Where are all the metal heads?

Mannoroth · 2011-10-27T11:31:42+00:00

Lately I've been wondering why the local metal scene has become so stale. There really doesn't seem to be much happening. In the Pretoria / Johannesburg area at least, we hardly ever see regular festivals or gigs anymore. Is the love for heavy music dying or already dead in this country? Why is it that metal is so widely accepted and embraced in other countries? Go to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, India, Israel, Belgium and many other countries, and note the myriad of good metal groups being formed. I recently saw a live DVD performance by upcoming French Group “Gojira”, whom I suspect many people have never even heard of. They attract substantial crowds, in excess of 2000 people I would guess.. Guys (and girls) are crowd surfing, stage diving, moshing like never before.. yet, sadly, we never see something like that here. The few gigs that we do see are usually in some desolate dumb in the middle of the freezing winter. I don’t believe that there aren’t any metal heads out there, I do however think that 90% are not going to the gigs and supporting local acts. When the odd festival or gig takes place, bands mostly have to rent their own crowds. Why is this? Some people are of the opinion that local metal bands in general aren’t “tight” enough… (Who saw Ensiferum when they were here few months ago? Mind-blowing performance using same stage and average sound setup as supporting local acts – no disregard or detrimental intent towards any of the supporting acts, I just feel it’s time we need to be open and frank about this, we need to raise the bar). Another popular opinion is that we don’t have many good venues with decent sound and engineers who know what they do. From my experience at least I believe this to be very true. I would like to appeal to the metal community, but don’t quite know how to reach them. They seem to be scattered all over the place and the gigs don’t seem attractive enough for them to attend. How can we as metal heads take action and unite, grow our “industry”, invite awesome bands from other countries, build great venues with great sound? Are local bands perhaps not too “buddy buddy” and too scared to give constructive criticism and input where needed, constantly telling each other how awesome they are? You go to Myspace and read fairy tales about bands and things like how they create “masterful synergy of dark atmosphere, chaos and beauty, combined with technical proficiency and musicianship”… Go to the gig, and often expectations fall flat. Am I the only one who wants to see guys like Behemoth, Immortal, Slayer, Meshuggah, Matodon, Melechesh, Hypocrisy, Dark Tranquillity live in SA? Recent major festivals such as Motherfudd had such poor attendance I doubt whether we will ever see another one. Cool Runnings Fourways have done quite a lot to organise metal gigs in the past, now word is that they want to close the place down. Go to Zeppelins / Rockshack and you’ll find yourself ankle deep in urine, the one in Pta East does not even have a stage anymore! What is the point? We are forced to stay at home, buy our own beers, listen to our own tunes. Metal has always been an acquired taste, and the fact that the genre is so fragmented further divides the following. However, the fact that Rammstein sold over 18 000 tickets in Jo’burg is an indication that there is certainly an appetite for heavy music out there. I feel that we need to appeal to both metal fans and the muso’s alike in order to give metal the kick in the but it needs. On the part of metal heads, to go out and support local acts, to buy their albums and to interact and give inputs. On the part of muso’s to take things more seriously and make it worth peoples' efforts to come to the shows, to master their craft, to become tight, to push the envelope, to compete with international acts… Finally, we need someone to give us decent venues, decent sound, a place to go out and meet other metal heads and musicians, to have a few beers and listen to some good tunes. Sure, we like to get rough and dirty, to consume lots of alcohol. We have long hair and bleached-out iron Maiden shirts, we do piercings and spikes and tattoos and leather and spandex, and are vocal about politics, racism, religion and just about any other controversial topic.. but we love our metal and deserve clean and attractive venues, enthusiastic fans, and great local performances. Any suggestions on how to get started? ?

LooneyAtTheGate

You must realize that its easier for musicians from countries like Norway and Germany to make metal because the government has tremendous support for the arts. Any art - even the most way out experimental noise can get funding (instruments, studio time etc) because its seen as a worthy project.
I'm sure if there was the dole in this country most of us would just be jamming metal all day and chatting on the forum.. ?

But we shouldn't despair in SA, we have a certain third-world angst and mentality that these 'nanny state' bands will always be jealous of, and never be able to fake.

Jack Flash Jr wrote Maybe metal has gone underground in SA again... don't worry, it'll never die. There are some tight metal bands whose guitarists frequent this very forum... caught Julian Looney At The Gates and Skywalker the other night. Small venue in CT but great playing, great crowd, great vibe.

