Seattle metal = cheesy

[ElectricWizard]

This is not a rant but more of a question to everyone. I like good heavy metal and have frequented the Seattle Metal forums to find some good bands to get into. To my suprise.... there are none. What I am finding instead are bands that are so silly in image and music that I am confused as to if these bands are Wierd Al Yankovich style parodies or if these bands are serious.

Example, names like "Tasty Gore" and "Satan's Ashtray" and "barefoot Barnicle." Are these band names serious or are they Weird Al style parodies? If they are parody bands then they aren't really doing a good job of making me laugh..... if they are serious then those have got to be some of the most stupid names I have ever heard for a metal band.

I also find a lot of these bands to fall under the same generic shticks that metal bands are known for.
1) Growling "evil" screamer
2) Jagged spiked out band logo that is impossible to read.
3) Generic "heard that before" crunch riffs.
4) Silly satanic imagry
5) Dorky evil stage props and band photo shots

I simply want to know if these bands are serious bands or if they are weird Al Yankovich parodies of metal bands.

I am not saying all seattle metal bands fall prey to this sillyness. End Theory, S2C are two examples of real bands that I would actually spend money to go see live. Unfortunatly these bands are the minorty. It almost seems like 11 year old boys are running the metal scene in WA.

Lets pretend I am starting a seattle metal band... "Yo dude lets call ourselves Satan's rectum, we can spike out the logo and drench it in blood, here are some melody-free crunch riffs to go along with the grroaaaa!!! grunts lets make a myspace page full of pentegrams and upsidown crosses!"

p.s. If you all are just parody bands you need to thin the ranks, there are too many of you.

[TurnToFall]

We are not really metal. Indie bands have said we are too heavy, metal bands say not heavy enough. Anyway, maybe you will like us. Check it out:

[coffdrop]

What about stuff like Book of Black Earth and Fall of the Bastards and Pathos and stuff like Lesbian and Wormwood and Aldebaran etc? What's your take this stuff?

[ElectricWizard]

Turn To Fall, I enjoy listening to your stuff. Great vocals, nice solid bass, drums that keep a great pace, interesting and trippy guitar leads.

[-deathboy-]

well, i thank you for comparing us to the great wierd al ! but did you even listen to our music ? have you even bothered to check out our website ? did you realize that tasty gore has been playing locally since you were still in diapers ? prolly not. but then again, *shrug* we pretty much don't give a shit. but guess what ! yes we are heavy. yes we are humorous. yes it is a "cheesy" name. that would be because we worship grade b horror movies. so the name is sorta appropo. as far as seattle metal goes. yes we are on the website but once again see the previous statement about your diapers. if you don't like it, *shrug* no sweat off my nutsack.

www.tastygore.com

-deathboy-

[TurnToFall]

What about stuff like Book of Black Earth and Fall of the Bastards and Pathos and stuff like Lesbian and Wormwood and Aldebaran etc? What's your take this stuff?

My old band played with Lesbian one time. They were pretty cool. I liked the kick drum graphics.

Mastodon is insane. I like Fall of Troy and Trail of the Dead and Nebula but this isn't really metal either. Dillinger escape plan rocks too.

[TurnToFall]

Turn To Fall, I enjoy listening to your stuff. Great vocals, nice solid bass, drums that keep a great pace, interesting and trippy guitar leads.

Dude, thanks man! We try we try. Any chance you can make it to the show tonight??? We are playing The LAB at Seattle Drum School with another decent band: Scarlet Room. 2 hot mamacitas in that band as well.

[coffdrop]

Mastodon is insane. I like Fall of Troy and Trail of the Dead and Nebula but this isn't really metal either. Dillinger escape plan rocks too.

This explains everything.

[TurnToFall]

This explains everything.

What, that I like to listen to bands where the musicians actually have extraordinary skill and the music shows some originality and talent and I can tell that it takes effort and lots of practice to play?

[TurnToFall]

Oh... and High on Fire, even some Muse are pretty heavy.

[coffdrop]

ha ha, you like Mastodon.

[-deathboy-]

mastadon's alright.

[horhey]

This is not a rant but more of a question to everyone. I like good heavy metal and have frequented the Seattle Metal forums to find some good bands to get into. To my suprise.... there are none. What I am finding instead are bands that are so silly in image and music that I am confused as to if these bands are Wierd Al Yankovich style parodies or if these bands are serious.

