Seriously, whenever you pick a theme and write, I am impressed all over again with how clever, honest, and well spoken you are. I heartily approve of this particular theme! Don't stop!
There are lots of points here I could debate with you about, but it would be a lot simpler and more helpful to just say that you probably just need to find some new metal to listen to. It's a vast field of art, and if you actually bother to look for things that embody the qualities you admire, you will find them. If you keep retreading the same disappointing territory you'll never arrive anywhere new.
Ha, I am rather surprised that you find much of anything to debate in this piece, as it seems so autobiographical to me. The thing is, though, that I don't really think I need to find new metal very much. It is always wonderful to stumble across something new and meaningful, but the "genre ideals" (very broadly speaking) just don't do it for me, anymore, and I think that actively looking for the Great New Metal in my life is going to be a long, hard slog - almost as bad as trying to get into jazz funk, in that I know the mindblowingly good stuff should be out there, but that I would have to suffer through too much aggravation in order to find it :-) And don't think I am not looking for new music! It is just that metal (very broadly speaking) looks like a big old elephant corpse, which probably has something fascinating germinating inside, but which I would be just as happy to leave alone.
Well, here I am referring mostly to the latter part of your entry. As someone who still finds himself looking for that "elusive metal kick," and who took the time to share some yet cherished favorites (however self-consciously and semi-shamefully), it stands to reason to think you still have some interest in the genre that might find succor from some new experience, some corner of your being that may be going undernourished. I suppose it pains me a bit to hear you essentially write off such an incredible genre, one that you once felt such an intuitive connection with, because of some shattered teenage delusions, some mediocre bands you may have come across, or because your old favorites have staled from overuse. If I remember correctly, in my teenage years I held a fairly similar view to the one you describe here, feeling that I had "moved on" or that metal just "wasn't my thing," but once I became drawn back into its sphere (mostly by idle curiosity rather than intense interest), I realized I'd been singularly mistaken, and I felt
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I might have been a tiny bit blunt in the above comment: Of course I still have a bit of a chink in my armour (my pink, fluffy armor) when it comes to metal, but I guess that I need to own up to my actual feelings, and try to disregard the feelings I wish I had. Listening to the recommendations you (and Ross) have given me, I feel that I have really been exposed to more or less the "best of the best," in terms of what I should respond to, and despite liking Blut Aus Nord well enough, I haven't really found myself wanting to relisten to any of his records or felt particularly interested in what they had to say. I think I can deal with high fantasy in literature and movies better, at the moment. Also, his band name is Blut Aus Nord. That is some stupid shit, when you think about it. Moongazing Hare-stupid. However, it might very well just be a matter of timing! I am keeping BAN around my iTunes for that hallowed day when I feel ready to "get it," and think I can listen without wanting to slap the foam helmet off his head
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THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID! :-) And the answer is similar in both cases: It has only happened twice, so far, but the plan is to do it every year. It would be great if you could join in, at some point!
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There are lots of points here I could debate with you about, but it would be a lot simpler and more helpful to just say that you probably just need to find some new metal to listen to. It's a vast field of art, and if you actually bother to look for things that embody the qualities you admire, you will find them. If you keep retreading the same disappointing territory you'll never arrive anywhere new.
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