shopson67

March 16, 2013 at 5:06pm

Metal has not lost it's way, it has simply branched out into a million different forms. If you want your Sabbath style, it's out there. If you want "cookie monster" vocals, it's out there. If you want hair metal, it's out there. If you want rap metal, it's out there.

Anyone insisting that metal has lost it's way is simply being lazy. There is more metal out there than ever before, with enough continuously expanding variety to appeal to anyone.

Leather Rebel7

March 08, 2013 at 1:36am

I think it's telling of the genre when bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple consistently deny the Heavy Metal label. It shows that they do not want to be associated with the genre as a whole, and they rightfully should be avoiding it.

Metal is not becoming a joke, that ship has sailed quite some time ago. Metal is more like a stagnant "Knock, Knock" 'joke' that has been repeated and recycled so many times that it fails to have any comedic value or reaction; Hence, it cannot really be a joke but simply labeled one. Metal is beyond the point of ironic comedy, its at the point of embarrassment and pity.

Modern Metal is just tired, and frankly depressing to even think about. Every single metal band has 'cookie monster' vocals, drop D for dumbass tuned guitars, double bass drums, the ridiculously cheesy 'tough guy' breakdown, a horror movie style music video, promo band pics where all the band members fold their arms, dimebag beards, and the list goes on.

There are so many extreme metal cliches that the genre does not even merit making fun of but simply and justifiably left to what it is today: Irrelevant. How many stupid sub-genres have metal fans and metal artists coined in order to lie to themselves that they are doing something new?

Pantera is arguably the last metal band to do something 'new' that had any relevance and its only been downhill since then. Forget the fact that all the metal artists conform to every single modern metal cliche in order to fit into the genre and be called 'true/real/non-fake/non-poser" metal. The Fans are some of the most hypocritical, self-righteous, insecure and elitist dorks you'll ever meet (over the internet that is, because its not like they have the balls to voice their opinions in public other than walking around hunched over, eyes glued to the floor, sporting some ridiculous extreme metal band t-shirt with an unreadable font that looks like 1000s of others. Ya, real rebellious!).

I'd argue the same has happened to modern rock : http://leatherrebelblog.com/who-killed-rock-and-roll.html

Other than elitist insults that are desperate attempts to cling to musical hierarchy, modern metal has absolutely nothing. Stop trying to be heavier, faster, more technical, more brutal, more satanic, more evil and just try to actually write some actual songs, not 'cool' noise. You know, that thing called music?

