Basically Title.
Been to Wacken recently and a friend and I were discussing what could be seen as the biggest name in metal currently.
Since we’re “old”, we could only come up with yesteryears titans.
Are there any more recent names that currently dominate the industry? Get played on day to day radio like our childhood bands did?
In terms of bands that people outside of the community might also know - Slipknot, Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, maybe Judas Priest are the only names I can think of that have entered mainstream consciousness. By which I mean that people know the names and that they’re metal bands even if they’ve never listened to metal/rock in their lives.
I think everyone else is only ‘big’ internally to the community. So we know that (for example) Amon Amarth are a big name that could headline a festival but anyone who’s not into metal wouldn’t have a scooby who they even were.
Fair point.
In that sense, what would be the biggest current headliner you can think of? Something every festival goer would lose their mind over on the line up.
I think what im also looking for/wondering about is what the younger generations are getting into the genre over. Like for me that was the numetal wave with SOAD, Linkin Park… Still huge names and shaped a generation imo.
All those names I mentioned can still draw a massive crowd. Trouble is, they know it and set ticket prices accordingly. I also personally am not a fan of seeing bands in stadium sized arenas. If a venue is so big they need to erect huge TV screens you’ve kind of missed the point of seeing a live act IMO.
A lot of younger people (younger than me anyway, which is most people these days) seem to be getting into metal via deathcore. I know deathcore is not popular amongst metalheads but I don’t really mind it. Its not exactly my thing but its OK. I see younger people going to see bands like Lorna Shore, Spiritbox, Slaughter to Prevail etc. There also seems to be a lot of post-black bands getting bigger here in the UK - Hundred Year Old Man, Ba’al, Hidden Mothers are all on the verge of something.
I’m with you on the stadium thing. Maybe we’re just old now :D
Although at the festival i meant to see Accept close up but my (same age) friend who “had a plan” parked us in like row 2 of the neighbouring stage so he’d be ready for… Scorpions… Staring at Accept on the screen while getting completely shrecked by the speaker wall.
Also, i somehow clocked LS as metalcore but im terrible with genres… I only recently dipped into the heavier stuff via some smaller death core artists, then death metal and black metal. Not sure why anything-core isn’t catching “us” as much as the younguns.
I think (and this is just my personal opinion) - the 'core stuff sounds too overproduced if that makes sense? I like to hear a bit of feedback or fingers on the fretboard or just some example that shows me its being played by humans lol.
Its not terrible music by any means, despite what some of the more gatekeepy tyes say, and Will Ramos of Lorna Shore has a truly awesome vocal talent but it just all feels a bit…I dunno…lifeless and flat. I do like Worm Shepherd though of that subgenre, they’re not afraid to slow it down a bit and put equal emphasis on the guitars as the drums and vocals.
Did you not get to see Accept then? Shame, they’re awesome live.
I can kinda see that! I do enjoy when things feel handmade still. In the same vein, I was listening to Unhallowed Deliverance recently and while their stuff is absolutely down my alley, on several songs the bass sounds straight up MIDI. Cant explain it any other way but now I cant unhear it.
Lorna Shore were fantastic live btw, saw them in a medium / smallish venue and that was so much more visceral than on the records.
Btw ended up listening to Accept from further back but as with the stadium shows, it was too far away to “feel live” if that makes sense. From a certain distance people also dont cheer or clap and vibe anymore so im just standing in this slient crowd away from a great party
Oh I’m sure the 'core bands are much better live than recorded - I haven’t had chance to see LS yet but I will if they head over here.
Yeah, your comment about standing in a silent crowd watching a great party from a distance is exactly how I feel about stadium shows.