Fork In The Road -Anna Kaiye

What can be said other than that the expectations and quality of metal are substantially low as of late? It seems to me that no extra effort is being put in on what have been the lackluster releases of recent years. There is nothing setting the bar for the years to come. 

It seems we are still waiting for the miracle that will make metal as outstanding as it has been in previous decades. From the earliest stages there has been an image behind the music. Today, the majority of bands consist of everyday normal looking dudes. There is nothing that differentiates them as a band or even a sub-genre. The image just isn't there, the sound isn't quite what it could be and there is no legacy to speak of for the majority of metal bands being signed. 

There was a time when you looked at a band and knew who they were, who was who. Today, there seems to be a lot of Jims and Robs that you just can't tell the difference between. Of course, many people will tell you it’s not about how you look, it’s about your skill and personality. That, I believe, is bullshit. The minute we all see a band, our first thoughts are "these guys look fucking stupid, what the hell is this?" or "these guys look pretty cool, let’s see if they sound as good as they look." 

There is a certain attitude behind the image that soaks into the music you are playing. Not many people can tell you that today, but ask anyone that was doing this 20 years ago. Times are different. Flip through some 80s and 90s records and it becomes pretty obvious that this generation is considerably different. It feels like everything has already been done, so there is no forward movement - just a focus on what they want – the fans are left behind.

On The Demon Mania Of Metal

Kris Morrison's thoughts on the partnership of metal and horror:

A thought struck me as I was watching a rerun of one of my hands-down favourite shows: Supernatural.  I think anyone who would read a blog on a metal site would appreciate a show about two brothers who go around kicking the shit out of demons, werewolves, ghosts and all other form of nasty by way of shotguns, machetes and homemade explosives.  In a wonderful bonus, the soundtrack features the likes of Metallica, Eagles of Death Metal, Ozzy, Ratt and Blue Oyster Cult.  What a combo!  AC/DC’s Highway to Hell playing while vampires get beheaded and demons face exorcism rights; it’s enough to make me stiff. 

What really got me thinking was the almost too natural partnership between hard rock/metal and the dark monster-filled underworld.  I have trouble seeing rap or trance matching the battle that occurs between the brothers and War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse.  Why, though, is metal the obvious choice? 

Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath certainly revelled in the frightening and demonic imagery.  Some bands, like Slayer and Iron Maiden, have lyrics which focus on myth and dogma – even if it is in protest of it.  Is this odd considering that the genre originated as more of a protest against a failing real-world system?  It was artists who were working class people living hand to mouth that birthed metal.  They wanted others to know that however depressing life gets, you’re not alone.  And yet, Kevin Smith’s movie Clerks aimed to do the same thing.  I don’t see many Quick Stop or Mooby Burger shirts at a Children of Bodom concert or in a Hellraiser movie.

Of course, not all artists take to the dark side.  The glam rockers of the Sunset Strip were about partying and fighting social convention.  Most thrash metal is about fighting personal demons (the figurative kind of course – Linda Blair was on her own with that one).  So why do even we as metal heads seem to associate the genre with darkness?  Perhaps we find comfort in horror.  It’s an excellent way to view a real crisis in an easier-to-deal-with fictional form.  Death, suicide, abuse, and the incomprehensible evil of others is not a simple thing to handle.  Thinking too much about it would make you crazy. 

The reason people turn to any art is because it speaks to them.  Metal speaks to those who need some kind of relief from the world around them.  We need to escape to Blind Guardian’s version of Middle Earth.  We need to know that Megadeth feels the same way about the outrageous hypocrisies in our governments.  Metal might use metaphor from time to time, but it’s still in your face with it's point.  It screams loud enough that everyone has to hear it.  It doesn’t matter who is creating the wars - Satan or the wealthy elite who never have to actually go and fight - the wars happen anyway.  Metal wants us to know that horror is universal; we all face it together, even when we’re apart.  

Metal For The Senses: My Time at Heavy T.O.

 It’s over folks. It came, it went, it left a mark. I’m talking of course about Heavy T.O., the first of its kind to grace our city. Despite its incredible lineup of bands, what sticks in my memory the most is the interactions I had with my fellow metal heads. I got to attend the festival with some friends and co-workers, and that indescribable camaraderie and fellowship that you only get at metal shows was incredibly powerful those 2 days.

Was it the dislike for Billy Talent (who played a set between Slayer and Rob Zombie)? Was it the fucking heat? The overpriced water? Who knows! What’s important is that I felt it, and it’s been a while since I have. I’ve got to admit, there are some things that would have been nice to have seen done differently, but despite that it filled what I’ve been needing lately to prevent me from going berserk from those daily trials of life. Heavy T.O. definitely delivered.

It was loud as hell.  There was a decent turn out, shit food, scorching sun and barely dressed chicks...what I call a kickass weekend. I got to speak to a lot of people there. Some were fans and some were fellow industry guys, and what these people had to say turned out to be far more important than my original intention for going, to interview bands.

That’s the key thing I realized. I mean here I am, President of C.o.R.E., driving up and talking about what we should ask Kerry King, wondering what Alexi Laiho likes to do on Tuesdays, and all that typical fucking bullshit you get from most interviewers and journalists. The last thing I give two shits about is getting those hockey player answers. You know the ones that go, “well I thought we gave 110% today, other guys played really well…” What I LOVE is hearing fan’s thoughts; what they feel and think about the community that they invest so much time and stock into.

So to all my brothers and sisters in metal I just wanna say thank you for sharing that energy with me, keep being you, and rock the fuck on!

            Lee “Grim Riffer” Kagan

            President

            Consortium of Rock Evolution Inc.

CORE @ Heavy TO Band Photos

CORE recently spent the weekend at the Heavy TO festival in Toronto's Downsview Park. Check out some insider photos!