freddy says

February 28, 2013 at 5:56pm

It’s good to see the varying comments from all the posters. I agree that "Metal" has lost its way somewhat. The genre itself never really clicked with me because I'm an older person (60) that never liked the term to begin with. I still think of it as "Hard Rock" that identifies it with being louder, harder in sound than say 50's rock.
Jimi Hendrix was never really metal as he was more blues-psychedelic rock, but he was loud, colorful, full of energy and the consummate showman. I remember seeing him live and hearing him say, "We're going to play for you, loud, louder & loudest" at the Waikiki Shell in 1969. And we loved it and all the bands that we went to hear in the late 60's, 70s & 80s were the same. We grew up knowing rock to be in its purist form Guitars, Bass & Drums. That's what makes AC/DC great, they play what they play best & they do it well. They didn't go off on a tangent to "reinvent" themselves, nor did they need keyboards.
I've often wondered what constitutes a "metal" band anyway? Is it the leather with studs? The obvious "satanic" references? The "growling" taking the place of really being able to carry a tune? The "musical gymnastics" of being able to play fast, alot of notes? And now the new 7,8 & 9 string guitars? The wall of Marshall stacks? The headbangers & the mosh pit?
Part of the problem is the gap that was left in the rock music world when rap music became #1 on the TV, charts & on the radio. Only because real tried & true rock players were abandoned by record producers looking for something new to compete with "pop" music already dominating the charts. We went from arena packing rock acts to almost seeing hard rock disappear before our eyes, thanks to the industry prejudice. The best thing that has happened to rock in general is internet radio that only plays set formats. Here in Hawaii, rock radio has been dead for years & the idea of the “record store” is passé with vendors like Amazon.com.
Many moons ago rock music was king in America, but now it has to compete with all the mainstream mediocre crap. Record producers never gamble on originality anymore and only look for bands the sound like "X". No wonder after funding the industry loyally for years by paying too much for CDs the public got wise and started sharing music in retaliation. In many people's eyes, enough was enough. The real supporters of hard rock/metal are now in Europe & Asia where in general people respect all music - Jazz, Classical & Blues more than America. After all it took musicians like Clapton, Beck, Page & Stones to educate people like me about our black blues legends, because they couldn't get the respect they deserve in America because of racial prejudice. It’s shameful really to me.
When a band like GnR came out I thought, thank God "real rock" is finally making a comeback, but we know that wasn't for long. And other groups like Aerosmith, Motley Crue have had high & low points, so they are not necessarily very consistent. For me it’s disturbing to see monitors on stage that have song lyrics rolling by because the singers can't remember the words to their own songs!
While a lot of the newer hard rock bands can carry a tune and have some phenomenal guitarists, many should have never made it to the recording studio or a CD. The buying public has become satisfied with substandard music that is prostituted by the radio stations as the greatest, latest thing. After over 35 years of listening to rock, I know trash when I hear it.
Kudos to instrumental hard rock acts like Vai, Satriani, Petrucci and others. I thought that I'd never hear interesting and creative instrumental rock since the days of the Ventures, which made me want to play guitar in the first place. The great Metal acts now are struggling to survive (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Michael Schenker – some of my favorites) or have retired, like the Scorpions. If we can’t foster new younger creative bands that can write/sing, we are at the mercy of what the industry tries to push on us. I only hope the great acts get the promotion they deserve in this day & age and that metal gets back to greatness and longevity.

LMNO7

February 28, 2013 at 5:44pm

Cookie Monster vocals are LAME... 1,001 Sub-Genres of Metal all looking down their noses at each other is LAME... and for commenter "progfan" While I agree with your love for David Gilmour (also my personal guitar god), Sorry bro, but, The Sword ROCKS!!!

progfan

February 28, 2013 at 4:32pm

You pretty much stated exactly why I don't even call myself a heavy metal fan. I'm really into Zeppelin, Sabbath, Deep Purple, and I also dig Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Rush, and other early metal bands, but I don't think the "heavy" part of it was even my favorite part. What I liked most about those bands was their experimentation. And I think that's why I don't like most metal. Could you imagine if Megadeth released a song like Zeppelin's "Going to California"? Or if Pantera did a song like "Changes" from Black Sabbath? I think metal turned into a showoff contest where flashy fretboard-tappers adopted a "heavier-than-thou" attitude, and often bragged that there were two kinds of music fans: metal fans and pussies. It's condescending and pretentious, and it only makes you want to like metal even less (why can't I listen to Iron Maiden and then put on a Supertramp CD?). You can only get so dark, evil and heavy before you start to look like a parody of yourself. But I'm one of those people that likes the "sucky" blues aspect of rock music, so that's probably the main reason I don't like modern metal. My favorite guitarist is and always will be David Gilmour; not a fretboard cowboy, but the most soulful guitarist I've ever heard. But thank you for sparking this discussion, someone mentioned Blood Ceremony in the comments section, and after checking them out, I really dig them! I can't say that about The Sword, though. Everyone keeps telling me I would like them, but they're just too thrashy for my taste.

moguitar7

February 28, 2013 at 2:47pm

I like the "Cookie Monster" vocals reference. A lot of songs would be great as instrumentals without the growling "vocals". Mixing metal with rap was a sellout and a joke. No solos just showed a lack of ability most of the time. Stupid posing and costumes are only OK if the music is good. To me, I like the blues and classically based stuff, but please, jazz, funk, and rap just don't mix well with metal to me. I listened to djent and didn't like it. Other invented "sub-genres" generally sucked, in my opinion. Definitions of what heavy means, abound. The same with definitions of what metal means. To me, there are far too many "sub-genres", and that is "goofy".
Everyone that has posted here is right in their own way.

