Primal Fear

Meshuggah

Jorn

Firebrands

Eluveitie

A.O.T.W.

more interviews?

So here is a touchy subject. Does Death Metal suck? This is inspired by a post on another board where things seem to get way off topic and people seem to lose sight of the topic at hand. So then everything dumbs down to something the simpletons can wrap their collective heads around without thinking too much. Now many of you will think that I hate death metal. As a rule I tell people I do, but that is just because I get tired of explaining what makes it something I am interested in. There is good death metal and there is shitty death metal. Just like any other style, there are the good bands and the shitty bands. If the band does nothing more then try and play as fast as they can, be as brutal as they can, or do nothing other then try to be as evil as they can, then this bullshit has nothing to do with writing a damn song. As with any style of music, it is all about the song.

There is a radio show I listen to all the time through a Netcast called the Bob Rivers show. Every year they hold their “Write a bleepin’ song contest”. Although there is no way a death metal song will ever make the contest, they make a great point. Can the band write a damn song? There are many times when I am going through all the promos trying to decide what promo will go to which writer. There are a ton of times where I really love the band until the vocals start. Much of the death metal out today is fucking brilliant as far as the songwriting goes. Many of the bands are finding ways to keep the brutality, but balance it with good song writing. Here is a test you can always do with any band of any style. Find that band’s biggest fan in the area. Play them one really random song from every full length album. How many can they name from just hearing it come out of some portable boom box? If they can name that tune, then the band might have something. If the biggest fans of the band can’t tell one song from another, what is the point? Can you tell the songs apart? If not, the band blows ass.

Now the big debate is always around the vocals. Let’s start out by saying that there is a reason that we call them vocalists and not singers. To debate that a death metal vocalist takes the same amount of training as say Rob Halford is just plain silly. Sure there is an endurance that has to be learned, but that is not some natural born talent. It is more of a learned skill. Can anyone just walk up and do a full set of good quality death metal vocals? NO! That is the learned skill that so many can’t seem to figure out. The most important thing is do they do anything unique? Not that every vocalist has to be unique, but it does give the artist instant cred in my book if they can find a way to put their own unique spin on something millions have already done. The second thing is can they still have some kind of range in there? Now obviously I am not talking about actual singing, but if you listen to the greats of the genre you will hear what I am talking about. Listen to The Philosopher by Death. Notice how his voice does in fact go up and down? Sure he sounds brutal as hell, but he is also staying away from that flat monotone sound so many fall into. The last thing that can keep a death growler from ruining the music is if they have power. I don’t know about you people, but the majority of the growlers out there have no fucking power at all. It doesn’t make me shake in fear. It makes me yawn out of boredom! Watch any episode of Headbangers Ball and 99% of them are the bands I am talking about.

I did a parody of death metal back in the very early 90’s with my joke band Necrobeast. To some it may sound like a typical death metal band. Other might get the joke though. Was I poking fun at all DM bands? Nope. Just the ones that sound like this. So what bands do I like that are death metal? The Crown, Vader, Death, and Six Feet Under have even grown on me during the time they have been on the board. My point is that there is a difference between good quality and shitty versions of any style. This includes death metal.

We have a new forum you all need to check in with. Click here to check it out. It is the forum for Spikefest. Spikefest is here to raise money to help their friend Spike Cassidy from DRI. The forum is here for everyone involved to post well wishes to Spike, organize the many national Spikefests, and pretty much network together to help Spike! So if you are just a fan, friend, or can help put together a Spikefest in your area, post away already!

Lastly, on the diet front, I lost another pound and am currently at 232.

PS-So not enough of you are voting for the bands on our link page. Click here because if you don't you both suck and blow!