• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Threads concerning heavy metal: music's true nerds?

#161
It's my belief that there are nerds in virtually any activity or pastime known to man. From sports to music to comics to movies to books to video games to outdoor enthusiasts to stamp/coin/whatever "collectors". Basically anything that someone can be overly-passionate about has it's fair share of nerds in it. I don't see how or why it should matter to anyone who is or isn't a nerd as long as they aren't hurting anyone. Some of my best friends have been metal dudes (or gals). And I've known some real douchebags who were metal folks as well. At the end of the day I'm less concerned with people's nerd-like passions and more concerned with how they treat someone as a friend, co-worker, or fellow citizen (or forum-poster :D).
 
#162
cdef said:
I wonder why there are no deep love songs in the metal genre, unless they're about suicide pacts, etc. Even metal nerds still really fall in love, don't they?

Is there such a thing as a thoughtful, poetic, technically elegant "metal" lyric? If there is, I'd like to see it. I've studied hundreds of them for a certain project, and they depend on clumsy cliches of negativity, aggressivity, hate, misogynism, machoism, brutalism and demonism. Is this what became of rock'n'roll? It seems to be taken as a matter of course these days.
Click to expand...

Here's some metal lyrics that do not meet any of the above criteria. I suggest you look up the song and listen along. I wouldn't claim that the majority of metal lyrics aren't rather negative - they are. That's kinda the point. I think a lot of metal fans find the expression of negativity in the music to be cathartic. I do.

ISIS - 20 Minutes / 40 Years

tendrils extend
from the cloudy black mass

they slither and slide through the ones and zeroes
prophecy of collapse unfolds
last grain of sand spirals down the hole

chance has graced me with a gift
grasp at gold before the dark descends
sun beats down and panic reigns
in this time of endings

eyes are shut, feet are bare
for this journey i'm unprepared

i walk on
sight renewed
seek new life
i seek new life
walk on

seeking her, the one i wish to see
she wanders the outer lands
from the grasp of wolves i will pluck her

twin arteries flow with the pulse of one mighty heart
 
#163
GeneralElectric said:
I think that its harder to for metalheads to branch out to other social groups to get laid. Its kinda like the kids in the Marching Band. Just because they're getting it on with eachother, doesn't actually make them an actual hit with the opposite gender.

Metal is the music of the outcast. Their peers just "don't understand" them or their music. You said so yourself.

I listen to a lot of music and I abhor band shirts. Because we both like "insert band name here" doesn't make us friends. It just means we both like to give bands free advertising. On the rare occasion that I do wear a band shirt, its usually a cool design I like with the actual band's name in small font somewhere in it.

I think its a cop out to identify yourself by what kind of music you listen to and make into some perverse mockery of a lifestyle. Is it so much to identify yourself by who you are and not what you listen to?

I played sports in high school, I listened to music, I played in bands, did extremely well in school, and I did a lot of drugs. I didn't identify myself as a jock, **** head, band guy, nerd, or druggie/stoner. I identified myself as GeneralElectric, while most just called me a bit weird. I had a hot girlfriend too for all of highschool, although she was a metal head:scowl: She eventually started dressing normal.

As a college student, I've learned to avoid those who embrace the vestiges of metal still.
Click to expand...

There is so much wrong with this I can't even begin. :mad:

Congrats on making a complete *** of yourself.
 
#164
As for the nerdiness, oh yeah. I can "namedrop-then-discuss-awesomeness" for hours if you get me around another metal nerd.

IME, though, the subgenre thing is exactly what Sartori said - descriptions. I don't ever run into people who only listen to one and hate all else. Usually the good conversations start with "Have you heard the new Amon Amarth?" and end with a mutual agreement that Sabbath started it all and Lemmy is god.
 
#166
I couldn't bother to read nine pages, so I'm sorry if this has been posted before.
Here's EVERYTHING you need to know about Metal.:)

‪Fur TV - Fat Ed's furry ****ing guide to Metal‬‏ - YouTube

I used to listen to a lot of Metal and still do from time to time, but I'm mostly into what some folks would probably consider old-school (Judas Priest, Queensryche, Racer X, etc.).
This thread does have an "interesting" concept.
 
