Dont worry, I'm with you guys too. I'm a huge fan of power and symphonic power metal, nightwish, blind guardian, sonata arctica, gamma ray, helloween. I love it. I'm also in the same boat. The last band I was in was pretty pretty power metal-esq, but the drummer and guitarist left to go play that highly overplayed american death metal. I started another project with my keyboardist whose a nightwish fanatic. (He went as far as buying the same stands as Tuomas). Dont give up hope guys. I know the epic europeon metal scene is small, but the fanbase is very loyal.

[pedalguy1]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Im sniffing the first Dual Bassist European Metal band!

Bass-opean Metal!

Hey, I'd join that.
Three part bass harmonies.

[UncleBalsamic]

It's a nice place to live (Scandinavia and the like).

[Matt Dean]

Actually, if you've got skills and the passion, moving to Europe is not a bad idea!!!

[BlackMetalAkaz]

I love your avatar picture.



"Heeerrreeeeeeeeeee's Spector!"

[Rocker949]

If you are serious about doing this, I hope you have thoroughly checked out the work permit/visa requirements. If you don't have EU citizenship, living and working in Europe can be difficult.

[Implosion]

Too much of Finland in this thread

But on a mor serious note. DON'T DO IT!!! When the US (metal) music scene is compared to the European music scene, well..... the European music scene pretty much sucks ***. I guess the picture of the European music scene distorts across the atlantic ocen, because it's nothing to brag about and believe me when I say that it get's worse the more northern you go.

[JulienJeff]

I had the inverse problem when I decided to form a band 18 months ago: 75% of the people who contacted me wanted to play this kind of music, which is not my cup of tea.

[RestInPieces]

Originally Posted by Implosion

Too much of Finland in this thread

But on a mor serious note. DON'T DO IT!!! When the US (metal) music scene is compared to the European music scene, well..... the European music scene pretty much sucks ***. I guess the picture of the European music scene distorts across the atlantic ocen, because it's nothing to brag about and believe me when I say that it get's worse the more northern you go.

*** FINLAND RULES

But seriously I live in Finland and i'd say the melodic metal scene isn't so popular as you think (at least here in finland). There are two main groups, the stupid rap people and people who listen thrash metal, hard rock etc. So if u wanna be popular I would go for basic thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) or hard rock (AC/DC, Motörhead). But this is only in finland i dunno about the other european countries.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by JulienJeff

I had the inverse problem when I decided to form a band 18 months ago: 75% of the people who contacted me wanted to play this kind of music, which is not my cup of tea.

Really?

I want to play that kind of stuff and I can't find any other musicians over here.



To the OP... don't move to Belgium for your cause.
You might be tempted by the beer though.

No metalbands from here made it. If you wanna come to Belgium, you've got to learn to play whinnish alternative rock a là Radiohead.


Germany and the Scandinavian countries will be your best bet.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Im sniffing the first Dual Bassist European Metal band!

Bass-opean Metal!

You mean Necromantia?

Greek metalband with 2 bassists. (one playing an 8-string coursed.)

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

Im sniffing the first Dual Bassist European Metal band!

Bass-opean Metal!

Originally Posted by pedalguy1

Hey, I'd join that.
Three part bass harmonies.

You rang?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiX9RaQTJxo

[neatobassman]

Why do what Europe does when you can do it better? I mean, we are slowly even conquering soccer.

[nrssab]

In Germany all sorts of metal are quite popular. Many people around there!

[QORC]

the last time I checked, they still charge for food and rent in Sweden and Germany and frankly the cost of living will be double or even triple most places in the US. You still have to play music that sells.

bon voyage

[FunkMetalBass]

Pick up a 7-string guitar and start playing metal. Put out some demo recordings and put them on craigslist. From experience, more people will respond to want ads with music than to go in blind.

[Gonzo476]

I think you should consider it carefully. I mean, if music was the only thing in my life I would have moved to London right after getting a bass, but there are many factors you must take into account...