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What do you dislike about Metal?

  • 06-09-2009 3:19pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭


    Alrighty, this might be a controversial question, but in all seriousness, what is it you dislike in general about Metal?

    For me, what I dislike the most, is the production. Often times, there's nearly no low-end, the drums can sound tinny and you can't hear the bass. I hate it when I pick up an album and it sounds like that. There's loads of running jokes about Metallica's And Justice For All album specifically about the lack of bass, and you think producers would've copped that the whole thin, tinny sounding metal thing just doesn't work. Give us some low end for crying out loud!

    I've said it before, I think Enslaved's Monumension album has one of the best productions I've heard on a Metal album, it's raw, it's unpolished, but what's so great about it is that the bass absolutely roars! It sounds so much heavier, so much more powerful than a lot of other albums where the bass is seemingly cut out.



    That's how powerful Metal can be if you leave the bass in.

    Compare the above to this:



    The bass drums just sound puny, I really hate that clicky kind of sound. Just doesn't sound heavy at all.

    So, what about you? What is it that bothers you about Metal?


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,901 ✭✭✭Twilightning


    One thing I dislike about metal is the fact that the genre in itself as a whole doesn't do the bass any justice. The guitars, drums, keyboards, etc **** all over them 95% of the time so you can't hear it.



    I love the bass intro to Caught in a Mosh, and I know if you listen hard enough you can just about hear the bass after the intro, but I think it should be given equal time! A bass solo or two wouldn't go amiss in metal. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    One thing I dislike about metal is the fact that the genre in itself as a whole doesn't do the bass any justice.

    I find one place you're always likely to have prominent bass in Metal is in the instrumental, or technical side of things.

    Take Gordian Knot for example:



    That's the brainchild of bass player Sean Malone, so it stands to reason the bass is clear in it. ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭damonjewel


    Yep the thin compressed sound is awful. Your example is a good one for showing the difference.

    I'd go one further I am a big fan of early Hard Rock and Metal. I think at this time it was extremely heavy sounding in an organic way (e.g. sabbath, blue cheer, pentagram), I find most 'modern' metal not heavy at all, as if the heaviness is added as a post production thought. The only 'modern' metal I can really get my teeth into is sludge/stoner metal.

    I think the style/album covers are extremely laughable, see outstanding albums covers thread for a complete slice of nonsense. Which is sad, metal always had humour, but for a genre of very serious musicianship, its difficult to see how it goes hand in hand with such puerility.

    Back in the day, metal was not as divisive as it is these days. There was always common ground between different types of metal e.g. A motorhead fan who would also be into Twisted sister and faith no more, why because we just wanted to rock. However between different groups of metal types and even within a type of metal (Metallica and Megadeth) the sh1t slinging is unbelievable.

    The increased need for speed and a hundred notes\double kick bass a second is lost on me. its been done and done and done again. Where's the feeling?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,568 ✭✭✭candy-gal1


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXMobqWhpsk

    what is the point of these?! :eek::mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    What I find funny is that when you get an album where the production is not top notch, it is normally an album by a band who defo can afford a great production.


    I really hate the biscuit tin drum sound, and a weak bass on an album where I know there is a great bass player in the band bugs me a lot.



    Another thing I hate about metal is not based on sound, but on people. Specifically people who seem to have to go out of their way to prove how "metal" they are.

    When it is a kid doing it I can take it as that is just immaturity, and once they open their eyes to how much cool music there is out there, they normally calm down. I am thinking more along the lines of the 30yo who cannot stand any other music because it is not metal. Who rarely seems to know what is out and who is who in terms of bands, but he is too metal to care.

    I used to work in a few music shops down through the years in Ireland, the UK and in Germany, and I have to say that it seems worse here than in the other countries.



    What else do I hate?


    Going into a bricks and morter cd shop and them expecting me to pay through the nose for metal albums and trying to bang on €10 to €15 onto the cd price because it is an "import" and metal is a so called minority music.


    It bugs me because I get the same damn albums online for a fraction of the cost, and I know that metal is nowhere near the minority music that some shops claim, as cd sales will attest to. At least metal fans will generally buy albums instead of either downloading everything from free sites or trying to shoplift it.

