Music News

What is Metal?

Published

8 years ago

August 5, 2016

JJ Ulizio

What is Metal?

By JJ Ulizio

Recently I conducted and telephone interview with Dave Bone about Dunsmuir, the new band he put together and is playing guitar for. The reason it prompted me to ask this question is how he was describing the music. When I listened to the album I initially classified it in my brain as hard rock, or stoner rock. But while I was talking to him he kept calling it metal, specifically he said it was inspired by the late 1970’s era of British metal bands collectively referred to as The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, also known as NWOBHM. NWOBHM bands, if you’re not familiar would be bands like Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Diamond Head, Saxon, Tygers of Pan Tang, and so on. Now maybe it’s just me or maybe it’s the way my ear for music has developed over the years, but when I listen to those bands it just screams metal. Yes this is undeniably a metal band.

As I have listened to that Dunsmuir album several times since my interview with him, it’s an awesome record; I totally see where he was coming from. Comparatively had this record been released in 1977 there probably would be no question about it. Heavy, loud, fast, distorted guitars, the works. It would have fit right in; they could easily tour with any of those bands from the late 70s.

Dave Muise of Vanna Photo by Andrew Bastion

So now I find myself asking another question. Is the time period a factor? How many modern rock bands could travel back in time, play for a crowd of people and be considered one of the heaviest bands for its time, even though they don’t consider themselves metal? How many other metal bands from the late 70s, or even 80s could come out now as a new band and play their music for the first time ever in 2016 and not even be blinked at?

Wikipedia defines metal music as “a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. Heavy metal lyrics and performance styles are sometimes associated with masculinity, aggression, and machismo.” By that definition, I feel, that a lot more bands should be considered metal than actually considers themselves metal.

I’ve talked to and listened to a lot of people over the years discuss what metal is and what “good metal” is. Answers vary widely. Killswitch Engage, Unearth, Parkway Drive, are types listed by some, whereas others list bands like Ghost, Danzig, or Holy Grail. The possibilities are seemingly endless as new genres and sub-genres seem to be constantly developing with blurrier and blurrier lines separating them from each other even though metal itself is technically a genre or sub-genre of rock. Those examples show, contrary to the views of some of the younger metal heads I have talked to, that just because there is not screaming doesn’t mean that it’s not metal. Which I think is a trap that I subconsciously might have put myself into.

One thing I do know for sure is that since Black Sabbath released their first album in 1970 and eventually became the first band to be referred to as metal. The genre itself has morphed and evolved drastically over the years, with a lot of modern metal bands barely resembling their roots if at all. I suppose one could say, contrary to what Wikipedia says, that what is considered metal is a combination of what the sound is with how the band identifies itself maybe a little bit of timing too.

In closing, nothing is absolute. When dealing with something like music it’s all extremely subjective anyway. There is a lot of stuff I might find amazing that you may think is terrible, which sometimes can lead to some interesting conversation. In the end, it’s just my opinion. But tell me, what do you think? Do you have an opinion on what metal is or at the very least what it is to you? Let us know. Leave us a comment on the website below this article, or under the Facebook post this was posted to. Remember to play it loud and take care of each other.

About Author

JJ Ulizio

JJ has been a contributing writer and huge asset to Empire and Empire Extreme since the very begining. He is always digging for new bands and has a true heart and desire to see the bands grow and succeed.

See author's posts

Music News

CREED GREATEST HITS VINYL

Published

6 months ago

June 14, 2024

Ron

Creed who just recently reunited and about to embark on tour. Re-Released their 2004 Greatest Hits on Vinyl. It’s got a nice clean look and sound to it. It comes with 2 vinyls and has 13 tracks. The thing I found interesting is that in the song “What’s this Life For” the God of Goddamn is edited off the track.

The vinyl comes in many variants from Walmart and Target. If you are a fan of Creed this vinyl is a must in your collection . Go buy the vinyl and go check out Creed when they come to a city near you.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

See author's posts

Music News

N.a.s.H. “Vox Populi”

Published

7 months ago

June 6, 2024

Ron

NY. Rock and Roll band N.a.s.H. Have just put out a new single “Vox Populi”. If you’re into good ole rock and roll that’s gritty and fun this band is someone to check out. It’s very “commercial” rock like in the style of band like Creed and Nickelback, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re into that. The video has a cool silhouette style to it and is a fun song.

THIS IS A SPONSORED REVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY TAG PUBLICITY

About Author

Ron

See author's posts

CD Reviews

Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES

Published

10 months ago

March 1, 2024

Josh Drespling

As we near the collapse of mankind and the imminent doom of our political system, a perfect stage has been set for the outspoken rebels to flood the airwaves with dissident upheaval bathed in musical bliss. With the end looming, no greater landscape could welcome the reemergence of the enigmatic Al Jourgensen and company with their latest release, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, via Nuclear Blast Records. Scheduled for a March 1st 2024 release, Uncle Al, along with guitarist Cesar Soto, Paul D’Amour, formerly of TOOL, on bass, John Bechdel on keys, Roy Mayorga (ex-STONE SOUR) on drums, and newly added guitarist Monte Pittman, form the current incarnation of the long-lived Ministry.

This album is an open-book commentary on our American society at large, bathed in slow-burn angst and distortion injected with punk rock/thrash riffs and samples galore.

Within the opening seconds of track one, a female voice proclaims, “What was once forbidden becomes fringe, and what was once fringe becomes mainstream.” Soon Al’s vocals take over with a distorted and effect heavy declaration of “horny little boys filled with hormones and hate, waging war on women ‘’cause they can’t get a date,” thus laying the groundwork for the entire album. As “B.D.E.” (Big Dick Energy) continues, a heavy yet simplistic guitar riff drives the song forward while increasing the energy level and tempo. Al’s vocals continue with his immediate, recognizable attitude and tone, stating, “No one can justify the toxic behavior.”

“Goddamn White Trash” is perhaps the most accessible and rythematic song on the release. It has hints of the Psalm 69 days of the band. Chants of “USA, USA” ring out along side screeching guitar noise reminiscent of Mike Scaccia’s playing style.

Track three is titled “Just Stop Oil,” and it dives into yet another realm of political advocacy. Jourgensen delivers, “Dehumanization at a cellular level. Policy set by the corporate devils, There must be resistance, we cannot be silenced, There is the existence of possible violence” in a growled whisper.

On the track “Aryan Embarrassment,” we are treated to a none-more-fitting guest appearance from what I believe is activist and Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra, who delivers a rap-style series of vocal lines backed by a driving rhythm. Jello wails, “How on Earth did all this happen? Plagues of militantly stupid” Followed by “Scamming on the punk scene. Oi, oi, oi. Ain’t proud of you boys at all.”

Another standout track is “New Religion” which starts with a classic industrial riff and buries itself in the repetitive, slow-burn heaviness that has become the Ministry standard as of late. Followed by “It’s Not Pretty,” which opens as a haunting acoustic piece that I imagine being set in a post apocalyptic landscape with the reverberating lyrics “It’s not pretty. This is the end of the world to me. This is the end of society.”

“Cult of Suffering” strays from the format of the balance of the album and could be firmly placed on an Alabama 3 album, and it may feel at home on a Surgical Meth Machine release.

Rounding out the album is a little ditty called “Ricky’s Hand.” This is a synth pop throwback to the early days of Ministry and leaves us longtime fans eager to hear the longtime teased rerecording of some of the very early Ministry material. This track has a Devo, Information Society, and even Depeche Mode feel to it and is a perfect bookend to a solid release from an iconic band.

Ministry will be on tour throughout the summer with Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and Helmet.

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

See author's posts