JBaker

Indeed. Since when were Soundgarden a guilty pleasure?! If you were on about Cornell's solo R'n'B albums, that I could understand. But Soundgarden? No fucking way!

Hey guys. If you read my post again you'll see I don't consider Korn a Metal band as there are other more prominent aspects to their sound, but they have made music I do consider Metal in the past: mainly their older stuff (e.g. their first album). I also think people are falling into the trap of thinking that, if a band is relatively commercial, they can't be Metal. But more accessible Metal does exist. Sabbath, Maiden, Priest and Metallica are more commercial than Behemoth or Anal Cunt. That doesn't mean these bands aren't Metal; it just means they're on the less extreme end of the genre and non-Metalheads are more likely to enjoy at least some of their songs. My favourite thing about Metal is its diversity. Just because Bring Me The Horizon doesn't sound like Decapitated, doesn't mean they're less of a Metal band from a musical standpoint. To be honest, I think this true vs non-true debate has more to do with culture than music. If any of you follow publications like Metal Hammer, you will probably have also noticed that the backlash they receive on their Facebook page whenever they post about bands like BMTH often has much more to do with the clothes and haircuts (I know, they look daft to me, too) than the music, and I think therein lies the problem. People who, like myself, are more fully immersed into the proper Metal culture don't feel much in common with this new scene of bands who might play a sort of Metal, but the culture that goes with it is more an offshoot of Emo and Hardcore. If you go to a Bring Me show and then a Death, Black or traditional Metal show, you'll see huge differences in those who attend. It's perfectly fine to like, say, Decapitated but not BMTH or vice-versa, or to enjoy both bands in different ways. It's ultimately all about heavy, aggressive and loud music, isn't it? That's why we're all here. Also, we gotta start somewhere and I know many Metal fans from my generation use bands like Korn or Slipknot as an entry point. Some don't venture beyond that and might lose interest; others wouldn't be Metalheads today without those bands. I absolutely despise BFMV, but if that leads to a kid discovering good music, that's a great thing.

My fave Death Metal bands are Decapitated, Dying Fetus and Deicide (mainly because Benton is a fucking monster). Can anyone recommend good bands based on those I've listed? I like it heavy but groovy, with reasonably clear production and the guitar showmanship/wankery kept to a minimum.

The band that got me into Metal- Black Sabbath when I was about 8, with a Greatest Hits album. The song that got me interested in purchasing Heavy Rock/Metal albums in the first place, however, was Ace of Spades by Motorhead; which I heard on the soundtrack to Tony Hawks: Pro Skater 3. Then Sepultura got me into Extreme Metal with Roots after I'd been into a lot of Nu Metal and Grunge.

I don't listen to huge amounts of Nu Metal. Nowadays the only genuinely Nu Metal bands I really listen to off the top of my head are Korn, Slipknot, Dry Kill Logic, (hed) p.e. and Ill Nino. I adore Deftones as well, but don't really consider them Nu Metal (save for Adrenaline). I listen to Metal and Rap so, if it's done well, Nu Metal can be pretty enjoyable for me. I like heavy, aggressive music in general, and so whilst I do like Death Metal, Black Metal etc., sometimes I want something that will deliver more direct and simple aggressive grooves. Bands that don't make me think much or require that I absorb and study the music; just music I can bob my head to after a few beers. I'll second the comment that Rage Against The Machine, whilst including elements of Funk and Hip Hop, aren't really part of Nu Metal as it is known today. They, along with Faith No More, simply laid the foundations for the genre. As for whether Nu Metal should be classified as a Metal genre, I think my general answer would be "yes", but it does depend on the band. Papa Roach and Linkin Park have both adhered to the Nu Metal conventions, but are so commercial and watered-down that the "Metal" part of the sound is scarcely there. Korn have released music I would consider Metal in the past, but their forays into Industrial, Funk, Hip Hop and latterly Dubstep mean that I don't call them a Metal band; just a band that has played Metal. In other words, I believe that a Nu Metal band can be considered Metal, provided that Metal plays the biggest role in the music. Slipknot, Otep and bands liked that come to mind. Whereas, bands that don't place emphasis on heaviness or other "Metal traits" like Linkin Park are not, and never have been, Metal in any way, shape or form. Hope this makes sense.

Disturbed. Simple, catchy Hard Rock with big choruses would seem incompatible with most of the other stuff I'm into and this genre is an area of music I rarely have time for. However, they're a band I grew up with and were partly responsible for getting me back into Metal after my brief Grunge obsession. Although it's not a band I'd say I "shouldn't like", I would also mention Ill Nino. If you're familiar with them, they mix heavy Groove/Nu Metal with a South American, specifically Latino twist (the south American Groove Metal element could be compared with Soulfly, Ektomorf, or Roots-era Sepultura), with poppy commercial rock (think Linkin Park, Three Days Grace etc.). Again, I generally dislike commercial Rock, but somehow I manage to enjoy the poppier side of what Ill Nino do almost as much as their heavier side. I dunno, the heaviness seems to make the big commercial almost Post-Grunge choruses palatable. Hardly a band for Hardcore Metalheads, though. Please don't judge me... Oh, and I don't entirely dislike a few ICP and Twiztid songs... OK, you can judge me...

Not really a Metal song, but Nutshell by Alice in Chains moves me every time I hear it and I know it's become somewhat of a corny, cliched thing to say, but that song has definitely helped me through some dark times in my life. It simultaneously depresses and uplifts me whenever I hear it.

I wouldn't say Asking Alexandria are a great example of American Metalcore, though. They do heavily watered down melodic Metalcore with a few awful vaguely trendy things thrown in; they're consequently a mess. A better example of good American Metalcore would be Hatebreed; and there are some good melodic Metalcore bands like As I Lay Dying, too.

I think, for Industrial Metal, Rammstein would be an obvious suggestion. Sorry if you already know them.

Haha, kinda dumb of me not to notice that it said May 2013 under your join date. :L Yeah, I'm definitely gonna stick around. Just finished college, so I need something to keep me entertained for the next year or so! Just need to get the hang of this more.

Hey Vanessa! How are you? You been a member for long or just joined like me?

Hey. New to this forum and just getting to grips with all this. How's it going? I'm from the UK. Pretty much into all types of Metal except Power and Glam. Err... yeah... Hope to speak to some of you soon!

Hatebreed- Hatebreed atm =)

I also think it's a great album. Seems strange that many people are disappointed with the album. I mean, Sabbath will always be Gods among men, but anyone expecting a Paranoid or Master of Reality part 2 had pretty unreasonable expectations IMO.

Lamb: Feela- Lamb. How very Metal of me, haha.