Example, names like "Tasty Gore" and "Satan's Ashtray" and "barefoot Barnicle." Are these band names serious or are they Weird Al style parodies? If they are parody bands then they aren't really doing a good job of making me laugh..... if they are serious then those have got to be some of the most stupid names I have ever heard for a metal band.

I also find a lot of these bands to fall under the same generic shticks that metal bands are known for.
1) Growling "evil" screamer
2) Jagged spiked out band logo that is impossible to read.
3) Generic "heard that before" crunch riffs.
4) Silly satanic imagry
5) Dorky evil stage props and band photo shots

I simply want to know if these bands are serious bands or if they are weird Al Yankovich parodies of metal bands.

I am not saying all seattle metal bands fall prey to this sillyness. End Theory, S2C are two examples of real bands that I would actually spend money to go see live. Unfortunatly these bands are the minorty. It almost seems like 11 year old boys are running the metal scene in WA.

Lets pretend I am starting a seattle metal band... "Yo dude lets call ourselves Satan's rectum, we can spike out the logo and drench it in blood, here are some melody-free crunch riffs to go along with the grroaaaa!!! grunts lets make a myspace page full of pentegrams and upsidown crosses!"

p.s. If you all are just parody bands you need to thin the ranks, there are too many of you.
yes! we have our first hate fan. we feel honored to be singled out from hundreds of other bands on "SMO", even though we aren't an "SMO" band. we just like to have fun and play music. if anyone wants to hear what metal "shouldn't" sound like check out a few of our songs here. i'd like to hear your opinion.

http://www.myspace.com/barefootbarnacle

and yes, the name "Barefoot Barnacle" is stupid, but so is smelling your finger after picking your butt.

[manhog]

SWARMING HORDES are the shizzit. How come y'all haven't mentioned them? What the fuck is up with that? Regardless, I totally agree with the sentiment that one ain't gonna find out "what's up" on the Seattle Metal Forums. Why that is, I'm not sure, but it could have something to do with what I like to call the "suburban knucklehead" factor. You know what I'm talking about. ;-) Oh, and kudos to LESBIAN, they rock XXXL hard for fucking sure. Anyhow, these two bands kick out some EPIC shit for sure... and ask any metal musician of note what they think about the HORDES. chances are they'll give these dudes major props. and if they haven't heard of them, chances are they play in a cheesy band, or are new to Seattle. (fyi, the Hordes have been around town for 10+ years). In sum, all good metal bands in Seattle have at least heard of the Swarming Hordes. And all metal fans should go see these guys live, at least once, to see if their instrumental fury suits them. Recordings have, so far, not done these dudes justice. The shows are where it's at, mang...

[Clark Chaos]

SWARMING HORDES are the shizzit. How come y'all haven't mentioned them? What the fuck is up with that? Regardless, I totally agree with the sentiment that one ain't gonna find out "what's up" on the Seattle Metal Forums. Why that is, I'm not sure, but it could have something to do with what I like to call the "suburban knucklehead" factor. You know what I'm talking about. ;-) Oh, and kudos to LESBIAN, they rock XXXL hard for fucking sure. Anyhow, these two bands kick out some EPIC shit for sure... and ask any metal musician of note what they think about the HORDES. chances are they'll give these dudes major props. and if they haven't heard of them, chances are they play in a cheesy band, or are new to Seattle. (fyi, the Hordes have been around town for 10+ years). In sum, all good metal bands in Seattle have at least heard of the Swarming Hordes. And all metal fans should go see these guys live, at least once, to see if their instrumental fury suits them. Recordings have, so far, not done these dudes justice. The shows are where it's at, mang...


Odds are you come from a family in Suburbia.

I have heard of Swarming Hordes have shared a bill with them many years ago.

Does that make us neat.

And yeah, anyone spending time in Forums trying to discover new bands is Suburban enough for me, get out of the house and hit random clubs, go buy random demo's...........

Ah the old days were so much better.

So many experts in Seattle now a days.

[Clark Chaos]

yes! we have our first hate fan. we feel honored to be singled out from hundreds of other bands on "SMO", even though we aren't an "SMO" band. we just like to have fun and play music. if anyone wants to hear what metal "shouldn't" sound like check out a few of our songs here. i'd like to hear your opinion.

http://www.myspace.com/barefootbarnacle

and yes, the name "Barefoot Barnacle" is stupid, but so is smelling your finger after picking your butt.

