Now that Terorrizer is long gone, and Kim Kelly just tweets about human rights and feminism issues (power to her, I just miss her metal coverage), where do you all look to keep up with what's happening in the realm of new music reviews, concert reviews, upcoming news etc?
I hadn't heard until a moment ago that Converge had a new album out last year.
I don't really bother anymore. Bands are just spewing out stuff each and every day about every aspect of their professional and sometimes personal lives that there's not a lot of interesting stuff left to report on. The mystery has long gone. It's complete information overload.
Are you looking for a source for journalism or a source for information? If it's only the latter, then you are where I happen to get 80% of my metal information from. The rest of it I get from a handful of friends and the fact that certain algorithms (YouTube, Twitter, etc.) have learnt that I'm responsive to metal stuff.
As for good actual journalism about metal, I have no idea.
Here & Facebook for bands/labels I follow. That's about it.
This is a very good point. I had a much better idea of what was going on when all you had to rely on were magazines and the "Thank You" sections of liner notes.
Quote from: The Heretic on January 02, 2022, 06:10:39 PM
I don't really bother anymore. Bands are just spewing out stuff each and every day about every aspect of their professional and sometimes personal lives that there's not a lot of interesting stuff left to report on. The mystery has long gone. It's complete information overload.
The former. I get plenty of info from Instagram and from this site. Still really appreciate people like Dom Lawson who offer directions towards stuff worth checking out.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on January 02, 2022, 06:33:07 PM
Are you looking for a source for journalism or a source for information? If it's only the latter, then you are where I happen to get 80% of my metal information from. The rest of it I get from a handful of friends and the fact that certain algorithms (YouTube, Twitter, etc.) have learnt that I'm responsive to metal stuff.
As for good actual journalism about metal, I have no idea.
Zero Tolerance is always good for finding out about new bands but I haven't kept up with it since emigrating. I use this forum, which is generally a bit dead to be honest, and Revelation of Doom. The information overload aspect is a real killer for me these days, though, as is the overload of actual bands as well. There are so many new bands emerging all the time but not a huge amount of creativity or originality among them. I find myself spending more time investigating 90s stuff- some more obvious bands who passed me by and some weird obscure bands who are all but buried by time and dust. One great aspect of the current times is the amount of labels dedicated to resurrecting older obscure bands and reissuing their demos and albums. Otherwise there are a handful of more recent bands who I already follow and I continue to support.
Here, Invisible Oranges, Last Rites, about it.
In terms of actual 'metal' analysis, not just album review and release updates I have to second the invisible oranges recommendation
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/death-metal-english/
One of my fav articles in that vein
Gonna put the plug in for the Sleeping Shaman obviously, cos I write for it. Largely reviews (in my case anyway), focuses a lot on-but not exclusively- the doom/stoner/sludge end of things but covers a lot of different stuff overall, and Lee also puts together the Roadburn magazine every year for the fest. The site is actually down today I notice as there's a server change going on, but it should be back up in the next day or two.
Bardomethodology is always an interesting read for sure, even if you don't like or agree with the artists he writes about.
I think the ease with which you can access anything via youtube/social media algorithims at this point has rendered music journalism futile to some degree. Why read someone describe the music when you can just listen yourself? I realise the irony of that as a record reviewer like, but it's the sad truth. I'd love to see more metal sites/journalists taking the Lester Bangs approach. Something like a metal version of The Quietus would be pretty interesting.IO definitely has its moments of genius like the article above
I got the latest issue of Zero Tolerance. I haven't read a mag since Terrorizer threw in the towel. Looking forward to reading about bands I've never heard of. Might find some gems and all. You would miss MI to be fair for recommendations etc
Quote from: Gmajor1991 on January 02, 2022, 05:57:56 PM
Now that Terorrizer is long gone, and Kim Kelly just tweets about human rights and feminism issues (power to her, I just miss her metal coverage), where do you all look to keep up with what's happening in the realm of new music reviews, concert reviews, upcoming news etc?
