Alice in Chains: Metal or not?

[Bassace28]

Well this question has been pissing me off to be honest. I'm a huge Alice in Chains fan, and it seems that Alice in Chains has been considered as many genres..... Now most of you will say that they are grunge just because they are from Seattle bla bla bla. But, could they be a metal band? A blues-metal band (if that makes sense) is what i think they are. What do you think?

 

[Unrepresented]

They have metal tendencies, but I wouldn't choose metal as my first choice to describe them.

They're a band that was on the cusp of a couple different genres, and benefited from that crossover appeal.

Why the need to pigeonhole them?

 

[bassteban]

As this is music-related, I believe this belongs in *misc*
Posting in OT may yield odd results, like me saying I think they sound kinda country to me.

 

[DanAleks]

FWIW

I don't think they're metal, but I don't care where they're classified.
I like what they do.

H.A.N.D.

 

[mellowinman]

We cover them.

Therefore, they can't be metal, because we don't play metal.

I consider them hard rock.

Really really GOOD hard rock.

 

[ZanaZulu807]

We cover them.

Therefore, they can't be metal, because we don't play metal.

I consider them hard rock.

Really really GOOD hard rock.

Same here. I think Hard Rock defines them best as their music is pretty broad, but since they're music has Grungy elements I've always just dubbed them as "Grunge Rock". I would hardly call their music Metal as their songs actually make me relax and it's not a guilty pleasure like with most Metal; I can discuss it with my friends and not feel lame, lol...

It's like what I said one time. With Metal, I have to be in a certain mindset to listen to it and I sure love to play it on my bass, but with bands like Alice In Chains, STP, Nirvana, etc., all I have to do is just listen... Their music just sinks right in...

 

[Actium]

They are listed on the Encyclopedia Metallum therefore, they are metal.

This website tends to have elitist tendencies when deciding if bands are metal enough to be listed there.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Who cares? Why do people have to put a label on anything?

 

[Strohsx]

Who cares? Why do people have to put a label on anything?

I agree, it's music, if you like it cool, of you don't who cares.



OP, just do what every other "Genre whore" does just make up a new genre to call it Like Alternametagrungecore.

 

[whitefuneral]

Progressive metal?

 

[MJ5150]

Grunge. The best of the bunch from the Seattle area in my opinion.

-Mike

 

[charlie monroe]

They're more metal than Jethro Tull, however, Chains are not a metal band.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

I guess this raises the question: What is the best Seattle band for metal?

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Definitely not metal... and definitely one of my all time favorite bands

 

[Unrepresented]

I guess this raises the question: What is the best Seattle band for metal?

The Melvins. In fact you could've omitted the "for metal" part and the answer is still the same.

 

[Floyd Eye]

My favorite band by far. We cover about 8 of their songs. I would say their early stuff could be classified as metal ( metal at that time), but overall I would not classify them that way myself. I would say hard rock/alt.

 

[Actium]

Who cares? Why do people have to put a label on anything?

So when you want to hear certain um, genres, you look up the appropriate labels and find bands belonging to it.

 

[ksandvik]

The VH1 Metal documentary, episode called 'Grunge' showed this weekend, addressed this specific issue. I liked the conclusion.

 

[buzzbass]

metal enough for me

 

[fourstringdrums]

So when you want to hear certain um, genres, you look up the appropriate labels and find bands belonging to it.

Well yes, music has to be categorized, but when people fight over classification, it gets a bit ridiculous.