Written by:	Marcel Hubregtse
Published:	November 07, 2009

Disclaimer: Although this blog was written out of frustration concerning the last couple of doom gigs I attended it can just as easily be applied to any other subgenre of metal when it comes to the respective underground.

This blog actually started off as the introduction for my Dutch Doom Days report but because of the way it progressed I have decided to post it as blog instead.


It's fall, so that means it's that time of festival season again. Yes, Dutch Doom Days on the last weekend of October, and this will be edition number eight.

Unlike last year's edition, which focused more on the more extreme side of doom, this year's edition had its eyes set on the more tradional side with some touches of sludge and death/doom.
Like last year, Metal Storm set off with a three man strong delegation consisting of Lucas, Dismaleuphony and Marcel.

Upon entrance of the always intimate and welcoming Baroeg club the first thing that was noticeable was the fact that there seemed to be a lot less people present at that hour in comparison to last year. Unfortunately this first impression seemed to be the right one, for during the entire weekend I don't think more than 150 people were present per day, maximum, and the lowpoint would be the attendance during Sunday's headliner Count Raven with at most 40 people still present.
So, this is apparently the state doom metal is in? Well, those present, including the bands, had a blast and showed those not present to be wrong.

Reasons? Recession, probably a big factor, since the Irish contingent wasn't present, neither were the Spaniards and some other non-Dutch, but why o why were there almost no Dutch present? Can't be due to the fact that on the same weekend a black metal festival was being hosted in Arnhem.
It probably has to do with the fact the line-up, although very appatising for the doom metal connoisseur wasn't as appealing for your regular metaller. But then again only 25 euros for a weekend consisting of 14 bands, so what if you don't know 12 of them? There is bound to be something surprisingly good and unknown there for you.

But here you have it, the state of metal worldwide. Always complaining that one only knows one or two bands of a line-up and that it therefore is so extremely expensive. Take a chance, check out those unknown ones, they are the ones that need support, not the well-known established acts. Bands such as the ones playing here this weekend (Tekhton, My Lament, Unsilence, Process Of Guilt, Saturnalia Temple, The Prophecy, Lord Vicar, Fatum Elisum, Möse, Sardonis, The 11th Hour, Spiritus Mortis, Ereb Altor, Count Raven make zero to no money from record sales and don't make anything from touring and merchandise either because of the herd mentality of the brainwashed mainstream metaller. Yes, that's you there that didn't show up and will never show up to support the underground. But whine you do that cd's are so expensive, that your favourite band doesn't tour your country. Well, get off your ass, stand up from behind your computer, stop downloading music, stop being that internet keyboard warrior. Go out, support your local underground, become active. Have you forgotten about the do-it-yourself ethics of metal? Apparently so, because you want everything handed to you on a golden platter. Doing nothing but getting loads of fun in return. All you do is whine and moan. Wake up, that's not how the world works. Keep on going the way you currently are and metal will die. Were it not for the fact that, thank God, there are still the underground bands around willing to work their ass off, travel across Europe for just fuel money, some food, and a place to sleep (albeit on the floor) and also thank God for the organisers like those that organise Dutch Doom Days and are willing to stick their necks out financially, same of course applies for clubs such as Baroeg and booking agencies.

So here is one mighty hail to bands, organisers, clubs, booking agencies, and record labels still willing to stick their necks out and support the underground and a big raised middle finger and shouted Fuck Off And Die to all you donwloading internet keyboard warriors.

Support the underground, or perish.