next »

[Metallus Maximus]

Metallus Maximus � Metallus Maximus Forums � Metal On Metal (Moderator: Hellboy)
How do you guys see the scene today?

[Protag]

I will be seeing the Iron Maidens tomorrow with my boys in Santa Ana (Galaxy Theater...now called The Observatory).  They demand it. 

The place is under new ownership and I hope the waitresses have not been changed since an adorable young lady named Bree waited on us the last time we were there.  I will be requesting for her. 

Call the club & see if Bree still works there so you'll know before you get there. 

[Metal_King]

Thanks Dick.  Makes total sense doesn't it? 

[Protag]

Thanks Dick.  Makes total sense doesn't it? 

  Yes it does & if she doesn't work there anymore have them put the waitresses in a lineup & find a new adorable one. Do interviews but remember no touchy! 

[BEAST]

Me either. It bums me out. But I remember that being my age (40) comes with it's own share of circumstances. Nothing is going to hit me at 40 the way it did at 15/16/17 years old. My tastes & preferences have been established. I may hear something new (Metal or not) that catches my attention for a short time, but then it's back to my own personal routine.

That's where I differ.  I don't have a problem with the evolution of metal.  I'm not saying I care for it all but I'm not getting angry when I see some dudes in corpse paint, dressed in glam clothes, and playing a mix of goth/metal/metalcore/pop on some metal video station (I'm thinking of some of the stuff I saw on Scuz TV in England over the holidays).  Everyband is trying to make it big and many will try all kinds of absurd gimmicks and sounds to try to stand out.  But that doesn't mean that there won't be some real winners in the bunch, just like there were in the 80's.  I think we, as old people, get stuck in a rut about how only the bands in the 80's can make anything good....but remember, there was a lot of shit back then too that everybody has conveniently forgotten. 

While I don't buy as many new albums or check out as many new bands as I did when I was younger...I still occasionally do come across some that really hit me, like The Agonist, Nothing Left For Tomorrow, Woods Of Ypres, Ackercoke, and Van Canto.  Now they may not be brand new but I'm open that I might hear a band that came out within the last couple of years that I might absolutely love.  But there's only so much time and room for new favorite bands so figure only once every couple of years will I get turned onto a another band (new or old). 

[BEAST]

New post for new thought:

As for the scene....I also don't go out that much anymore.  I went to a total of three shows in 2011.  I can't remember if I went to any at all in 2010.  Prior to that, for my 40th birthday I went to a Sacrifice show and then a Piledriver show.  Knowing these might be my last shows for some time I really let loose.  Thinking of the latter, I was a one-man-moshpit.  There were a few that got into it, but an oddly large percentage of people that just stood around with their arms crossed across their chest. 

I've had a number of reasons for cutting back on shows.  One, I wanted to stop the chaos that my life was getting into and concentrate on people that I neglected and really do care about.  Two, there are many things getting older does, kids or not, there's things like retirement that suddenly becomes more in need of attention...so I've decided to spend less on shows and more on saving up, and also thinking about fixing up the house, and vacations has been another worthy financial investment.  Three, there were lots of people that put me on a pedestal, I guess because I was older and represented some sort of ultimate metalhead....but then a lot of those same people turned against me suddenly and whined about their perception of events from years ago, but only while they could do so safely behind their computers or gossip behind my back.  I'm not saying I was an angel back then (as Protag and Firefarter will quickly attest) but I decided long ago to put an end to some of the aspects of the chaos that some people may be focusing on - whatever the different perceptions of what went on might have been.  In short, three is about wanting to get away from all the bullshit and move on but people not letting me live shit down. 


On a less personal note:  I can understand the loss of appeal of going to shows when you get older or getting into new bands.  For one thing, it's a shitty reminder of how old you are when the band that's entertaining you is half your age.  There's also a vibe that gets less appealing when you know you have a career (not a job, a career) to go back to when it's over.  Not that it's not great to escape reality for a night, but there's only so many bruises, broken legs, and blodshot eyes I can go back to work with before the two worlds start to collide. 

But as Release pointed out....we're probably going to listen to the genre of music for the rest of our life.  Personally...instead of 19+ shows...I'd love it if there were 40+ shows.  Just once in awhile.  Then if we're still complaining, maybe we're just crabby old people.

[BEAST]

And something else good about checking out and getting into newer metal...as opposed to staying in a time warp...

...is that it builds new memories.  Also, it keeps one from getting into a rut that all the good times have been in the past.  I don't know about other people, but I certainly have my share of bad memories....and while 80's metal will bring me to a good place...it also brings me back to a distant time in the past and it's like a journey through all the cold hard realities that happened since to get back to the present. But by always getting into newer bands and new albums, I can skip past some of those bad memories and think about times in the 90's and 00's that were good, if for anything else but that I discovered that really cool album I really enjoyed at the time.  So, today, instead of looking at the new stuff that comes out today with disgust and remind myself that I'm old and get thinking that the thrill of finding something really cool is a thing of the past, I dig deeper and sometimes find something that really rocks my world.  And I don't give a shit if it's a bunch of teenagers with weird hairstyles and wearing funny clothes....if it strikes a nerve and it's good...then fantastic....I've got something else to remember 2012 by. 

