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Metal's Becoming a Cliche

#221
“I think that the problem with this video is it is highly derivative of many popular bands within the genre. Although when viewed on its own merits, it does have a deeper groove. However what it has in groove it lacks in originality. One can’t help but be reminded of such bands as Pearl Jam, White Zombie, Suicidal Tendencies and other bands that bear the mantle of so called “Alternative Rock.” One is even reminded of Laurie Anderson when she wore curlers. This video speaks less to the heart and more to the sphincter. In closing, I think Korn would do well to learn more from... *SMACK* ...Aaaahhhhh!"

– Beavis
 
#222
Bloodhammer said:
“I think that the problem with this video is it is highly derivative of many popular bands within the genre. Although when viewed on its own merits, it does have a deeper groove. However what it has in groove it lacks in originality. One can’t help but be reminded of such bands as Pearl Jam, White Zombie, Suicidal Tendencies and other bands that bear the mantle of so called “Alternative Rock.” One is even reminded of Laurie Anderson when she wore curlers. This video speaks less to the heart and more to the sphincter. In closing, I think Korn would do well to learn more from... *SMACK* ...Aaaahhhhh!"

– Beavis
Click to expand...

LOL! Beavis meets Patrick Bateman!
 
#223
Dubista said:
You've just noticed now? :hiding:

I jest, of course. My opinion on metal bands is that it is a complex and very technical genre that can be amazing IF DONE RIGHT. But it seems like 90% of metal bands I see are just in it for the "baddassery" factor that it gets them.

funny that you mention that cliche thing though, I remember one time I was with my sister, who is about 14 to a recital at a school with uniform and as soon as she saw the band pull out their pointy guitars, she said "oh dear".
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That's metal...I'm not a fan - almost all the bands around here after bassists do original metal, and I bloody hate it. I was brought up with 60's and Beatles stuff, then got into the Libertines and Strokes/new-old-rock'n'roll garage-band stuff so I just try to avoid metal. I'm lucky enough to have a beatles/indie-esque band now...but for a month or so ALL I saw was adverts for metallers which I wouldn't fit in with (even if they mention different genre bands, it'll still end up metal ultimately...). Almost all the bands you see around are distorted/white-noise Les Pauls and long hair, 5-string plectrum bassists and crazy long-haired drummers doing double-bassdrum rolls mid-song...sod that rubbish - give me indie-boys any day!

(at least with indie/britpop bands you can get some interesting influences popping up when you chat to them...)
 
#224
addylewis said:
Almost all the bands you see around are distorted/white-noise Les Pauls and long hair, 5-string plectrum bassists and crazy long-haired drummers doing double-bassdrum rolls mid-song...sod that rubbish - give me indie-boys any day!

(at least with indie/britpop bands you can get some interesting influences popping up when you chat to them...)
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Sorry to hear that. We need some good up-and-coming metallers to get back to some of metal's true roots: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, that sorta stuff. It's what I want to do! Cliff and Geezer used 4 strings; so can I.
 
#226
kuuri said:
Iv seen that picture before :P
And no I dont really hate on bands too that level. I agree on if you like it so be it. Kinda makes me think why I started this convo? Whatever Im looking that the musical structure ov this song. Even those i said I hate them... That a different story.

And yeah it does have musical structure but so does 99% ov the songs out there? You can listen to metallica witch does have catchy riffs good solos nice blend ov lead and backing vocals. And just about every band I listen to has the riff then they play the riff again with vocals with it. I dont see what so ever how this band is talented. They do what just about every band does.

Ohh and on a side note. What do you dislike about Cannibal Corpse? I know tuns ov people who say the same thing, 'I dont like Cannibal corpse but they do have talent' My best thorey is that they dislike the vocals and possibaly the lyrics. I like them cause they have speed. When im feeling the right mood I love to have that acceleration I my self is not the BIGGEST fan on the lyrics but I do like the low/high vocals an how they are weaved into the instruments. My overall favorite part about the band is how both guitarist and the bassist play the same thing with the occasional solo or break. Now it maybe be a few minutes before I respond gotta eat ya know :)
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THIS GUY is whats wrong with Metal!!!!!! Such a troll!!!!
 