Dark13

February 17, 2013 at 12:13pm

I love metal, since Tony Iommi in the 70s, through the 80s and then things went downhill starting with no solos and "unplugged"...today, it's GOOFY! I look at metal bands and think are you serious? I do not like cookie-monster vocals. AT ALL. Additionally, the satanic dark/black metal whatever, seems to have taken over the genre. What's bad is good and good is bad (great only if you are a young kid wanting to piss off your parents or pastor). The double bass drum kits in some new metal bands are mixed too loud and the repetitive beats on every song get old. Who is the EVH or Slash of today? The General Public does not know any new metal players - as they have pigeon-holed the genre into a comical collection of guys dressed as rappers or with faux blood or tar? on their faces - while dressed in long coats in 80 degree weather in CA. Cliche and goofy.

walrus108

January 09, 2013 at 3:53pm

Maybe metal lost it's soul when it started including turntables and sampled beats, and still called itself metal. That's when I turned off and tuned out. And the cookie monster voice is just tired also. I am just sick of hearing it.

redstrat8

December 31, 2012 at 3:19am

I INVENTED EMOTH-I COMBINED EMO AND GOTH TO MAKE REALLY BAD MUSIC.

happydog1960

December 28, 2012 at 2:40am

I think a lot of what passes for metal is a joke. I think people who have seven and eight string guitars are hilarious. To my mind, that's not even a guitar any more. You might as well call it something else. I suggest "peentar" because it seems like these guys are covering for inadequacies in other areas with all those extra strings.

I'm with you about technical metal all the way. With these bands I can't even hear what they're playing. They know what they're playing, and their fans might know, but nobody else does. And I don't think the fans really know, either; they just stand there looking sage and wise while their guy runs exotic scales up and down the guitar acting like they know what he's doing musically.

Frank Zappa used to call that "spoo," which was a reference to masturbation, which is what he thought a lot of guitar players were doing when they played solos.

As far as new bands, there are a few out there who are good. I like Electric Wizard, Blood Ceremony and Arkona, who are all very different from one another. I think Blood Ceremony would definitely be up your alley; they sound like they came straight out of 1971 via time machine. Female vocals, flute, Hammond organ and heavy guitar. Arkona is just nuts; Russian folk metal with another female vocalist who switches between growling and singing in a really uncanny way. It's wild. Electric Wizard is not actually new, but I think their Satanic grind is very satisfying.

I appreciate your bravery in saying something that isn't popular to hear among the metal community. There's a lot of good stuff about metal, but too often metal players only listen to metal all day long and have a very limited ear. The guy who ended his post with "Blues sucks!" is a perfect example. How can anyone who is a musician say that? Blues is one of the primary, most important American musical art forms. That statement just shows profound and deliberate ignorance, and that's depressing.

sekitogtr

December 26, 2012 at 5:34pm

I think metal has become so popular and acceptable that nowadays you can play commercial pop music with heavy down-tuned guitars and double bass drums. As long as you have a catchy chorus and the song is less than 5 minutes long, you get played on the radio. I'm afraid that's the future of heavy metal.

Oh and blues sucks

bassmastamitch

December 25, 2012 at 10:27am

I don't disagree with everything you say, but I think you would be a little more convincing with more specific examples of bands or artists instead of generalizing. Metal is such a gigantic umbrella that it'd be nice to have examples of these modern characters you are referring to.

mklotz

December 24, 2012 at 8:16am

As a fan of original metal and bands of any "new genre" metal, I will add that all music is an artistic representation of the artist(s) playing it and I personally wouldn't want to be stuck in time listening to copies of all the older metal. Despite what the article said, even in the 60's shedders and "out of the box" players existed but were ignored. Nothing stays the same and eventually was, will become again.

