Metal Reviews

I was not trying to start a flamewar, I was just pointing out that there are a lot of reviewers here that are damn good writers, you made a general statement that could be taken in a very negative way.

I'm not insulted, trust me. I can write, I know I can write. Stephen King can write as well, but I don't like his style so I can understand not liking someone's writing style, but you kind of made a blanket statement, that's all. You've explained yourself further, so it's all good. I wasn't trying to cause a fight, though.

Note the wink, then we're cool.

Well, I'm cool...you? Well, that is debatable.

I have never published anything in my life, English isn't my native language, my wife thinks I can't write worth shit, the Chairman of my Board of Directore thinks I can't write to save my life. Yet I stubbornly continue writing ...
Misha, I can see the difference b/t writing well and having loads of talent. You can work hard and eventually put a good write-up together and then things can come naturally to you. I think things came naturally to Aaron, and I can't really say that about myself. Some reviews take a long time, they are being written, re-written, and still come out quite stiff. Others, they come from the heart, I fly on the keyboard and it is a labor of love (if you know the expression). I think good writers are artists, whether they write reviews or novels (there I disagree with you), I am more of a laborer. But as artists they have a fragile psyche, they need to have their ego massaged, they need to be constantly told that their reviews are great. I just put them up there for all to criticize and then I don't worry about it. I am happy to discuss the music, but I am going to get more enjoyment from my projects at work coming out, or my kids progressing in life. Call it priorities, I guess.
On another point - it probably would help if I wrote less, that is very true. Take Nathanael, I have no idea if it takes him to come up 2 months with one, but that seems to be his periodicity. I owe way too much to the bands the CDs I buy and get promos from to be sitting on one review for that long. But when you have 2 months to put one together, it is a shame if you don't come up with a masterpiece.


Now, to the more important things. Where do I get the albums by that Hungarian band you have been alerting me about? I know you sent PM to me about it before, but I was so busy, by the time I got to the links they were dead.

Jesus, any more of this praise and I'll be even more arrogant than before.

Now that you're on the forums, Alex, I'd like to bring up something important.

Why is it that none of the other reviewers at all acknowledged that I was leaving?

I sunk nearly a year and a half and over fifty reviews into this place, and at best I get a 'good luck' from two of the staff whom I expected a 'good luck' from? What kind of -excuse the language here- bullshit is that?

I know lots of the staff disliked me being here at all, but would a goddamned 'good luck' be too much to ask for? Am I being GREEDY here? PRESUMPTOUS? Jay gets a news item and I get two 'good lucks'?

Tell me if I am, 'cause I couldn't see that, not even if I tried.

I have half a mind to ask that all my reviews be removed from the site, because it's obvious that barely any of the team wanted them there in the first bloody place.

I wished you good luck! I know I'm not Alex, but let me add my thoughts. To be honest, I think the abruptness of your resignation has caught everyone off guard, you essentially offered no explanation, just a simple "the grass is greener on the other side." You did offer to explain if anyone wished to know, but by not openly explaning to everyone why you were leaving maybe you isolated yourself a bit from this situation? That's just a guess. "Why?" seems to be the question people are asking.

I assume you have your reasons for not elaborating, whether personal or not, but by being vague and slightly cryptic I think maybe people are just a bit caught off guard and confused. You know?

Yes, Aaron, I've been checking the forums today, just because of this very thread. When I had a chance to log in this morning I wanted to see your post in the News. I was surprised I didn't see it, but then I found this one and I am glad that I did. The fact Jay "got the news item" and you got "I've resigned" post to me seemed totally elective, on your part. C'mon, you know how easy it is to post the News, and when you and I talked about it yesterday, I thought that is the route you will take, and how is this much worse than the News item?
Anyway, I suggested you post it, you did, and I am glad. I am also glad you got so many responces, it is nice to know people aren't indifferent to you, right? I can't speak for the rest of the reviewers, just like I could not speak for any of the people who posted here. I could only speak for myself. I am truly sorry to see you go. And not because of the quality of the reviews. I thought if you and I had more time to talk, to connect, I would have been able to help you with some of your personal concerns. And that is all I am going to say about it, it is after all personal b/t you and I, and I hate when this forum is used to air the dirty laundry.
There is no question you are a talented writer, but as I told you before, it is going to be tough in life with the attitude of "fuck you, this is me, deal with it". The world would really have a problem with it, and my offer stands, if you run into a personal problem, write me. You know where you can easily find me. BTW, I never made secret of where you can find me on the phone either. Call, if you want to.
As Ken said, this was sudden, Marty just today was asking what happened. I think I know. You have stewed it all inside, and never shared. It is OK for a zine reviewing gig, but not OK for life, however.
GD is OK, I guess, but I don't understand why talented writers woudl need to use the word "fucken" umpteen times to express themsleves. I'm sure you will be above it. I also do not understand how those people can espouse independent views being practically married to Regain Records hosting a ton of their bands. You think Lord K can truly self-analyze himself, or have not so praising review appear on GD? None of my business, of course. You will show them.
On your reviews being taken down. I don't think that shoudl happen. For a number of reasons. A - I have put 250 reviews to your 50 (yeah, mine may not be as good) and if I leave I am not going to take them with me. I have put 9 years into my company, 16 patents, ton of sweat and intellectual equity and I am not going to take it with me either. MR gave you a platofrm for those 50 reviews, it is their property, just like they own my crappy 250. B - I want people who would come here to know there was this guy Aaron, talented writer, who in the end left because he could not feel welcome with the rest of the bunch. I really do not understand why you expect this rest of the bunch to come out and start professing the warm fuzzies here. And why would you want to? You have got the amazing responce from t eh readers, now you want everyone to bow their head? I don;t think this had anything to do with greed you mentioned, but why do need to have your ego massaged this way? perhaps, many true artists do need that, but here is my question then: why were you writing in the first place, because you wanted to share with the world, or because you wanted to get the recognition? Do you like art in yourself, or yourself in art? Stew on that a while.
Anyway, for as little as I knew you, I enjoyed our intellectual exchange. I say it to everybody who has spent time on MR, Misha would be the first to attest and we didn't have the easiest of the relationships. Drop a line sometime, I'd be curious as to how you are. After all, you share a name with my son.

I feel pretty sad too.

The team seemed to me like a spider or something of a sort when each of its limbs were covering their own material (a bad metaphor, I know, I just can't help it). Now that your place is empty, I can only hope that there will be someone instead of you who will cover the stuff that you covered before (not someone who will replace you; in fact I don't think any of the reviewers here can be "replaced": everyone of you have your own personal style, your own way of self-expression that can't be simply "replaced").

You will be missed.

And speaking about removing-your-reviews thing:



I absolutely agree with Alex here.

The weekly reviews won't be the same without you, Aaron. Your reviews were the only ones I always read regardless of the album being discussed.

Same here.

Aaron reviewed rather infrequently, at least for the past few months, so I'm assuming the weekly reviews will pretty much stay the same.

But who's going to do the Napalm Death - Scum classic I was promised?

You, if they ever make you a reviewer. (Even though Scum wasn't their most classic. )

1. I've already accepted a reviewership elsewhere, so it's kinda late for that.
2. Not their Best, alright, still a Classic.

Where??

www.blastwave.org.uk

What's your profile name? I couldn't seem to see one fitting your description.

I'm not up yet, was only confirmed yesterday.

Congrats. Keep us updated.

Oh, same as Cogan (I THINK that's your name, hehe) forgot to say.