tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post1251891545001960259..comments2024-03-28T15:20:35.787-07:00Comments on Illogical Contraption: OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF MODERN METALShelby Cobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-91499868512917902762014-05-13T14:14:55.215-07:002014-05-13T14:14:55.215-07:00High On Fire for LIFEHigh On Fire for LIFEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-91041999040874009412010-05-10T21:06:57.502-07:002010-05-10T21:06:57.502-07:00Im a couple days behind here so you may never see ...Im a couple days behind here so you may never see this but, you fucking nailed it there Mel. <br />Taking inspiration from watered down rock bands rather then the source is never going to have good results. <br />And since I'm already bothering to post here again, Shelby you got my on a technicality but you know what I meant. The Norwegian scene started in the early 90's.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09883382139926271292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-89601185700119910692010-05-05T14:35:48.926-07:002010-05-05T14:35:48.926-07:00Thanks Mel. Without a lady involved, bukkake is ju...Thanks Mel. Without a lady involved, bukkake is just a circle jerk (then again, you've got Brokkake, but that's a different story altogether). Thanks for validating us. I totally get where you're coming from with modern music being too far separated from its roots. Well said. Next up: Dalton's concept album, an electric/orchestral re-interpretation of Grieg's <em>Peer Gynt</em>!Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-50493375166398506272010-05-05T13:48:31.425-07:002010-05-05T13:48:31.425-07:00You know what? Fuck it. I'm gonna release the ...You know what? Fuck it. I'm gonna release the Kraken. "Original". What the fuck does that mean? Why did I say original and not "The Old School"? Because it's all contrived. Bow Chugging. Based on the enthusiastic reactions to bow chugging posts it seems that you dudes agree that classical in some terms is the "original" metal. I fully agree. At the tender age of 12 I asked my guitar teacher how to become the most shredding female guitarist known to man. What did he do? He made me learn classical and jazz guitar, that's what he did. (Also a ten hour a day Steve Vai guitar "workout"-needless to say I didn't have a lot of friends in junior high/high school) <br />This was further drilled into my head when I studied under Jason Kocol of Impaled. (The most wizardly guitarist I have ever come across-it was an honor, truly). Why? Why classical, why jazz? Metal (depending on the genre) is largely based off of other more primitive forms of music. The reason why bands are sucking these days is because they are taking a contrived sound from an original thought and usually manipulating it in an inappropriate way. Until a new originality is created, it's all going to sound like the same regurgitated shit. <br />That is about as serious as I get. Thanks for listening. Enjoy your Bukake.Manslaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715489262715178788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-83061062566770843562010-05-05T12:34:56.051-07:002010-05-05T12:34:56.051-07:00^^^ Last comment directed at Del Tigre, re: Il Mal...^^^ Last comment directed at Del Tigre, re: Il Malocchio.<br /><br />Thanks for re-commenting, Mel. If only to tell us that our petty bickering is below you.Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-15956537954866634362010-05-05T12:32:43.212-07:002010-05-05T12:32:43.212-07:00If only I'd known before I began writing this ...If only I'd known <em>before</em> I began writing this cursed article! Those guys should totally book a show with Live Evil (remember them, the Giant Vagina band?). If memory serves, their singer/guitarist was a transplanted Euro too.Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-85318622401777861662010-05-05T12:30:59.722-07:002010-05-05T12:30:59.722-07:00Ok, I deleted the last comment I made cuz I don...Ok, I deleted the last comment I made cuz I don't really get involved in the literal circle jerk that happens when dudes talk metal. All I have to say though, is that it really really depends on the band. I am a purist, and therefore nod towards the originals, but there are genres that don't really inspire me. But they might have one band or even one song from a band that ALMOST changes my mind about the genre OR the band. <br />What am I trying to say? WHATEVS DUDES. That's what I'm trying to say.<br /><br />That, and I almost got killed by Rubber(O)Cement once, true story. <br />Metal Noise is getting bigger, and there are some good projects coming around. Such as Manslaughter. No, not me. My friend Ryan (used to be in Crash Worship) has a santanic metal noise project. Bay area or beyond, check it out. It's the future.Manslaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715489262715178788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-70720896052459553502010-05-05T11:22:56.835-07:002010-05-05T11:22:56.835-07:00Let's not forget Bay Area Italian Disco Metal....Let's not forget Bay Area Italian Disco Metal. "I was with these guys in the hot tub when they wrote these songs, maaaan!"Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14496390106295047006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-20836824762998904352010-05-05T10:22:58.184-07:002010-05-05T10:22:58.184-07:00i agree with manslaughter. you really do have to g...i agree with manslaughter. you really do have to go to shows to find new bands. for instant, amazing bands like Dark Black and Buried Blood (totally unheard of bands) shred intense balls are totally worth everyone’s time, but you have to hang out in small NW bars to find out about these guys. if only someone would take up the cause to expose blog readers to bands like these.SEANFORDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580585141402574820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-74295365178443384042010-05-05T10:12:14.163-07:002010-05-05T10:12:14.163-07:00What the hell, Manslaughter? You made some good po...What the hell, Manslaughter? You made some good points, why the deletion?<br /><br />Actually, everyone here has made good points (well, at least those of you who agree with me 100%), and I thank you for the input.<br /><br />A couple points:<br /><br />First off, to Helm - I never meant my offhand comments about preferring Carcass and Obituary over modern stuff to mean that that's the <em>only</em> metal I listen to. If I were to break it down by percentage, my daily metal intake is probably 30% 70's, 30% 80's, 30% 90's, and 10% 00's. I was just making a point, I think by now you probably know that I hold no aversion to the innovation of early 80's metal bands.<br /><br />Peter: Excellent points, but I've got to call you out: <em>"Black metal is one genre that I feel still has some interesting and innovative things to share. Probably because of its relatively young age (compared to say thrash) and also because of the willingness within the scene to cross pollinate with other, unlikely genres."</em><br /><br />... It depends on who you ask, Brother, but last I checked Venom's <em>Black Metal</em> came out in '82! BM's history goes back just as far as thrash, I think the tendency for experimentation comes more from its lack of commercial viability. There are lots of "artists" in the black metal scene, as opposed to the hipsters and sweatpants-bros running the show everywhere else. Then again, you have radio-friendly BM nowadays too. It all goes back to your well-spoken point about genres cross-pollinating until their offspring are retarded.<br /><br />I don't know. If anything, I'm glad that IC has found a readership with tastes OUTSIDE the usual, watered-down, MetalSucks-sponsored canon of commercial-minded Media Metal bands. It's great that there are still people in the world discerning enough to like stuff that <em>appeals</em> to them, rather than liking what they are <em>told</em> to like. And for that, I applaud you all.<br /><br />Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go upload some death metal from 1992 that i will be instructing you all to LIKE later today...Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-41707957916829139942010-05-05T09:56:05.735-07:002010-05-05T09:56:05.735-07:00Honestly I think metal peaked and then plateaued i...Honestly I think metal peaked and then plateaued in the early 90's. At this point there is nothing new under the sun that hasn't already been done better previously. All the retro-thrash, retro-death, hipster stoner, etc, revival bands are the sure sign of the genre's demise. Once musicians start navel-gazing and looking backward instead of forward, the music dies. Look at jazz. It maxed out in the late 60's with free jazz and has stagnated since. Metal has been stuck in the same rut. And it makes sense seeing as how the first metal record is already over 40 years old.<br /><br />There are still lots of good bands out there playing good stuff but the heyday has passed, nothing will ever be as exciting as those early innovative records.Christophernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-80139027142079659402010-05-05T08:51:37.562-07:002010-05-05T08:51:37.562-07:00i agree with your comments about slayer. their cur...i agree with your comments about slayer. their current material is boring and uninspired and they really need to stop. i don't think they've released a quality record since 1991.<br /><br />i don't listen to much current metal. i think a lot of it sucks, and i'd rather just listen to the older stuff than something that is influenced by the older stuff. that being said, i will admit to taking a like to the funebrarum album "sleep of morbid dreams". that album ripped. i could get behind the vasaelath album if i could hear the drums more clearly, but then again, that was a main component of early incantation, as well. <br /><br />i guess i've discovered that i'm really not into 1,000 mph drum beats unless it's napalm death or carcass playing them. other than that, i don't go much faster than celtic frost. bone awl is probably my favorite current metal band, but they're more punk-influenced black metal. their music is catchy as hell and memorable, though, and their live show is