[cowboy71]

Longest gaps between band announcements in days
2011 - 35
2012 - 52
2013 - 60
2014 - 175
2015 - 92
2016 - 89
2017 - 45 days and counting

So 2011 will maintain its record for having the shortest long-gap between announcements. One more week and we'll 'beat' 2012 too!

[Memnoch]

I'm sure the skipper can beat 2013, 2015 and 2016 too. Andy, you can do it!

[AceHugger]

We all know that we are not going to know the full lineup until the week of sailing anyway

Do we?

[bodomdragon]

I just heard the new Amaranthe single and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time. I really hope the rest of the album goes in a completely different direction. Otherwise... more time for other bands onbroad.

[AceHugger]

I just heard the new Amaranthe single and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time. I really hope the rest of the album goes in a completely different direction. Otherwise... more time for other bands onbroad.

you mean 'That Song'??

lol, - I know what you mean! Talk about your radio friendly unit shifter.

- Have you seen the video?

https://youtu.be/yR05g0Co7W4

ugh.

[Sgt. B]

I just heard Amaranthe and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time.

Fixed it for you.

[Phoenix]

I just heard Amaranthe and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time.

Fixed it for you.

This.

If only I wasn't getting dragged to a set regardless.

[bodomdragon]

I just heard Amaranthe and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time.

Fixed it for you.

This.

If only I wasn't getting dragged to a set regardless.

Hahaha. I admit I like their first two albums - not so much the third (last one). But this... thing... they just released sounds like a lame parody of Rihanna, or however you spell that.

[cowboy71]

I love Amaranthe :)

The way I see it, that first single is a massive "we don't care what you say, FUCK YOU" to alllll the elitist haters that are always bagging them for not being a metal band. So, good on them.

From all reports that song is not the slightest bit indicative of the content of the new album, which is by the way getting a lot of great reviews already.

Cannot wait to see them live :)

[Yippee38]

I just heard Amaranthe and it is the most horrible thing I have heard in a very long time.

Fixed it for you.

I now refer to next year's cruise as "70000 Tons of Metal, and Amaranthe too".

[Downvod]

Amaranthe has to be my second least favorite band announced so far (behind stuck mojo). The stuff I've heard sounds way too much like all of the generic radio rock bands from the US. Surprised so many from this cruise are into them.

[Zed3]

I love Amaranthe :)

The way I see it, that first single is a massive "we don't care what you say, FUCK YOU" to alllll the elitist haters that are always bagging them for not being a metal band. So, good on them.

From all reports that song is not the slightest bit indicative of the content of the new album, which is by the way getting a lot of great reviews already.

Cannot wait to see them live :)

Love them too and I hope right about the album's content not sounding like "that song" ! And let's hope they won't play it onboard or they might just start a riot :o

[AceHugger]

Amaranthe has to be my second least favorite band announced so far (behind stuck mojo).

Stuck Mojo were cool when I saw them live last ( but that was in the early 2000's I think) - they're quite a bit heavier live ( well, .. duh) but still if you're not into that type of thing you probably won't get much out of it.

When I played my GF some she was mortified, I believe her words were "It's Horrendous". I might still check 'em out though.

And let's hope they won't play it onboard or they might just start a riot :o

And as for Amaranthe playing 'That song' on the cruise......I'd put money on it. so Let's just Riot now.

[Phoenix]

And as for Amaranthe playing 'That song' on the cruise......I'd put money on it. so Let's just Riot now.

If Amaranthe has a set on the pool deck, I will be sure to be nowhere near it. I heard that song. I saw the video. I don't even.

[deathmetalpat]

Okay ,I listened to the new Pain album and will actually watch a set.They moved in a better direction,but this Amaranthe song is just way too much "what the hell".At the end of the video,is that the third singer "flipping the bird"?Is that an inside joke or something,don't really know much about the band other than watching though some of their videos.

[General Zod]

The way I see it, that first single is a massive "we don't care what you say, FUCK YOU" to alllll the elitist haters that are always bagging them for not being a metal band.

