I dunno, it all comes off as pretty trivial to me, which must be the point anyway. Just to be silly. But, honestly, other than the reviewers who work their asses off, doing the reviews that make us clap like monkeys, there are alot of names on these forums that have really contributed a great deal to the metal community we have. So, in case they don't win any award for being most miserable, or least annoying, I think I'm going thank all the people who've made my metal life that much better over the past year.
Holy_Terror - I remember back to a lil' over a year ago, when this cat was really hated by everyone. Every post he made seemed to lead back to the same line, "it's not from the 80's, so I hate it." (Okay, not a direct quote, but the jist is there.) As a community, we essentially said "Bah," and acted like every thought he had was alien to us... Until questions about Thrash's illustrious past were asked. Then the great debates about this band and that band. H_T was in the center of it all, and really got us all into the 80's scene, and filled in the gaps that everyone, even the know-it-alls, were missing in their collections. No matter who you were or what you'd said, H_T was always willing to answer questions about the 80's scene, and fill you in on what you didn't know. And why? Because he always knew the answer. Thanks Holy_Terror, for my growing thrash collection. You really brought that genre to glory over the past year. Props to Brahm K as well, who can highlight some of the modern scene as well as the old.
TIE - Hey, TIE, when I first got a load of you and H_T having it out last year, I swear, I thought you two WOULD NEVER SHUT UP. Heehee, now I kinda miss it. But, accordingly, once the arguing stopped, TIE was really able to focus, and has been able to recommend, and verbalize on just about every genre we've ever spoken of on these forums. Whether he is recommending Jazz to the weary, but curious metal head, or simpling debating the legitamacy of an album the majority hates, TIE really has added an ASSLOAD of serious character to the boards. Call him Mr. 2nd opinion.
Gast (And Astaroth and Deathkvlt) - Black metal used to be like a second language that only half the Death, Thrash, and Blackers knew how, or even wanted, to speak. However these go-to guys, in particular, essentially increased the number of black metal lovers to new heights by being open minded, helpful, as well as adventerous in their search for more of the good stuff. From my personal experience, BM was basically a lost cause until I IMed Gast one day. The rest is fucking history (But, here it is anyway, in its near entirety, lol-->). I never met someone so willing to recommend bands, with vast selection, then supply samples at the rate he had. I mean, he was sending samples, which I find to be tedious as fuck, and at an extremely fast rate. Like I was gunna run out of time, or something... It just goes to show, the black metal fanbase on these forums really deserves alot of respect for making things a little more BLACK for all of us. Thanks guys.
Alright, that's all I can really think of at the moment. But, think about it... these dudes REALLY contributed to this community. I'm really grateful that they stuck around this past year, and I hope they stay for another. Thanks alot guys.
Please, anyone, feel free to post some of your favorite contributors as well.
