What happened to great Rock/Metal Bands??

[Atropos_Project]

Also, MTV got me into albums. A song would come on, I'd go buy the album and take the journey through all of it. I don't think the era of the single happened until Itunes came along.

Same here but I also have a closet full of CD's that are filled with shitty filler tracks even by the some of the greats..

Itunes is a blessing because I no longer have to waste my money on shit I am stuck with and I do not want to listen to..

I dont blame Itunes, any specific generation or era of music because IMO all bands at some point released something that would be considered shitty to some one else.
The only difference no one has to buy it and be stuck with it..

I can count on one hand the number of discs I own where the majority of the work categorizes as filler... seriously. Singles have been around forever, it's just that iTunes makes it unbelievably easy to pick and choose. Outside of one situation where the CD was an import (which I eventually bought anyhow), I've also never used iTunes, and likely never will.

I do think that one trend is that albums might be getting shorter, since artists aren't compelled to fill every minute of a CD with music... that's a good thing too.

 

[glassjaw7]

Do we really need to go through this again?? There are plenty of good bands out there. Music is different because the world is different. It doesn't matter how good a band or musician is anymore. The best band that ever existed or that has yet to exist could come out tomorrow and it wouldn't have the same impact that the bands of yesteryear had because it's all been done for one and the world, the music industry, the way we rapidly consume media, etc, it's all so different now.

Back in the day, music changed in noticeable movements because the whole world was hung up on the same scene. We didn't have 800 genres available for instant download. Glam and technical proficiency came in and killed the classic blues rock guys, then people got sick of spandex and she-males and wanted something with more depth, and grunge and the more serious hard rock and metal acts came in.
Now, as music listeners we don't get stuck on one type of music until the next scene blows up because there are a million completely different types of bands out there at any time you want to hear them. That's why, despite a band's talent, bands will never have the impact on a demographic that they once had. Not to mention anyone can record an album now with a laptop and some basic gear.

Say what you will, but those are the real reasons. It's the evolution of media and technology, not the musicians.

 

[Coopster]

I loved Live and did right up until Ed Kowalczyk's ego became bigger than the band ever was. Secret Samadhi was vastly underrated.

 

[BYTOR]

To the OP: Man I think there is a ton of great bands out there today! Sucks to be you!

I have so many tunes to learn from all the bands i mentioned, that it is probably a good thing i don't dig too many newer bands. Recording myself on all these master backing tracks that are available gives me endless enjoyment and education

I will check out the vids of songs that some have posted on here.

I love the song "To Sirius" by Gojira(it's on my iphone) but haven't gotten into anything else they have done, but i never really listened to their other songs much. I will though.

I truly love what i consider to be great rock and metal, but even if i hear something i like from a modern band, the rest of the cd just does nothing for me and so i have no real affinity for the band.

 

[glassjaw7]

I loved Live and did right up until Ed Kowalczyk's ego became bigger than the band ever was. Secret Samadhi was vastly underrated.

+1

 

[thiswaythatway]

I loved Live and did right up until Ed Kowalczyk's ego became bigger than the band ever was. Secret Samadhi was vastly underrated.

As well as The Distance To Here. Great disc!

 

[skoora]

Do we really need to go through this again?? There are plenty of good bands out there. Music is different because the world is different. It doesn't matter how good a band or musician is anymore. The best band that ever existed or that has yet to exist could come out tomorrow and it wouldn't have the same impact that the bands of yesteryear had because it's all been done for one and the world, the music industry, the way we rapidly consume media, etc, it's all so different now.

Back in the day, music changed in noticeable movements because the whole world was hung up on the same scene. We didn't have 800 genres available for instant download. Glam and technical proficiency came in and killed the classic blues rock guys, then people got sick of spandex and she-males and wanted something with more depth, and grunge and the more serious hard rock and metal acts came in.
Now, as music listeners we don't get stuck on one type of music until the next scene blows up because there are a million completely different types of bands out there at any time you want to hear them. That's why, despite a band's talent, bands will never have the impact on a demographic that they once had. Not to mention anyone can record an album now with a laptop and some basic gear.

Say what you will, but those are the real reasons. It's the evolution of media and technology, not the musicians.

I think there's a lot to what you said there. Plus because a lot of bands can record their own thing quite cheaply and easily they're relying soully on their own work ethic on hammering out arrangements etc before it is recorded and released. Unfortunately as we know the work ethic of so many musicians barely exists, not having the producer figure to stay on them, or tell them it's still not right and possible tweaks, we get the insane amount of mediocrity that we see all over the internet. They're not being put through the ringer by a separate party and it shows. I can't remember one band I was in that wanted to work hard outside of practice getting meoldies or arrangements tweaked so their spot on.