With all due respect my friend, that's about as generous an assessment as you'll ever see. But let's be fair. There's no way Amaranthe decided, "Let's completely piss away the opportunity that a record's first single provides, just to raise a middle finger to the haters."

They wrote an embarrassingly bad pop song in hopes of expanding their audience. Plain and simple. They've always been a band heavily influenced by pop. This is nothing more than that influence bubbling closer to the surface.

[cowboy71]

The way I see it, that first single is a massive "we don't care what you say, FUCK YOU" to alllll the elitist haters that are always bagging them for not being a metal band.

With all due respect my friend, that's about as generous an assessment as you'll ever see. But let's be fair. There's no way Amaranthe decided, "Let's completely piss away the opportunity that a record's first single provides, just to raise a middle finger to the haters."

They wrote an embarrassingly bad pop song in hopes of expanding their audience. Plain and simple. They've always been a band heavily influenced by pop. This is nothing more than that influence bubbling closer to the surface.

Oh I am trying to be generous, because as mentioned I'm a fan of the band.

But even I do not like the song

[Phoenix]

Oh I am trying to be generous, because as mentioned I'm a fan of the band.

But even I do not like the song

Hey, not even I will defend Blood of Bannockburn

[cowboy71]

Oh I am trying to be generous, because as mentioned I'm a fan of the band.

But even I do not like the song

Hey, not even I will defend Blood of Bannockburn

Urgh. That new Sabaton album is disappointing on most levels for me. They've really slid badly since Carolus Rex :(

[cowboy71]

Happy ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY!!!!! of the last time the Skipper was logged into the forum

#Sarcasm
#Bored
#HurryUpWithThePsycropticAnnouncementAndMoveOn

[Razor Ramon]

We are going to wait forever just to get Psycroptic and Candlemass and then maybe another month or two wait for the next bands..

[deathmetalpat]

Happy ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY!!!!! of the last time the Skipper was logged into the forum

#Sarcasm
#Bored
#HurryUpWithThePsycropticAnnouncementAndMoveOn

Apparently Caitlin the administratior is on "kitchen " detail this year.She checks in regularly and has no posts.

[ShoreSlayer]

The way I see it, that first single is a massive "we don't care what you say, FUCK YOU" to alllll the elitist haters that are always bagging them for not being a metal band.

With all due respect my friend, that's about as generous an assessment as you'll ever see. But let's be fair. There's no way Amaranthe decided, "Let's completely piss away the opportunity that a record's first single provides, just to raise a middle finger to the haters."

They wrote an embarrassingly bad pop song in hopes of expanding their audience. Plain and simple. They've always been a band heavily influenced by pop. This is nothing more than that influence bubbling closer to the surface.

LMFAO

THIS is one of the huge, long-standing problems with metalheads (myself included)...

Okay, I'm almost 50, never heard of or cared about this band in my life except for the few mentions around here and what I checked out did little/nothing for me. Likely, this provides me with the benefit of complete emotional detachment from this issue as it regards the band selling out or releasing something I'd not have expected from them.

But, I also work 40 hours a week with teenagers. And 95% of them are into rap, hip-hop and pop. They listen to pop radio stations and watch pop videos. Some are open-minded enough to tolerate some rock or metal from time to time but it's really not the music of their generation for the most part and metal remains, as it has for most of its existence and much like jazz, the dark n' heavy, highly technical at times, little brother of rock that the majority of music-buying public have little or no time for. I understand that occupying this position in the larger picture is also part of metal's appeal and that many of us identify with that black sheep/outcast/whatever thing on deeper levels than just the music so it can hurt to see our 'heroes' diverging from the path.

Had Priest, Maiden or Sabbath released a song like this (or at least one similarly aimed at the pop crowd) 30 years ago, I'd have been crushed and bewildered and likely have struggled not to abandon them forever. But looking at it now, I can see the futility in that sort of response. I mean, there I would've been, jumping ship on a bunch of musicians who had blessed me with innumerable, life-altering and dream-inspiring songs, riffs n lyrics for nothing more than what really amounts to them trying to reach more fans with their music and, ultimately, find more success with their craft.