When did pick your butt and smelling your fingers become stupid, its the natural human urge.

I dont think the name is stupid. I find people who feel the need to talk out their asses, stupid.

[TurnToFall]

ha ha, you like Mastodon.

They are badass musicians and composers. What's not to like? Seriously I want to hear your indictment of Mastodon.

[Jef]

This explains everything.

and a statement like this proves your an assnugget.

whoop-de-doo!

STFU.

[Johnny Slick]

ha ha, you like Mastodon.I WANT MY METAL DONE BY WHITE TRASH NOT EXTINCT ELEPHANT LIKE CREATURES!

[progrockfan]

bump. props to seattle metal heads!

[-deathboy-]

\m/ o_0 \m/

[Oof]

I find people who feel the need to talk out their asses, stupid.

I dunno, I would almost call that talent.

[manhog]

Odds are you come from a family in Suburbia..
nope, grew up in South America, currently the home of some fucking crazy metal bands... (Brasil/Peru/Colombia/etc.)
I have heard of Swarming Hordes have shared a bill with them many years ago.
Does that make us neat. yes, it does!!! :-) Ah the old days were so much better. yeah, back when albums were something one could fold out on a table, and use to roll a joint... ;-)

[Clark Chaos]

nope, grew up in South America, currently the home of some fucking crazy metal bands... (Brasil/Peru/Colombia/etc.) yes, it does!!! :-) yeah, back when albums were something one could fold out on a table, and use to roll a joint... ;-)


ahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, so fucking true!!!!!!

Gatefolds came in handy didnt they!!!!!!!

aahahaaaaaaaa

[Clark Chaos]

I dunno, I would almost call that talent.

Im guessing that is the talent that people keep telling me that I have.

hmmmmmmmmm.........

:D

[FAMILIAR CHILL]

Lets pretend I am starting a seattle metal band... "Yo dude lets call ourselves Satan's rectum





Isnt there already a band with that name??






http://www.lyranthe.com/media/Lyrink.jpg (http://www.lyranthe.com)

[pony]

FFA are the best metal band in WA by a third-world-country mile.

ffamusic.com

or:

http://theprettiestpony.typepad.com/the_prettiest_pony/2004/12/metal_mania_day_1.html

[Clark Chaos]

FFA are the best metal band in WA by a third-world-country mile.

ffamusic.com

or:

http://theprettiestpony.typepad.com/the_prettiest_pony/2004/12/metal_mania_day_1.html


FFA is a very good band.

[WebWench]

I was just wondering to myself where you guys are posting these days.
;) Hi Clark & CDawg.

ROFLMAO .. .
Then I re read the date and that was last year. OKIEDOKIE THEN.

uh Hi anyway.

[Ballard Pimp]

So, is puce still cool?

It's gotta be cooler than mauve.

[i, of the storm]

To go along with the extinct OP....

And at the risk of being tarred and feathered in virgin goat blood and my skull mounted on a mic stand...

So I was listening to KEXP the other day, and what the fuck should come on but the annointed kings of local metal, 3 Inches of Blood. Now, let me say that I was overseas in the 80's, so I missed whatever it was that causes you all to get nostalgic for Iron Maiden, and I just didn't "get it". I'm used to metal sounding like Pantera or Slayer or my neighbor's norwegian doom shit.

So when 3"o'Blood came on, my initial reaction was to laugh. I laughed so hard, my co-worker picked up some scissors and walked away backwards. Beyond cliche falsetto vocals, cliche wanky perma-solo guitar... cliche double kick... basically sounded like Judas Priest played on a cheap discman with your finger on the FF button. I really, honestly thought it was a joke. Actually, "cliche" isn't a strong enough term. Whatever those all those Renaissance Festival people are doing, boil that down into a word and apply it here.

I wonder if maybe that's not the sort of thing the OP was in reference to.

But it's not just those guys, I'm given to understand that they're one of the best at what they do. Now obviously I'm not being fairminded, as I can listen to the analog synth on the new Racontuers albumn and say "Cool, retro!" and not "cliche, sounds like FFing a Deep Purple albumn!", so it's a matter of taste. And I'm not saying the musicianship was poor or anything concrete like that. I guess I'd rather kids start Olde-Metal bands than Nu-Metal ones... but really, how can you put goat skulls and pents all over everything and not feel just a little bit corny?