I hadn't heard until a moment ago that Converge had a new album out last year.
Think the editor of ZT used to work for Terrorizer. Could be wrong
When did Terrorizer vanish? Hadnt heard that. Could be years ago for all i know :laugh:
A few years back. The website was still online a couple of weeks ago, the forum only died a few months ago.
Didn't know it was gone either. Is Louise Brown the ZT editor?
No! God no... Lisa Macey runs ZT.
Try a metal podcast. We've more metal podcasts per square mile than bands here. Every arse eejit is at it
Quote from: Gmajor1991 on January 02, 2022, 05:57:56 PM
I hadn't heard until a moment ago that Converge had a new album out last year.
The band have been pushing the album for the last 6 months on social media it is a collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe so I am not expecting it to be of any use.
I never really saw much need for "metal journalism" you have everything at your fingertips nowadays and you can listen to any album you want whenever you want. Maybe 20 years ago when the internet wasn't as common album reviews etc served a purpose but I can't remember the last time I read a review of a new album or bought a physical metal magazine. Forums are the best place to get information and most of the time you see peoples genuine opinions on why they like / dislike a band or release, what song got them into an album etc. Much better information then you will get from the so called journalists.
Quote from: mickO))) on January 05, 2022, 12:38:11 PM
Quote from: Gmajor1991 on January 02, 2022, 05:57:56 PMI hadn't heard until a moment ago that Converge had a new album out last year.
The band have been pushing the album for the last 6 months on social media it is a collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe so I am not expecting it to be of any use.
It's excellent, top 5 of 2021 for me. It is a collaboration to be fair, not a Converge album as such but there's plenty of both acts' respective sounds in the mix.
Quote from: open face surgery on January 05, 2022, 11:47:51 AM
Didn't know it was gone either. Is Louise Brown the ZT editor?
I think she went on to Iron Fist, not sure what she's at now.
Quote from: mickO))) on January 05, 2022, 12:38:11 PM
Quote from: Gmajor1991 on January 02, 2022, 05:57:56 PM
I hadn't heard until a moment ago that Converge had a new album out last year.
The band have been pushing the album for the last 6 months on social media it is a collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe so I am not expecting it to be of any use.
I never really saw much need for "metal journalism" you have everything at your fingertips nowadays and you can listen to any album you want whenever you want. Maybe 20 years ago when the internet wasn't as common album reviews etc served a purpose but I can't remember the last time I read a review of a new album or bought a physical metal magazine. Forums are the best place to get information and most of the time you see peoples genuine opinions on why they like / dislike a band or release, what song got them into an album etc. Much better information then you will get from the so called journalists.
I agree to a point, perhaps I'm being old fashioned or nostalgic starting to buy a magazine again? The other reason is that I find bands on social media annoying with consistent posts etc. Handy have a magazine and not have to scroll through hundreds of posts.
Quote from: 04325613 on January 05, 2022, 12:36:48 PM
Try a metal podcast. We've more metal podcasts per square mile than bands here. Every arse eejit is at it
:)
It's gone obscene hasn't it..some of the clowns doing em as well haven't a clue
I'm starting to like this site a lot
https://hatemeditations.com
Quote from: Eoin McLove on January 02, 2022, 07:02:40 PM
Zero Tolerance is always good for finding out about new bands but I haven't kept up with it since emigrating. I use this forum, which is generally a bit dead to be honest, and Revelation of Doom. The information overload aspect is a real killer for me these days, though, as is the overload of actual bands as well. There are so many new bands emerging all the time but not a huge amount of creativity or originality among them. I find myself spending more time investigating 90s stuff- some more obvious bands who passed me by and some weird obscure bands who are all but buried by time and dust.
And I find your recommendations a good way to find out about underground bands that I'm too lazy to seek out myself :laugh:
I've been fairly slack on that front the past few years but I actually listened to two new releases last night, both of which seem to have some merit.