#227
Many people in my area are obsessed with the stuff. They talk about how "they're keeping him 'cos he has nice hair" or "Getting rid of him 'cos he plays a dean" or something like that. We're on a local crusade to try and bring attention back to good old, fashioned metal but with a modern edge. And it makes these little brats complain when they can actually understand the vocals.
 
#229
Hamlet7768 said:
Sorry to hear that. We need some good up-and-coming metallers to get back to some of metal's true roots: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, that sorta stuff. It's what I want to do! Cliff and Geezer used 4 strings; so can I.
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Yeah man! Before it all became about "how horribly you can scream - or how like Corey Taylor you can sound"...thats more like it - Led Zep and Deep Purple...it'd be good to hear some pre-Metallica metal-influenced stuff for a change! (nothing against Metallica, but their general SOUND is what every metal-orientated band SINCE has tried to sound like apart from the "heavier than" aspect...)
 
#230
Hamlet7768 said:
Sorry to hear that. We need some good up-and-coming metallers to get back to some of metal's true roots: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, that sorta stuff. It's what I want to do! Cliff and Geezer used 4 strings; so can I.
Click to expand...

70's style rock has made a comeback of sorts in the form of stoner rock and psychadelic rock. Dead Meadow is a great example. And while they're heavy, they're 70s heavy, not what we have come to know as "metal" today.
 
#233
Ha I just recently went to a Mastodon concert and Dillinger Escape Plan was there....gotta say, they fit the description you provided in the beginning (double bass, diminished scales, walls of distortion, etc.). Recently ive been getting into Ghost Brigade myself.
 
#234
addylewis said:
Yeah man! Before it all became about "how horribly you can scream - or how like Corey Taylor you can sound"...thats more like it - Led Zep and Deep Purple...it'd be good to hear some pre-Metallica metal-influenced stuff for a change! (nothing against Metallica, but their general SOUND is what every metal-orientated band SINCE has tried to sound like apart from the "heavier than" aspect...)
Click to expand...

Well, I can't deny that Cliff Burton was my initial inspiration to learn bass...
 
#236
I completely agree with this whole conversation... and it is one of the most aggravating things ever. Being 16 I know all about all these -core bands that everyone seems to like. (well not everyone, some hate it, but those are the Lil Wayne lovers).
The biggest problem is I WANT to try something new! To innovate! I want to make something different! BUT... nobody else does. I can't get a drummer, guitarist, singer, ANYBODY on my side! They just want to go play more Asking Alexandria covers.

I was born in the wrong generation I guess...:bassist:
 
#238
I've read this entire thread. I think it is quite interesting.

I guess I think of "metal" as a term that is so widely encompassing anymore that you can just about use it to describe almost anything hard, loud, and heavy.

I'm not sure anymore what I should classify as metal. Is Iron Maiden metal? Is Ratt and Dokken considered metal? You m ight laugh, but in the 80s, that stuff was considered metal. Some of the really intense stuff around today is very, very different from all that. I don't wish to say better or worse... I don't listen to enough of all that is available these days to form an opinion.

I agree that the term itself may be becoming a cliche, only because it seems to be applied very loosely to a lot of very different things. One could argue that that is the beauty of the genre; that it has managed to fragment 500 ways and still be what it is.

That said, I have found it a source of frustration in that it seems like the only thing local musicians are interested in, at least in several places I've lived. Even overseas. My music classified of choice when I lived in Australia had more drummer wanted ads than you could ever want.... but 4 out of every 5 had "metal" in the subject.

I don't mean to be too critical of a genre where people still play instruments... I'd much rather see a metal band than a DJ with a sequencer.
 
#239
The urge to shoehorn a particular band or body of music into some sort of genre is unfortunate and almost inescapable. Led Zeppelin was called "heavy metal" back in the day, but there are lots of heavier-sounding bands that wouldn't be considered metal today.

Better to just take each example for what it is. Tool has a heavy sound. Is it prog? Is it metal? Is it "alt rock" as most 90s bands were labeled? Who gives a damn. It is what it is. A band with a heavy sound, intelligent lyrics and compositions, talented musicians and a sense of humor. Who cares what "metal" is.

I have thought of metal as a parody of itself since the hair bands of the 80s took it to its logical and absurd conclusion. Metallica seemed to save it for a while, but the splintering and de-definition of the genre was unstoppable. And you can't turn back the clock, so don't try. Enjoy what you like for the reasons you like it.
 

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