    Interestingly I have never had to take a metal cd from a shoplifter.



    Next on the hate list. I hate comedy metal like the Darkness or Steel Panther. If I want sh*t in my music I would listen to the bands that you are trying to be a parody off, so fcuk off.


    I hate the lack of good inlay cards. Anyone else used to loved reading them on your old records or cassettes? When you had the lyrics and generally a huge thank you list from the band, and often had pretty cool artwork there as well.


    I also hate when bands I love make tits of themselves in interviews by trying to be hard ass middle age men (Kerry King I'm looking at you at lot at this point, and Scott Ian is catching up), but as long as the music is good I can usually get over this one.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    damonjewel wrote: »
    I think the style/album covers are extremely laughable, see outstanding albums covers thread for a complete slice of nonsense. Which is sad, metal always had humour, but for a genre of very serious musicianship, its difficult to see how it goes hand in hand with such puerility.

    Hmm, I think puerility is a bit strong. I wouldn't be a fan of the stereotypical metal album art, but I think it's simply a case of horror-movie aesthetics for a lot of bands. So, in the sense that a horror film can have many extremely talented actors and other people working on it, you do have talented musicians in metal who's albums and lyrics are merely fantasy. Sometimes I think the criticism of album art is linked with the notion that metal is for kids, and that overtly 'metal' art is something childish. I dare say that a lot of metal album covers aren't a million miles away from some Prog Rock album covers either, I could see many a metal band with albums like this. Maybe something to think about?

    On the subject of album art, I've already brought up Enslaved's Monumension in the first post with regards to it having one of my favourite metal productions, it also features one of my favourite album covers as well:

    01_monumension.jpg

    Other favourites would be Gojira's From Mars To Sirius, and Cathedral's Forest of Equilibrium:

    3560251122_7645bfaf0c_o.jpg

    CathedralForestOfEquilibrium.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    One of the things i hate about metal is the sheer number of generic bands that sound the exact same as everyone else, and even more so when bands like this get a following when brilliant innovative bands get forgotten about.

    I also hate the elitism that seems to follow metal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭Schism


    Patricide wrote: »
    I also hate the elitism that seems to follow metal.

    Very true. I consider myself to be a metal fan and generally I err on the heavier side of things but that doesn't mean I don't like a bit of catchy pop rock here and there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Metal snobbery
    Genre-baiting
    Crass marketing
    Rubbish airless mixing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    Schism wrote: »
    Very true. I consider myself to be a metal fan and generally I err on the heavier side of things but that doesn't mean I don't like a bit of catchy pop rock here and there.
    Exactly, I could be listening to Paramore away happily then one of my friends would come in and give out **** about how its pussy music. I dont care, its pop rock. I also have another friend that is "never wrong about music ever" he only wants to listen to "Strong" music like cannibal corpse....give me a break like. To each there own but seriously sometimes people go overboard with musical snobbery. Yes i listen to Avril Lavigne, yes i listen to celene dion.......but i also listen to decapitated,deicide,nile,belphegor and behemoth too.....


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭damonjewel


    Hmm, I think puerility is a bit strong. I wouldn't be a fan of the stereotypical metal album art, but I think it's simply a case of horror-movie aesthetics for a lot of bands. So, in the sense that a horror film can have many extremely talented actors and other people working on it, you do have talented musicians in metal who's albums and lyrics are merely fantasy.

    Maybe puerile is too strong but certainly juvenile? Interesting comparison but I think the difference here is that a horror movie is on the most part aimed at the over 18\mature market. Whereas I think your stereotypical metal album art is sensationalist and aimed at a younger audience.
    Sometimes I think the criticism of album art is linked with the notion that metal is for kids, and that overtly 'metal' art is something childish.

    Its not just the album art, there are many other things in Metal that delivers the notion of metal being childish, e.g. the style, themes, the fashions, cookie monster singing, the gimicks. Whether its intentional on the bands behalf is debateable, but I think the comapnies and marketing managers do.
    I dare say that a lot of metal album covers aren't a million miles away from some Prog Rock album covers either, I could see many a metal band with albums like this. Maybe something to think about?

