Hello again! (I pop up here and there)

I've been listening to all forms of metal since the mid 80's. During that time, I've noticed a general decline in the amount of quality albums being put on the market. Why? Today you can go buy lots of albums from bands that like to use other peoples originality.
What happened to Metal that was CATCHY like Forbidden, Exodus, (early) Metallica, (Early) slayer, and others like it? It's not the style change. Mercyful Fate almost broke into the top 200 on Billboard with Don't Break the Oath. It had very satanic imagery and haunting music, but it was very well done. These days I'm having trouble finding Heavy Metal that well done.

Why is the genre slowly going to the fish? I believe that Metal in all forms is a viable form of art, and it shouldn't waste away.

(sorry for the long post) I hope to spend more time here!http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//smile.gif

Hello Certaindeath. I do agree with you. What I believe happened is that towards the end of the 80's and early 90's, metal stagnated. A lot of bands were still putting out quality albums, but they were either sounding just like earlier albums (no experimentation) or they were experimenting too much (alienating their original fanbase). Its like they lost their edge. A lot of fans simply lost interest (including yours truly). These days there are a lot of metal bands out there that are now stretching the boundaries of metal and just like always there are some that are not doing it justice. But, there are more styles of metal today than in the 80's. Its harder for us to find it here in America because of the media (its booming in comparison in Europe and Japan). To find really good metal in America, we must rely on Napster, internet radio, and websites that sell import cd's and cassettes (thank God for the internet). If you look, there is great metal being released these days. And keep in mind even if you don't like the 'mainstream' metal that's out there right now, at least they are keeping metal in the public consciousness (they know metal is still alive and kicking the stuffing out of pop music qualitywise, as it always has). I also believe that given a little more time, metal will be given a lot more media attention, because it is busting at the seams right now. There are a lot of tours, festivals, reunions, new labels representing new bands and an ever increasing demand for it, it WILL happen! It has to!

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Red http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//mayhem.gif

<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by annual_mayhem on 01-27-2001 at 02:16 PM</font>

Hi there...... I agree I am a fan of a lot of bands from the 80s. I might have been a lot younger back then but have to agree that the quality in music was a lot better. Guitar and drum solos just gave us all something to think about. Not to knock back the sounds of today but a lot of great bands just disappeared in the 90s. I too lost interest but you can never really forget the good memories you shared with your favourite music. http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//PSYCHEDELIC.gif

Yes, the quality did die a little bit towards the end. It all started to sound the same and there were no new "subjects" to talk about. Just like my other favorite music, "Freestyle Dance". It was always about the same thing and it eventually died (to come back two years ago). Well, metal will come back the same way. There ARE a lot of good bands out there but it's hard to find them. There are SO MANY to weave through.. What we need here is someone with a lot of time on their hands to review new metal material! I don't think we have anyone here like that, though. Time is hard to come by for all of us...

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

Sal, I'd be glad to review CD's. Unfortunately, time isn't the problem...money to buy them all is! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//rolleyes.gif

There are some great bands still out there producing new music. Iced Earth & Hammerfall come to mind right off the bat. There's this other band from NY also, but I seem to have forgotten their name at the moment! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//00wink.gif

After my last post (er..tirade), I found a great metal website, www.metal-rules.com. (http://www.metal-rules.com.) This site has some interesting info. about metal bands both and present. In fact, they have a great section dedicated primarily to 80's metal; old promo pics., this week in metal history, archives, even the Hear'n Aid project (remember that?). You guys should check it out. Also, over at www.hardradio.com (http://www.hardradio.com) they have a great cd review section. Since they have people in Europe, they review cd's that we haven't heard here. I wish we could have a review section here too. But, I'm with Pagan, that requires deep pockets. You have to have the whole cd to review it and time to listen to it several times.

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Red http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//mayhem.gif

Ok, I hear ya's about the money situation.. Well, those sites DO look good.. I wonder if I could link up with them somehow and get there reviews.. Maybe I can make them a deal where they can link to our message board (and use it as if it were on their own site) and I can link to their metal reviews.. When I get back from the hospital - this is one of the things I'd like to look into.. Don't let me forget! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//tongue.gif If you can think of any ideas, post 'em here...

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

Sal, there's a similar site for softer rock. Its where I got my info. about Rush and the Michael Anthony (Van Halen) interview. I think its called www.melodicrock.com (http://www.melodicrock.com)

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Red http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//mayhem.gif

Yeah, they used to link to our message board. Is that where you found us?

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

Pagan, I think we share the same brain. I was reading through the first post and the band that immediately popped into my head was Iced Earth. I started thinking and Hammerfall as well as Stratovarius (sound alot like Helloween ala "I Want Out") then lo and behold, there's Pagan saying exactly what I was thinking. What a trip. FOR ANYONE OUT THERE LOOKING for a classic sounding, true to life, METAL band, try Jag Panzer. They're from here in Denver and have been slugging it out for nearly twenty years. They've got some amazing stuff. Anyone who is or was into the afore mentioned bands would dig 'em. I recommend "The Age of Mastery" or "Thane to the Throne". Killer stuff and you can order it from CDNOW.com for the price of a normal CD.

METAL!!!

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"If I could just say a few words......I'd be a better public speaker!"
Homer Simpson

Metal has went downhill. The "new" rock bands out nowdays only know a few chords. What happened to the mighty guitar solos? I have a theory. It is called the year one rule. Any time you go into a new decade the first year of that decade sounds just like the previous decade. By the last few months of the year ending in one, you usually will start hearing some changes in music (i.e. I heard Nirvana come on the scene around late '91 when the good metal was still being played). So, I'm hoping some things will change by the end of this year. I want to see metal rise again and kill off some of this boy band & Britney Spears clone singers. These poor kids nowdays are brainwashed into hearing this stuff from the record companies. The 80's seemed to be the last good decade of music.