[Release]

I think a big, BIG part of why I don't have much interest in checking out new bands is because I get most of my information about bands from message boards now.  In the past, I'd have a circle of friends that would always have something new and their excitement played a big part in whether or not I got into it.  For example, when Bonded By Blood came out, I absolutely hated it.  I couldn't stand Baloff's vocals.  But my friends played the shit out of it and I came to love it (and in turn, love Baloffs vocals).  So that kind of infections energy played a big part in enjoining new music.  I fucking loved that.

But now, I don't go out as much as I used to and most of my friends have stopped listening to new bands or they've moved on to different genres.  So that brings us to message boards.  A few years ago, I felt it that the boards were almost like having a big circle of friends around all the time.  People like Adrian could talk about a new album and from his excitement, you couldn't help but listen to it from a positive viewpoint.  You actually went into it on first listen with positive expectations.  You knew you were going to like it. 

But in the past few years..... and I really think that Adrian's passing marked the end of that era...... now you can't read a single thread that doesn't have someone shitting on the band or album.  This newer generation of metal fans seem to spend more time trashing bands than promoting them.  And to me that sucks.  Why even waste your time listing to a band you know you're going to hate when there are so many that are kicking ass?  But that's the way it is now.  I just don't get it. 

I found so many great bands through message boards in the past but once Adrian passed away, slowly all that stopped.  The sharing, the excitement, the passion...... all that's been replaced by hate and ridicule.  Once in a while I can put that nonsense aside and find something decent, but for the most part, the constant negativity has killed any interest in me finding new bands.  I realize that 95% of the shit people say online is something they would never say to someones face but these fucking "fans" are the big reason I don't really give a shit about the scene anymore.  It's too bad too because metal was a HUGE part of my life but as the days go on, I'm finding I have less and less in common with these people... and in turn..... the music. 

[Venom]

Hey Release, you might want to check out the latest album from the LA band Rivals Sons.  I saw them last night in the ATL.  They are a blues, based hard rock band.  You might be into them.  The song Burn Down Los Angeles kicks all kinds of hard rock ass.

[BEAST]

This newer generation of metal fans seem to spend more time trashing bands than promoting them.  And to me that sucks.  Why even waste your time listing to a band you know you're going to hate when there are so many that are kicking ass?  But that's the way it is now.  I just don't get it. 

I agree with you 100%.  And the worst part is; they always try to deny it, justify it, or try to tell us that it's no different now than it was back in our day (like they would know somehow). 

[Release]

Yea, there's no question there were shit bands in the past.  The difference is..... We moved on and forgot about those and kept looking for the good ones.  It seems a lot of fans these days don't have that ability.

[zekeyou]

Kinda tough to answer-- while I don't check out as many new bands as I used to, the staples usually get purchased, and I do find enough 'new' stuff to keep me happy and delving deeper.

Hell, Woods of Ypres didn't arrive until 2002 and by 2004 they'd put out one of my all-time favorite albums and now I spin their records all the time, and lump them up there with Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Metallica, etc..

Show-wise, it's just dependent on my work schedule and kids' schedule-- most shows are 150 miles away, so there's always logistics/hotels involved, so a $20 show suddenly ends up being a $200 show and I'm gone overnight, so I either miss time at home or have to take vacation time, cause, yeah, I'm old and don't like driving 150 miles at 2am...

I did good in 2011-- I saw 4 shows in Atlanta, as well as the 3 nights of ProgPower there, 1 show in Greenville, SC, 1 show in Greensboro, NC, 1 in Charlotte, NC, and 1 in Columbia, SC-- all but one of those involved driving, hotels, etc, and where split about 50/50 with 'old' bands and new bands.

[Release]

Hey Release, you might want to check out the latest album from the LA band Rivals Sons.  I saw them last night in the ATL.  They are a blues, based hard rock band.  You might be into them.  The song Burn Down Los Angeles kicks all kinds of hard rock ass.

Thanks!!  I just checked 'em out on Spotify.  Not bad at all but not really my thing.  I really appreciate the thought! 

[Pelata]

That's where I differ.  I don't have a problem with the evolution of metal.  I'm not saying I care for it all but I'm not getting angry when I see some dudes in corpse paint, dressed in glam clothes, and playing a mix of goth/metal/metalcore/pop on some metal video station (I'm thinking of some of the stuff I saw on Scuz TV in England over the holidays). 

It doesn't make me angry either...I just don't listen to it. I'm all for anyone doing whatever they want to do. But even thoguh I occasionally hear a new band doing something that I think sounds good, it doesn't stick and sink in like music used to do for me in the old days...that's all I'm saying.

Everyband is trying to make it big and many will try all kinds of absurd gimmicks and sounds to try to stand out.  But that doesn't mean that there won't be some real winners in the bunch, just like there were in the 80's.

I don't disagree.


 

I think we, as old people, get stuck in a rut about how only the bands in the 80's can make anything good....but remember, there was a lot of shit back then too that everybody has conveniently forgotten.