Seriously, this song will likely be heard by more people than anything this band has ever recorded before. I find it in no way 'embarrassingly bad'. Quite to the contrary. They absolutely succeeded at what they set out to do. This song will lure a LOT of people to their music. Many will listen to the rest of their catalogue and run screaming no doubt but many, likely a great many, will stay. And they'll also probably end up checking out and loving other metal bands. Don't get me wrong, not most but LOTS. A small chunk of an enormous pie is still a lot of pie as they say.

So where's the harm? Like someone said, if/when they perform it live and you love the band but hate this one song, go grab a beer or hold yer breath and yer head underwater for 200 seconds or, imagine this, get silly goofy and sing along with it in your best black metal beastiness. If this band has brought any joy into your life in years past, why shit on them for taking a chance and stepping outside their collective box? Aren't we always saying how we're a bunch of rebels who don't let anyone tell us what to think or do etc? Shit, before I'd heard more than one song I was drawn to C.O.C. for nothing more than their awesome name. Honestly, if anyone feels truly let down or betrayed by this band releasing this song and video, they need to take a long look at themselves and just how seriously they take themselves. It's just music. Maybe half the band were really into pop stylings before forming this band and got tired of sticking to the same old tired cliches of metal. I like the fuck you at the end of the vid and suspect it's meant to say exactly what you guys think it meant. They knew the hate would come hard but did this anyways.

I say good for them and look forward to Slayer's first country song coming to a jukebox near me in 5 years time

I must admit though, half way through this song when I considered posting this, I told myself I wouldn't bother unless they included a guitar solo. Glad they did

Also have to admit, feeling a bit trollish tonight despite the fact that I believe everything I wrote

[cowboy71]

Yeah solid points.

What you said there actually reminded me of some of the reactions to the music of Trans Siberian Orchestra over the years.

"I saw this lovely choir singing this nice christmas song on Good Morning America so went and bought the album and lordy sakes it was evil heavy metal!!!"

[Memnoch]

Wise words yet again from our resident penguin.
What Amaranthe is doing with their new single is no worse than, say, Grave's Soulless or Bolt Thrower's The Killchain - and yet most people who like those bands (but are more or less not fans of the genre) like them because of those very songs.

[macamatic]

Wise words yet again from our resident penguin.
What Amaranthe is doing with their new single is no worse than, say, Grave's Soulless or Bolt Thrower's The Killchain - and yet most people who like those bands (but are more or less not fans of the genre) like them because of those very songs.

I'm far from a death metal connoisseur, but listening to those songs and a couple others by the same bands I don't really see what makes them so different. I agree with the sentiment, though.

[Phoenix]

Urgh. That new Sabaton album is disappointing on most levels for me. They've really slid badly since Carolus Rex :(

Yeah. I enjoyed a lot of Heroes but The Last Stand was a little disappointing for me as well.

And about the Amaranthe thing... I totally get why they did it. I just do not count myself as a fan, and this didn't help.

[General Zod]

Oh I am trying to be generous, because as mentioned I'm a fan of the band.

But even I do not like the song

LOL. That's fair.

[General Zod]

Had Priest, Maiden or Sabbath released a song like this (or at least one similarly aimed at the pop crowd) 30 years ago, I'd have been crushed and bewildered and likely have struggled not to abandon them forever.

I appreciate what you’re attempting to illustrate with this analogy, but I don’t think it’s valid. Maiden, Priest and Sabbath were musical pioneers who were in pursuit of an artistic vision. Amaranthe is just another band who jumped on the, “Look at us, we’ve got a hot scantily-clad femalesinger” bandwagon.

But looking at it now, I can see the futility in that sort of response. I mean, there I would've been, jumping ship on a bunch of musicians who had blessed me with innumerable, life-altering and dream-inspiring songs, riffs n lyrics for nothing more than what really amounts to them trying to reach more fans with their music and, ultimately, find more success with their craft.

I suspect the reason the aforementioned bands were able to write “life-altering” music is because they were in the business of crafting great songs, not worrying about expanding their market demographics.

Seriously, this song will likely be heard by more people than anything this band has ever recorded before.