    There are easily plenty of rubbish progrock albums covers. i always preferred the visual art of hipgnosis (Pretty much all of pink floyds covers) over the fantastical landscapes of Roger Dean (pretty much all of yes's album covers).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,263 ✭✭✭ride-the-spiral


    I hate production on many an album, particularly black metal and a good few older death metal bands (I don't mind Death's sound from human but i can't stand Cannibal Corpse's Tomb of the Mutilated...)

    ELITISTS, particularly the ones that claim that Metalcore and Deathcore aren't metal. Also the ones that only listen to Metallica and think your retarded if you don't like them.

    Lack of diversity in alot of genres, i usually only listen to a few bands from each genre rather than alot from one because i find i get bored with some quickly.

    The whole "GRR!!! METAL IS ANGER INCARNATE!" attitude. Seriously, just because i like heavy music doesn't mean I have an overabundance of testosterone and need to constantly vent my anger.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,054 ✭✭✭D.Q


    Things I hate about metal.

    1/. Stereotypical metal fans. You see this missing link at most metal gigs. These guys must literally be, the toughest guys in the WHOLE world. Wow don't mess with him, he wears spikes and likes SLAYYYYYURRRRRGGGGHHHH. He can also drink loads of alcohol and be EVEN MORE obnoxious. This attitude is fine at 15. But add ten years on, its embarrassing.

    2/. The tendency to forget the song as a whole. Some bands these days seem to be all about technicality. This for me is great...in context. But when its just constant speed/technical prowess in favour of a well written, well put together song, it grows stale, fast.

    3/. The generic bands that seem to populate the tv channels.

    *This just in..."Metallica? Yeah they've actually already happened, hmm?you didnt hear? seriously...it was in the eighties, spanning into the nineties and noughties, HUGE TOURS, millions of records sold. Maybe its time to TRY something new rather than recycling someone elses songs*


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 201 ✭✭Greyham


    i know its broad, but metal songs that neglect melody piss me off hugely , so many songs are all about the hard , driving beats that they seem to forget there is an essential ingredient missing , a full , well complimented melody, this is one of the reason i like metallica , im not a huge metal fan , but some of their melodies are simply incredible


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭8k2q1gfcz9s5d4


    a few things i dont like about metal, the really nerdy metal fans that think they know everything about metal and turn it into a competition, also if they dont like a band, they will put them down at any given opportunity, e.g. look at any trivium video on youtube, I dont like some bands, but i dont log into youtube to leave nasty comments on their videos. And will also b1tch about people they dont agree with on youtube.

    Also, some guitar solos i just dont like, they are too fast, and lack melody. e.g. dragon force. Having a good melody in a solo is more important than speed, in my opinion, a great (metal)solo has both, speed and melody.

    cookie monster vocals

    well thats my 2 cents,
    Not sure if thats the kind of post the op intended, or if you wanted more of a music production post. For the record im not a massive metal fan, im more into rock at the moment. I had a 2-3 year period where I was big into metal


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    damonjewel wrote: »
    Maybe puerile is too strong but certainly juvenile? Interesting comparison but I think the difference here is that a horror movie is on the most part aimed at the over 18\mature market. Whereas I think your stereotypical metal album art is sensationalist and aimed at a younger audience.

    Its not just the album art, there are many other things in Metal that delivers the notion of metal being childish, e.g. the style, themes, the fashions, cookie monster singing, the gimicks. Whether its intentional on the bands behalf is debateable, but I think the comapnies and marketing managers do.

    There are easily plenty of rubbish progrock albums covers. i always preferred the visual art of hipgnosis (Pretty much all of pink floyds covers) over the fantastical landscapes of Roger Dean (pretty much all of yes's album covers).

    Hmm, I really like the Yes album covers. :D

    As far as distorted vocals (I refuse to use the term 'cookie monster' vocals) go, I can't see why anyone could consider it any more childish than distorted guitars. I see the voice as an instrument like any other, and given the notion that someone will alter the tone of their guitar with distortion, I don't see it as anything different to a vocalist altering the tone and texture of their voice to produce a more intense and powerful sound.