incredible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-71812065386331045012010-05-05T01:00:25.613-07:002010-05-05T01:00:25.613-07:00Slayer have been embarrassing for at least 8 years...Slayer have been embarrassing for at least 8 yearsCrankenstienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09593719076720443439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-31344700791532103172010-05-04T21:34:38.912-07:002010-05-04T21:34:38.912-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Manslaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715489262715178788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-21722435157649240032010-05-04T20:12:52.545-07:002010-05-04T20:12:52.545-07:00"hipster ninnies playing watered down, thorou..."hipster ninnies playing watered down, thoroughly mediocre hipster "experi-metal" for hipster beardos to jerk each other off to" - yup!Aylmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516338168860158163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-56668151047686647662010-05-04T20:11:37.623-07:002010-05-04T20:11:37.623-07:00I'm young (23 y.o.) compared to most of you se...I'm young (23 y.o.) compared to most of you senior citizens but I still agree that a lot of the first generation bands are much better listening than a lot of whats being put out today. <br />That having been said there are definitely bands today making excellent tunes, and a lot of them are mentioned above (nice work!). Black metal is one genre that I feel still has some interesting and innovative things to share. Probably because of its relatively young age (compared to say thrash) and also because of the willingness within the scene to cross pollinate with other, unlikely genres. <br />I think artistic promiscuity is exactly what will continue to keep metal alive and fresh for future generations. When genres become to inbred they have retarded babies and eventually die off. It's important to respect your roots and understand them but its also important to move forward.<br />I know most of you old guys are not into this, but when noise (/power electronics, or whatever else you want to call it) and metal finally have a baby it is going to be fucking awesome. <br />Those of you in the bay can check out a noise/metal collab on Thursday at a place called The Lab (16th st and Capp). Aesop of Cosmic Hearse/Ludicra, Sean McGrath of Impaled, Ghoul, and Engorged are playing together with a noise duo called Rubber (O) Cement. My nads are really pumped for this. Its happening!<br /><br />BTW, excellent post Shelby.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09883382139926271292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-20271126806299577362010-05-04T17:04:05.424-07:002010-05-04T17:04:05.424-07:00Steven, I'm not loving the 80-85 period HM bec...Steven, I'm not loving the 80-85 period HM because it was intellectual but because it was honest just as you say. For humanist, intellectual metal I go to the 90's. So we're in agreement.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-81463121963711405812010-05-04T16:28:57.830-07:002010-05-04T16:28:57.830-07:00Much of yer bellyachin' sounds like my mom tal...Much of yer bellyachin' sounds like my mom talking about how much better rock 'n roll was when she was in high school...<br /><br />Yer right on the money about Ahab. Outstanding doom. But I really like doom metal, often my favorite branch of the tree...<br /><br />Slayer, [sigh]. Weak, rubbery guitar tone; dull songs; tired themes... They really haven't made anything exciting since 'Seasons,' and even that pales before the Cyclopean 'South of Heaven.' Time to hit the links, Kerry.<br /><br />That said, I believe I'm a bit older than most of you. I have no idea what the hipsters are listening to. I initially thought you had fabricated Lady Gaga until I saw something about how Time magazine listed her in their 100 most influential people of the year list. (She must be outside of my demographic.) But I'm constantly curious about new bands. I'm picky as well, but I try not to be a pretentious turd about things. Too many dudes my age never went much past 'Master of Puppets.' <br /><br />And no offense to Helm, who is obviously one of the sharper axes in the shed, I don't like to intellectualize over my heavy metal. Most bands (Fates Warning and Watchtower aside) from the '85-'90 period he (and I) loves so much, weren't too intellectual. They were honest. And that's all I really care about when you get down to it.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342128832508476425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-43904417088293165692010-05-04T15:09:51.094-07:002010-05-04T15:09:51.094-07:00I think that 3IoB and Wolves in the blah blah are ...I think that 3IoB and Wolves in the blah blah are borderline "meh modern metal", but whatevs. Totally agree about Nachmystium.