ELITISM IS KILLING THE SCENE
…is just one of the thoughts you lot shared with us this month. Here are some more!
YOUNG BLOOD
Absolutely loved seeing some younger bands on the cover in the last couple of issues – especially Cammie [Gilbert, Oceans Of Slumber] on the end-of-year issue and The Hu last month! Keep it up, please, we need younger bands to get those platforms. How about a Jinjer or a Zeal & Ardor cover?
Jamee Losa (email)
New music remains the lifesblood of heavy music. We can’t stick young’uns on the cover every single month (we gotta sell issues and that), but as long as there are exciting new bands coming through the ranks, we can promise we’ll keep backing them. Jinjer and Zeal & Ardor, eh? Not a bad shout, that…
OLD MOANS
Are we really calling Twin Temple metal because they talk about Satan a bit? How edgy. If Amy Winehouse isn’t metal (and she obviously isn’t), then Amy Winehouse singing slightly edgier lyrics isn’t metal, either. Sorry.
Rob Hardy (Facebook)
Who’s calling them metal? It’s not our fault they do a better job of being Satanic than half the extreme metal bands waving upside-down crosses about. We love ’em, and by the measure of the people attending their shows, so do a shit-ton of people in the metal scene.
GLOBAL FORCE So great to see bands like The Hu, Wardruna and Heilung getting the credit they deserve. Not only does it break up the endless run of boring American metal bands taking up space, but it shows just how diverse the metal world can be if you give it a chance. More of this, please, Hammer!
Jose H. Mendez (Facebook)
We couldn’t agree more. Metal isn’t just about riffs; it’s about a vibe, an ethos, a way of life – you only need see our feature on metal in Latin America last month for evidence of that. Plus, all those bands you mentioned look cool as fuck.
GHOSTEBUSTER
The elitism around acts like Ghostemane is what’s killing the metal scene. If it’s not four hairy dudes in leather jackets playing recycled shit from the 80s, Facebook has a meltdown. Metal fans need to start being open-minded because I’m sorry, but your mate’s band playing the pub down the road is not going to keep this scene relevant.
Lee Fisher (Facebook)
We agree that elitism in the scene has been boring for decades now, and Ghostemane is at least something a little different. For what it’s worth, though, we like your mate’s band playing the pub, too. It’s all welcome here, and it’s all helping to keep the scene moving!
STRICTLY NOT INTERESTED Is anyone else a bit embarrassed by how much people lose their shit because Bill Bailey decided to dance to a (not even that good) metal song on some BBC show? Is this what we’ve become? I couldn’t care less what we have to do with the mainstream.
Toby Frostick (Facebook)
Ah come on lad, let people have some fun. Have you seen how shit the world is at the moment? Bill Bailey tangoed to Metallica on the BBC! If that sentence can’t crack a smile then maybe you’re just dead inside (which, to be fair, is metal as fuck).
SOUNDING OFF
It tears me up to see all the controversy around Soundgarden and any potential future release
of material involving Chris. I don’t think he’d like to see everyone arguing and I wish we could just all be united and celebrate an amazing talent that we lost way too soon.
Jon Deen (Facebook)
It’s never nice to see a great band’s legacy reduced to legalities, but we’ll just have to wait and see if we ever get to hear Chris’s voice on some ‘new’ songs again. Personally, we’d be all for it.
SHUGGAH SHUGGAH
(DO DO DO DO, DO DO)
Surely this is the year that Meshuggah have to get a Metal Hammer cover? The most important metal band of the 21st century bar none, and they’re even going to be playing the Royal Albert Hall at the end of this next album run. It doesn’t get any more iconic than that! Or are we doomed to more Babymetal covers instead…
Craig Rose (email)
Well, it’s not like we have to pick between the two. Anyway, leave Babymetal alone, you meanie. We can’t promise covers for any band – we know you lot will remember if something changes – but you can bet we’ll be going big on that next Meshuggah album alright. Bring it on.
TRIV TO WIN
Trivium have basically become a national treasure of metal. The amount they do for the community – all of Matt’s streams, the cool bands they always give props to and give space on tours to… is it too late to vote for Matthew K. Heafy as President?
Kelly Harris (Facebook)
It’s both too late and totally ridiculous, but we’d back it. Trivium aren’t only a brilliant asset to the metal scene – they’re back on the form of their lives again.
GALE FORCE
I’m still absolutely gutted about Riley Gale passing away, but one small silver lining is seeing just how much he meant to everyone. I’m saying this now because I only just read Ice-t’s tribute to Riley in your issue (we get them a little later in the States). I just wish Riley was here to see it all.
Dwayne Williams (email)
We love Riley and miss him dearly. As good a guy as ever walked into heavy metal right there, and you can bet his legacy will outlive all of us.