#167
I just need to say.. I love metal, but I feel that none of the generalities the OP has stated are true of myself. I love Opeth, Dream Theater, Mastodon, .. whatever.. you know.. but I don't listen to it for the "heaviness". I listen to it for the intricate beauty that goes into making it. I listen to metal for the emotion it brings up in me and for the inspiration. The first time I heard Mastodon's "Crack the Skye" album, it literally blew my mind. It's what inspired me to start playing. I've never been so moved by music, than I am with metal. :)
Maybe it makes me a nerd, but I'm pretty nerdy anyway..I dunno. I'd consider myself a hippie/nerd/metal-head combination... if that makes sense.

That said, I think there is a lot of misconceptions surrounding what's considered "metal" and the people who listen to it. I even used to hate metal and think all of the generalities that many have stated here, but as I learned to listen to music more and branch out and hear what's actually going on in a song, I seen that there's a lot more going on in the "metal world" than people think. I also believe that those who judge others for their musical interests are the low-life's of the world. There is beauty in all forms of music and just because you don't like a song, or a particular artist, or even genre, doesn't make the people who listen to it terrible people. For instance, I abhor ICP and you don't want to get me started on "juggalos" but I have plenty of people I know who listen to them and we're all fine with that. We don't argue about them and respect that we all have different opinions, hear things differently, have grown up with different pasts and like different things throughout life, not just in the music world.
I think people are too quick to judge and should take a step back and look in the mirror and think for a minute about when they started becoming so judgmental and hateful. How about a little understanding, tolerance, and general kindness for a change?
 
#168
lol i used to be really obsessed with metal when i was younger, i outgrew it, but i have always been a nerd, i just switched categories.

nowadays, you are gonna get it if you say something like "tonewood doesn't affect tone" or "i like the bassplaying in Seven Nation Army"

yes, all of us here are nerds, and if we get together, we'd speak in languages non talkbass members would go "huh?! what is this Mothman they speak of and what's so funny about that tony macaroni photo thing?!"

i know, cause for the first 3 years ive been lurking here, i never understood a thing, and now, i do lol
 
#169
I am a fan of some metal, not ALL. I'm not the type to look metal...my hubs says I'm not metal..it's like...huh? you dont have to LOOK metal to enjoy it! Idont have 1000 metal shirts...just two Tarot shirts...cos that's my main #1 band. One was sent to me from the guitarist, you bet they're my #1. I support them and Nightwish 100%.


Alexi Laiho is good.(Children of Bodom)

If smiling is not metal, then Tarot - the pioneering Finnish metal band is not metal. Marco though has a great evil grin, as many of the other Finnish metal guys.

There are many many bands who are much more heavier than my #1 guys...that's okay.

Real metal IMO is FUN crazy @$$ $#!+!!!! Look up the band Lordi, that is cool...and there is even a kid's metal band, Hevisaurus.

Because OF metal is why I am playing bass.

The most metal of any and all people in metal, is a 7 yr old kid Rony Osterlund. look him up.
 
#174
About 20+ year ago I was in some independent metal only record store in Chicago. Looking around the place, it looked like it was decorated by Satan's personal assistant...

So I was looking at all the new and undiscovered metal and noticed that there wasn't any Metallica or Megadeth in there - must not have been metal enough. All of a sudden I see an import section for Tori Amos.
 
#175
Oh my god, I can't believe I just read this whole bloody thread, I MUST be a nerd...
But I think everythings pretty much already said and I have nothing to add.

Except that awhile back when I lost my "Fear of the Dark" Maiden shirt that had a pic of Eddie playing bass a-la Steve Harris, I was truly heart broken, it was my favorite and I miss it dearly, and am not afraid to admit it.

I admit to being a metal nerd/geek whatever, but I also like to party, hang out with all types of people, listen to all types of music (excluding MOST country), meet chicks, and just have as good of a time as possible with anyone who wants to take that ride with me.

Now:
In Memoriam​
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]​
2006-2011
I WILL NEVER FORGET​
 
#176
Sartori said:
"Better" is subjective.
Click to expand...

Better and best are obsessions. I find it no coincidence that we see threads looking for the "best" bass for metal.

I was at a music shop a few weeks back and was hearing kids debate which metal band was better because the this singer could growl deeper, but another band's drummer could play faster blast beats, and who tuned lower, as if any of these were badges of honor. :eyebrow:
 
#177
spade2you said:
Better and best are obsessions. I find it no coincidence that we see threads looking for the "best" bass for metal.

I was at a music shop a few weeks back and was hearing kids debate which metal band was better because the this singer could growl deeper, but another band's drummer could play faster blast beats, and who tuned lower, as if any of these were badges of honor. :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

Singer A + Drummer B + 6 string bass tuned down 6 steps for guitar parts = ultimate metal group.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back