Thursday, December 30, 2004

No Fight in Goodfight

So, I tried to bait the morons at Goodfight Ministries

Here is the letter I sent with the hopes that they would have sent me some goofy response about how my child's soul is in danger. Oh well. I post the letter just for fun, if I ever get a response, I'll post it. Who can I fight now, maybe these guys. Their article on Santa Claus is hilarious.


Dear Goodfight

I am a parent of two young boys. My oldest son has shown an interest in a rock band called Iron Maiden. While he claims they are immensely popular (and thus mainstream), I am unfamiliar with them. I did a cursory search on the Internet and found a lot of information (over 2,000,000 sites) and some ghastly images (some appeared to be demonic). However, in reading some of their lyrics from a recent record, I found nothing terribly offensive (compared to other popular music today).

However, I decided to do a little more research on demonically inspired music, and when I searched the Internet for “demonically inspired music” I found your site. While I was familiar with many of the artists on your site, and do not agree with all of your conclusions, your excerpt of “Kill Your Daughter” by Iron Maiden was troubling. Troubling enough for me to write you. You have obviously done your homework, so I was hoping for some advice.

First of all, how long have Iron Maiden been around (these guys look pretty old to be in rock and roll)? Are they dangerous? What should I tell my son?

I do not want to overreact because I am sure there are worse things for my children to be involved in, but I really don’t like what I have seen on your site. There are many Iron Maiden references on the web, but there is so much information (and mis-information) out there, that I don’t know what to do or whom to believe.

Any information or useful web link you could provide would helpful.

Thank you

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Happy Festivus

I look forward to the airing of the grivences. I sent an e-mail to those holy rollers I referred to in yesterday's post. If I get a response I will post updates.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Slow Blogging

Things have been pretty slow. No good blogging to be done, so I think I'll pick a fight with someone. Good Fight Ministries has this web site where they claim rock and roll is satanic and stuff. They may be fun to play with, but I'm not sure how to approach them. I need to create another e-mail account and send them a letter. They seem to be attention whores so if I can give them anything interesting, they may fight back. Check back soon for an update.

Thursday, December 09, 2004

I Hate Being Right All the Time

I was never a Pantera fan. Their first album was different and very heavy, but it never appealed to me. I guess I always had a respect for Pantera, though; it is hard to explain. I have a close friend who is a Pantera fan and I recently borrowed their first 2 CDs, Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power. I liked them a little better 13 years after I heard them the first time, but I still really did not care for them. I never heard Damageplan.

So, why do I mourn (OK not mourn, but feel sad about) the death of Dimebag Darrel? A guitarist who I never really listened to or liked. My only connection to his music was an impression that it wasn’t crap like nu-metal, but still was not my thing, so again I ask why?

I have a theory, and it is a bit complex. Readers of this site (all three of you) will know that I recently had a run in with the metal community at some web site. My conclusion was that the metal community is a bunch of losers and worse. These people were curt, rude and showed no civility in any way shape or form. I had concluded that the metal community had become a horde of former geeks turned into obnoxious, rude and violent miscreants.

This shooting confirmed my fears.

It seems as if this may be the beginning of the end for the metal community as I knew it. The metal scene in the USA was horrible before this incident; now, it will only get worse. I can easily see many European bands deciding not to play in the USA because of our warped culture. It wasn’t always this way.

Our once friendly metal community of the 1980’s who, while enjoyed overturning cars in concert parking lots and setting them on fire from time to time, were, in general a decent bunch of guys. People at concerts were always friendly and personable to each other. I hate to sound corny, but those silly Judas Priest songs like United, Take on the World, and Defenders of the Faith had some element of truth to them, we really did all like each other. Serious violence was never even a fleeting thought.

Not anymore.

I fear that this ridiculous gun culture of rap and hip-hop may be affecting heavy metal, at least here in the United States. I hope I am wrong, but since the killer is dead, we will probably never know the motive. Until it happens again.

I saw some reaction to Dimebag’s death blaming the government, gun laws (or lack thereof), etc. Sorry, but that is a narrow vision. I am sure several gun laws were violated in this shooting. Tougher laws are not the answer and we all know guns have been around for a long time, and this is the first incident of gun violence at a metal show aimed at a performer. The blame is on our culture of violence, not on the weapons themselves or the politics of those in power.