    I think Dave Vincent is a great example:



    I love his voice, it just sounds so heavy, and adds a lot to the overall sound of the band. It just wouldn't be the same if it was someone with an undistorted vocal style was singing, it wouldn't have that same texture and depth. So in as much as I'll love a singer's vocals because they might have great vocal melody, the tone and texture of their vocals is probably what I appreciate the most.

    Another good example is Carl McCoy, that depth and texture of his voice is something I really like:



    It's also the sense that an extreme style of music calls for an extreme style of vocal. That's not to say that I like distorted vocals in general, quite a lot of singers do it extremely well and sound fantastic like Mikael from Opeth, but I would say that there's a hell of a lot of vocalists with distorted styles who sound absolutely dreadful. I'll give you an example, I think the new singer for Cryptopsy sounds absolutely dire, so give him a listen to here. Compare his vocals to the videos I posted above, it's really quite awful.

    So yeah, I'd certainly recognize that a lot of metal can be childish, and that there's a lot of it that is marketed to teens and younger listeners, but not for the reasons you say.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭damonjewel


    So yeah, I'd certainly recognize that a lot of metal can be childish, and that there's a lot of it that is marketed to teens and younger listeners, but not for the reasons you say.

    what other reasons would you say makes a lot of metal childish? if its not the reasons I'm saying (the style, themes, the fashions, cookie monster singing, the gimmicks)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,901 ✭✭✭RayCon


    I have to agree with all the things that have been said about both the Music-Snobbery of Metal Fans (and I empathise too - I was once that idiot:() and the "Im Hard" attitude of "some" Metal fans (I was never that type of idiot) .. nothing worse than been purposely "bumped into" by some Metal "Fan" in Bruxelles cos you don't look like one of them .... :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 763 ✭✭✭Nephilim Wolf


    I've said it before, I think Enslaved's Monumension album has one of the best productions I've heard on a Metal album, it's raw, it's unpolished, but what's so great about it is that the bass absolutely roars! It sounds so much heavier, so much more powerful than a lot of other albums where the bass is seemingly cut out.

    'Monumension is a fantastic metal album both in terms of well crafted songs and great song titles. 'The Sleep: Floating Diversity - A Monument Part III' is a stunning finish to the album, and for some reason it reminds me of Fields of The Nephilim.

    I can think of a couple of things that I really hate/dislike about metal at the moment.

    Not sound related, but when people jump down your throat or mock you for not liking bands that are currently very popular like Devildriver, Heaven And Hell, Opeth, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Down, Pantera, New Metallica, Arch Enemy and Airbourne.:mad: The Metal Hammer forum is a very good example, because thats the feeling I get.:mad:

    Non existent booklets in cds. I really really hate those thin two page booklets that you get in some albums, especially the old ones. What I love are booklets that have a lot inner notes, photos and other info.

    Complete lack of a metal section in the likes of HMV, mainly in the Square. The metal section there is really bad. Most of the artists/bands they have there are absolutely terrible. They never have anything like Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Emperor, Old Man's Child or Katatonia. It's mostly crap mainstream metal.

    The way people in here in Ireland pretty much expect you to dress in black just because you listen to metal. I don't dress in any black at all, and I don't feel obliged to either. Some people also seem to have the attitude that they are more metal, more tougher than you because they dress in black and have long hair.

    Price of metal cds in shops on the high street. It really pains and annoys me to have to pay 25 to 35 euro for a cd that was either ordered in, or is an import.:mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    'Monumension is a fantastic metal album both in terms of well crafted songs and great song titles. 'The Sleep: Floating Diversity - A Monument Part III' is a stunning finish to the album, and for some reason it reminds me of Fields of The Nephilim.

    I can think of a couple of things that I really hate/dislike about metal at the moment.

