In your owns words, explain "Metal"

[zecantu]

Okay, now I'm a metal fan.
There are some bands out there that many people don't describe as "metal" for reasons never explained. That's all they ever say. They're not "metal". They NEVER explain WHY though. Metal is supposed to be one of the most versatile music genres yet constantly bands are yelled at for being not "metal".

Look at this list: (I have heard many people say these on different occasions)
Metal
Heavy Metal
Nu-Metal
Old Metal
Glam Metal
Black Metal
Death Metal
Doom Metal
Drone Metal
Folk Metal (Wtf?)
Gothic Metal
Groove Metal (Another WTF?)
Industrial Metal
Metalcore
Neo-Classical Metal (Yet another WTF?)
Post Metal
Power Metal
Progressive Metal
Sludge Metal
Speed Metal
Stoner Metal
Thrash Metal
Alternative Metal
Avant-Garde Metal (So many WTF's?)
Christian Metal (Okay now they're just trying too hard...)
Extreme Metal
Rap Metal (Somebody shoot me...)
Symphonic Metal
Viking Metal (Really?...just...REALLY?)

And I know there are many more...

So people say if a band falls into even one of these categories they're metal, while some stick true to one sound.

So just describe to me what you think is metal. I honestly don't know what to say, because I constantly get yelled at because my favorite bands are Megadeth, Judas Priest, Maiden, and yet at the same time I get yelled at for listening to Disturbed,BFMV, and A7X.

[Alice Cooper]

A genre that I don't really listen to, am completely uneducated towards, and don't particularily enjoy. It is characterised by emphasis on guitar, heavy drums, and coarse vocals.

That being said, I don't think Metal is the most diverse genre, but the people say your favourite bands aren't metal probably aren't right. Just because the band is bad, doesn't mean it doesn't belong in the genre.

[Mod#4]

My friend said metal is "The exact polar opposite of Simon & Garfunkel"

And he's basically right.
The only thing that really bothers me in any genre is that the same chord progressions get raped over and over again, mainly in rock and metal. Plus metal pretty much relies on distortion, and I hate FX abuse

[poguemahon]

Power Chord. Identity as a metal band. Harsh, melodic sound. Quick, but not face-melting. And, most importantly: actually sang, not shouted.

David Draiman has said, on several occasions, that Disturbed is not metal.

[Woolfenstien]

Plus metal pretty much relies on distortion, and I hate FX abuseIn Black Metal it's considered rare to use distortion.

What we need to do is provide good vids/songs for each style of metal.

Black Metal:


Immortal - Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlhBtrih96s)
Enslaved - The Voices (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGx_kd84k8)
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdIYziP6hoo)
Emperor - The Loss and Curse of the Reverence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BI4_NMxPb8)
Gorgoroth - Procreating Satan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUNOIHz2QQU)


Avant-garde metal is amazing. Don't you dare knock it.


Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jse5q_UJr8)

[HungryMonkey]

Woolfy I saw Enslaved last weekend, it kicked much ass.

But I digress, metal is mostly about doing what you want, in a way it's almost an extension of European Romanticism. As a whole it is very difficult to define. Metal gets a bad wrap for the majority of the "metal" that people hear being talentless trash, but there are some amazingly inventive and clever musicians, as well as some capable of extreme beauty (Alcest comes to mind). I'd urge people not to judge it without listening to some less well-known bands or to at least not dismiss it as a whole.

[zecantu]

Power Chord. Identity as a metal band. Harsh, melodic sound. Quick, but not face-melting. And, most importantly: actually sang, not shouted.

David Draiman has said, on several occasions, that Disturbed is not metal.

Yeah I know that he even said that, but then why are they classified as Nu-Metal almost everywhere I look.

[poguemahon]

Because the fans who think so are idiots. Plain and simple.

[Twitchy_Whiskers]

Pirate metal is the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHTqMG7zUo

May be inappropriate.

[zecantu]

Pirate metal is the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHTqMG7zUo

May be inappropriate.

OH MY GOD THAT WAS F'N AWESOME!!!!....yeah.

[Mod#4]

In Black Metal it's considered rare to use distortion.

What we need to do is provide good vids/songs for each style of metal.