PS As I said in another post, about sharing a bill in Everett with a metal band from Kirkland, the "If it's not metal, it's shit" credo doesn't cover the possibility that it could simultaneously be metal AND shit.

[Brianmyfatass]

I was up in Vancouver BC a few years back for a friends wedding & the next day i had nothing to do. so i wandered into the pic club not knowing who was playing, just to see a show, and 3 inches of blood were playing.
i thought they were kinda boring.
but i ran into nardwaur there & we had a nice talk about girlschool and hair metal, so the night was a-ok after all.

here's a couple of decent seattle metal bands -

Vs. The World
http://www.myspace.com/vstheworld

Wizards of Wor
http://www.myspace.com/wizardsofwor666

Old school thrash band Holy Terror has done a few reunion shows -
http://www.myspace.com/holyterrorspeedmetal

2 less thrashy but fun bands are -

The Midnight Idols
http://www.myspace.com/idols
Zero Down
http://www.myspace.com/zerodownrocks

and i do wish Bitter End would do a reunion
http://www.myspace.com/bitterendmetal

Whoop whoop!

[Caleb of the wood]

Wow, seems like everyone is very confused about what bands are good in Seattle. Maybe I should pay my fine for copyright infringment, and start the Metal Vortex TV show back up.

Would anybody still watch it? Hmmmmmm

[Murder of Crows]

Considering the implosion of the 'seattle metal scene' last year Id say you might get the paltry hanger ons that still actually beleive metal is a viable format in this town, but that's about it...

Youd be marketing to maybe a couple hundred people tops...

[i, of the storm]

Youd be marketing to maybe a couple hundred people tops...

Sadly, no.

Whatever "implosion" you're speaking of must have served to fling spores far and wide, because pockets of metalheadism are popping up everywhere. I might be lumping in a few Juggalos by mistake. Also I don't bother to differentiate between nu-metal and olde-metal, here's hoping the two join forces and drag each other down.

I think part of metal's growth comes from the demographic that's urban or suburban but had previously been country music oriented. As they become older and huff more glue, country becomes neither loud nor angry nor dumbed-down enough for them, and their search for non-rap alternatives doesn't go as far as it should.

Besides, haven't you seen Studio 7's calendar? It's BRIMMING with local.... local..... locality.

[progrockfan]

Considering the implosion of the 'seattle metal scene' last year Id say you might get the paltry hanger ons that still actually beleive metal is a viable format in this town, but that's about it...

Youd be marketing to maybe a couple hundred people tops...

That's weird, I thought I saw many thousands of people from the area at the recent Slayer/Mastodon show.

The individual who had nominated himself to lead the "seattle metal scene" had a meltdown last year when he revealed himself to be a homophobic redneck. I wouldn't say that equates to the entire scene imploding. There are, in fact, intelligent, non-redneck metalheads that listen to specific metal bands that actually make new, original music worth listening to. But, you wouldn't know that from reading The Stranger or listening to KEXP since both of these outlets seem to have a very narrow and boring definition of what's cool that doesn't necessarily match what the majority of Seattle music fans are into.

[progrockfan]

Sadly, no.
I think part of metal's growth comes from the demographic that's urban or suburban but had previously been country music oriented. As they become older and huff more glue, country becomes neither loud nor angry nor dumbed-down enough for them, and their search for non-rap alternatives doesn't go as far as it should.

Um, no.

I am a metal fan and have never liked country. My respect and appreciation for metal comes more from having a background in classical music. Beethoven was pretty loud and heavy in his time. Some people actually like music that has some talent, passion and energy to it.

[DrOctopu5]

Check out The Valley sometime - not exactly metal, but fast and loud prog punk.

[i, of the storm]

Um, no.

I am a metal fan and have never liked country. My respect and appreciation for metal comes more from having a background in classical music. Beethoven was pretty loud and heavy in his time. Some people actually like music that has some talent, passion and energy to it.

So then neither of us are part of the metal growth I was referring to.

Besides, it's not metal in general we're discussing. That wagner n' hawkwinded norwegian business is truly something to behold. Plus, they fucking sacrifice each other in their basements, how cool is that? I think that should be a prerequisite as far as drinking from somebody's skull onstage goes.

It's seattle metal we're talking about, however.

We all know the neophyte metalheads I'm talking about, as far as I'm subculturally concerned you can have 'em. This is america, everyone's entitled to a guitar.

[Mrt1212]

Um, no.