Our culture of violence is too complex to discuss in a short blog, but let’s not be pissed at Smith and Wesson for Dimebag’s death. The sad truth is, we are all to blame for allowing society to erode to this point. The question is, how bad will it get before it gets better?

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Now I Know Why They Are Called "Rivet Heads"

My last post here was a review I submitted to Encyclopedia Metallium. Well, the review was rejected and when I submitted the link to this blog on the message board, I got flamed.

Funny, but I think I discovered something interesting about the heavy metal community in general.

They are losers who have such low self-esteem and are so insecure that they need to bash someone else so that they will feel better about the loser lives they have carved out for themselves.

The review I submitted was not really a review of the CD I suppose, but more of a commentary on the CD and what type of person was apt to like it, and who may not. Furthermore, I realize I am no Dan Simmons, Sweetie Guy Hutchinson, or The writer formerly known as NJCRC, but the review was certainly as well written as some of the other drivel that passes for writing on that site.

There were numerous reviews of the CD already, and I wanted to try something different than the usual crap you see over there. Here is an example:

Song 1 – 4.5/5 – This song is good, it starts heavy and gets heavier. There is a cool bridge between the verse and the solo. The solo is really shreddin'!! Rockin’ out man. Etc.

I suppose my review was not to the formula that those hard-wired, narrow thinking, rivet heads at Encyclopedia Metallium like to see.

The really funny thing is these people over there think they are Mickey Spillane or something; when the writing on some of the reviews submitted is laughably bad (see above example).

Well, I am better off not being a part of that community, and I should have known better, as I had stopped posting on the Iron Maiden Board a year ago or so because of the rudeness and child-like attitudes over there (with few exceptions) too.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Opeth - Beauty, Brilliance, and Cookie Monster Too

The following is a CD review I submitted to Encyclopedia Metallium. A very interesting web site for metal information. Anyway, here is the review.

In order to review a CD for this site, I need to feel strongly about it. Also, I think I need to feel I have something to say that is a bit unique and from a different perspective than the typical review for that piece (see my Master of Reality review).

So – that brings me to talk about Blackwater Park. I’m not sure if what I have to say here is unique or different, but perhaps it is from a different perspective and could provide advice for anyone considering purchasing Blackwater Park.

First of all, I am truly amazed at the divide over this album. It’s like the whole red state blue state thing that the United Sates is going through.

As you can tell by the number [note: On the site I gave the CD a 94 out of 100], I love this CD. In fact, at first I could not believe some of the reviews for this CD, but I have come to understand the rationale behind them. I think this CD appeals to a relatively narrow segment of music fans. Because of the extremes it goes through, I can understand how numerous listeners can dislike it. Add to that the length of the tracks and you have a CD, while brilliant in my opinion, that cannot appeal to an overwhelming majority of music fans. Quite a risk, but a jackpot to those of us who love and appreciate it.

Please be aware that I am not bashing anyone’s opinion or taste, but it seems to me that the slower parts make the Pig Destroyer and Cephalic Carnage fans of the world cringe, while the death metal vocals make many Iron Maiden fans laugh and say, “How can you listen to Cookie Monster and call it music?”

Well, I can see their points, and agree that the Opeth of the 21st Century is not for them.

So, what does that leave you with? Not much of a prospective fan base, but certainly enough for Opeth to be reasonably successful and build a strong fan base; though the thought of a group like Opeth receiving mainstream success, especially in the USA, is laughable. Very few people are able to appreciate genius, and Blackwater Park is pure genius.

I will not review the album track by track, as I have always viewed Opeth CD’s as a single piece, as opposed to separate tracks. Although standout tracks like Bleak and the title track are great listens when you do not have time for the whole CD.

So, to conclude, if you are reading this and considering whether or not to delve into the fantastic, beautiful, mind-blowing music of Opeth, be warned. This CD is not for those with closed minds or musical taste that is not diverse. The listener needs to be aware that this CD contains music that is both slow and fast, peaceful and aggressive, and soothing and riling.

So my advice is put it on and marvel at the genius known as Opeth.