Perhaps it will, perhaps it won’t. Simply writing a pop song doesn’t guarantee said song will get heard. In the end, this is a band on Spinefarm Records. While bands on small labels do occasionally break through, I’m not sure Spinefarm has the muscle to get this song out there into the mainstream.

I find it in no way 'embarrassingly bad'. Quite to the contrary. They absolutely succeeded at what they set out to do.

As always, music is completely subjective. To each their own.

If this band has brought any joy into your life in years past, why shit on them for taking a chance and stepping outside their collective box?

Just to clarify, Amaranthe has never brought me a second’s joy. I’ve always thought they suck the suck out of suck. However, I feel like you’re equating expanding an artistic vision with allowing commercial aspirations to dictate musical direction. I don’t see these two endeavors as equivalent and I clearly see Amaranthe as being guilty of the latter.

Aren't we always saying how we're a bunch of rebels who don't let anyone tell us what to think or do etc?

I don’t think anyone is telling anyone what to like or not like. If people who love metal also love Amaranthe, have at it. I love me some 80s pop. I’m a fan of Jazz and Blues. I’m a big fan of Downtempo and Lo-Fi. People should like what they like because they like it.

I like the fuck you at the end of the vid and suspect it's meant to say exactly what you guys think it meant. They knew the hate would come hard but did this anyways.

I’ll take the opposing perspective here as well. If they had actually written a song they were proud of, they wouldn’t feel a need to go on the defensive. Great art is its own middle finger. Rather, they know how shitty this song is, they knew it would rightly be ridiculed, and attempted to get out ahead of it by pretending it’s a middle finger to “the haters”. But this is merely a case of Occam’s Razor; they’re shamelessly trying to expand their sales numbers with complete disregard to musical quality. Personally, I would have had more respect for them had they simply started here. They’ve always been a pop band in metal clothing. And that’s what I’ve always found so distasteful about them; just be who you are. Don’t go through the motions of being something your clearly not. Walk your own path. Don’t pretend.

Also have to admit, feeling a bit trollish tonight despite the fact that I believe everything I wrote

Respectfully chiming in with a well-written opinion is never trolling. Cheers.

[ShoreSlayer]

Also have to admit, feeling a bit trollish tonight despite the fact that I believe everything I wrote

Respectfully chiming in with a well-written opinion is never trolling. Cheers.

Glad it was received in the manner intended. Especially from you with your many valid response points. Worried a tiny bit you might take my post as aimed at you since I'd quoted your post as my jumping off point and had forgotten to add a 'this ain't personal' disclaimer haha.

So, although I'm at work and short on time so can't respond to all your points, let's further the discussion then...

But looking at it now, I can see the futility in that sort of response. I mean, there I would've been, jumping ship on a bunch of musicians who had blessed me with innumerable, life-altering and dream-inspiring songs, riffs n lyrics for nothing more than what really amounts to them trying to reach more fans with their music and, ultimately, find more success with their craft.

I suspect the reason the aforementioned bands were able to write “life-altering” music is because they were in the business of crafting great songs, not worrying about expanding their market demographics.

I think this is a great illustration of the divide between how I used to view this issue compared to now. If, I'm not mistaken, your point here is intended to suggest that true artists or great songcrafters should not worry about expanding their demographic. I disagree. I think musicians take way too much flak for trying to do exactly that. This isn't just their passionate hobby. It's their career and most who are done with the rock n' roll lifestyle party pieces of it all likely have families and futures to worry about with no pension plan, no extended health benefits etc, etc. While I respect the hell out of tons of bands who've slogged away in the trenches for decades, staying true to their roots and never caving to record company pressure, selling just enough CDs, merch and concert tickets to stay afloat (and envy the hell out of their collective experiences I must add), I feel bad for what little, legitimate financial return they've received for all their hard work, talent and creativity. The fact is, very, very few of them will be able to pay rent at age 70 off the royalties of all they've given us. Little surprise Metallica's music sucks so hard these days. Pretty sure Lars was adamant he secure a tennis court in the back yard of all his great-grandchildren before he dies. He may go to his grave knowing he disappointed hundreds of thousands of diehard, early fans by sacrificing musical integrity for dollars, but he'll do so in a comfy coffin

I like the fuck you at the end of the vid and suspect it's meant to say exactly what you guys think it meant. They knew the hate would come hard but did this anyways.