I am a metal fan and have never liked country. My respect and appreciation for metal comes more from having a background in classical music. Beethoven was pretty loud and heavy in his time. Some people actually like music that has some talent, passion and energy to it.

so cannibal corpse is the modern day beethoven?

[progrockfan]

So then neither of us are part of the metal growth I was referring to.

Besides, it's not metal in general we're discussing. That wagner n' hawkwinded norwegian business is truly something to behold. Plus, they fucking sacrifice each other in their basements, how cool is that? I think that should be a prerequisite as far as drinking from somebody's skull onstage goes.

It's seattle metal we're talking about, however.

We all know the neophyte metalheads I'm talking about, as far as I'm subculturally concerned you can have 'em. This is america, everyone's entitled to a guitar.

The amature post-grunge nu-metal crap local bands that can only get shows in pioneer square or Studio Seven suck, yes, I have to agree with that.

But, I think there is too much of a backlash against heavy music in this town that ends up dismissing a lot of good local bands. "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.". Just because so many bands are bad at guitar solos and singing and heavy riffage doesn't mean that all bands with those features suck. For me, as long as I can tell effort went into the writing and performance and there is a decent melody and some kind of mathy, musically skillful, complex, progressiveness to it I tend to like it. Unless the singer's voice sucks.

I've posted on here about what local heavy bands I think are good including mini-reviews so look up my old posts if you care to.

[Tunanator]

or the shtick. What matters is whether they can play. If it isn't music, the rest doesn't help.

Let's say someone like Yo Yo Ma called himself some dumb name, you could hear around that, right? CAN the mofo PLAY?

There's some BS in Seattle, where not? Reward what your ears like.

[Murder of Crows]

That's weird, I thought I saw many thousands of people from the area at the recent Slayer/Mastodon show.

The individual who had nominated himself to lead the "seattle metal scene" had a meltdown last year when he revealed himself to be a homophobic redneck. I wouldn't say that equates to the entire scene imploding. There are, in fact, intelligent, non-redneck metalheads that listen to specific metal bands that actually make new, original music worth listening to. But, you wouldn't know that from reading The Stranger or listening to KEXP since both of these outlets seem to have a very narrow and boring definition of what's cool that doesn't necessarily match what the majority of Seattle music fans are into.

When I refer to the 'local metal scene' I am not referring to national acts with name recognition, but the 'immediately local ' metal scene.

And did you ever accept Rich's apology? He did apologize but you seemed to have left out that detail.

Rich's statement was ridiculous and over the top but by no means should it have blown up to the ungodly bullshit that it did.

Other peoples reactions were even more RIDICULOUS then his original post.
Since when is it straight peoples job to defend homosexuals so vehemently?

After a while a lot of the protests began to look more like pandering to the Stranger, then any real outrage....I didnt think sucking up to the Stranger's money tit was a pre-requisite for being a musician in this town....

I found it humorous that the only time in it's 3-4 year history, Seattle Metal Online made Page 3 of the Stranger. You cant buy that kind of advertising unless you have $$$. So what started out as a negative post, turned into the biggest inadvertent PR stunt in SMO history

SMO did not implode because of one man as you seem to contend, any poor sot who ried to run it was immediately subjected to the bands trying to be 'the tail that wags the dog' . Rich just got the final brunt end of it.

I contend it was some of the metal bands and self claimed Seattle music 'heroes' like Rane (who is from Atlanta, GA) that killed SMO, not Rich Rudy. All because some of them felt it was their job to tell everyone how to run SMO.

With Ranes band imploding in his face however, it would seem that he cant even tell his own band how to run things, let alone an entire scene. Look how the 'mighty' have fallen. From alleged 'Queen of the Rodeo' to imitating the real Queen of the Rodeo. DBS fell apart and nobody really cared outside of his circle of friends.

FYI - I left SMP 2 months ago due to inactivity and lack of direction. I wish Rich good luck, but unless he sinks some initial money up front in his venture, he is doomed to an existance of frustration and heartburn with the whole 'grass roots' voluntary workforce.

[-deathboy-]

so SMP is still going?
i thought for sure it's coffin was nailed shut.
interesting...

[progrockfan]

Fuck Rich, Fuck SMO, Fuck DBS, Fuck The Stranger and FUCK YOU! Metal lives.

[progrockfan]

Since when is it straight peoples job to defend homosexuals so vehemently?