Black Metal:


Immortal - Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlhBtrih96s)
Enslaved - The Voices (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGx_kd84k8)
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdIYziP6hoo)
Emperor - The Loss and Curse of the Reverence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BI4_NMxPb8)
Gorgoroth - Procreating Satan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUNOIHz2QQU)

Avant-garde metal is amazing. Don't you dare knock it.


Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jse5q_UJr8)

every one of those songs have distortion in them

[poguemahon]

In Black Metal it's considered rare to use distortion.

What we need to do is provide good vids/songs for each style of metal.

Black Metal:


Immortal - Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlhBtrih96s)
Enslaved - The Voices (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGx_kd84k8)
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdIYziP6hoo)
Emperor - The Loss and Curse of the Reverence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BI4_NMxPb8)
Gorgoroth - Procreating Satan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUNOIHz2QQU)


Avant-garde metal is amazing. Don't you dare knock it.


Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jse5q_UJr8)


No on point one, yes on two.

[Mykester]

What I can say is OP has a poor taste in music. How can you say WTF for Folk Metal and Viking Metal? More like close minded. Folk Metal like Korpiklaani and Finntroll, and Viking Metal like Ensiferum and Tyr are one of the greatest genres around. And nu metal ISN'T metal. And you've never heard an explanation? Here's why:

BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY A FUSION OF HARD ROCK AND RAP. RAP IS NOT METAL. Anything mainstream, and by mainstream I mean on the radio and listened to anyone, like glam metal, is not metal. Baggy pants, bananas, anything rap like, called metal? Please. Those genres are what's ruining metal. Listen to whatever you want, just don't call your crap metal. And really, you've never heard of groove metal? There's this little band called Pantera...

[HungryMonkey]

Erm... Finntroll and Korpiklaani are bad examples of folk metal. Einsiferum and Wintersun are far superior.

[Mykester]

Erm... Finntroll and Korpiklaani are bad examples of folk metal. Einsiferum and Wintersun are far superior.

You are sadly mistaken. Ensiferum is classified as viking metal. Wintersun is melodic death metal (Wintersun uses keyboards, where the hell did you get folk metal for Wintersun?). I used Finntroll and especially Korpiklaani because they are tr00 kvlt folk metal. I have the full Korpiklaani discography and they always use fok insturments.

[zecantu]

What I can say is OP has a poor taste in music. How can you say WTF for Folk Metal and Viking Metal? More like close minded. Folk Metal like Korpiklaani and Finntroll, and Viking Metal like Ensiferum and Tyr are one of the greatest genres around. And nu metal ISN'T metal. And you've never heard an explanation? Here's why:

BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY A FUSION OF HARD ROCK AND RAP. RAP IS NOT METAL. Anything mainstream, and by mainstream I mean on the radio and listened to anyone, like glam metal, is not metal. Baggy pants, bananas, anything rap like, called metal? Please. Those genres are what's ruining metal. Listen to whatever you want, just don't call your crap metal. And really, you've never heard of groove metal? There's this little band called Pantera...


I've just never heard anyone use the terms "Groove Metal" or "Viking Metal". By the way, what the hell do you mean if its on the radio its not metal? Explain to me why I've heard Maiden, Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, and every other band like that on the radio?

[.,A.G.E,.]

Yeah, there are radio stations for every type of music out there now-a-days.

[Mykester]

I've just never heard anyone use the terms "Groove Metal" or "Viking Metal". By the way, what the hell do you mean if its on the radio its not metal? Explain to me why I've heard Maiden, Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, and every other band like that on the radio?

There's quite a difference. I was referring to the newer stuff, like Avenged Sevenfags.

[zecantu]

There's quite a difference. I was referring to the newer stuff, like Avenged Sevenfags.


I know these newer bands that try to bring a new sound to metal aren't great, but they at least have a few good songs.

I do have to admit though most of their songs suck by new bands.

Number of songs I like by these newer bands:
Disturbed:about 4
BFMV:about 5
A7X:about 5

So yeah its not like im one of those diehard fans of these bands, I just think they have a few decent songs to their name. They can't compare to older bands that have entire cds that are hits.