    Not sound related, but when people jump down your throat or mock you for not liking bands that are currently very popular like Devildriver, Heaven And Hell, Opeth, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Down, Pantera, New Metallica, Arch Enemy and Airbourne.:mad: The Metal Hammer forum is a very good example, because thats the feeling I get.:mad:

    Non existent booklets in cds. I really really hate those thin two page booklets that you get in some albums, especially the old ones. What I love are booklets that have a lot inner notes, photos and other info.

    Complete lack of a metal section in the likes of HMV, mainly in the Square. The metal section there is really bad. Most of the artists/bands they have there are absolutely terrible. They never have anything like Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Emperor, Old Man's Child or Katatonia. It's mostly crap mainstream metal.

    The way people in here in Ireland pretty much expect you to dress in black just because you listen to metal. I don't dress in any black at all, and I don't feel obliged to either. Some people also seem to have the attitude that they are more metal, more tougher than you because they dress in black and have long hair.

    Price of metal cds in shops on the high street. It really pains and annoys me to have to pay 25 to 35 euro for a cd that was either ordered in, or is an import.:mad:
    Well count your lucky stars you have a metal section, they got rid of the one in one of the two record stores in Tralee.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 763 ✭✭✭Nephilim Wolf


    Patricide wrote: »
    Well count your lucky stars you have a metal section, they got rid of the one in one of the two record stores in Tralee.

    That really sucks.:mad: They probably think that metal is'nt a popular enough music genre to warrant it's own music section. It would be very interesting to know what their reply would be if you asked them "why don't you have a metal section anymore?" They would probably reply that it just does'nt sell well or something equally stuck up.:rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    Buy online guys, you can get 2 or 3 albums online for the price they charge you for 1 some places in Ireland.
    damonjewel wrote: »
    what other reasons would you say makes a lot of metal childish? if its not the reasons I'm saying (the style, themes, the fashions, cookie monster singing, the gimmicks)

    Well, like I said, I don't believe there's anything childish about distorted vocal styles. I think you'll have to elaborate a little on the gimmicks though, what do you mean there?

    I'd say that these days there's a lot more commercial, manufactured kind of metal that's aimed squarely at young, teen audiences. Bands like Paramore, Avenged Sevenfold and so on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Buy online guys, you can get 2 or 3 albums online for the price they charge you for 1 some places in Ireland.






    Yep it is the best way to go for cds, blu ray, and console games.

    As an example I got the film The Host on blu ray through amazon and it was 6.98 before p&p. In my local HMV I was told that they could order it in for me, and that it would be 31.99. Now even when the p&p is added and the currency converted, I am still getting it for about a tenner all in from Amazon.

    So paying an extra 21.99 for it is a joke. The way I see it, if high street stores want to sell in Ireland at stupid prices, then I will buy online instead.


    Why have one film or cd when you can buy two or three for the same money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,978 ✭✭✭GhostInTheRuins


    Non existent booklets in cds. I really really hate those thin two page booklets that you get in some albums, especially the old ones.

    Yeah but generally those old cds with only the bare minimum booklet have better sound quality than remasters of the same album, so it's usually a case of which you prefer, reading detailed linear notes or the best sound quality possible.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    That really sucks.:mad: They probably think that metal is'nt a popular enough music genre to warrant it's own music section. It would be very interesting to know what their reply would be if you asked them "why don't you have a metal section anymore?" They would probably reply that it just does'nt sell well or something equally stuck up.:rolleyes:
    We did ask them, there answer was metal just doesn't do the numbers anymore.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭kevin_de_big


    Contrived structures and a general lack of vim on the band's part are generally preventative for me.

    Blandness essentially.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 497 ✭✭jpm4


    The fact that there doesn't to be anything really new or exciting happening in the genre anymore - there is nothing that is really shaping the sound like Death or Black metal back in the early to mid 90s, everything just sounds like genres cut and pasted together now. The genre seems kinda tired to me, but I guess that would depend on how long you have been listening to it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    jpm4 wrote: »
    The fact that there doesn't to be anything really new or exciting happening in the genre anymore - there is nothing that is really shaping the sound like Death or Black metal back in the early to mid 90s, everything just sounds like genres cut and pasted together now. The genre seems kinda tired to me, but I guess that would depend on how long you have been listening to it.
    I dunno Gojiras sound is kinda original. sure there's a bit of morbid angel in there but i think marios drumming keeps it interesting. Then there are bands like meshuggah who are often copied but never equaled and even if you hate them lamb of god have there own distinctive sound(bar the whole into the pit rip off i havent heard another band sound too alike them). Im sure I could name plenty of other bands too but its 4.30 in the morning and i need sleep!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,316 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    As far as distorted vocals
    The voice must be distorted, I feel, for certain types of music. Listening to someone trying to growl down the mic for sludgy foom metal doesn't feel right.