That's like asking "Since when is it American Muslims' job to denounce terrorism so vehemently?".

[-deathboy-]

Metal lives.
and always will!

[stradhoughton]

this issue could be debated for hours but it all comes down to being exposed to the good shit going on in town. often times, the lamest best spend the most time on promotion which can really make the scene look retarded. i don't know if the following is good shit in your book, but some feel that the following two shows offer a fine example of some very good seattle metal...

Lesbian at the Comet on Thursday 8/31:
http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=107201.24712

The Abodox and Sean Ladies Choice Record Release on Friday 9/01:
http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=107946.86364

[progrockfan]

Any good mathy/progressive rock/metal bands out there in Seattle that play shows and have actual singers not screamers with lyrics, hooks, melody and musicianship? Here's the list of my favorites from a while back:

Zeke, The Ruby Doe, The Lashes, The Fall Of Troy, The Divorce, The Blood Brothers Band, The Abodox, Vindaloo, Turn to Fall, The Beautiful Mothers, River Red, Rishloo, Gatsby's American Dream, Danger Radio, Altarego

Are all these still playing live? I've been out of the scene for a bit but would like to start checking out bands again sometime soon. Any new bands to add to the list??? PROG ROCKS!!!

[DrOctopu5]

Are all these still playing live? I've been out of the scene for a bit but would like to start checking out bands again sometime soon. Any new bands to add to the list??? PROG ROCKS!!!
Again, I would add The Valley, but I wouldn't put the vocals up on a pedestal - he's too busy playing some serious geetar.

[stradhoughton]

RE: Are all these still playing live?

The Abodox is still alive (see post right below yours.) And Lesbian features the same rhythm section. Other local "metal" bands that I am particularly fond of include Sean, Earth, Skarp, Iron Lung and Girth.

[SOMMS]

nope, grew up in South America, currently the home of some fucking crazy metal bands... (Brasil/Peru/Colombia/etc.) yes, it does!!! :-) yeah, back when albums were something one could fold out on a table, and use to roll a joint... ;-)


Sweetness...then you must know about Coprofago!


Killer band.


-Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

[Brianmyfatass]

WARNING!
this post is sam for a metal show.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6426

thank you, the spam is over.

[Spleencrusher]

I also find a lot of these bands to fall under the same generic shticks that metal bands are known for.
1) Growling "evil" screamer
2) Jagged spiked out band logo that is impossible to read.
3) Generic "heard that before" crunch riffs.
4) Silly satanic imagry
5) Dorky evil stage props and band photo shots

I simply want to know if these bands are serious bands or if they are weird Al Yankovich parodies of metal bands.

I am not saying all seattle metal bands fall prey to this sillyness. End Theory, S2C are two examples of real bands that I would actually spend money to go see live. Unfortunatly these bands are the minorty. It almost seems like 11 year old boys are running the metal scene in WA.

Lets pretend I am starting a seattle metal band... "Yo dude lets call ourselves Satan's rectum, we can spike out the logo and drench it in blood, here are some melody-free crunch riffs to go along with the grroaaaa!!! grunts lets make a myspace page full of pentegrams and upsidown crosses!"

p.s. If you all are just parody bands you need to thin the ranks, there are too many of you.

Well I find a lot of these bands styles you mentioned you like to fall under the same generic shticks that bands are known for.
1) Screaming, yelling, jumping up in down in unison
2) Have names like SiC FrusTraSion (yeah, and s instead of t)
3) Generic "this is where they break it down" crunch riffs.
4) Silly I'm angry at mom cause of my suburbian upbringing
5) More dorky brick wall band promo pics than they have actual songs


I simply want to know if these bands are serious bands or if they are local parodies of radio bands.

I am not saying all seattle semi-metal bands fall prey to this sillyness. End Theory, S2C are two examples of real bands that I would actually spend money to go see live (I kept this part because I like the bands and the people in them). Unfortunatly these bands are the MAJORITY. It almost seems like 11 year old girls are running the metal scene in WA.

Lets pretend I am starting a seattle metal band... "Yo dude lets call ourselves OverACKtion, we can take hundreds of band photos next to brick walls, here are some one cord riffs to go along with the aaaahhh!!! screams lets make a myspace page full of our hundreds of band promo shots and 5 different versions of our logo!"

p.s. If you all are just parody bands you need to thin the ranks, there are too many of you.

