Jump to content

Metal Mascots

dennis1077

By dennis1077
in Deep and Meaningful

 Share

Recommended Posts

dennis1077 Newbie

dennis1077

Posted
Posted

Metal bands clearly don't need a mascot to be successful. Still, it doesn't hurt. You gotta wonder if Iron Maiden would have been as successful as they were without Eddie.

If anything, a consistent character that becomes the face of a band is pure fun. This link has lots of pics of classic metal mascots, as well as some interesting back stories.

http://greenandblackmusic.com/2016/05/26/the-mascots-of-metal/

 

 

Vic Rattlehead.jpg

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dennis1077 Newbie

dennis1077

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 hours ago, RelentlessOblivion said:

It aids in creating a recognisable brand. That being said attributing a bands success to their mascot is folly. Metal fans care about the music and Maiden would not be as successful were they not talented musicians. Of course these days they live off the brand...

Absolutely. Still, it's hard to imagine that many a teenager didn't check out Maiden because Eddie caught their attention. Naturally they realized that Maiden were awesome and became life long metalheads because of the MUSIC and not the artwork. 

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
RelentlessOblivion Grand Master

RelentlessOblivion

Posted
Posted

But they don't. Gimmicks by and large are used by bands who have little else to offer. Case and point Dragonforce. Goofiness and shredding is all they do because they are not great musicians. That's not to say they aren't talented one could not solo like that if they were lacking in that area. They haven't grasped basic songwriting principles though and their music suffers as a result.

 

Yes Iron Maiden have Eddie but he is not used as a gimmick. Rather he is utilised as a means of enhancing the experience. Using my favourite Maiden artwork as an example if you listen to Fear Of The Dark whilst staring at the album artwork it's an almost surreal experience. Even walk-on Eddie isn't really a gimmick as Maiden are a very theatrical live band.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 5 years later...
Stukaju87 Newbie

Stukaju87

Posted
Posted

Metal band mascots are lame. When I look at that stupid face thing that anthrax thinks they  are so cool having It makes me have to think about if they are any good or not. They only put out one good album so it seems kind of arrogant to think that because of that album 34 years ago they are bigtime enough for a mascot. I would be embarrassed to have Mr  not nice guy or whatever that scribble thing metallica has. We all know they turned to crap after and justice for all probably because they ran out of Dave Mustanes material. Speaking of Megadeth it was also very lame that they copied iron maidens dancing muppet thing. Yes it's about marketing and having something to put on their t shirts but it's also about being ultra lame and just copying what the band right before you just did and it's about requiring a ginmick because your music is just barely good. I mean anthrax only one truly good album really? It should have just been the big 3 not 4 and that Joe Belladonna has always seemed like the wrong guy to me. Wrong everything and he wont shut up when the band os playing they few and far between cool parts of their songs. I'm just going ti have to be the one to stand up and say it. Anthrax kind of sucks. That I am.the man song menagerie that everyone thought was so cool and funny at the same time sucked. One good album 34 years ago aint gonna cut it.

 

 

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
AlSymerz Grand Master

AlSymerz

Posted
Posted

A 5 year thread necro to tell us what so many people already think, Anthrax sucks. Obviously people's time line varies but the fact that Anthrax have not been a great band for a long time doesn't escape that many people. But it's not the mascot that made them lame.

As for the other bands you mention, if their mascots upset you so much that you see the need to make a post about it I would suggest they are actually a great marketing tool. Getting people to talk about a product is hard enough, getting a person to talk unprompted about a product they loathe is great marketing.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
GoatmasterGeneral Grand Master

GoatmasterGeneral

Posted
Posted

I was a pretty big Anthrax fan back in the mid 80's and I saw them live a bunch of times back then in NY. But I just think it's funny that this guy seems to think Among the Living was their one good album when clearly the first two albums were both much better. They were already on the decline by 1987 as far as I was concerned. 

That said, at the time I did also enjoy Sound of White Noise for what it was, and that was the only Anthrax album I bought after AtL. I agree that Belladonna was probably not the best fit for their music (to me anyway) but at the same time it's very obvious he was also a big part of their success for many people who like those higher pitched type of melodic vocals, and Joey is a huge part of the reason they are even in the big 4 to begin with. Because like them or not, inclusion in 'The Big 4' was based solely on album sales, not on whether you or I might happen to like them better or less than Exodus or Testament or Overkill or any other lesser selling thrash metal bands you can name.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
navybsn Grand Master

navybsn

Posted
Posted

To the original post 6 years ago, I'm one of those kids that discovered Maiden because of Eddie. Specifically the SSOASS album cover. It was so badass to my 11-12 year old self sitting up there on the display in the record store window, I just had to listen to it. And certain that my mom would hate it, so it was a lock. I had no idea it was a mascot, just a badass album cover. I think album art has sold way more music for bands than mascots, but that's just me.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Sacred Reich "Awakening"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • 5

        Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Immortal Bird "Thrive on Neglect"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      I
      • 1

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Vltimas 'Something Wicked Marches In'

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 3 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Candlemass "The Door to Doom"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,


      https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • 3

        Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,

    • Overkill "The Wings of War"

      MacabreEternal posted a blog entry in Album Reviews,

      Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • 0

        Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
      MacabreEternal

      Picked By

      MacabreEternal,
    View All
×
×
  • Create New...