Jump to content

Where Did The Rock Go?


MaxFaust

Recommended Posts

We know that there was a time when "hard rock" = "heavy metal" ... or whatever. The lines were blurred. Black Sabbath, although being credited as the founders of heavy metal, vehemently denies having ever had anything to do with any of that ... which of course is what Shakespeare was talking about with his "the lady protests too much". In practical terms, hard rock and heavy metal are the same. But you should probably respect the owners of the actual music. I don't know. It seems reasonable to me.

What we do know is that the times changed in 1980, when MTV and all that came to be. Metal was born at the same time. Coincidence? I think probably not. Our genre of music is very very commercial.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

For whatever reason the establishment record companies, MTV, big FM stations etc decided to push rap and soft rock only in the mid 90s with the only exception being rap influenced numetal. Even metalcore in the 2000s only got MTV play on one show HBB and of course Uranium, and even that they were kind of forced to because of their competition Fuse had the Uranium show a few years prior to the new HBB and MTV was becoming irrelevant. They were forced to do that by upstart competition, not a conscience decision they wanted.

I think by Slipknot's new album being number 1 this year its blatantly obvious that people want something heavy on radio but the powers that be want to ignore us. Some of the biggest festivals across America and Europe every year are either metal or have a few metal/hard rock acts on a mixed bill. People want it, it makes money, sells tickets, t-shirts etc.

If you want soft poppy music, there is no shortage in the mainstream as far as aggressive/more masculine music only rap is promoted and there are a whole lot of people who want something like that but want an alternative to just rap. That isn't going to go away. There will always be those who want something different than just the choices in front of them.

You can't believe how many people are into this stuff. I think its far more massive than we all think. For every guy that wears metal shirts every day I'd say there are at least 10 who don't and are into this stuff just as  much as the rest of us. Plus how many music fans are there that like a little of everything (including metal)? Metal is still huge, it's just not on TV anymore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

I sometimes think that for me the difference between hard rock and heavy metal has a lot to do with subject matter.  Dio wrote songs about demons and stuff (heavy metal); Scorpions wrote songs about chasing girls (hard rock).

I believe that heavy metal means cars and motorbikes, and Julia Roberts uses the term with that meaning in Pretty Woman.  Maybe heavy metal music was originally deemed to be music aimed at bikers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
On 2/21/2020 at 11:50 AM, GothExplorer said:

I sometimes think that for me the difference between hard rock and heavy metal has a lot to do with subject matter.  Dio wrote songs about demons and stuff (heavy metal); Scorpions wrote songs about chasing girls (hard rock).

I believe that heavy metal means cars and motorbikes, and Julia Roberts uses the term with that meaning in Pretty Woman.  Maybe heavy metal music was originally deemed to be music aimed at bikers.

Perhaps specific sub-styles have these thematic tendencies, but I would argue that metal is too diverse for this to apply generally to the style as a whole.  There are metal songs about chasing girls, just as there are some Satanic rock bands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 2/21/2020 at 11:20 PM, GothExplorer said:

I sometimes think that for me the difference between hard rock and heavy metal has a lot to do with subject matter.  Dio wrote songs about demons and stuff (heavy metal); Scorpions wrote songs about chasing girls (hard rock).

I believe that heavy metal means cars and motorbikes, and Julia Roberts uses the term with that meaning in Pretty Woman.  Maybe heavy metal music was originally deemed to be music aimed at bikers.

'Lyrics'
Im pretty sure that manowar is metal, then lemme take you to one of their lyrics : Fast taker - Manowar :

Quote
Only sixteen
a woman not a girl
Old enough
For a trip around the world
Pick you up on Friday
When daddy goes to sleep
Bring you back on Sunday
When he's watching "Billy Graham" on T.V.

and then here's some pink floyd:

Quote
Down, down
Down, down
The star is screaming
Beneath the lies
Lie, lie
Tschay, tschay, tschay
Careful, careful, careful with that axe, Eugene

 

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.

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • 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
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

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

      • 2 replies
    • 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
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...