Herewulf wrote:

wealth. Of course, I'm aware that some bands use that as a gimmick since it seems folk metal bands are popping up all over the place these days just like new thrash metal bands are. Musicians also want to get caught up in an idea that seems to have garnered a lot of fan support. But like I said, I guess I'm a sucker for bands with lyrics about mythology, battle etc. We all have our weaknesses, heh. Though I don't write off all such bands to be simply cashing in on a trend. I think we forget sometimes that music is a form of oral culture/tradition that can pass on worthwhile values and perhaps provide insight or peek one's curiosity and cause one to reflect on the world around us, history, and the bigger picture, so to speak. I think that folk metal's increased popularity could possibly say something about people's interest in such things, though on the other hand it really does just seem like entertainment to most. All glorification without understanding context.

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Herewulf wrote:

Indeed, money is a hazard, as you say. Art hasn't always been an industry and a mere source of income, but in the past has had a lot more meaning than much of it does today. Of course, I understand that it will pretty much be meaningless to the majority of the population, but I think a lot of that is because people have lost any kind of understanding of anything that goes beyond material wealth. In many ways modern life is kind of surreal. I think I would argue that most of the commercial bands out there aren't even trying to get a message out. In the case of Metallica, I think perhaps at one point that was the case, but now it doesn't seem their music has much meaning left, in my opinion. Many bands just get consumed by the temptation of money. I think that may be part of what attracts me to folk/viking metal (and early black metal, though I guess that's a given) and folk music in general. I guess I'm a sucker for music that implies standing for something other than just material

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Clairvoyant__ wrote:

Hey, another Pearl Jam fan! Greets! :)

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Herewulf wrote:

the lyrics and image promote. Many people say that they can listen to a band even if they don't agree with them as long as they enjoy the music. You mentioned Metallica so I'll use them to form my question, though I realise with many people the issue with that band is complicated. You talked about people who don't look up a band history, who just listen to them because it's the new thing. Do you think Metallica brings those kinds of "fans" on themselves through the musical direction they chose to take, to excessively promoting the band (shitloads of merchandise etc.), and trying to appeal to a greater audience? I do think that some bands do attract that kind of fanbase, and I think that is even perhaps their goal. I think that takes the message out of the music and turns the music into a cash cow rather than a form of expression. I suppose it depends on the band, whether or not the message is truly affected.

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Herewulf wrote:

Indeed, well I think there's quite a difference between simply casual music listeners and music enthusiasts. I think in a way the same could be said about others forms of "media". There are people who can sit there and tell you every single movie a particular actor has played a role in, and then there are those of us who only watch them on occasion. I suppose it really comes down to a person's disposition. I think if a band is writing lyrics that have a counterculture theme to them, are openly writing on social issues, in opposition to many of contemporary society's values, and present themselves as on the periphery then it says something about their priorities and honesty if they turn around and try to use the same methods as their declared "opponents" in order to gain popularity within the body of people they appear to be criticizing. Same goes for the fans, at least in my opinion. As an extreme example: even if I liked Britney Spears' music I would not listen to it because of what

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Herewulf wrote:

eh well, bit a weird mood this morning so probably came off a little strong. I didn't particularly mean that a band has to understand you as a person, but mostly that people don't take music seriously anymore. Its just a form of entertainment for a lot of people. Thinking of an experience I had yesterday, actually. Now it just seems so popular to be into metal these days, and many people just listen to it because its the flavour of the month. When a band writes lyrics, they could be well written or not. I mean, many metal lyrics some may view as "crude" but there is an entire social history and background behind them, and I feel that the 90s were largely trying to mimic that. The 90s in the US and Canada changed things a lot economically, I think through the 80s and 90s there was a lot more commodification and commercialization. The generations lost any reason to fight for much here. Things became too comfortable on all social scales. I think that was reflected in a lot of the music

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Herewulf wrote:

I have a bit of a negative view of the 90s, at least music-wise. Grunge was something I have always been against, really. Back then everyone was listening to it and even at that young age I could never bring myself to. Same with the music associated with the emo subculture today. Same pretty much goes with most 90s rock. I was brought up mostly on classic rock, but it seemed the 80s and before music meant something, the subject matter discussed in music meant something. 80s and after it slowly kept losing its meaning, right up to today. Now metal is gaining popularity again, and many of those getting into it now don't understand. They'll listen to it a few years then "grow out of it" as they grow out of all flavours of the month. I'm one of those very disillusioned and disgusted with younger generations.

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dark_marta wrote:

A mí m gusta el nuevo disco, pero m gustaba más el anterior obviamente ^^

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