    As for the guitars, I'm one of those misguided souls who love wanky guitar solos along the lines of Hammerfall, etc, singing about viking, war, loss, etc.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    jimmy undergrounds
    the "scene".
    hyping bands as ground breaking when it's just the heavy metal scene catching up with ten years ago.
    calling stuff like opeth "progressive".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,135 ✭✭✭✭John


    I think the term "progressive" when applied to Opeth means more that they are hugely influenced by progressive rock of the 70s as opposed to being actually progressive in terms of developing music as a whole.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 763 ✭✭✭Nephilim Wolf


    Patricide wrote: »
    We did ask them, there answer was metal just doesn't do the numbers anymore.

    That's pretty ridiculous, I'm sure metal is just as popular at the moment as pop music.:(
    jpm4 wrote: »
    The fact that there doesn't to be anything really new or exciting happening in the genre anymore - there is nothing that is really shaping the sound like Death or Black metal back in the early to mid 90s, everything just sounds like genres cut and pasted together now. The genre seems kinda tired to me, but I guess that would depend on how long you have been listening to it.

    I haven'nt discovered any new good bands in ages, apart from some truly excellent new trad goth rock bands, but absolutely nothing as regards metal. I can't stand any of the new metal bands like Lamb of God, Devildriver, Mastadon and Turisas. Of lately of been discovering a lot old bands like Bathory, Celtic Frost, Tiamat, The Damned, Scorpions and Venom.:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,528 ✭✭✭OK-Cancel-Apply


    Alrighty, this might be a controversial question, but in all seriousness, what is it you dislike in general about Metal?

    For me, what I dislike the most, is the production. Often times, there's nearly no low-end, the drums can sound tinny and you can't hear the bass. I hate it when I pick up an album and it sounds like that. There's loads of running jokes about Metallica's And Justice For All album specifically about the lack of bass, and you think producers would've copped that the whole thin, tinny sounding metal thing just doesn't work. Give us some low end for crying out loud!

    I've said it before, I think Enslaved's Monumension album has one of the best productions I've heard on a Metal album, it's raw, it's unpolished, but what's so great about it is that the bass absolutely roars! It sounds so much heavier, so much more powerful than a lot of other albums where the bass is seemingly cut out.



    That's how powerful Metal can be if you leave the bass in.

    Compare the above to this:



    The bass drums just sound puny, I really hate that clicky kind of sound. Just doesn't sound heavy at all.

    So, what about you? What is it that bothers you about Metal?

    Do you mean bass frequencies or bass guitars? Because I can't really hear the kick drums at all.

    To my ears, the following has a bass-rich mix:



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭Dante


    Kess73 wrote: »
    Another thing I hate about metal is not based on sound, but on people. Specifically people who seem to have to go out of their way to prove how "metal" they are.

    When it is a kid doing it I can take it as that is just immaturity, and once they open their eyes to how much cool music there is out there, they normally calm down. I am thinking more along the lines of the 30yo who cannot stand any other music because it is not metal. Who rarely seems to know what is out and who is who in terms of bands, but he is too metal to care.