'Those who expect nothing will never be disappointed' so I was pleasantly surprised. We advertised this gig mainly through Facebook by creating a certain hype around it, and it seemed to have worked! Post on the walls of pages that advertise gigs. To see people I respect on Guitarforum (and other legends of the SA metal scene) in my audience is just amazing! ? (So bummed i missed Jack Flash Jr's Hellfire Blues Club, had to work ☹ )

Averatu

Saw a Danish film called 'In China they eat dogs'. One scene is a death metal band arguing with the bank manager about a loan for the band. I fix and weld and build stuff to pay the bills. I found an interview with Amon Amarth, only after their 5th album could they quit their day jobs. Probably holds tru in other genres as well.

doc-phil

Averatu wrote Saw a Danish film called 'In China they eat dogs'. One scene is a death metal band arguing with the bank manager about a loan for the band. I fix and weld and build stuff to pay the bills. I found an interview with Amon Amarth, only after their 5th album could they quit their day jobs. Probably holds tru in other genres as well.

Same as Opeth. Mikael Akerfeldt worked in a music shop until after the release of Blackwater Park I think.

bENDER

Where have all the militia gone!? ???

I agree with what all have said. I only really know the Durban metal scene. I grew up in Vryheid, metal gig's were non-existent there. Whahahahaha... ☹

Going to some gig's the past 3 weeks, I found that the main issues are:

1. No advertising...frikin SWAK. You can't even find a gig with google...
2. Sound guys just crank the volume, the tops made my ears bleed!!!
3. Most of the people there were in bands...so only the band people know about the gigs + their friends...
4. The venues, I really can't understand why the people are so cheap with everything [and something cool does not always cost thousands]. Maybe if they were more creative and made a bit more effort, more people would be attracted to the venues.

We'll hopefully start playing in the new year...

Averatu

bENDER wrote Where have all the militia gone!? ???

I agree with what all have said. I only really know the Durban metal scene. I grew up in Vryheid, metal gig's were non-existent there. Whahahahaha... ☹

Going to some gig's the past 3 weeks, I found that the main issues are:

1. No advertising...frikin SWAK. You can't even find a gig with google...
2. Sound guys just crank the volume, the tops made my ears bleed!!!
3. Most of the people there were in bands...so only the band people know about the gigs + their friends...
4. The venues, I really can't understand why the people are so cheap with everything [and something cool does not always cost thousands]. Maybe if they were more creative and made a bit more effort, more people would be attracted to the venues.

We'll hopefully start playing in the new year...

Our bassist comes from Vryheid.

Averatu

bENDER wrote Where have all the militia gone!? ???

I agree with what all have said. I only really know the Durban metal scene. I grew up in Vryheid, metal gig's were non-existent there. Whahahahaha... ☹

Going to some gig's the past 3 weeks, I found that the main issues are:

1. No advertising...frikin SWAK. You can't even find a gig with google...
2. Sound guys just crank the volume, the tops made my ears bleed!!!
3. Most of the people there were in bands...so only the band people know about the gigs + their friends...
4. The venues, I really can't understand why the people are so cheap with everything [and something cool does not always cost thousands]. Maybe if they were more creative and made a bit more effort, more people would be attracted to the venues.

We'll hopefully start playing in the new year...

guidothepimmp

Yeh there are a few things really.. Venues these days are shart with no proper stages or no proper sound.. More than likely both.. Metal bands these days are also not that great.. Sa bands I mean..

Then because of the lack of support, the goods bands eventually fizzle out.. Example.. My band often played with a metal outfit called he sha burn, AWESOME metal band, tight, aggressive, everything.. Haven't seen them for about 3 years now.

Also, some of the metal bands are real douches, we were a hard rock outfit and often played with some metal bands and more than once, they ridiculed us because we were not HEAVY enough.. Result, we didn't play shows where they were and vice versa and eventually we all fizzled out.

In the past the doors and alcatraz were the goto metal venues, saw bands like metalmorphosis, deitys muse, groinchurn, deviate etc etc, these days particularly in pta there are some awesome bands, but.. No where to play, and of course the poor advertising doesn't help..

Jack-Flash-Jr

Saw Napalm Death at Doors in Marshall St.

?

Hammeron

Jack Flash Jr wrote Saw Napalm Death at Doors in Marshall St.

?

Yea! My Dad saw Soulfly at VodaWorld and Sepultura at Megamusic warehouse. He tells me Entombed used to come out every now and then to.
Best sound we had was at Seasons Wither. Why the hell is it SO difficult to get the metal bands to sound good?

guidothepimmp

Yup I was at both those shows. Still have the t shirts I bought at those shows. Mega music whouse in newtown was an insane show. Too bad there was no max. But saw him at the soulfly show

Seventhson

Hard times are coming. I reckon metal will come around again. People are going to be angry bec of the way things are going.