[Boss Hogg]

and always will!Fuck you and fuck the world Chris... Juusssst Kid"N" How the fuck are ya? This is the Sissy_ Freak.... me love you long time.




Really...Hope things are good for you . Always wishing the best.

[Boss Hogg]

That's weird, I thought I saw many thousands of people from the area at the recent Slayer/Mastodon show.

The individual who had nominated himself to lead the "seattle metal scene" had a meltdown last year when he revealed himself to be a homophobic redneck. I wouldn't say that equates to the entire scene imploding. There are, in fact, intelligent, non-redneck metalheads that listen to specific metal bands that actually make new, original music worth listening to. But, you wouldn't know that from reading The Stranger or listening to KEXP since both of these outlets seem to have a very narrow and boring definition of what's cool that doesn't necessarily match what the majority of Seattle music fans are into.
Rich Rudy banned me for giving my opinion on this subject and I fucked him up! I wish I could of seen him face to face before he split town. TThen I split town. I don't think anyone misses me nor him...Maybe a few...miss me. Jussst Kid "N"

[Toilet Duck]

This has less to do with Seattle Metal(I keep running across TreeHugger black metal bands from Olympia and Portland(*coughcoughAgalloch*), but I'm not lumping them in here). I find "Metal" to be such a huge umbrella that I invariably run into posts where people are talking about Slayer or 3 Inches of Blood(who are tacky but fun, I guess), or occasionally some deplorable numetal act. At any rate, I've seen enough posts in this thread that deal with this that I realized that it's hugely misrepresented.

Even worse, there seems to be some sort of indie rock snob novelty trend at work with people going off about Norwegian Black Metal when in reality they're latching on to a couple of underproduced, tinny semi-joke bands like Darkthrone or stuff involving the infamous murder'n'churchburning hoopla.

This shit all happened over a decade ago. I realize it takes a while for Grampa Sven to relay news from he Old Country over to his family in Ballard but this is slightly ridiculous. There is a TON of shit out there that is lazily lumped under the "Metal" umbrella, a lot of it coming out of Europe. Stuff like Beyond Dawn, Ulver, Arcturus, etc sometimes wouldn't even be considered metal but is nevertheless lumped in with the Spikes N' Blood N' Satan crowd.
There are some bigger-name acts out there that are doing well(Opeth are classy performers, at least the several times that I've seen them - Isis and Pelican are exceptions that are getting critically acclaimed), but by in large, the only way a lot of this stuff gets publicity is via word-of-mouth.

Your average KEXP listener with his doofy black glasses, too-tight t-shirt, and collection of kitsch doesn't know shit about what's out there when it comes to metal, or the metal scene. The person who mentioned something about "glue-sniffing" hammers this home. In 20 years the "indie rock" scene of today is going to be comprised of bald dorks(*) reminiscing over 80s nostalgia they never truly experienced, and fat girls with sagging tattoos. Hey, I can make bullshit generalizations too!



Wait, I'm drunk. Should this be posted in the "I am now drunk" section?


* - I am a bald dork myself. Deep down, I feel your pain.

[Toilet Duck]

Because I believe in completely fair and sparing no party deserved pain, I should add that the metal community as a whole has done itself no favors either, with the legion of slack-jawed metalhead troglodytes that makes up a certain vocal minority in its fanbase. People who proclaim themselves to be tastemakers, loudly decrying anything in the scene that's not "true" or "cult" metal miss the point in the same way. Something akin to what Jello Biafra called "Punk Rock Fundamentalism" is rampant in this scene.

In short; people that think metal only means dirthead glue-sniffer spikes n' cheese = fucking lame. People who only WANT metal to cater to said expectations = equally fucking lame.

[progrockfan]

Because I believe in completely fair and sparing no party deserved pain, I should add that the metal community as a whole has done itself no favors either, with the legion of slack-jawed metalhead troglodytes that makes up a certain vocal minority in its fanbase. People who proclaim themselves to be tastemakers, loudly decrying anything in the scene that's not "true" or "cult" metal miss the point in the same way. Something akin to what Jello Biafra called "Punk Rock Fundamentalism" is rampant in this scene.

In short; people that think metal only means dirthead glue-sniffer spikes n' cheese = fucking lame. People who only WANT metal to cater to said expectations = equally fucking lame.

