Written by:	ProstheticCunt
Published:	October 08, 2004

In the February of 1970, something happened to music that would in the end revolutionise it forever - four people from the heart of Birmingham released an album under the monicker of Black Sabbath, lead by the now legendary Ozzy Osbourne. The self titled album 'Black Sabbath' turned many heads and revolutioned the music scene with this new style of 'heavy metal'. This however wasn't enough for Sabbath and when they returned the next year with 'Paranoid' the album went straight to number 1 in the UK album charts and the single of the same name hit number four. Within the next 10 years many bands popped up under the same style, such names including AC/DC, Def Leppard.

As the music scene progressed into the eighties so did music, bringing into it yet another style of heavy metal which was essentially more hardcore. With Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and many others becoming very well known worldwide - but the question lies, what importance do they have in todays music scene with metal becoming more commercialised, more available and with so many varities.

The introduction of both grunge (circa 1990) and nu-metal (circa 1994) meant that the older bands were beginning to lose the spotlight and fall. This not being helping by what many fans would call the declining standard of the older metal with Black Sabbath losing Ozzy, Iron Maiden's 'Virtual IX' and 'The X Factor' with Blaze Bayley on vocals and the infamous Load siblings of Metallica. But even with this happening many fans were not reacting to the nu-metal saying it was too manufactured with not enough skill.

With this progression till now it has been time for the older bands to strike back, with bands like Evanescence, Linkin Park and Papa Roach taking places in the charts people decided to ask back the older bands who they had been against for their change. Unfortunately the question is - are they still up to it, many bands attempts to re-invent themselves have fallen flat on their faces, of which some is being blamed on the media but as it is more obvious to state, there is a time where you have to stop.

Look back to Milton Keynes in the UK where AC/DC headlined a show supported by Megadeth, The Offspring and Queens Of The Stone Age - having been at the venue myself it came to Megadeth, they came on and they played their hits, but they didn't have the attitude or the same skill they had in their day, now in their demise due to Dave Mustaines health you have to think weither it is for the best. But then in another dissapointment of the night AC/DC were the pure reflection of why it may be the time for the genre, from the moment the walked on the stage, to the moment they walked off - it was obvious they did not want to be there at all, they didnt care if the crowd reacted, they didnt care if they sang along - it was the last thing you wanted to see a band do. At the end of the night, even the most hardcore old school fan had to admit they were upstaged by the american pop-punk foursome and the crazy QOTSA.

In this exact day Iron Maiden, Slayer and Metallica are possibly the only ones still respected on the whole and how long can it last. Metallica's 'St. Anger' was received very badly by fans and seemed a desperate attempt to stay on the commercial boat with a nu-metal approach, some put this down to a progressive change in style which is a plausable explanation if you look through their discography. Others however believe it is a poor attempt to keep in the money by producing something people will buy. Whatever their reason, the point remains that since this album they won't be seen as keeping the flag flying for old school metal. Iron Maiden and Slayer both are fortunately holding the flag, but for how long - with Iron Maiden going off the touring circuit after this tour, people are looking where to turn.

But down to the basic facts, within the next five years old school metal will have died completely, partly because they can no longer do it, partly because of the high expectations of them and also due to the media not allowing them the chance they deserve. What we have to do now is progress with the music scene, yes - listen to our old 'Master Of Puppets' CDs but don't expect the genre to come back in its same form... unless we move on and open our minds how can the scene progress.

In conclusion, old school whilst was brilliant in its day and is still amazing to listen to now - it isnt going to come back and unless we realise that we are holding up other bands we may be dismissing.