Metal for the Parents

[Zephyrus]

We had a debrief on AIM yesterday and I explained that vocal proficiency was secondary to the music itself. In fact he said he prefers "the madmen screaming in hell" to the vocals of any rock music past the 1960's.

Anyways, this was all a relief to me. My goal was for my parents to appreciate the fact that the music I like isn't garbage. Given this assessment, I can declare the effort a success.

[The Ozzman]

I also think that the reason your Dad went to such lengths (other than the fact that he's obviously a fan of good music) is because most parents (I hope) want to know their children as well as possible. This is just another way of doing that.

[Never78]

In any case, for someone of his background it would take more than a few listens. In virtue of his writing, I feel that he would come to a different realization about some of his negative comments would he have the opportunity to immerse himself in the soundscapes repeatedly and more intimately.

[Dodens Grav]

I agree about the extended listens being necessary to appreciate the music (obviously), but I honestly don't think it would be worth Mr. Swist's while. This brand of music will never mesh with his current inclinations. He may grow to appreciate it more and have a bit more respect for the craft, but it would really just be a waste of his time. Sure, he's still enmeshed in a bog of misconceptions, but he's already far ahead of most parents I'm sure, and that's all he needs.

I almost want to do something like this for my parents, but 1) they wouldn't give a crap, 2) they don't care about what I listen to because they know that I'm a normal human being, and 3) they honestly have no time whatsoever for shit like this...and 4) they would never in 1,000 years ever be able to understand the aesthetics of Black Metal.

[FenriR]

Originally Posted by ShredHeadJHJ

You could make similar comments about ANYTHING in life dude.

Yes. I could.

[vihris-gari]

Originally Posted by Necuratul

Did you try at all explaining to him that technical proficiency is essentially antithetical to most forms of Metal and that the amateurish performance tends to be half of the charm of the music in its efforts to thwart the traditionally held notions of what is acceptable music? That's the only way that I can possibly see him finding any appreciation whatsoever with 'traditional' singing in Metal. By the way, his response reads a lot like I would expect a response from my philosophy professor, whose expertise is in aesthetics, primarily the study of the aesthetics of classical music. You know, except without the slight dogmatic undertones. I didn't mean to come off as a bit obtuse before regarding his response, and if I did I'm sorry for that. I think it's really cool that he would actually put any marginal amount of effort into attempting to understand this music, regardless of how short I feel he's fallen from 'getting it'.

Yeah, Zeph's dad sounds like he would be a cool person to talk to about music in general. He put quite a bit of thought into his opinions.

And you're definitely right about the role of amateurish performance in metal. Highly-trained musicians have a tendency to make their music overly meticulous and 'artsy', which is alienating to a lot of listeners.

I'm not sure if there's any kind of musical analogue for Zeph's dad's generation - I guess blues might be the oldest form of popular music that emphasises performance over technicality. If his dad's a fan of it, it might allow him to see metal in a 'better light'.

[vihris-gari]

Originally Posted by Jim Swist

2) Merciful Fate. More like standard rock. 1983 tells all (a bad decade for rock). We might be getting tired of the guttural vocals in this one.

Why do people always give the '80s so much shit? It's not like the '90s and '00s were any better.

You should show him some Iron Maiden, Metallica, Bathory, Europe, and Yngwie Malmsteen, and then ask him if he still thinks the '80s were horrible. It was a huge decade for the growth of heavy metal.

[CAIRATH]

Originally Posted by vihris-gari

+1000

Black metal really does take minimalism to a level of absurdity.

not rly

[Zephyrus]

Originally Posted by vihris-gari

I'm not sure if there's any kind of musical analogue for Zeph's dad's generation - I guess blues might be the oldest form of popular music that emphasises performance over technicality. If his dad's a fan of it, it might allow him to see metal in a 'better light'.

My father liked most 60's rock, especially the Beatles in the latter half of the decade, but starting in the 70's he stopped caring and gave his full focus on classical. I think he liked some blues in his youth, but he wouldn't actively listen it now.

[Alteredmindeath]

@Zephyrus...thats cool that your dad is open minded and honest about the music, seems he actually liked a little bit of it. I turned my dad into a thrasher a few years back, so I think some parents find this music interesting just like we did when we first discovered it. Unfortunately some parents get scared about this music, most people are very close minded and automaticaly stereotype us "DevilWorshippers". Ive always say fuck them though and blast the music loud in the car to piss these people off as much I can.