I’ll take the opposing perspective here as well. If they had actually written a song they were proud of, they wouldn’t feel a need to go on the defensive. Great art is its own middle finger. Rather, they know how shitty this song is, they knew it would rightly be ridiculed, and attempted to get out ahead of it by pretending it’s a middle finger to “the haters”. But this is merely a case of Occam’s Razor; they’re shamelessly trying to expand their sales numbers with complete disregard to musical quality. Personally, I would have had more respect for them had they simply started here. They’ve always been a pop band in metal clothing. And that’s what I’ve always found so distasteful about them; just be who you are. Don’t go through the motions of being something your clearly not. Walk your own path. Don’t pretend.

I guess I would just liken this to someone criticizing me for landing in the job I did even though I started out in a different direction. We all grow n' change in different ways over time and life and circumstance sometimes force our hands. Sticking to our guns and staying true to our dreams isn't always the best option or an option at all. Or maybe they have been poseurs from the start and just wanted to trick a bunch of metalheads into helping build their tiny fan base before they set their sights on their true goal of being pop superstars. Who knows. Bottom line for me is that I may hate the product of an artist's choices but calling them out for seeking success and financial gain seems a bit too idealistic and an unrealistic expectation to project onto a total stranger.

Anyways, something like that. Gotta do something to get paid now. Maybe knock off a hit pop song in my head if I can find time later too haha... j/k

[General Zod]

Glad it was received in the manner intended. Especially from you with your many valid response points. Worried a tiny bit you might take my post as aimed at you since I'd quoted your post as my jumping off point and had forgotten to add a 'this ain't personal' disclaimer haha.

Not at all. I rather enjoy these conversations. Plus, it’s a slow day at work.

I think this is a great illustration of the divide between how I used to view this issue compared to now. If, I'm not mistaken, your point here is intended to suggest that true artists or great songcrafters should not worry about expanding their demographic. I disagree.

I would argue that you definitively cannot be a “true artist” AND allow your art to be guided by commerce. Inherent in the idea of a “true artist” is someone who pursues art for the sake of the art alone. Can you be a professional musician and be influenced by financial outcomes? Sure. It’s well within the rights of any professional musician to determine that they need to grow their 401K and choose to expand their fanbase as a response. And some musicians may even be able to disguise this as a natural evolution without losing their core fanbase. But more often than not that compromise can be directly correlated to a drop in quality.

I guess I would just liken this to someone criticizing me for landing in the job I did even though I started out in a different direction.

I feel like that’s a false equivalency. In your professional career, you’re trying to progress from Point A to Point B. In doing so, you may need to take undesirable detours. If you’re trying to argue that metal was an undesirable detour for Amaranthe, than I would agree. As I said, I feel they’ve always been a pop band in metal clothes. The new song is merely further confirmation.

Bottom line for me is that I may hate the product of an artist's choices but calling them out for seeking success and financial gain seems a bit too idealistic and an unrealistic expectation to project onto a total stranger.

Perhaps it is idealistic. However, I do think it’s fair to differentiate between those who pursue music as art and those who pursue music for finance. In my mind, Amaranthe have ALWAYS been in the latter group. Consequently, I’ve never respected who they are or what they do and this single just feels like the sweet, sweet justification. It makes my belly feel all warm and tingly.

It’s probably worth noting that I’m some wide-eyed idealist. Like you, I’m pushing 50. I’m also someone who listens to mostly underground music. The vast majority of those musicians will never make any money playing metal and do so primarily as a labor of love. So to watch a band like Amaranthe pretend to be a metal band is particularly distasteful. If that makes me idealistic, then I’ll gladly wear such a charge as a badge of honor.

Cheers.

[Andy]

We are giving 70000TONS OF METAL Survivors the chance to interview Heavy Metal Icons in person when they play in your neighborhood. Introducing a brand new series on 70000TONS.tv: #SurvivorsAsk!

