Metal Evolution

[Pelata]

He's only got 45 minutes (edited) to cram so much into every episode. Hopefully when/if this comes out on DVD there'll be bonus footage.

 

[J. Golden]

haha I know you don't like it but that's a pretty far leap to call it the "most bland uninspired sub-genres in metal" even with its track record in recent years.
.

I like the genre quite fine. Matter of fact I own quite a few albums of the genre. But saying what I said did not say I did not like power metal.

 

[J. Golden]

Right but you have to understand that this isn't 'metal for people who spend all day on the internet talking about metal and running labels and booking shows and downloading/buying too many albums', it's 'metal for VH1 viewers'. Quite a difference and worlds ahead of Eddie Trunk. People should know about the roots before you get TOO deep into a genre and this is a tv show with limited time. An introduction to nu-metal is going to be just that -- an introduction. I don't even know who the fuck Mordred is and I grew up listening to nu-metal (well until I turned 13 or so).

Who are Mordrid.
Yes I realize who this show is targeting, I know all to well.

 

[OrbWeaver]

Btw, I tried to contact Sam via his website back when his first film hit. I had hoped to bring him to the festival as my guest (yes, expenses paid). I never heard back. Guess we aren't big enough to get his attention.

He's made no secret of his love for the more extreme metal subgenres. My guess is that he doesn't much care for prog and power metal.

It'll be interesting to see how he covers power and prog metal in the series. I've been enjoying the whole thing so far.

 

[Diabolik]

it seems on his wall of bands it looks like it might be Helloween / Nightwish / Hammerfall / Sonata / Iced Earth / Blind Guardian. I am sure he will waste 25% of the episode talking about something else other than the topic at hand and then talk about how power metal is the opposite of extreme metal and he will show 15% of the show with clips of those bands. It seems to be the theme.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

it seems on his wall of bands it looks like it might be Helloween / Nightwish / Hammerfall / Sonata / Iced Earth / Blind Guardian. I am sure he will waste 25% of the episode talking about something else other than the topic at hand and then talk about how power metal is the opposite of extreme metal and he will show 15% of the show with clips of those bands. It seems to be the theme.

Wow. I'll be watching. Holy crap.

 

[General Zod]

I think Sam Dunn is brilliant. I think he is about as close to being "one of us" as we will see in the media. Eddie Trunk can lick his balls.

Anyhow, just a few thoughts/critiques on a few of the episodes:

Pre-Metal: Honestly, I just didn't find myself caring that much.

Early Metal Part 1- US Division: I had no idea how insane MC5 were as a live band. Those few minutes made me search out other clips and I'm in awe of what they were doing way back then.

Early Metal Part 2- UK Division: He could have stuck this one with the Pre-Metal episode and I would have been fine with it.

NWoBHM- He stuck to the mainstream biggies for the majority. It would have been nice to see a bit more on the tons of others that were great. I mean there is only so much Diamonhead I want to hear about.

Agree with every word above. Well said.

Glam- The main vibe given off from all the bands was "It was a hell of a time and I'm glad we were a part of it." There was no real bitterness over the way it crashed and my respect increased for several of those interviewed as a result.

I'll never quite understand why GnR is so loved, and Motley Crue so despised (by critics). Especially when GnR was signed, because Geffen wanted their own Motley Crue. They also referred to GnR as "giant killers". I'm not quite sure what giants they killed. The two biggest bands of that era, were probably Crue and Leppard, both of which had their greatest successes at the same time or after GnR.

Still to come: Shock Rock, Power Metal, Progressive Metal.

I'm not sure why Shock Rock needs its own hour.

 

[DuchessOfDork]

I'm not sure why Shock Rock needs its own hour.

I think they could spend an hour on GWAR alone..

 

[Fizrider]

I'll never quite understand why GnR is so loved, and Motley Crue so despised (by critics). Especially when GnR was signed, because Geffen wanted their own Motley Crue.

"Shout at the Devil" was my 1st Crue album - the first music I got into that my mother despised. I also loved "Dr. Feelgood", although by that time all edginess was gone, and Crue had fully embraced the utter silliness of their act, and realized just how big they had become.

"Kickstart my Heart" is still my favorite song to listen to while pushing a lawnmower.

I don't think you could have had a GnR if you hadn't had Crue.

