.Editorial - Being True
Metal Reviews

Release year: 2006
Reviewed by Ben

Six months ago I almost quit listening to Heavy Metal. I was in a state of confusion, I felt lost. Every time I would play a cd I would change it within five minutes, throw something else on, change it, and repeat the process for hours. I could not find anything that made me want to air guitar anymore I couldn’t find inspiration. It wasn’t until I was at a friend’s house and that old Don Henley song Boys Of Summer came on the radio that I felt that stirring way down deep in me that told me I was listening to a great fucking song. I finally realized something that was a relief and frightening at the same time. I hadn’t fallen out of metal and hard rock (a huge sigh of relief escaped me upon realizing this). However, I had succumbed to the group mentality of today’s scene that if it isn’t metal then it isn’t worth listening to. I had sold myself out for Heavy Metal. I was denying myself musical pleasure because of the stupid notion that allowing myself to indulge in non metal musical ventures meant that I was a “poser.”

How can a Manowar fan listen to such musical garbage as Don Henley, Trivium, The Rolling Stones. Coheed and Cambria, All That Remains, Eric Clapton, or even *gasp* Bryan Adams (I’m talking about Summer of ‘69 here not the Robin Hood crooner Everything I Do For You)? A once fervent follower of all things Power Metal I grew tired of the constant barrage of double bass and wannabe Helloween worship. I got bored with the five million At The Gates clones and the Melodic Rock bands that I own were getting less and less play time because let’s face it, bands in this genre are hard to come by. I needed something different to rock out to but still had to have whatever it was that was next for me hit me hard emotionally down deep where music truly leaves its mark. I have to say going on tour last year really opened my eyes and ears in a way that changed my listening habits almost as much as my first forays into heavy metal. I allowed myself to experiment and enjoy styles of music that I previously only dabbled in. I learned something very valuable that I think every fan of metal realizes at some point down the road. Heavy Metal, although divine, cannot sustain a lover of music alone. That is what I would classify myself as today, a lover of music who happens to appreciate Heavy Metal more than any other genre. Now when I watch my old Manowar DVD’s I don’t see leather clad gods as I used to, I see four guys playing an acting role very similar to that of a professional wrestler. I still love the band but I don’t take their message as serious as I used to. It’s a shtick, a form of role playing to cater to a specific part of the Heavy Metal fan, a part that says “you are different than everyone else because of this music and that is what makes us brothers.” I say I am an individual who has my own likes and dislikes and when I have some kid with makeup on his face and a leather armband with homemade nails in it telling me that my Journey shirt is “gay” I just laugh and turn up Any Way You Want It on my Ipod even louder. You are in charge of what makes you happy and unhappy, don’t deny yourself gratification just because you think that it might be “unmetal.“

I’ve noticed that a large majority of today’s up and coming metal fanbase is comprised of a whole lot of spoiled little kids who have little appreciation and gratitude for the work that artists provide. I remember the days when it was nigh impossible to find a Blind Guardian cd at a local music store. When I first discovered the mid to late nineties wave of Power Metal I was frothing at the mouth because I loved what I heard but obtaining albums was as difficult as getting laid in a Taurus. Nowadays you can stroll into an FYE and pick up a ton of metal cds that four to ten years ago would have been impossible to get outside of paying hefty import prices. Instead of being grateful for this I see kids get on message boards and openly admit to illegally downloading cds that they can find a short drive away at the cd store and then proceed to shit all over said band’s cd without a moments hesitation. Instead of trying to spread the word on fresh new bands I see message boards filled with people trying to one up each other in slamming an artist. There is no underground anymore. The underground has been killed by kids who have no work ethic, no jobs, and a complete lack of respect for the musician because all they care about is the instant gratification of downloading an album just to tear it to shreds. Back in the day a group of friends would sit around and play a pile of cds (or vinyl!) just to listen to them all night and talk about their favorite solos, who was a better guitar team, can you hear how the singer’s voice has changed from the third album to the fourth, being proud about how your friends were in awe that you were able to track down that out of print independent label debut, and show love for their music. Now its simply queuing up a digital play list of a million songs and ranting about who sucks more and why they suck and why they’re “gay.” It’s a shame that the next generation of metal listeners will never know what it was like to hold in their hands that glorious release, that impossible to find LP that you had to get mailed to you from halfway around the world and play it for their friends for all to enjoy.

I am very glad to say that my scare of six months ago has passed. When I play my albums now I feel that old warm heat that comes from great music. I’ll sit at home and play everything from The Eagles to Testament and with each cd that passes through the stereo I am satisfied. As for the second section of this editorial regarding the celebration of negativity in the scene today I will say this. Think for yourself and be true to who you are. If you like something then you like it, you listen to it and you love it. Just because “SatanNatas666” is signing on from his mom’s living room to tell you you’re a “fag” for liking something that he / she / it thinks is trash and he has his groupie fan club from said message board backing him up doesn’t mean you should not enjoy yourself in this world. Being metal means being yourself even it means you’re a poser. And think about it, you're in the same company as me so it can't be all that bad!

Killing Songs :
Ben quoted
Other albums by .Editorial that we have reviewed:
.Editorial - Horny For Harpsichord reviewed by Ben and quoted
.Editorial - Why I need to take a break from writing for MetalReviews reviewed by Alex and quoted
.Editorial - USA / Germany Thrash Match: Big Four Style reviewed by Ben and quoted
.Editorial - Re: Reissues and Remasters reviewed by Ben and quoted
.Editorial - A Brief Run Through Power Metal (in 3 1/2 stages) reviewed by Ben and quoted
To see all 66 reviews click here
0 readers voted
Average:
 0
You did not vote yet.
Vote now

There are 232 replies to this review. Last one on Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:14 am
View and Post comments