Tight but loose

December 23, 2012 at 10:09pm

Agree with article that loss of blues base and excess concern with image and commercialization are major reasons for the absence of great metal nowadays. Two other reasons may be:

1)Guitarists trying to be great shredders instead of great songwriters and band members.
2)Absence of great singers replaced by growlers and rappers.Where are the Halford's and Dickinson's of the modern era?

ardiril

December 23, 2012 at 11:14am

Has metal become a joke? Only about 25 years ago.

greg_page

December 19, 2012 at 10:53am

I get tired of all the sub-genre snobbery in metal, and it seems that many original ideas get immediately copied and turned into their own new genre of metal. What really sucks is that at some point in American society it became socially unacceptable to like metal.

However, the best of the best know what's up. Want a metal guitarist who knows his blues? Mark Morton, Lamb of God. Ask him who his favorite guitarist is and he'll say "Billy Gibbons". Nuff said.

endallnjrocks

December 19, 2012 at 10:47am

Hi Will,

Thank you for the great article, as a long time metal fan and guitarist here is my two cents. Metal's origins are from the blues, but as with anything if it does not progress and change it dies out. "Metal influencing metal" is a huge problem which I have seen time and time again. Think of how influential punk bands like the Misfits and Black Flag where on Metallica, Megadeth and, Anthrax. Even the Ramones on Motorhead. The great thing about this, is that it kept metal interesting. Dime was influenced by Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, and often said to chill out, he would listen to Steely Dan. You can hear the influence of that in numerous songs like-"Hollow"or "10s" just to name a few. Bleeding Through was one of the first bands to incorporate synths, hardcore punk, and goth influence into their music. Then a bunch of bands ripped them off,therefore making it genric and stale.Fear Factory incorporated industrial and had no solos and are amazing. When you think back to the 80's, guitar solos and that olympic style of playing was becoming played out. Grunge was the reaction to that, where solos did not exist at all. Granted in the metalcore genre, there are a lot of bands with the same cookie cutter vocals, same ear piercings, breakdowns, leads etc. But at one point it was new and exciting. To comment on your point about stage shows. Even bands that just go up on stage and play, have some kind of light show, or pyro. If they are on a strict budget, some get creative with props.Bands need stage shows to stand out and be interesting. That is needed, I get bored just watching a band go up and play. Even bands like Sabbath, Priest, and Maiden had it points in their career. I do agree that a lot of guitar players in metalcore bands today, do typical by the book solos that sound more like practice exercises. David Gilmour can say more in two notes, then most can say in 20. But that is what is great about metal, people finding common ground, and so many different sub-genres to choose from.Thank you.

Cheers!

WWallner

December 18, 2012 at 6:07am

Just to confirm what I already put in the blog:

"My goal with this blog post is to provoke discussion. I'm not an authority on the subject. I'm just a fan who loves classic metal bands like Rainbow, early Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, etc."

Also I am a new member to White Wizzard was not involved in any previous releases. Judge my musicianship on my own music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0V0I58zKk

Cheers

tycobby3

December 17, 2012 at 10:00pm

Since Kiss use costumes, does that make thier music inferior? Since Angus Young stripped down to his underwear during his solo when I saw him live does that make him an inferior musician? Is Tina Turner an inferior muscian because her show has choreographed dancing?

I suggest you check out a band called The Sword. They have blues based metal down very well.

diabolical

December 17, 2012 at 6:02pm

Agree for the most part...I am actually glad the blues influences have somewhat been subdued and musicianship has improved trememdously. I hate the fact that all production has gotten to the point of where what is good for Andy Sneap is good for metal. Too much drum substitution, time alignment and other tricks used to hide subpar musicianship or kill feel. What happened to acoustic drums? They're gone from metal.
Another pet peeve of mine is the mandatory metal sleeve tattoos. I think labels now send you to a tattoo artist to draw these before they sign you - look at all the bands wearing these now.

shadow1029

December 17, 2012 at 9:57am

But there's so much out there, metal is a pretty broad genre with thousands of sub-genres. I will say I don't care for anything with "core" at the end of it, but I wouldn't call all metal a joke. Early White Wizzard, the band you are joining, the Highspeed GTO line-up, was incredible. You make a lot of valid points, but calling all metal a joke...

iommianity

December 16, 2012 at 5:27pm

I think the irony of reading this on Guitar World's website, as written by the guitarist of White Wizzard is too much for me to handle. For years, GW has perpetuated every trend in metal until it died a slow death, then it tries to cling to the next one. All the while so it can ask the too-cool-for-school question: is metal a joke? All you've done is raise up close minded 'metalheads' who pretend spandex and tired licks are all the genre has to offer. I hate trite, nu-metal/metalcore garbage that's reduced metal to a few notes and an image, but I hate these supposedly metal "fans" who write off every way the genre has progressed in the past 30 years because it doesn't fit their tired notions of what music 'is'.