 

[Harvester]

I'm not sure why Shock Rock needs its own hour.

Alice Cooper or Manson have new albums to push?

 

[Mardoch]

I was thinking it was because everyone loves Alice. But I agree with the GWAR statement too. <3 GWAR and their insanity.

 

[General Zod]

Alice Cooper or Manson have new albums to push?

That's probably it. However, I'm surprised that there aren't going to be episodes dedicated to Death Metal and Black Metal, or at least a single episode on "extreme" Metal.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

As for doom, nobody cares.

backed. They should just call it internet metal nerd metal.

 

[Harvester]

That's probably it. However, I'm surprised that there aren't going to be episodes dedicated to Death Metal and Black Metal, or at least a single episode on "extreme" Metal.

Three reasons I would guess:

1. The target audience for this "introductory" series (i.e. old VH1 people) are those that would hate extreme metal the most.
3. The controversial subject matter that would follow most of those bands isn't exactly something suitable for the Bon Jovi fans tuning in or the execs signing the checks.
2. He covered those two topics rather in depth on Headbanger's Journey & Global Metal. There was a 20+ minute Norwegian Black Metal segment alone on the bonus dvd of HJ.

 

[SavaRon]

That's probably it. However, I'm surprised that there aren't going to be episodes dedicated to Death Metal and Black Metal, or at least a single episode on "extreme" Metal.

He wanted to do Death and Black metal, but I heard that VH1 said no. I wouldn't be shocked if he did do them, but they aren't airing it. Maybe they will show up on the DVD release if that happens?

 

[J. Golden]

it seems on his wall of bands it looks like it might be Helloween / Nightwish / Hammerfall / Sonata / Iced Earth / Blind Guardian. I am sure he will waste 25% of the episode talking about something else other than the topic at hand and then talk about how power metal is the opposite of extreme metal and he will show 15% of the show with clips of those bands. It seems to be the theme.

This sounds like no surprise and certainly a band like Metal Church, Lizzy Borden, Armored Saint, Sanctuary, Omen, and god forbid Manilla Road deserve no nods.
I do however think that power metal at least in the U.S. does owe a little probs to Progpower, obviously the fest has made some impact for the appeal of the genre here in the U.S.
Ok Glenn that's all you get, let's going back to arguing now.
But seriously it is not a kissing ass statement I just really believe there is truth to it. So here's toya

 

[J. Golden]

I understand that there is not enough time in the episodes to really go far indepth with these genres, the shick will also scrape the surface at best. Still I would up that a project that was intented to focus on a culture so rich would do a little more to dive into if not then why even bother.
And it would be so cool if a prog metal one was done just based on Wagner's book; but I feel that might disappoint a lot of the prog metal world.
As for death metal I think the interesting thing about death is that it's popularity and "status" has always maintained at the same level. Speaking of black metal well it has been done to death.

 

[Cheiron]

No segment on metalcore? I guess perhaps for the same reasons as the lack of black/death metal. But being that metalcore is the biggest thing in metal today, I'm a little surprised that if you are going to discuss the evolution of metal that you don't include this genre.

 

[dtfanatic]

I've thought for years that Roots was partly responsible for the nu metal sound (especially Korn - awful band), so I'm glad someone else picked up on it. It's where I jumped off the Sepultura ship, especially because Max was gone after it. And it comes as no surprise that Jonathan Davis and David Silveira (from Korn) are on the album, not to mention DJ Lethal. Didn't like the album or any nu metal band that followed, not to mention Soulfly themselves, who I saw at Ozzfest one year (not knowing Max had a new band), and thinking damn this sounds like Sepultura only to find out it was indeed Max. And who else was on that bill? The absolute horrible Limp Bizkit.

 

[5150]

I suspect that this will be released on DVD and that many of the more obscure bands will be there (longer running time compare to the TV edition, bonus scenes, etc...)

Correct. Everyone of his movies has extensive extras. I know Dave Meniketti of Y&T did some interviews which have not shown up. So there is probably plenty of extra material. Of course, some musicians and bands have decided not to participate in the mini-series. And that too has lead to some gaps in coverage.

So far, I have enjoyed the series. At times it seems rushed and not as informative as I'd like, but it's still the best program on TV today about metal. I plan on buying or renting the series on DVD.