Pantheïst- Closer to God. I've only got their first album and it never did a lot for me (time to revisit!) but this new one sounds interesting. Funeral doom of a fairly easy listening variety- lush production and influences from outside of the narrow confines of genre. Definitely one I'll need to go back to.
Stangarigel- Na severe srdca. A new project from the Malokarpatan dudes that apparently takes its cues from The Shadowthrone and Bergtatt. It's not as immediate as either on first listen, nor as immediate as Malokarpatan, but one I'll have to revisit to see if it sinks in more. The artwork is almost enough to convince me, hehe.
Really liking the sound of that Stangarigel album.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on January 07, 2022, 07:55:06 PM
I've been fairly slack on that front the past few years but I actually listened to two new releases last night, both of which seem to have some merit.
Pantheïst- Closer to God. I've only got their first album and it never did a lot for me (time to revisit!) but this new one sounds interesting. Funeral doom of a fairly easy listening variety- lush production and influences from outside of the narrow confines of genre. Definitely one I'll need to go back to.
Stangarigel- Na severe srdca. A new project from the Malokarpatan dudes that apparently takes its cues from The Shadowthrone and Bergtatt. It's not as immediate as either on first listen, nor as immediate as Malokarpatan, but one I'll have to revisit to see if it sinks in more. The artwork is almost enough to convince me, hehe.
Is this a new experiment in keeping things underground? Not starting a thread about new bands but hiding mentions of them in unrelated topics? Should I be keeping a better eye on the Classifieds board??
It's the new tape trading.
Is that code?? :-X
It's the new word of mouth.
https://thecallofthenight.com/
Ride Into Glory is another great site. Mostly articles and guides for certain metal styles, with a lean towards power and heavy metal. Discovered some great albums through there.
https://rideintoglory.com/
In a fit of nostalgia over decent metal magazines, I took out a subscription to Decibel last year.
It's not bad. Funnily enough, I'm still drawn to the regular columns (they have Eugene Robinson and Neil Jameson regularly waffling away) and the Album of the Month more than anything. Recently I read a very positive, concise review of one band I'd never heard of being compared to BMD-era Katatonia and Obsequiae (that being Aduanten), so ordered the tape and really liked it - so something still works.
Downside is all the average, uninteresting bands being covered with boring write-ups, but that really is the authentic metal mag experience.
Is it as good as Terrorizer in its heyday? Definitely not, but it is nice to have it pop through the letterbox every month or so that keeps you relatively in touch with most of what comes out. I thought I'd like the free flexi single they send with it but I haven't really been bothered playing a single track.
I appreciate sites like Invisible Oranges and Last Rites for sure, but I cannot bring myself to click through multiple reviews online. It just feels ephemeral. Sitting down with a magazine still has an appeal in its compactness. Those sites that really dive deep - like Bardo - I tend to spend more time on.
I got bored with Bardo sooner than I would have expected. I don't know why, but something about the lines of questioning and style of write up quite quickly made every interview feel the same. I think what Cathal did with the two volumes of Existentiell is the kind of "transcendent" metal aesthetic thing Niklas was originally going for, but fell rather short by comparison.
Definitely agree on the greater appeal of sitting down with an actual printed mag.
Didn't realise there was a second Existentiell.
He's always throwing stuff out under the radar.
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on January 18, 2022, 05:44:43 PM
I got bored with Bardo sooner than I would have expected. I don't know why, but something about the lines of questioning and style of write up quite quickly made every interview feel the same. I think what Cathal did with the two volumes of Existentiell is the kind of "transcendent" metal aesthetic thing Niklas was originally going for, but fell rather short by comparison.
Definitely agree on the greater appeal of sitting down with an actual printed mag.
Yeah, the question and answer format can be limited by its own nature - much less space to carve out a sense of the subject for each piece. Also Bardo is all one bloke - right? Might be why it feels so repetitive.
But, and I'm sure this is why it's been a constant going back to the zine days, Q&A gets to the point quick and makes for speedy production!