Just because you decided to call it a day when you heard Pantera, or because you think death metal is just noise doesn't mean you're any more of an authority than I am. At the very least, if you're going to comment so strongly and dismissively, at least have the common courtesy to have some type of clue. Metal isn't just one sound or way of playing, and if you think death metal clone number 1000234 is any worse than a circle jerk over 80s cliches and third hand bluesy, 'emotional', out of tune bends, you need to think again.

Ross Smith

December 16, 2012 at 12:59am

May the ghost of Dimebag Darrell come and pour beer on your amp.

irondarwin

December 15, 2012 at 9:39pm

A lot of what you're saying makes sense, but when you pay money for a big show, is it wrong to want some spectacle? Iron Maiden is inarguably a classic metal band. Dave Murray is a very bluesy player and Adrian Smith always thinks melody first in crafting a solo. All three guitarists point to guys like Beck, Jimi, and Blackmore as influences. But their stage show is phenomenal. The guys play the music but Eddie represents "Iron Maiden." I think the lesson here is that it all falls apart if the music is unable to stand on it's own. But as long as the music is priority 1, there's nothing wrong with using artwork, elaborate staging, and pyro to make your show memorable and literally giving your fans more bang for their buck. I know this article is about metal but bands like U2, and back in the day, Pink Floyd took this same approach. Now more than ever, bands make their money on the road, not from album sales, so why not put on a show? It's only gimmicky when the cake can't stand on it's own merits. But assuming it can, there's nothing wrong with little icing.

MetalUpYourA55

December 15, 2012 at 2:11am

WARNING: MASSIVE RANT AHEAD!
I consider myself to be a fairly fanatical metalhead, so after reading you're article, I couldn't help but make an account and proceed to rant about this article that has a grand total of what I would guess amounts to around 15-20 minutes of total research on the subject.
Anyways, I thought I'd quickly address all three of your arguments while trying (and failing) to not sound like a total nerd going on a rage.
1. The Loss of Blues Influence in Metal: I'll just chock this one up to a lack of interest in trying to find bluesy metal. I'll spare you the lengthy history lesson, but essentially after Pantera found mainstream success in the 90's a wave of bands was inspired by their crushing rhythms and bluesy riffage, namely: Groove Metal. These groups aren't exactly the bread and butter of the modern metal scene, but they really aren't that hard to find if you can be bothered to look. I mean, Lamb of God is a fairly mainstream example, and fairly mainstream groove metal bands like Down and Corrosion of Conformity have both released EP's this year, so maybe you just need to look just a little bit harder? I dunno.
2. Lack of individuality in Virtuoso Guitarists: Now while I half agree with you on this one, (even the most hardcore of headbangers has to admit that the djent movement is stale as hell) There is no shortage of creative guitarists in modern metal. On the extreme end, you have bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah pioneering crushing polyrhythmic madness, and on the tamer side there are bands like Mastodon and Between the Buried and Me who are playing fast and aggressive progressive metal that keeps the listener engaged. And a side note: shredding has been around since the 80's, so don't give me that crap about modern guitarists having no soul and just trying to play faster and faster. Shred is a part of metal, if you don't like it, stick to classic rock.
3. Metal Musicians Looking and Acting Ridiculous: I'm assuming you're talking about bands that have some kind of stage costume, Like Cradle of Filth, Slipknot, Black Veil Brides, etc., etc., etc.. Like it or not, live performance is a part of music, and the use of costumes doesn't go out of style. It's just part of a good performance, and the concept has been around for as long as performing arts, so I really don't know what to tell you. Unless you're not talking about costumed metal bands, in which case I have to say... What the fuck? Metal musicians dress like metalheads because they ARE metalheads. As for how they act? You know these guys ain't exactly the church choir, right?
Alright. I got all that off my chest and I can relax now.
I apologize if you had the misfortune of sitting through my entire rant, but there are just some things that I just will not stand for, and one of them is when someone claiming to be a metal enthusiast makes a bunch of totally off base claims about something that I love. Shit I sound like a total nerd >.<