I haven't forgotten...not at all. I'm not so nostalgic that I think everything was golden back then. It's just that my favorites are my favorites and it's highly unlikely that anything is going to overtake them at this point. I like Volbeat, Adele, Butch Walker, All That Remains, Band Of Horses, Avenged Sevenfold, Opeth, Stone Sour & Shinedown...but none of them is ever going to become a "favorite". But if Iron Maiden, Fates Warning or Vicious Rumors puts out a new album, I am there!

While I don't buy as many new albums or check out as many new bands as I did when I was younger...I still occasionally do come across some that really hit me, like The Agonist, Nothing Left For Tomorrow, Woods Of Ypres, Ackercoke, and Van Canto.  Now they may not be brand new but I'm open that I might hear a band that came out within the last couple of years that I might absolutely love.  But there's only so much time and room for new favorite bands so figure only once every couple of years will I get turned onto a another band (new or old). 

I am kind of the same way. I mostly get turned on to new bands by my son. If he discovers something new he really likes (like Volbeat or Avenged Sevenfold) he lets me check it out...many times I end up liking it to some degree.

As for the scene....I also don't go out that much anymore.  I went to a total of three shows in 2011.  I can't remember if I went to any at all in 2010. 

The only shows I go to are ones where my son & I go together. He's 19 this year and we've seen tons of shows together. It would take a lot for me to go to a show alone. Most of my buddies aren't as into shows anymore..especially when they're 2 hours away on a weeknight.

I've had a number of reasons for cutting back on shows.  One, I wanted to stop the chaos that my life was getting into and concentrate on people that I neglected and really do care about.  Two, there are many things getting older does, kids or not, there's things like retirement that suddenly becomes more in need of attention...so I've decided to spend less on shows and more on saving up, and also thinking about fixing up the house, and vacations has been another worthy financial investment.  Three, there were lots of people that put me on a pedestal, I guess because I was older and represented some sort of ultimate metalhead....but then a lot of those same people turned against me suddenly and whined about their perception of events from years ago, but only while they could do so safely behind their computers or gossip behind my back.  I'm not saying I was an angel back then (as Protag and Firefarter will quickly attest) but I decided long ago to put an end to some of the aspects of the chaos that some people may be focusing on - whatever the different perceptions of what went on might have been.  In short, three is about wanting to get away from all the bullshit and move on but people not letting me live shit down.

Yup...I'm 40 now and I'm thinking about all of that. I have a kid in college, thinking about retirement (really attacking savings & 401K), buying my "final house", fixing up the existing house, etc.

On a less personal note:  I can understand the loss of appeal of going to shows when you get older or getting into new bands.  For one thing, it's a shitty reminder of how old you are when the band that's entertaining you is half your age.  There's also a vibe that gets less appealing when you know you have a career (not a job, a career) to go back to when it's over.  Not that it's not great to escape reality for a night, but there's only so many bruises, broken legs, and blodshot eyes I can go back to work with before the two worlds start to collide.

Getting home at 3am and being at work at 8am was no biggie at 20-25...at 40 it sucks...haha!

But as Release pointed out....we're probably going to listen to the genre of music for the rest of our life.  Personally...instead of 19+ shows...I'd love it if there were 40+ shows.  Just once in awhile.  Then if we're still complaining, maybe we're just crabby old people.

Shows that started at 6:30 and over by 10:00...haha!! That would rule!!

And something else good about checking out and getting into newer metal...as opposed to staying in a time warp...

...is that it builds new memories.  Also, it keeps one from getting into a rut that all the good times have been in the past.  I don't know about other people, but I certainly have my share of bad memories....and while 80's metal will bring me to a good place...it also brings me back to a distant time in the past and it's like a journey through all the cold hard realities that happened since to get back to the present. But by always getting into newer bands and new albums, I can skip past some of those bad memories and think about times in the 90's and 00's that were good, if for anything else but that I discovered that really cool album I really enjoyed at the time.  So, today, instead of looking at the new stuff that comes out today with disgust and remind myself that I'm old and get thinking that the thrill of finding something really cool is a thing of the past, I dig deeper and sometimes find something that really rocks my world.  And I don't give a shit if it's a bunch of teenagers with weird hairstyles and wearing funny clothes....if it strikes a nerve and it's good...then fantastic....I've got something else to remember 2012 by.

I have plenty of good memories from all decades that are not based on music. When I listen to Iron Maiden instead of The Agonist (for example), it's not for nostalgia's sake or reliving anything...I just like Maiden better.

Yea, there's no question there were shit bands in the past.  The difference is..... We moved on and forgot about those and kept looking for the good ones.  It seems a lot of fans these days don't have that ability.

This is very true...people seem to love to just rail against what they hate now instead of letting it go and talking about what they love.

[BEAST]

Getting home at 3am and being at work at 8am was no biggie at 20-25...at 40 it sucks...haha!

Hell, I remember the days I would trip out all night on acid and then go to work sipping Gin & 7-Up because of the lack of smell and to keep the buzz down.  Yep, that was around age 25-27.  Had to give up that lifestyle about 15 years ago.