[HungryMonkey]

What are your thoughts on metal, more specifically death metal, being criticized in the mainstream for being something negative?

I think people should be able to use art or music in general as a tool to express themselves however they like. If negativity is what works for them, then let that be their means. We're all trying to heal and wake up whether we realize it or not. Most of us have to go head to head with some ugly inner demons in order to realize who we are. The manifestations and projections of those monsters into one own's music is coming at it from an almost primitive approach to pain, but that's the beauty of the process. Death metal lives in a subculture that doesn't seem to peek outside of that world much.


This is a good answer

[Mod#4]

They should have folk metal be more american, like with banjos and shit. I would listen to that metal /so/ hard

[Mykester]

I know these newer bands that try to bring a new sound to metal aren't great, but they at least have a few good songs.

I do have to admit though most of their songs suck by new bands.

Number of songs I like by these newer bands:
Disturbed:about 4
BFMV:about 5
A7X:about 5

So yeah its not like im one of those diehard fans of these bands, I just think they have a few decent songs to their name. They can't compare to older bands that have entire cds that are hits.

Criticizing viking metal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuA3EHh2Y_k) and admitting to listening to those bands gives you a lot less credibility.

[Aalap]

Metal is a solid object which is shiny and hard

[literealm]

really, i have to say "heavy metal" is the best way to describe it, but rap metal? wtf

[zecantu]

Criticizing viking metal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuA3EHh2Y_k) and admitting to listening to those bands gives you a lot less credibility.


I didn't criticize it. (In fact after listening to a few viking metal bands its actually pretty cool.) I just had never heard anyone refer to a band as viking metal.

[Mykester]

after listening to a few viking metal bands

Like?

[zecantu]

Like?

Whatever two you mentioned earlier, I searched them up on youtube and thought it was crazy. Also the folk metal was cool but I don't remember who it was.

[Mykester]

Folk Metal:

Finntroll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGywo81G6lk)
Korpiklaani (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QYbI_suVpM&feature=related)
moar Korpiklaani (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIc4VHxU7iM)
Svartsot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L17fhstNAI)
Moonsorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYRArhM2uDI)
Equilibrium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yom8nNqmxvQ)

[3\/4|\|]

Alt, Core, Nu, and Christian don't count.
(Christian just because metal is characterized mostly by tone, etcetc rather than influence)

I <3 Folk, Black, Viking, Symphonic, Death...

EDIT#1: Mykester has excellent taste

[HungryMonkey]

Never really like the majority of folk metal. I like folk when it is something that adds to the music and not dominates it like Finntroll and such, but more like on the new Amorphis CD where they blend folk melodies into the music and make it a more integral part instead of a tacked on feature. Just my opinion though.

Also, black metal ist krieg.

[mattz1010]

I haven't read the thread.



Folk Metal (Wtf?)
Groove Metal (Another WTF?)
Neo-Classical Metal (Yet another WTF?)
Avant-Garde Metal (So many WTF's?)
Christian Metal (Okay now they're just trying too hard...)
Rap Metal (Somebody shoot me...)
Viking Metal (Really?...just...REALLY?)


Folk metal involves using traditional instruments alongside more contemporary instruments, combined with metal.

Moonsorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FP_yFIvQgo

Groove is a style. I.e. Pantera.

Neoclassical came in the 80s.

Cacophony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzZ0GVlmwM

Avant-Garde - combines unusual elements into songs.

I'm not going to address the next two as they're self-explanatory.

Viking metal is a *lyrical* category, and not a musical category. While Amon Amarth is considered death metal, all their lyrics are viking based, which lands them there too.


Edit: I see some moonsorrow love :)

Edit2: Nowhere in here I'm seeing Technical~ or Technical Death~

Technical, is just ridiculous time signatures. Yay.
Meshuggah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OywA_M9InHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A_tSyJBsRQ

Technical Death is basically technical + death...except faster. FASTER. NO. GO FASTER GODDAMNIT

Arsis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcbGSYXPapA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfpRsAwbkl0

Decrepit Birth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcsIUqKK3Og
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPyxNDSu2aE

Necrophagist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9RJXWxth5g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SRD6mjrUMo

It's a rather new genre, though.