Written by Irritable Ted on 23.06.2018 at 18:01
I don't know where metal goes now. I like it, but I've heard it all before. People what progression, but don't want their favourite band to change their sound. Conflict.
I probably won't get the album now. I'm growing bored of metal. May as well listen to the last album and save myself £10.
One thing I learned is that people do not know what they want and even when they do and they get it, they are still not satisfied with the outcome. That is why bands should never actually consult the public when they decide to make music. Even perfection is not satisfying when it comes to the public. Because you cannot please all.
Metal music has been going downwards for over 2 decades already, due to internet. And not because internet favors piracy, but because internet gives the opportunity for any tone deaf individual to become a musician. As a result, the market became saturated, so much that it is hard to find noteworthy talent. Like searching for a gold nugget in a pile of crap. Not quite compelling.
In the past labels used to scout artists, not anymore even in metal. Metal musicians, some of them, have fallen into the mainstream idiotic practice of giving their offspring a career in the music biz, even when they do not have an ounce of talent or merit, either by pushing their own bands or by giving them undeserved seats in their established bands. Nepotism is taking root in metal too.
Furthermore, metal musicians have succumbed to trends, gender definitions, formulaic music and sheep mentality, which ironically they were against from the very start. You hear all such musicians going all intellectual when they label themselves unique, rejecting labels, but playing like 1000 other bands, i.e. being a follower.
Still, even in this miserable state, heavy metal music is FAR better then other music genres, by a long stretch. Its peak waned 25-30 years ago, but it still has something to offer here and there. Depends where you look and for what you look.