FreeBSD Metalheads

Beastie7 said:
Modern Heavy Metal deviated WAY too far from its roots - s**t doesn't even sound like Rock anymore IMO
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Yes there is this "branch" in metal that tends to optimize for the guitar chug, pummeling beats and bass that doesn't have any function but to glue it together.

If you take such a rhythm section separately, you will end up with something really basic. Maybe powerful, but basic. It will not swing or groove that much on its own, the point is to present a solid foundation so guitars/vocals can take the limelight.

The tendency of metal to diverge to this direction during the 80s/90s lead it to today's grid aligned, often programmed MIDI drums.
A real rock and roll band's rhythm section is never flat, they always swing or groove and fluctuate in time, they play organically with eachother, honoring the energy of the live show (there is no R'n'R without live)...it is almost given if a powerful song has 3 choruses, the last one will be faster, more harder (dynamic range) and so on.

Here - Maiden's 1984 hit, but only Harris and McBrain playing. The final song is one of quintessential 80s metal tracks. The rhythm section, on its own, feels like a rock and roll jam

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jN3WQGc64U&t=20s
 
Beastie7 said:
Modern Heavy Metal deviated WAY too far from its roots
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You cannot say that about music and art in general. Art is just something that needs to travel far away.
If this stays strictly on its roots, it will evolve as a poor copycat.

I realized that listening to Metallica albums at some points. I was disappointed, but years later I understood they wanted to move, to create something new. It's just what they are for. It's just what an artist is.
 
Beastie7 said:
His sound was already changing in 1970 before he passed away. Look up Band of Gypsys. It was different, but he still kept that signature blues sound. Modern Heavy Metal deviated WAY too far from its roots - s**t doesn't even sound like Rock anymore IMO. A better means of production and sticking to musical roots are mutually independent.
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I kinda agree. I see some problematic developments:

1. Heavy-metal tends to be guitar-solo centric and over time the tendency has been to play them to perfection. So on one end of the spectrum you have Led Zeppelin, where each live album is different from each other, and in the other you have Slayer... I enjoy both but I don't collect Slayer bootlegs.

2. As metal got more extreme it was deconstructed and we reached a point where growls and shrieks were added for effect. There's no organic rage anymore. As a result, metal lost its cathartic effect.

3. All taboos have been broken and we lost the capacity for rage. Kurt Cobain was the first of the whiner vocalists but at least he's got some talent. Then came Marilyn Manson. But at some point the whining gets tiresome. KoRn killed metal. I never understood why a band promoting a wear brand got that much attention anyway.
 
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