We both agree that metal fans are nerds currently but we disagree in that you're saying it's always been that way.
Your example was Pantera. My example is Blind Guardian, who predates Pantera.
For reference, "The Call of Ktulu" was released in 1984. That also predates Pantera. Nerds were listening to nerdy metal long before Pantera.
How about a band like Celtic Frost? Neo-pagan revival? That doesn't qualify as "nerd" in your book?
Metal bands have used fantasy themes for a long, long time. That attracts nerds. 99.9% of metal concerns itself with angst - specifically, the angst of standing apart from the crowd, being different, and doing your own thing. Again, nerd fodder. Metal is possibly the most technical form of music around today; in fact, most metal has more in common with baroque and romantic-era composition than it does any sort of pop music. This technicality attracts nerds.
Let's go old school. Pre-NWOBHM metal. Let's talk Blue Oyster Cult. Are you familiar? That's some of the nerdiest music ever.
How about the fact that old-school metal fans did exactly the same sort of stuff that old-school anime fans did? Grab obscure imports, trade tapes with each other, listen to poor-quality recordings of stuff that wasn't on the radio...
It's the exact same nerdy behavior that exists in other things that are classically considered "nerdy." We just changed nouns. It's indistinguishable.
I wanna back up Pete on Metal from the Middle East
Heard these guys on the radio today, LOVE them, gonna look into their catalog. I'm really tempted to get some form of Sirius Radio. But a small fail, on the same station, I heard Devildriver do a shitty-ass cover of Iron Maiden's Wasted Years. Shame on them.
So, if you're like me - and by that I mean that you're not a simpering half-wit whose brain is not unlike pudding in both its consistency and ability to form cohesive thoughts - then you recognize an immutable law of the universe: Amon Amarth is the greatest fucking band in the history of sound.
However, if you're like me, you also recognize that sometimes, you need something very specific to fit a particular mood. Sometimes, like those times when you're driving your axe into the skull of your enemy while ravishing his women, sometimes you wish Amon Amarth could be just a little bit angrier.
Wish no more. Allfader is a blackened death metal band which sounds like an angrier, more aggressive version of Amon Amarth. Less melodic, more technical, and just as skull-crushingly awesome.
So, I just came back from a Cradle of Filth concert. I went there just to see Nachtmystium, but holy damn, cradle blew me away, Dani filth somehow came back from the greasy hell were his vocal chords were in the mid-2000's to belt out one of the best performances I've seen Cradle do, he hit all the high notes and went even higher than studio recordings at times. I enjoyed it greatly, with the exception of this one greasy karate kid in the mosh pit, but that's to be expected.
Yeah, I hate to sound like a broken record but it's really quite fantastic. Rody has moved away from growling and the majority of all the singing is clean, which I actually quite enjoy. Not to mention that the album has more hooks than a bait and tackle shop. It's becoming increasingly hard to categorize this band as they carve themselves a fantastic little niche.
Tapestry is probably my favorite song on the album right now. Rody sings of mediocracy and how pervasive it's becoming in our society today. This is our Versailles Palace on the swamp
Yeah, the Wednesday part is where they lost me. I'd probably have to miss 3 days of class for this - Driving down the day before, the concert itself, and driving back home. Could they not get the stadium for the weekend?
Comments
For reference, "The Call of Ktulu" was released in 1984. That also predates Pantera. Nerds were listening to nerdy metal long before Pantera.
How about a band like Celtic Frost? Neo-pagan revival? That doesn't qualify as "nerd" in your book?
Metal bands have used fantasy themes for a long, long time. That attracts nerds. 99.9% of metal concerns itself with angst - specifically, the angst of standing apart from the crowd, being different, and doing your own thing. Again, nerd fodder. Metal is possibly the most technical form of music around today; in fact, most metal has more in common with baroque and romantic-era composition than it does any sort of pop music. This technicality attracts nerds.
Let's go old school. Pre-NWOBHM metal. Let's talk Blue Oyster Cult. Are you familiar? That's some of the nerdiest music ever.
How about the fact that old-school metal fans did exactly the same sort of stuff that old-school anime fans did? Grab obscure imports, trade tapes with each other, listen to poor-quality recordings of stuff that wasn't on the radio...
It's the exact same nerdy behavior that exists in other things that are classically considered "nerdy." We just changed nouns. It's indistinguishable.
Also, this.
Heard these guys on the radio today, LOVE them, gonna look into their catalog. I'm really tempted to get some form of Sirius Radio. But a small fail, on the same station, I heard Devildriver do a shitty-ass cover of Iron Maiden's Wasted Years. Shame on them.
I need more of this. Any similar artists?
However, if you're like me, you also recognize that sometimes, you need something very specific to fit a particular mood. Sometimes, like those times when you're driving your axe into the skull of your enemy while ravishing his women, sometimes you wish Amon Amarth could be just a little bit angrier.
Wish no more.
Allfader is a blackened death metal band which sounds like an angrier, more aggressive version of Amon Amarth. Less melodic, more technical, and just as skull-crushingly awesome.
Edit: I'm sure it has. I remember it because the song titles are last words.
New Protest the Hero album is out, so sick
Tapestry is probably my favorite song on the album right now. Rody sings of mediocracy and how pervasive it's becoming in our society today.
This is our Versailles
Palace on the swamp
Oh hey, I need to buy tickets for that "An Evening With..." tour that Amarth is doing.
Work doesn't need me that badly.
/3.0 student
//still gettin' paid
The good news is that there's a not-awful chance that I'll be able to see Amon Amarth in Boston next Saturday.