metalcracker.com

I’ve been away from the better part of the blogosphere for some time.Reason:I flew from Colombo to Minnesota and it took a decent amount of time preparing to leave,leaving (meaning flying)and some more time to getting settled.So anyways,I am back and I am ready to blog.

Most of the time-here on metal cracker-I write stuff that is very opinion oriented,but now I’ve decided that it’s more important to write content that is unique and more “discussion oriented”.So here goes and feel free comment and swear as much as you want below in the comments section.

This is a never ending debate though,and that is why I’ve said “Why I don’t hate….” instead of “Why I like….”I’ve often had the “Is punk a real deal?” discussion with a lot of my friends,and it has never really proven anything about the topic but only keeping going on and on and on.And trust me they are as metal as your wieght in metal.

Before going to details I have to point out that,I am not a huge fan of metalcore.I don’t see it in metalcore what I see in Lamb of God or some of the tight modern outfits today or some of the old-school timeless music people like Chuck Schuldiner has given birth to.But still like I’ve said I don’t hate it either and so here’s why I don’t hate metal core.

#1.Metalcore helps expand metal as a whole.

Metalcore does add a little bit of variety to this amazing genre we love.But my point is not that.Though a lot of metalheads hate metalcore and are reluctant to even admit it is a sub-genre within metal,I personally think metalcore is a genre that can capture hardcore punk and extreme sub genres like thrash and a little bit of death metal with NWOBHM influences.In a away though most metalheads are not at all attracted to it,metalcore attracts other fans into metal by exposing them to a core metal sound but wrapped with mellow punk elements,who would have instead never been able to digest the extreme,raw sounds of Death.

It’s just like Metallica’s St.Anger-we metalheads hated it but it did more justice for all than when Lars Ulrich fucked over his fans.But just to let you know,St.Anger topped  30 International music charts all over the world.Yes!At the same time!Now isn’t that a good thing for metal-an artiste from a genre hated by the mainstream makes it to the top of more than 30 top charts beating some of the worlds most renowned pussy-friendly acts?I mean come on bitch!We all hate St.Anger but it did something fucking N-Sync could’t do?

#2.(Most of) It does require some amount of technical ability and virtuosity.

No matter how some of us may hate to admit it,a lot of kids playing metalcore do know how to strike a chord.I consider metalcore to be a more riff driven form of modern cross over genres that combines certain classic metal elements that Thirty Seconds to Mars honestly aren’t capable of.Now look,I have seen enough technical acts who masturbate on their gear,just as much as you do and I am not trying to compare the technical capabilities differnt sub-genres demand for.It’s just stupid.My point is metalcore does incoporate some classic metal techniques ranging from maiden-esque twin guitar solos to blast beats to double-driven bass etc…

This once again contributes into exposing this genre we love so much to masses by putting in some of its significant musical aspects into something that is musically and culturally much more commercial mainstream.

#3.Metalcore’s musical anatomy still lies in metal,so might as well not hate it.

 The name is metalcore,it’s metal something.Metalcore is a promanteau of heavy metal and hardcore ( punk ).(See wikipedia.)And so even this revolves again in to what I am trying to point out.It is capable of transforming an extreme sound into something that is easily adaoptable to most non-metalheads.

Bottomline.

I am not a metalcore fan!But I am not a metalcore hater either.But there are a few other metalcore related sub-genres like EMO that I really hate,because some of it promotes certain things that are so against the tribal ideologies of heavy metal like selfharm and low-esteem,really shallow  hig school musical-esque romantic lyrical content.

But all in all I generally don’t hate metalcore because-like I’ve repeated-it exposes metal to the masses.I even didn’t mind Kerrang!’s later attempts,because I thought they compiled metal into a very sellable context so the kids could have something that is richer than atleast Vanity Fair…..That is until they started featuring 30 Seconds to Mars.

So the idea here is,simply put; if a  young kid in his early teens listening to a metalcore band is encouraged to go and buy classic metal albums,that is good thing.Because it is good for metal as a genre but also as a serious form of art.Because evolution is inevitable,like it or not it will happen.The way I see it metalcore is an evolved form of metal music that does a decent amount of good than what meets the eye.

p.s-Underground? Anybody?