Every month we will select a tour stop from one of your favorite 70000TONS OF METAL Artists (past or present) and we will enlist one of our Survivors to conduct an interview. If you are a 70000TONS OF METAL Survivor and live in the area, tell us why YOU would be the perfect candidate to conduct this interview by submitting a video to Instagram and tagging @70000tons, #70000tons and #SurvivorsAsk. If you are selected as the winner, simply get yourself to the show and we will get you plus one friend on the Guest List and organize the rest!

First up we have GOJIRA who will be interviewed by one lucky Survivor in Vancouver, BC, Canada on October 9th, 2016.

If you are not eligible to interview the band, we would still love your input! Head over to the official #SurvivorsAsk thread and post one question YOU would like to ask GOJIRA!

For more information on eligibility and full contest details visit: http://bit.ly/2cXiImt

[Phoenix]

Well hey, it looks like Andy is coming back from his hiatus.

[deathmetalpat]

Well hey, it looks like Andy is coming back from his hiatus.

Boo Andy go away ,I was enjoying the Amaranthe debate,finally some action on the forum and he interrupts it with a non-band announcement.

[ShoreSlayer]

Many great points Zod. Most further illustrating your view of the artist for art vs mine of the musician for hire, if you will. I'd simply suggest that both views have lots of merit and it pretty much comes down to one's values or personal beliefs about such things to determine where exactly on the spectrum between the two one chooses to reside. I believe the former is certainly worthy of greater admiration and, perhaps even, respect than his or her counterparts in many ways but simply refuse to see how the latter should suffer such slings n' arrows for making the choices they do. Hate the music if one must but not the musician.

I guess I would just liken this to someone criticizing me for landing in the job I did even though I started out in a different direction.

I feel like that’s a false equivalency. In your professional career, you’re trying to progress from Point A to Point B. In doing so, you may need to take undesirable detours. If you’re trying to argue that metal was an undesirable detour for Amaranthe, than I would agree. As I said, I feel they’ve always been a pop band in metal clothes. The new song is merely further confirmation.

No, for me, I just sort of stumbled from one job/path to another, ever trying to find more synchronous fits for my skills, experience and passions where I could not only leave with a smile on my face most days but see that I was contributing to something I found meaningful, productive, challenging and rewarding. Many of my best laid plans fell flat while many of my greatest successes only came to pass because of random series of events I could neither have anticipated nor orchestrated on my own. I can't argue whether metal is or was an undesirable detour for this band cuz I know next to nothing about them. I'm only suggesting that they may very well have come to a place where they released this (that) song because it felt like the best choice at the time to help them reach one or more of their collective goals. Does record company input/pressure factor in? I'd be surprised if it didn't. Much like political climate, geographical preferences, financial security and other factors have factored in mine. Maybe not the best analogy but it seems to fit on a few levels at least.

Bottom line for me is that I may hate the product of an artist's choices but calling them out for seeking success and financial gain seems a bit too idealistic and an unrealistic expectation to project onto a total stranger.

Perhaps it is idealistic. However, I do think it’s fair to differentiate between those who pursue music as art and those who pursue music for finance. In my mind, Amaranthe have ALWAYS been in the latter group.

Again, I just think the idea of a musician pursuing music for finance gets a bad rap (pun?!). How come they're not allowed to do so without such harsh criticism but most the rest of us are? I dunno. That's all I got lol

Cheers

Okay, I lied...

I would also submit that it's very likely that a great many of what listeners have deemed as some of the most truly artistic works of all time were, in fact, guided less by the muse and more by the mundane, but who knows? Discuss! haha

[Memnoch]

Seeing how Amaranthe are quite a big deal here, I thought I'd chime in. Having seen them live quite a few times, I can say they do attract a very mixed crowd. There's a lot of non-metalheads and of course lots of metalheads as well, and on club shows the atmosphere is nowhere near what one's accustomed to at metal shows. Yes, the band is unashamedly pop and disco, but also very much a metal band.
And they really aren't on a "small label", because Spinefarm is a part of Universal Records. The band gets quite a lot of radio play here in Finland and I'd think it's the same in Sweden, and their upcoming album seems to be advertised a lot as well, so their record label is definitely investing in marketing them. Ok, fair enough, the Nordic market isn't much of indication to what their success is like elsewhere.