<br />High five for that Vasaeleth disc though! I've been listening to it at work most days since I got it.BradethQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08628076710433633882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-33824062772611938672010-05-04T12:54:11.036-07:002010-05-04T12:54:11.036-07:00I worked with a really great kid, who listened to ...I worked with a really great kid, who listened to and played in, really shit metal bands. We got along fine, but constantly struggled when trying to hip each other to "great " bands. I would play Deicide, Death, Acheron, Cannibal Corpse, etc. for him, and he would just shrug, and put on Job For A Cowboy. He did introduce me to Bal Saggoth, but not much else. He was a shredding guitar player, and it bummed me out that he was playing in a screamo band. It made me feel like an 'old'. I guess it takes a special kind of person to look back, and appreciate the past. To respect the roots of the music they cherish. Most of the shit I listen to came out when I was in diapers, if not before. Maybe we just appreciate the tried and true. The bands that we know have longevity. <br /><br />New bands? Mastodon/Job for.../Isis - the stuff I've listened to just doesn't hold my interest. I can't wholly explain why, though. Super clean, Pro Tools production, seems partly to blame. Metal shouldn't sound hygenic. It should sound like it just crawled out of the ground beneath a mass grave. The analogy I always use: Old Death/Heavy Metal is like Kraft Mac and Cheese, in that it is perfect in it's simplicity. But you can give someone the same ingredients, and they'll add a bunch of extra shit, and just ruin it. Sometimes they fuck it up, w/o even adding anything to the mix. And then, it's like, "Dude, how did you fuck up Mac n' Cheese?" You can take the same guitar/bass/drums/vocals/gore/death/blasphemy ingredients and just use them all wrong. I'm not against progress, but I like to give the dust time to settle before I proclaim the new as better.RyGarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18428088110856319459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-33015267432817977342010-05-04T12:28:43.560-07:002010-05-04T12:28:43.560-07:00I went to two shows in the last year, maybe three....I went to two shows in the last year, maybe three. I've gone above and beyond these "requirements" you speak of. Pentagram at the DNA Lounge and Slough Feg at Thee Parkside. I'm caught up on 2010, man. I hear Dream Theater will be here in 2011! Doesn't get any more "modern" than that!Shelby Cobrashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04077451792653323915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-24830952284632950862010-05-04T12:17:20.394-07:002010-05-04T12:17:20.394-07:00In order to know about the good bands you have to ...In order to know about the good bands you have to go see a show. Like, more than one a year. And not one that you are playing. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.Manslaughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715489262715178788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-66897793004922213402010-05-04T11:40:27.962-07:002010-05-04T11:40:27.962-07:00You are not alone in your love of Rhapsody.
New a...You are not alone in your love of Rhapsody.<br /><br />New album = awesome!Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10238815476389656673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-82448623752930652452010-05-04T11:11:27.222-07:002010-05-04T11:11:27.222-07:00the trick to many of these modern metal bands isn&...the trick to many of these modern metal bands isn't in their sound, it's in their focus/approach<br /><br />it's almost as if new metal is made by an entirely different class of people than in the past<br /><br />on another note:<br /><b>Nachtmystium</b>'s <i>Instinct: Decay</i> was okay<br />however, it's not an essential listen<br />if I'd never heard it, I wouldn't have been denied any USBM innovations/what-have-youRoger Camdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08985242312225017461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6645554669355760340.post-22502790921498018532010-05-04T10:46:38.234-07:002010-05-04T10:46:38.234-07:00Well your instincts are good. Nachtmystium, The Re...Well your instincts are good. Nachtmystium, The Red Chord, most Isis records, Pelican etc etc etc all are pretty bad as metal music (though they work at variable degrees as something else outside the scope of HM). However talking about Obituary/Deicide/Carcass as if they were they good times, well I don't know... I like some records from the Earache era sure, there's real meat there but you should definitely eventually go back and check 1980-1985 it'll reaffirm your HM sensibilities for sure. <br /><br />Yes, metal is now self-aware and people looking at themselves making art tend to have all their insecurities brought out and they're afraid to go the distance. Being afraid == not metal. Creates boring, 'safe' metal albums your dad would see the point of. Nice, loud production, nice psychedelic cover, safe safe safe.<br /><br />But just as well, you know? I wouldn't want HM to become less self-aware. What has been learned cannot be unlearned. I'm just interested in the few of the self-aware artists who are unafraid to keep making weird Heavy Metal that serves real desires. It's very few records every year but then... that's how it always is with great art. It's a very small subgroup of the whole of a year's releases.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.com