Metal Reviews

Must be nice to have that kind of money. I used to be able to do $200/month, but that was years ago. I'm too poor to buy more than a few cds a year.

Yeah, well I've got an pretty OK paid job and I don't spend money on partying/drinking or drugs and other useless stuff like that (not saying you're doing that either) and since metal is my biggest interest (listening to it, writing, playing and recording it) I chose to spend some spare money on that. But I've been poor earlier in my life and that do suck, so I understand you.

It is when you can afford to buy the music and do not download to sample what you think could be a potential buy.
Trust me, I've spend too much money on cds to regret it not to make sure whatever I buy would meet my expectations.
On the other end, those who download music because they cannot afford to buy music are okay in my book. They're not thieves, just curious lads with empty pockets.

Well, I should have been a bit more clear with what I meant and I apologise for that.

Download to sample if it's not possible to do that through YouTube, Soundcloud, Myspace or similar is alright, not having to waste money on crap you do not want.
But to justify downloading because you're poor is not okay in my book. It's like saying it's OK to go to a store and grab stuff there without paying and justify it with being poor, it's the same thing. Not that I'm gonna help someone else or try to stop it in any way myself, but it's not OK to just download without ever buying, that is leeching.

Don't you think that someone who cannot afford to buy music doesn't hurt anybody when he downloads? He wouldn't have bought the stuff anyway so, where's the harm and why is it so wrong?

It's just the whole approach towards music as if it's free for everyne to "steal". It's not free for the musicians, it takes time, effort and money to record music. And just because someone wouldn't buy it, does it means they therefor can have it for free?

Sure, there can obviously be positive things about music being spread even among people who doesn't "deserve"/pay for it, but I think it's still wrong to just download and download without ever buying stuff.

Well, yes. When I was a kid and couldn't afford anything, and especially not music, I used to record my friends' albums on tape. It was free. And nowadays we have the internet to do pretty much the same*. It is not because you are poor that you shouldn't try to find ways to live a little.

And don't let me be misunderstood : I'm all in favor of buying albums and music in general, and supporting bands (especially unknown ones). I personally buy (pretty much) all the music I enjoy. Even if I already own the illegal mp3s.

* Alright, I know it is not exactly the same, because it takes only one supplier to make a billion copies without any effort.

Yay, he's just a soul whose intentions are good.
Otherwise, you're right. Downloading is the new tape-trading. Just like forums are an extended and knowledgeable circle of friends.
And it's not because the industry is living in the past that we should too.

Damnit. I didn't think the reference was that obvious

I know, and I don't like the position I'm in. But between paying for grad school or paying for cds, what do you think gets postponed?

I have 750 cds, the vast majority of the underground variety, and I also have a list going of cds that I absolutely must buy because I've listened to them a lot. Any cds I ever do buy just whittles down on that list.

I'm old, remember?

Downloading is awesome! I get to listen to tons of music for free.

I usually spend between £100-£200 on cds every couple of months. A lot of the cds I buy are ones I've already listened to by downloading.

Just wanted to say that I'm with enghell all the way and to me it's implied that he's mainly speaking to those who have the means to acquire music legitimately.

For those who are not so well off and/or living in countries where a lot of music isn't available it's a different story.

Hear, hear, enghell666, downloading can actually lead to a purchase ! Isn't it wonderful?

I suppose I'm okay with downloading an album and buying it later on but to me it just kills all the surprise and anticipation of listening to a new album. As lame and cheesy as this sounds, part of the excitement is ripping the packaging off the CD and putting that baby into the stereo.

I mean, would you download a movie and then go see it in the theatre?

Actually, I already did.
As for the element of surprise, I'd rather have no surprise at all than a bad one.

So I take it you wouldn't pay to go to a sporting event because there's the risk that your team or athlete would lose?

I agree with you on that. The albums that I buy and have already listened to are mostly the stuff I downloaded a few years ago when I first got into metal. Now I very rarely download.

One plus side to downloading is that it means a lot more people can get into metal. When I first started getting interested in metal I was about 15, didn't know anybody who listened to it, hadn't ever heard any apart from the odd Metallica or Iron Maiden song on Kerrang and if I hadn't been able to download it for free I don't think I ever would have discovered it, and what a shit life that would be.

Yeah, don't get me wrong downloading (and the internet in general) can be a great thing. It's just the way some people use it that I disagree with.