    That. Nothing I hate more than in-your-face metal heads.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 900 ✭✭✭Joe_Dull


    I hate the negative stigma attatched to metal. I love all genres of music...pop, dance, rap, indie, stuff from musicals, and of course metal. But when people ask you what kind of music you like, and you reply with metal their reactions are usually either pretty dirisive or sort of puzzled smirks. Nobody gives this kind of music a chance just because it's not on the radio or music TV, and I think it's sad.
    I think one of the reasons for this could be the in-your-face metalheads everyone sees around the place, dressed all in black with dozens of chains hanging off of them. Do fans of rap go out every day decked in bling and those ridiculous grill-sunglasses, or fans of dance wear luminous tracksuits? Not very often.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,658 ✭✭✭Patricide


    Joe_Dull wrote: »
    I hate the negative stigma attatched to metal. I love all genres of music...pop, dance, rap, indie, stuff from musicals, and of course metal. But when people ask you what kind of music you like, and you reply with metal their reactions are usually either pretty dirisive or sort of puzzled smirks. Nobody gives this kind of music a chance just because it's not on the radio or music TV, and I think it's sad.
    I think one of the reasons for this could be the in-your-face metalheads everyone sees around the place, dressed all in black with dozens of chains hanging off of them. Do fans of rap go out every day decked in bling and those ridiculous grill-sunglasses, or fans of dance wear luminous tracksuits? Not very often.
    Il plus 1 this but i have far too often seen rap people dressing ridiculously too, not to mention acting ridiculous. The Gangstas for them are just as bad and greatly outnumber the metal hard man.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 900 ✭✭✭Joe_Dull


    Patricide wrote: »
    Il plus 1 this but i have far too often seen rap people dressing ridiculously too, not to mention acting ridiculous. The Gangstas for them are just as bad and greatly outnumber the metal hard man.
    Really? Maybe I'm hanging around in the wrong ghettoes...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭brendansmith


    Kess73 wrote: »


    I also hate when bands I love make tits of themselves in interviews by trying to be hard ass middle age men (Kerry King I'm looking at you at lot at this point, and Scott Ian is catching up), but as long as the music is good I can usually get over this one.


    Have you seen this ejits new idea?:
    hanneman1zo5.jpg

    The Heineken symbol but with Hanneman written instead. The worst thing is that he obviously thinks its genius!! Hes got it on his amps too!

    Also he is really starting to wear his age badly!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,528 ✭✭✭OK-Cancel-Apply


    Have you seen this ejits new idea?:
    hanneman1zo5.jpg

    The Heineken symbol but with Hanneman written instead. The worst thing is that he obviously thinks its genius!! Hes got it on his amps too!

    Also he is really starting to wear his age badly!


    What.. he's 53? :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 507 ✭✭✭bigbadcon


    I hate the way some vocalists can ruin a band for you even if you love the rest of the music.

    I know you could say this for all music but metal singers tend to be more aggressive and it can be harder than normal to ignore the singing.

    For Example...

    For me Arch Enemy are my ideal band music-wise but I think the singer just ruins them. I can barely listen to them.

    Another example is Megadeth - great music but I wish dave mustaine had of stuck to the guitar.

    Another would be Nevermore - hate the singer but love the music.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    semi tonal and devils interval progressions, they're were cool originally but now that they've been used by every metal band in every metal song for 30 years its kinda gotten old now.

    Also you have a song and then someone starts "singing" in a screamo style, very offputting. I guess one problem I can identify in general is sacrificing any depth in the song in order to appear really tough and badass.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,272 ✭✭✭✭Max Power1


    I among other things, dislike genres such as "sludge metal", it bores the crap outa me (bands like sunn o)) ) for example)


    Also i hate popularized "metal" like avenged sevenfold, linkin park, limp bizkit etc. They arent metal, but some kids/teens seem to think they are.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭damonjewel


    Max Power1 wrote: »
    I among other things, dislike genres such as "sludge metal", it bores the crap outa me (bands like sunn o)) ) for example)

    Ha ha, I actually really like Sunn O))) etc. Each to their own I suppose.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 842 ✭✭✭starflake