Bob-Dubery

Daniel "Seventhson" Stuart wrote Hard times are coming. I reckon metal will come around again. People are going to be angry bec of the way things are going.

In terms of expressing anger at topical events the angriest music the last 20 years or so has been folk, west African music (think Fela Kuti) and especially rap/hip hop. If Metal has anger it certainly doesn't have a moratorium on it - you can get plenty angry without resorting to metal.

Does "folk" cover the likes of Ry Cooder? Hmmmm.... he's certainly informed by folk traditions. I've been listening to his latest album and it seethes with righteous anger.

Seventhson

No I agree. I suppose it was very silly of me?

I do keep on forgetting that metal is not the only angry music. ?

Hammeron

X-rated Bob wrote
Daniel "Seventhson" Stuart wrote Hard times are coming. I reckon metal will come around again. People are going to be angry bec of the way things are going.
In terms of expressing anger at topical events the angriest music the last 20 years or so has been folk, west African music (think Fela Kuti) and especially rap/hip hop. If Metal has anger it certainly doesn't have a moratorium on it - you can get plenty angry without resorting to metal.

Does "folk" cover the likes of Ry Cooder? Hmmmm.... he's certainly informed by folk traditions. I've been listening to his latest album and it seethes with righteous anger.

Very interesting Bob. I don't listen to much of that so I couldn't comment. But I did read an interview with Cooder recently {I have never heard his music tho} and he seemed pretty pissed off. If art reflects the times so be it, bring it on.
I mean, even Marley expressed anger in his music even tho he tried to be polite about it.

Bob-Dubery

Daniel "Seventhson" Stuart wrote No I agree. I suppose it was very silly of me?

I do keep on forgetting that metal is not the only angry music. ?

I went to a whole show of it in London last year. It was titled "An Evening of Political Song". The MC was Harry Shearer (bass player in Spinal Tap) and he defined a "political" song as a song conceived in anger.

Amazingly there was not one Dylan song, nothing by Phil Ochs and only one song (the last encore) by Ewan MacColl. Mostly folky stuff, but an astonishing piece of hip-hop (performed by a 60-something year old gay white man, and with a clarinet solo ?), a song that Jacques Brel wrote about the near press-ganging of young German men to bolster the Third Reich's growing army and, just to prove that angry song isn't that new a thing, a song by Robbie Burns.

Bob-Dubery

Tamla Kahn 'Hammeron' McMahon wrote Very interesting Bob. I don't listen to much of that so I couldn't comment. But I did read an interview with Cooder recently {I have never heard his music tho} and he seemed pretty pissed off. If art reflects the times so be it, bring it on.
I mean, even Marley expressed anger in his music even tho he tried to be polite about it.

I think the thing is to be focussed. To take aim at a target and hit it. Marley was pretty focussed. Sheer raging doesn't get that far. You can be polite AND angry.

I don't think art that makes a topical comment HAS to be angry. There's room too, at least in my book, for sadder, more personal work, even humour. Loudon Wainwright put out a whole album aimed at the economic downturn, but he never got as direct nor as overtly angry as Cooder does.

IceCreamMan

X-rated Bob wrote
Daniel "Seventhson" Stuart wrote Hard times are coming. I reckon metal will come around again. People are going to be angry bec of the way things are going.
In terms of expressing anger at topical events the angriest music the last 20 years or so has been folk, west African music (think Fela Kuti) and especially rap/hip hop. If Metal has anger it certainly doesn't have a moratorium on it - you can get plenty angry without resorting to metal.

Not sure i understand your meaning here?

Bob-Dubery

IceCreamMan wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
Daniel "Seventhson" Stuart wrote Hard times are coming. I reckon metal will come around again. People are going to be angry bec of the way things are going.
In terms of expressing anger at topical events the angriest music the last 20 years or so has been folk, west African music (think Fela Kuti) and especially rap/hip hop. If Metal has anger it certainly doesn't have a moratorium on it - you can get plenty angry without resorting to metal.

Not sure i understand your meaning here?

Quite right too. I used the wrong word. "Monopoly" would have been a better choice of word.

Averatu

Jack Flash Jr wrote Saw Napalm Death at Doors in Marshall St.

?

Was that not the Thunder Dome?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Averatu wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote Saw Napalm Death at Doors in Marshall St.

?
Was that not the Thunder Dome?

=

I think you're right but my memory says Doors?! Maybe they played both?
Did I see someone else at Doors as well?
The mists of time...

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