Even if they did try and make music that sells, it's unfair to say that's the band's main motivation. Disco and metal are so far apart that, if anything, daring to mix those two together is stupid from a financial point of view. There's a lot less money in metal, so why on earth would anyone in their right mind use metal to make money? It would be a lot easier to do what Slayer is doing: make the same album time and time again to get the metalheads' cash. It's almost that, in my opinion, staying true to your roots or style is the money-hungry approach - if you've got that first taste of success with it.

[bodomdragon]

Well hey, it looks like Andy is coming back from his hiatus.

Boo Andy go away ,I was enjoying the Amaranthe debate,finally some action on the forum and he interrupts it with a non-band announcement.

Damn, i just wanted to point out how lame that song was and I ended up generating a hurricane... well, at least the forum is not dead anymore

[cowboy71]

Also, how about the old adage "any publicity is good publicity"?

"That Song" is generating A LOT of discussion.

[bodomdragon]

Btw, I don't know if anyone cares, but yesterday I watched Dynazty live (you don't know them? You should!!) and I talked to the guys for a while afterwards. According to what they said, unfortunately it seems extremely unlikely that they'll be onbroad.

[General Zod]

I'd simply suggest that both views have lots of merit and it pretty much comes down to one's values or personal beliefs about such things to determine where exactly on the spectrum between the two one chooses to reside.

I believe that’s true of most things in life. My all-time favorite quote is, “We see the world not as it is, but as we are.”

I believe the former is certainly worthy of greater admiration and, perhaps even, respect than his or her counterparts in many ways but simply refuse to see how the latter should suffer such slings n' arrows for making the choices they do. Hate the music if one must but not the musician.

Agreed again. For all I know, the folks in Amaranthe may be some of the coolest folks on the planet. Do I respect them as musicians? Not even a little. Might they fun to have a drink with? Quite possibly.

I'm only suggesting that they may very well have come to a place where they released this (that) song because it felt like the best choice at the time to help them reach one or more of their collective goals. Does record company input/pressure factor in? I'd be surprised if it didn't. Much like political climate, geographical preferences, financial security and other factors have factored in mine. Maybe not the best analogy but it seems to fit on a few levels at least.

With regard to record company pressures, perhaps. However, on this topic I’d say two things. First, the only thing the record company *could* be guilty of would be forcing them to release this as the first single. However, that doesn’t take the band off the hook for writing the track. I mean, let’s be fair. No one from Metal Blade is walking down to the studio to inform Amon Amarth that they need to write a new song that sounds like Pink. Second, I’ve interviewed a ton of current metal bands and to a man they claim the record companies exert almost no influence over the creative process these days. I suspect this is just a case of a band who had exploited the genre for all they could and is now moving on. Again, it’s their right to do so, my right to have zero respect for it.

Again, I just think the idea of a musician pursuing music for finance gets a bad rap (pun?!). How come they're not allowed to do so without such harsh criticism but most the rest of us are?

I suspect it’s all part of the escapism we find in music. We wouldn’t root for an athlete who came right out and said, “Yeah, I could give a crap about the team. Truth be told I don’t even much care for playing the sport. But fuck it, it pays well.” We want to believe our favorite athlete plays for the love of the game and we want our metal musicians to be in it for the love of the genre. Further, consider that statement within the current state of the genre. Most metal musicians are aware that there’s no financial upside in writing metal music. They understand that they’ll be extremely lucky if they can so much as break even on tour, break even on a record, etc. So for the vast majority of musicians in the genre, the music is in fact a labor of love. So when a band comes along for whom it’s clearly simply a labor, they’re going to be harshly criticized.

I would also submit that it's very likely that a great many of what listeners have deemed as some of the most truly artistic works of all time were, in fact, guided less by the muse and more by the mundane, but who knows? Discuss! haha

I would agree it would be pure conjecture to speculate on what inspires anyone. However, those recordings which are recognized as art are usually seen as such because they bucked the commercial trends of the day and succeeded in spite of those trends.