Metal shouldn't be about fashion or even attitude, but about music. It's difficult to define metal on that level but I'd say guitar bass and drums have to be there, heavy hitting, fast, loud, driving parts, there has to be some heavily distorted guitar, an occasional palm mute or 2 and the overall sound has to be "badass" especially with regards to musicianship.

[SOMMS]

I think the Seattle metal scene (in truth the global metal scene) is suffering from the exact same thing this thread is...a few elitist snobs who own a thesaurus and like to namedrop their favorite bands.



Know this: metal sucks simply because...metal sucks. Period.



Because for every band YOU think is cool...I'VE got a WAY better band that puts yours to shame. And so on and so on, ad infintum. This psuedo-intellectual elitism produces so much infighting in the scene that there really is no community to speak of at all. It's basically every man/band/group for themselves. Not that thats a bad thing though. There is no way I would want to be associated with those lame hacks in Morbid Angel or Gorgoroth or (insert your favorite band here) or <gasp> Slayer.


In this thread we've already got the obligitory old dude dumping on 'nu-metal' because its not 'trve cvlt' enough. Of course this guy probably thinks Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest were actually metal and he invariably longs for the days of yor when metal was dominated by men clad in tight leather pants with long flowing locks of hair and singing operatas in impossibly high registers.




Oh and by the way...my favorite band is WAAAAY better than whatever gay band you like.




-Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

[Toilet Duck]

Metal shouldn't be about fashion or even attitude, but about music. It's difficult to define metal on that level but I'd say guitar bass and drums have to be there, heavy hitting, fast, loud, driving parts, there has to be some heavily distorted guitar, an occasional palm mute or 2 and the overall sound has to be "badass" especially with regards to musicianship.

I sort of agree with some of these statements. It's a difficult genre to pigeonhole. The only criteria I use in this case are loud guitars, with certain types of production. Sometimes there's crossover(some old shoegazer acts were almost that loud. The loudest show I have ever been to in my entire life though was undoubtably Killing Joke. Some people refuse to equate them with metal, so who the fuck knows) Sometimes there's not.

Whether you like it or not, though, metal, and really all of popular music are partially defined by imagery, fashion, and attitude. It's a total package that you're getting. Album art, lyical content, appearance all weigh in. What if Finntroll wore overalls and Devo hats? When Bowie was in his high glam phase, could anyone deny that the glittery astronaut schtick was an integral part of his act? Helmet's gimmick was just that - they had no gimmick at all.

A gimmick is rarely just a gimmick, it usually helps define the act.

[-deathboy-]

Fuck you and fuck the world Chris... Juusssst Kid"N" How the fuck are ya? This is the Sissy_ Freak.... me love you long time.




Really...Hope things are good for you . Always wishing the best.
hey fucker! why'd you kill lord gore?




i for one hope to hell society never accepts metal. fuck that. being socialy abhorrent is precisly the reason i got into metal in the first place.

[Boss Hogg]

hey fucker! why'd you kill lord gore?




i for one hope to hell society never accepts metal. fuck that. being socialy abhorrent is precisly the reason i got into metal in the first place.Who's Lord Gore and how did I kill Him/Her?

Fuck Society! I make my living running CNC machines...I hope people continue to accept the metal I fabricate ;)

[-deathboy-]

lord gore is/was an incredible goregrind/death band from down in your neck o the woods. unfortunately due to artistic differences and side projects they broke up just recently. 'twas a sad day indeed.

[Unconditional_Hate]

We are not really metal. Indie bands have said we are too heavy, metal bands say not heavy enough. Anyway, maybe you will like us. Check it out:

I checked your stuff out. It sounded like Rush, Tool, and APC got together and made some songs. Pretty F'n cool.

[Dee Snarl]

Ooh, is this "the metal thread"?? Coooool....

Aren't you guys way late with some hate for Opeth? I mean, they're super talented and interesting, and achieving some real success. I see you've got Mastodon covered, but you're really past due with snobby hipster disdain for Opeth....

[progrockfan]

Ooh, is this "the metal thread"?? Coooool....

Aren't you guys way late with some hate for Opeth? I mean, they're super talented and interesting, and achieving some real success. I see you've got Mastodon covered, but you're really past due with snobby hipster disdain for Opeth....

I love Opeth! And Isis too! But I also love Muse and Death Cab.

[Dee Snarl]

I love Opeth! And Isis too! But I also love Muse and Death Cab.


Frankly, I wasn't talking to you.

If you're "progrockfan", you'd damn well better like Opeth....