Metalheads! Confess & Brag

[Kurashu]

I can't say I really agree with you with the statement, "it's just another adjective to add to a genre." Generally, bands are specifically seeking to add a symphonic feel to their music - bands that get really technical in their music get labelled as tech, or who verge on black metal can get labelled as a "blackened X metal" band - but if you're adding stuff like synths and keyboards, then you're definitely going out of your way to create that atmosphere.

Ok, my phrasing was poor. I meant it wasn't a genre in and of itself, symphonic that is, and that it was a term used to describe a certain feel for an established genre of music. Like a subset, as you put it. Arcturus is black metal. But they also fit into the symphonic subset as well. Demilich is death metal. But they also fit into the techincal subset. However, I will offset this by saying that Tech/Math metal is a legit genre: Psyopus, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number 12 Looks Like You, Meshuggah, and Ion Dissonance to name a few.

BTW, I ris to your challenged of finding a good "symphonic blackened tech death metal" band with the following: Winds of Plague. Their Encyclopedia Mettalum page lists them as a "Symphonic Deathcore/Blackened Death Metal" band, but I have to say this: they actually sound *really* good. It's about as close to SBTDM as I can get, sorry

And just when you thought everything was done, eh?

cheers,
--N

Awesome band. Good find.

 

[Ferret]

Tech/math metal? I've heard mesuggah before and I didn't like it...but its math metal now?

 

[Kurashu]

It's been called math metal for a while. Kind of like how's there's math rock. More often than not it's called Mathcore. Happens.

But you know what, regardless of what it's called, it makes for a great Pre-Calc Presentation.

Edit:
Also, Meshuggah is a lot different from the other bands I listed there. They have some things in common, but they sound entirely different.

 

[Ferret]

Oh I've heard of Math Rock, I was just wondering what about the sound makes it Math Metal. I don't think I meant to put no on there. I've read about MathX bands(Math Mock or Math Metal etc) but I couldn't link the bands I heard.....

But looking at the list on Wiki I saw SikTh, which I really like!

Oh, I've also started listening to Mudvayne and Soilwork!

 

[Nyaricus]

The problem arises when I tell you that I don't know what what Thrash or melodic actually are. I have a vague idea, but not really enough to imagin what the two sound like.

My best advice: just listen to a bunch of both. The site www.metal-archives.com can help you in that direction. Click on "Bands by Genre", and look under the different genre headings - many bands now have MySpace pages which you can listen to their music for free - and the Metal Archive site listed above will likely have any of the abdns MySpace pages linked on thier info page. Just listen and listen and listen and listen and find stuff you like from it.

Hmmm, I'm liking the 'cleanness' part of it. I'll need to investigate this. Also the power metal overlap would suit me fine . Not so sure about the orchestral bit, as in how its fits in with the overal sound.

The thing about most symphonic metal is that it is easily mixed with other genres - as Kurashu says below, there are bands which mix black metal (which you likely wouldn't like based on what you do) and other disparate genres.

Hint: Seach under "power/thrash" in the genres on that metal archive site, and then hit ctrl+f on your keyboard. This will open the "Find" window in your brower. Type in "symphonic" and hit next, checking out each new band it highlights along the way. Firefox (and, I suppose, the new version of IE) is brilliant with it's tabbed browsing - just click on the bands, save them all in a folder labeled "Power/Symphonic Metal" and check it as as you wish. The Metal Archives has thousands of bands to check out, so you have plenty of selection.

I'll be looking at all of those names...atm I've only heard one song properly, and that's 'Shut me up by Mindless Self Indulgence. Tell a lie, the same person who sent me that track sent me a Velvet Acid Christ track...I tihnk I liked it, but not as much as that one.

I don't really care for MSI - they are kinda crazy. But *do* check out those bands I've listed. Some great stuff in them.

Ok, my phrasing was poor. I meant it wasn't a genre in and of itself, symphonic that is, and that it was a term used to describe a certain feel for an established genre of music. Like a subset, as you put it. Arcturus is black metal. But they also fit into the symphonic subset as well. Demilich is death metal. But they also fit into the techincal subset. However, I will offset this by saying that Tech/Math metal is a legit genre: Psyopus, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number 12 Looks Like You, Meshuggah, and Ion Dissonance to name a few.

TTTO No hard feelings.

Awesome band. Good find.

I agree! I'm going to be ordering their cd when it comes out!

cheers,
--N

P.S.

Danny,

'Sleeping Giant' reminds me, in a way, of "Global Warming" by Gojira - which is funny because press in Europe has deemed Gojira the "French Mastodon" lol

cheers,
--N

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I can understand the Gojira/Mastodon comparison...though I think they're also a little bit like Godflesh.

So far, I like Gojira just a bit better than Mastodon.

As for Godflesh, I was sorry to see them break up, but I do like Broadrick's new band, Jesu.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I love Helmet, but their last 2 albums have lacked something. Paige's voice seems a bit different from his earlier stuff, and they don't seem quite as...complex...as they used to. Don't know why.

Lacuna Coil- good band- reminds me of Evanescence (for obvious reasons).

 

[Nyaricus]

I can understand the Gojira/Mastodon comparison...though I think they're also a little bit like Godflesh.

So far, I like Gojira just a bit better than Mastodon.

As for Godflesh, I was sorry to see them break up, but I do like Broadrick's new band, Jesu.

Godflesh, eh? Haven't heard of them.... *will look up soon*

And yeah, I'm digging Gojira more then Mastodon myself. Last week I bought 5 CDs, got a late b-day present CD and my buddy bought a CD - and that was just Friday! Among the ones I bought was the Gojira CD 'The Link', which is excellent in my opinion. Mixes up a variety of metal sub-genres but the amazing chugga-chugga-chugga sound is simply drool-inducing

Also bought a Daath CD today. I'm really enjoying it. Mixes industrial metal, death and dare I say a dash of groove into one tasty mix. Vocals reminds me of the guy from Amon Amarth (which is a viking-themed death metal band everyone here should have heard of already, right? Right. ).

cheers,
--N

 

[Nyaricus]

Lacuna Coil- good band- reminds me of Evanescence (for obvious reasons).

Agreed. On all fronts

I have 'Comalies' by Lacuna Coil - is there anything else you (or others) can recommend by them?

cheers,
--N

 

[Kurashu]

On the Lacuna Coil/Evanescence comparison, I'll take Lacuna Coil over Evanescence anyday, despite Evanescence's drummer being from Living Sacrifice.

Also, something interesting, if you look at the label Living Sacrifice was on when they broke up, for a while, every band on there had an ex-member of Living Sacifice in it. However, I think Norma Jean is the only one that has one now (Corey, their singer played guitar I believe). I'm pretty sue Comeback Kid and Figure Four have one as well, but they're both on Victory.