    I love the loud aspect of metal, the amplification and distortion of guitar. Personally I really don't like distorted vocals :( It sometimes actually scares me and it really irritates me. It take the enjoyment out of the instrumental for me. I don't know why.. honestly, it just kills it for me. I don't mind the growl or the scream, it's just the blurred (what sounds like) shouting. I haven't got anything against the distorted vocal, it's just not for me. I have tried endlessly to ''get into'' it but, no... nada! Maybe it's a female thing, I don't know.. It scares me! :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,272 ✭✭✭✭Max Power1


    damonjewel wrote: »
    Ha ha, I actually really like Sunn O))) etc. Each to their own I suppose.
    Each to their own indeed! I like bands with growled/distorted vocals, yet half the people here at least, have mentioned it here as something they dont like about metal

    And also i NEVER thought I'd see a thread in rock/metal where jeff hahneman was described as "this eejit"!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,135 ✭✭✭✭John


    Max Power1 wrote: »
    I among other things, dislike genres such as "sludge metal", it bores the crap outa me (bands like sunn o)) ) for example)

    Sunn O))) are amazing. Probably the most intense live band out there.

    Actually, seeing your Deicide sig, I've a Sunn O))) and Glen Benton story. When Sunn O))) played their first gig here a few years ago, they played an afternoon show as the venue was double booked for Deicide (who played that night). While hanging around in the main bar waiting for Sunn O))) to finish soundchecking, I was sitting down having a pint when someone came in and sat next to me at the bar. When Sunn O))) started soundchecking, Whelans started shaking from the sheer power of the band. The guy next to me completely freaked out and seemed to be absolutely terrified by the racket. I turned around and it was Glen Benton. Evidently some bands are just too heavy for Benton.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,272 ✭✭✭✭Max Power1


    John wrote: »
    Sunn O))) are amazing. Probably the most intense live band out there.

    Actually, seeing your Deicide sig, I've a Sunn O))) and Glen Benton story. When Sunn O))) played their first gig here a few years ago, they played an afternoon show as the venue was double booked for Deicide (who played that night). While hanging around in the main bar waiting for Sunn O))) to finish soundchecking, I was sitting down having a pint when someone came in and sat next to me at the bar. When Sunn O))) started soundchecking, Whelans started shaking from the sheer power of the band. The guy next to me completely freaked out and seemed to be absolutely terrified by the racket. I turned around and it was Glen Benton. Evidently some bands are just too heavy for Benton.
    Sunn O)) remind me of what fr dick byrne said about Ted and Dougals song in the Father Ted Song for Europe episode, "its the same note over and over agian". Definetly not my cup of tea. The only album ive heard by them is Black One, I dont even know if thats their best or worst album. Its just noise to me, seems like someone got one of those fake birds that nod up and down and put it next to a guitar and see what comes out.

    Cool story though, meeting Glenn Benton!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,135 ✭✭✭✭John


    Max Power1 wrote: »
    Sunn O)) remind me of what fr dick byrne said about Ted and Dougals song in the Father Ted Song for Europe episode, "its the same note over and over agian".

    Heheh, that's what I love about them!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    I like Sunn O, they remind me of an open courtyard level in Quake for some reason. Perfect music for Lovecraftian doom.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 845 ✭✭✭nhughes100


    First time poster in metal, long time lurker. Firstly a really good question. As a bit of a metal veteran at this stage(34) I've outgrown a lot of the stuff I'm gonna rant about.

    Anyway the whole unwashed, unkempt look and wearing clothes that simply don't come close to fitting you. You can actually have long hair and it doesn't have to look like Robinson Crusoe wearing black.

    The satanic thing, considering metal is about 40 years old it ain't really the devils tool for destroying young minds any more, I'm sure this is being blamed on something/someone else(I haven't a clue about pop/modern music so I can't think of anyone).

    A previous poster said something about being hard to find new metal bands and I've got to agree. Up until I left college pretty much all my mates were into rock/metal to some degree so it was easy to get into different bands/music etc, now not at all. The last cd I bought was the darkness, one way ticket to hell and back. God it was terrible, glad I only paid a fiver for it. It's like a bit of publicity is selling out.

    I must post a make some recommendatons thread.

    As for the music, I guess the repitition, the power chord has a lot to answer for. Take motorhead whom I like, but ffs, 1234 and straight into it gets a bit tedious. Another cd I have, a band called Saliva, and every song starts with slow picking with loads of echo with whispered singing and then into the main song.


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