CommanderMeaty

December 15, 2012 at 12:18am

well in fact, Heavy Metal has also become a trend, a lot of people would hang out and say "Hey, I listen to heavy metal cause it's cool" I am not a man from the old day, but in my definition, I wouldn't call deep purple or led zeppelin heavy metal, simply cause it has to me became a genre that is darker than rock n roll.

rimp87

December 14, 2012 at 9:24pm

Hey guys, want everyone to go checkout my website @ www.rimpsonmusic.weebly.com. Cables, Drumsticks, guitarpicks..and more stuf will soon be added.

aaronb

December 14, 2012 at 6:39pm

I don't understand modern metal. That doesn't mean it doesn't have artistic value but it's sure hard to see. Basically I hear the same two things -- screamed/growled vocals and a wall of kick drums. Just because you can make the kick drum sound 180 times in a single second doesn't make it musical. The rock scene basically got blown up and rebooted around 1991, and maybe the same is needed for today's metal music.

thf24

December 14, 2012 at 6:33pm

You make several generalizations in this article of which there are far too many exceptions to be valid. You're also a bit too biased towards your own tastes even for an opinion piece. Heavy metal did get its start based in blues, but it's not a defining characteristic. There has been some incredible music made that's not blues-based that you can't call anything but metal.

Airric

December 14, 2012 at 4:10pm

first heavy metal started with black sabbath. Not Led Zeppelin or deep purple. that in my opinion which i base on listning to these bands is what is the beginning of metal and what was not. Black Sabbath people.

second i am a big fan of the Djent scene. especially for their use of 7 string and 8 string guitars. guitar playing should be technicial. i am not saying there should be no soul but. the ratio should weigh in favor of technique because if u dont have technique can u even play a basic chord?

WWallner

December 14, 2012 at 3:56pm

First of all I want thank everyone for commenting on my blog even if you disagree with my opinion (and it is just an opinion). I replied to some comments but just make sure

@ mdgrove20 anytime! Email me at willwallner@hotmail.co.uk to sort the details.

@ panterrasports & crackasnowflake: I only just joined White WIzzard recently and was not involved with any of the previous music released. Thats not me on Over the Top. I am open to criticism but leave White Wizzard out of it, judge me on my own music. Heres a song from my debut album, feel free to let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0V0I58zKk

mdgrove20

December 14, 2012 at 3:08pm

Hi Will. Thank you for your article on metal based bands losing where they came from. I don't care about the monopoly of only a handful of corporate labels though. If you have good music and learn the business you can sell your own CDs and actually make a profit.

Your take on where musicians in the 60's and 70's really came from tells the real tale. Even when you listen to guitarists like Iommi live, you can tell even his heaviest material is derived from a blues base.

I too wish that more metal bands would get a lesson from real players and include a blues like flavor and texture in their material.It seems to me that metal that has lost something over the years.

I would be interested in interviewing you for my website, Canadian Guitar Player, Will. Not many regular writers from GW and the other one which I won't say, don't delve into talking much about where music lost something along the way.

Thanks again Will, and if you're interested I'd like to ask you some more questions on this topic, since I deal mainly with blues guys here in Canada.

Much success to you Will. I'm going to share this article with my readers.

Mark

panterrasports

December 14, 2012 at 2:33pm

"Heavy metal has lost all form of legitimacy as musical genre"

Good grief.

Go to Youtube and watch the video for White Wizzard's 'Over the Top' and then re-read this article.

Maybe he has a point.