Plus I agree a lot that what we hear between early teens and 25 really stamps itself on us and even when we're much older we subconsciously or consciously want to hear elements of those sounds and styles in newer bands for us to like them.

 

[hawkeye17]

Meh, it's a generational thing to not like the next generations music so much. Let me put it this way.....how many of you had parents that thought "Ride The Lightning" kicked ass when it came out? Probably not many and I'm guessing those parents called their friends and said "can you believe this crap our kids are listening to? We gotta get Lindsay Buckingham to come talk some sense into these kids...."

 

[BYTOR]

Face it youngsters your generation sucks in the rock/metal talent department.

They can pound out some massive down tuned one finger riffs, but can't write a great overall tune to save their life.

There is the odd song here and there that hits the mark but it's extremely few and far between.

Not surprising that the only bands that can sell out arenas and stadiums to this day are some of the iconic bands i mentioned.

Who is going to save your pathetic rock/metal legacy, Bulb from Periphery? lol

Even in the Rockband/ Guitar Hero games, the classic rock and the 80's metal is by far the most popular with all the youngsters that play the games. They are constantly saying they wish they had grown up when all the great music was made instead of all the crap out today. Speaks volumes and proves it's not just a generational thing. Great tunes are great tunes no matter when they are written, they just don't happen that much nowadays.

 

[skoora]

Face it youngsters your generation sucks in the rock/metal talent department.

They can pound out some massive down tuned one finger riffs, but can't write a great overall tune to save their life.

There is the odd song here and there that hits the mark but it's extremely few and far between.

Not surprising that the only bands that can sell out arenas and stadiums to this day are some of the iconic bands i mentioned.

Who is going to save your pathetic rock/metal legacy, Bulb from Periphery? lol

Even in the Rockband/ Guitar Hero games, the classic rock and the 80's metal is by far the most popular with all the youngsters that play the games. They are constantly saying they wish they had grown up when all the great music was made instead of all the crap out today. Speaks volumes and proves it's not just a generational thing. Great tunes are great tunes no matter when they are written, they just don't happen that much nowadays.

I actually think the talent right now in metal is pretty large and widespread as far as technical playing goes. But I totally agree with you as far as songs and arrangements are concerned. The technical ability is there in spades but I'm just not hearing songs that rock my socks.

 

[glassjaw7]

Face it youngsters your generation sucks in the rock/metal talent department.

They can pound out some massive down tuned one finger riffs, but can't write a great overall tune to save their life.

There is the odd song here and there that hits the mark but it's extremely few and far between.

Not surprising that the only bands that can sell out arenas and stadiums to this day are some of the iconic bands i mentioned.

Who is going to save your pathetic rock/metal legacy, Bulb from Periphery? lol

Even in the Rockband/ Guitar Hero games, the classic rock and the 80's metal is by far the most popular with all the youngsters that play the games. They are constantly saying they wish they had grown up when all the great music was made instead of all the crap out today. Speaks volumes and proves it's not just a generational thing. Great tunes are great tunes no matter when they are written, they just don't happen that much nowadays.

That was pretty closed-minded and pathetic. I'm not even a "youngster" at 30 (grew up on Queensryche, Floyd, G&R, AIC etc) but I can appreciate a lot of the great music thats out there. I've managed to draw from the classics as well as find something out there that's great from every decade and then some. Listen to Devin Townsend, Karnivool, Alter Bridge, Thrice, Pagan's Mind, TesseracT, Animals As Leaders, Ola, and several of the guys in bands on this board. Shit, my band writes songs that are good. We get some radio play. Some of the bands you mentioned had plenty of filler. You think every song Van Halen put out was great??? I don't think they were even particularly great songwriters. Great musicians, but come on, some of their stuff was downright meaningless and fruity.

There Is some really great stuff out there that's pushing the limits of progressive rock.

And Periphery? You just named one band that happens to be doing something unique and are pushing forward the boundaries of metal. Fine if you don't like them, but there are a lot of others to check out. Oh, and there were shitty one-finger riffs thirty years ago. Same as now, only now the rhythm sections are much better.

I get the whole thing about "your" generation being special and how following generations don't do it right, blah blah blah. Trust me, I've given it much thought over the years. Only difference is I can see/hear the talent thats still out there because I'm not letting myself turn into a jaded, cynical old fart.

 

[glassjaw7]

I actually think the talent right now in metal is pretty large and widespread as far as technical playing goes. But I totally agree with you as far as songs and arrangements are concerned. The technical ability is there in spades but I'm just not hearing songs that rock my socks.

