Metal Reviews

You are right. We haven't seen each other in a long time and in the year or so since we've hung out I have changed my music listenings alot and the way I perceive things. I used to be a hardcore Power Metal fan, now with the exceptions of a few bands each year I am sick to death of the genre. Hell, I've turned into what I used to rail against and that is a poser to many metalheads, and as odd as it might seem compared to the Ben of three years ago I really dont care anymore. I also listen to classic rock, electronic stuff (and not the good stuff like Sean and Randy listen to, like stupid Ejay type stuff) radio stuff (hey I like those two Kelly Clarkson songs on the radio) and Coheed and Cambria.

The reason why I thought it was funny why alot of people are up in arms because I reviewed HIM is cos I wasnt expecting the backlash. Also that some posters really thought we here at Metal Reviews have some type of team meetings to try to review popular music to get trendsters over here was hilarious. I dont mind if people disagree on material that's reviewed but I dont see this HIM review so far removed from metal than other gothic type cds or even ambient stuff that gets reviewed that has zero guitar work at all. To these ears HIM sounds like Melodic Rock but with dark overtones to their music. I just played it for someone and they said if I hadnt told em it was a HIM cd they would have thought it was another hard rock group I listen to.

There was a time when I listened to metal, metal, and nothing but metal. I was as elitist as it got as you saw but as I grew older my tastes changed and I opened my eyes to other music. No, you arent going to see some John Mellencamp reviews on the site but I will be enjoying it along with everything else posery and unmetal.

John Mellencamp.....what does hearing "Small Town" give you flashbacks of the good old days in Midland?

But in all seriousness, I'm glad to hear that actually. I feel music is a beautiful and wonderous thing and one should experience as many aspects of it as possible. Limiting yourself to one style, genre, etc. is only cheating yourself. I listen to stuff outside of the Metal/Rock genre and would never call someone a poser for doing so. As long as you present yourself as you genuinely are then fine by me. I figured once you got older your tastes would widen. I hope everything is going well for you down there. I wish I could get of this purgatorial wasteland. Do yourself a favor and never come back, you're not missing a damn thing here!

Goddamn that Kelly Clarkson with her catchy songs and her newfound good looks!! I can't call her Piggy Smalls anymore!! :evil:

Fuck yeah!

Well put, excellently said. I mean I enjoy quite the hell a lot from Exodus to Elton John and Pantera to Public Enemy, so its great to hear that taste diversity is alive and well. I must also say that I cracked up for five minutes straight when I read about suspecting secret gatherings where trendy reviews are decided to be concocted so that well draw the MTV-masses onto the site Maybe we should poll the mtve.com forums the next time for credible targets for a review? *sarcasm mode turned off*

And as far as saying something that does link to the topic, I think Wings Of A Butterfly is a frustratingly catchy song, and in a good way. Havent heard the album yet, but might be some of the best thing by the countrymen since Greatest Lovesongs vol. 666, which was HIMs previous good work as a whole album, if the single is any indication.

Because I'm really at a lack of things to do right now, I might as well point two things out just for clarity:

1. This was never a "if it isn't metal it isn't listenable" thing. It was an "I thought this was a metal site" thing. I've since apologized for that misconception. I'm glad this thread gave some of the you the oppurtunity to pretend listening to a wide variety of music makes you cool, though.

2. Yes, the notion of you guys having secret meetings to issue mainstream and non-metal reviews is hilarious. I'm glad Ben came up with it.

You're all missing the point. HIM = mediocre (at best) mainstream rock. MR = diversity. So, we have to have HIM b/c of this "diversity". Which is daft, IMO, but WTF, I've practically given up trying to argue with people for the sake of this site, nothing will be achieved.

Oh yeah, Burzum isn't NSBM.



That's a blatant lie, else there'd be NS and goregrind stuff up. Is HIM really better music than those? People that want to listen to HIM will do it regardless of an MR review. Why not get the site back to discovering new, interesting bands instead of HIM and the latest Iron test-your-patience Maiden live album?

Goregrind is not music

Comments like this are very uncool.

Here's a suggestion: stop taking this site too personally. Should the reviewers here review grindcore just because? I would never review grindcore, I don't like it! Just because you ask for it doesn't mean I should review it. Not one person here who is complaining is acknowledging the facts here.

1. Reviewers are virtually obligated to review what labels/bands send them.

2. Reviewers also review albums they like, that they buy, they can't review albums simply because visitors to the site demand it.

3. Reviews are not easy to write if you want it to be good.

4. Burzum sucks.

Burzum fukking owns your noob-unkvlt-poser ass eyesore.

For the 1232184836419249 time... It's not my call that Burzum isn't reviewed. Just check my all time favorite albums... But I will stick to the MRs policy 'cause we're a team.

And I meant that in the context of the guy hating HIM for their image.

Hahaha! I've actually never heard them!

Listen to "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" and have your ass beaten into submission.

Ooh, sounds like fun!

No, posing for the idiots on this forum with tired "look at my diverse listening selection" posts is very uncool.

Ugh. Always with the "stop caring about this site" crap. We visit, we read the reviews, we discover new bands we otherwise would not have, we form a little community with which we exchange opinions and metal knowledge. Why the hell shouldn't we care a little, and voice our opinions?

Regardless of what you might say about me, Zadster's criticisms were quite constructive.

When is it OK to call you an "asshole." My tastes are very diverse, therefore you'll see me defending a lot of music you think sucks. I don't mind, I was once as immature as you. Hopefully you can be like me someday!

My point in those comments is very simple. I'm not telling you not to care about the site, but people are complaining about nonsense. You're being a Tarja, goddammit! Not appreciative of what you're being given, only looking for what you haven't gotten yet, or what you think you deserve.

It's very easy to get upset that a certain CD didn't get reviewed, or a certain genre hasn't been focused on enough, but what is the point of complaining? When if you only listened to the reasons given you'd have nothing to complain about. Some people make such a big stink about one review, yet virtually ignore the other reviews. Bon Jovi, HIM, and now Disturbed have all all gotten much too much negative attention.

The Disturbed review is only 1 out of 10 reviews this week, and look at the genres covered this week?!?! Is there really ANYTHING to complain about? I don't think so.

You're missing the point. I'm sure I listen to just as diverse a selection of music as you do, but I don't use it as a crutch for everytime I get into an argument. And the sad part is that whenever someone on here does bring up how they "aren't closed-minded" and parades their non-kvltness around people cheer them on as if it were something new, or special.

And trust me, to become like you would be a severe regression.