Happy with the Hard Rock/Metal Scene These Days?

[koolmike]

I'm not really. There seem to be alot of bands that are being signed in metal that sound pretty much the same. Hard Rock seems to be on the endangered species list. Not much out there. I find myself listening to stuff from the 70's and 80's more now than in the past 5 years or so.

[Elwood]

I feel that the music industry is in confusion. Their cheap tricks are being ignored and pop one hit wonders are fading away. While American Idol might still be popular when was the last time you heard any of the winners in the mainstream media.

They are now seeing we wont bite any more with these pop hits. Well maybe not totally, still a lot hip hop candy bubble gum hits but i think thats fading also.

Only problem is the music industry doesnt no where to go from here. They still are trying to make the fast buck and not invest in pure talent that takes time to grow.

who knows when they snap out of it.

[Cataclysm]

I've never liked hard rock so I'll have to say no. For the metal scene, yes. Sure most of the stuff being played on the radio and what not is shit and can be a real stretch of the imagination to consider it metal, but that's just the way it always is.

Just gotta dig down and search and you'll find plenty of good bands who are still struggling to get recognition whether it's paying for recordings out of their own pockets or touring out of a mini van.

Plus there are enough old bands who are releasing new albums that make up for the shit that's trying to pass itself off as metal.

[Gilly]

As for metal, the way it's progressed i'm ok with, bands like Botch, Beecher, Shai Hulud (who I have an obsession with at the moment) are great bands, Dillinger etc. are the sort of bands that will somehow save metal.

You will find all the best metal bands are the ones that will always stay unsigned, it's sods law.

[bravenewworld1]

Metal has seemed to digress more than anything.
I blame it on Korn and Limp dick.

[Cataclysm]

Mainstream metal, maybe but as of late I've seen more progressive metal and melodic death bands pop up. Definitely a step in the right direction after this whole damn metalcore mess.

As for metal, the way it's progressed i'm ok with, bands like Botch, Beecher, Shai Hulud (who I have an obsession with at the moment) are great bands, Dillinger etc. are the sort of bands that will somehow save metal.

You will find all the best metal bands are the ones that will always stay unsigned, it's sods law.

Sad but true.

The new Dillinger Escape Plan album is solid, almost as good as the Calculating Infinity album.

[Godfatha]

If you're looking to mainstream commercial radio for either of these, of course you'll be disappointed. If you know where to look, both genres have same damn good artists releasing material (that i suppose also would depend on where you draw your genre lines)

[Il Duce]

Makes me glad that i have sirius in the car gives me a variety of stuff to listen too from various bands i haven't heard of or ones i have etc.

[Gilly]

Mainstream metal, maybe but as of late I've seen more progressive metal and melodic death bands pop up. Definitely a step in the right direction after this whole damn metalcore mess.



Sad but true.

The new Dillinger Escape Plan album is solid, almost as good as the Calculating Infinity album.

I'll have to check it, I just can't get over how good their drummer is. I don't care what people say, Metal drummers are the best.

[Luris Blear]

I generally agree with you about these kinds of things Mike, even if we don't have the same tastes.

Monster Magnet put a new one out a while back. They really seem to seek that line between that classic rock/metal sound and keeping a fresh approach. They're also kind of shameless, which sometimes leads to some really cheesy moments. The title track of Monolithic Baby even pushed my endurance for it.

I don't necessarily have a problem with the new sound, but the aesthetic behind it all. I could feasibly suggest that my favorite metal band was a Brazilian black metal group called Power-drill Priestfucker and someone would complain that they can not find it on Limewire.

Strangely, I like Slipknot's sound and can't stand the music for the exact same reason.

Screeching, growling, and br00tality have become the new nu-metal.

[koolmike]

Screeching, growling, and br00tality have become the new nu-metal.

Sad, but true.

I'll be looking for that Power-drill Priestfucker CD.

[koolmike]

Makes me glad that i have sirius in the car gives me a variety of stuff to listen too from various bands i haven't heard of or ones i have etc.

I love SIRIUS. Nice metal and rock stations.

[Stormrider]

I'm definitely happy with the metal scene these days, but not what you'll hear from mainstream sources.

Iced Earth, Helloween, Turisas, Ensiferum, After Forever, Symphony X, Circus Maximus, Dark Tranquillity...

These are some of the bands that released some great stuff this year, depending on your specific taste.

[Gilly]

I'm definitely happy with the metal scene these days, but not what you'll hear from mainstream sources.

Iced Earth, Helloween, Turisas, Ensiferum, After Forever, Symphony X, Circus Maximus, Dark Tranquillity...

These are some of the bands that released some great stuff this year, depending on your specific taste.

Symphony X are awesome, they supported Dream Theater and were brilliant, theuir guitar player is something else. He played a solo whilst blindfolded.

[thrEE6MAfia]

metal suxz now..aside from a handful of bands..

[Gilly]

www.myspace.com/evacuatechicago

[Duff McCartney]

Can't say that I'm happy or sad with it considering I barely listen to either.

[Luris Blear]

Iced Earth is definitely a throwback band. I thought of suggesting them when I saw one of their disks in my car.

They're pretty much 99% classic sound, kmike. You may at least want to preview some of theirs.

[CrazySicilian]

Iced Earth is definitely a great band. Another band that is good is Demons and Wizards... great vocals

[Stormrider]

And if you like Iced Earth/Demons & Wizards, you might as well check out Blind Guardian afterwards. (Demons & Wizards is a side project between the guitarist of Iced Earth and the vocalist of Blind Guardian... It's a natural progression.)

[thrEE6MAfia]

trivium is good..im not sure if they are new or anything..i basicly just found out about em via dead breed...they sound alot like metallica during the kill em all stages:nod: very good

[Luris Blear]

Well, I didn't say I personally liked Iced Earth. The one time I listened through "The Glorious Burden" made me think of Koolmike, though.

Metal is interesting right now. It seems so many bands are looking for a new angle that new niches are popping up all over the place. Each niche definitely has a few stand-out groups to fill it, too. I can enjoy some of the folk and fantasy metal albums these days. Korpiklaani, Fairyland, Tyr.

Throwback metal -- in sound, or in theme, or in both together -- is still alive and well. It's just not obvious.

I mentioned elsewhere finding some of Devin Townsend's sillier projects, too. Despite 4-Way Diablo (http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Diablo-Monster-Magnet/dp/B000TX7AM4/) coming out earlier this year, Devin Townsend Presents: Ziltoid the Omniscient (http://www.amazon.com/Presents-Ziltoid-Omniscient-Devin-Townsend/dp/B000P2A4FY/) will certainly be my favorite metal album of 2007.

[CrazySicilian]

When Devin isn't on his anti-depressants he makes some interesting shit. Such as the Ziltoid cd or Strapping Young Lad's "Alien"

[GrimBeornTheOld]

I don't listen to new music. It's all too packaged and phony for me.

It's a shame there's no spontaneity in Rock n' Roll nowadays...

[K.I.N.G]

Very happy with the metal scene these days, I never run out of shit to listen to.

[GrimBeornTheOld]

There is some great metal over in Europe though.

[koolmike]

I never run out of shit to listen to.


Shit is right. Waiting for the quality. (like Stratovarius)