I feel the exact same way about the majority of the 80s. Lots of meaningless fluff. Tons of technical shred but just pure cheese as far as songwriting.

90s saved the art of the song. There are great songs out there again today. But like I said earlier, they won't have the same effect nowadays. People need to be craving it and needing it, and everythings just so oversaturated now that a good song flies right under the radar.

 

[snakeman1986]

@ snakeman1986

Talk about subjective... Do you just hate classic rock on principal? I'm not trying to be a troll, just curious. Most of the bands mentioned in the OP I would consider songwriters as in writing for the song and not building everything up around an epic solo. Epic solos may have been part and parcel for the times, but the only thing worth listening to in the song? I think not.

I Shouldn't have used the word hate. Just not the sound I like. It's just my likes. There is nothing unmusical about any of those bands. Just not my style. I'm just pointing out that great bands are all different to everyone. Most of those bands listed are not great to me. For instance I really really dislike metallica. Certain things I'm just not going to get into. I do really like AIC and Foo Fighters tho.

 

[steve_k]

Give me these and I am a happy fucking camper:

Metallica from "Kill em All" thru to the "Black Album"
AIC from "Facelift" to "Dirt"

There just hasn't been much in recent years that is overly exciting. I would rather listen to Thai Trance music than most of the shit being released right now.

 

[snakeman1986]

Face it youngsters your generation sucks in the rock/metal talent department.

They can pound out some massive down tuned one finger riffs, but can't write a great overall tune to save their life.

There is the odd song here and there that hits the mark but it's extremely few and far between.

Not surprising that the only bands that can sell out arenas and stadiums to this day are some of the iconic bands i mentioned.

Who is going to save your pathetic rock/metal legacy, Bulb from Periphery? lol

Even in the Rockband/ Guitar Hero games, the classic rock and the 80's metal is by far the most popular with all the youngsters that play the games. They are constantly saying they wish they had grown up when all the great music was made instead of all the crap out today. Speaks volumes and proves it's not just a generational thing. Great tunes are great tunes no matter when they are written, they just don't happen that much nowadays.

 

[leib10]

You want to know the truth? Too many people living in the past. Music evolves like anything else; it's completely natural. It only makes sense that the main demographic of this forum wishes for the days of yesteryear. I'm sure that today's crop of young listeners and players will say the EXACT same thing about the next generation of music.

"Whatever happened to the good old days of Lamb of God, All That Remains, Shinedown, Avenged Sevenfold, fill-in-the-name-of-your-favorite-band-here.?"

It's nothing new, and it will continue for a long time to come. Bottom line, as you all well know music is totally subjective to the individual and the time it was created.

 

[Soundguy213]

Opeth, Dreamtheater, Machine Head, Meshuggah, Dimmu, Slayer and megadeth still around, Avantasia/Edguy and alot of the europe/german power metal type bands (if you dont want screaming metal) Mercenary, High on Fire/The Sword, Foo Fighters, Mastodon, Lamb of God, In Flames, Unearth, God Forbid, Devin's projects, Shadowsfall.

Most of these bands have been rocking for the last decade plus alot of new and upcoming talent popping up. Even if you dont like the band or what they do, they connect to a fanbase and thats all you can really ask. To dismiss most bands that play nowadays is not only short sighted and close minded, but also generally a shitty thing to say considering most of you guys write your own music as well and wouldnt appreciate what you say/think about the integrity of what those bands do/play.

It's all music and it changes with the times. Embrace it all with an open mind and try to see the good in it and you will enjoy it all a lot more.

 

[liamlw]

i don't care how much talent is required to play songs...if they sound good they sound good. if you're not a fan of the music being released, start jammin and make some tunes you do like.

ps: 80s metal sucks

 

[Spaceboy]

The shit on the radio today is more like Five Finger Death Punch... yeah, "popular" music today has hit an all-time low.

 

[RSRD]

melody got replaced with br00talz

And the autotune pop song.

If you look at most people they think the music they heard when they were about 15-25 years old is the best.

This, and that includes bands that were already done by the time you were 15. You appreciate the music that gets you thru puberty and a few years after since that's when you think things are harder in life. After you get married, get your first real job, have kids, etc... music can still play a vital role but it isn't your everything. Just my opinion of course.

Great music is still being made. You just gotta look to find it. Even if you dont like bands like porcupine tree, mastodon, coheed and cambria, Baroness, etc.... you can still find great stuff by following other band links on itunes and youtube.

Also, i dont have it, but syrius/xm have new band channels for all sections of rock I believe.

ps- what do you think all the people who grew up listening to 70s music thought when mid 80s new waved and hair metal came out they probably about shit themselves and thought rock was done.