From: cblanc@pomona.claremont.edu
Subject: Flatulent Eggplant:  Putrifying Mass - A++
Organization: Pomona College
Date: 15 Aug 92 05:20:22 PDT



Thrash is dead and has been for, oh, about six years or so.  The really
innovative, punk-based, hellishly aggro style of playing thirty-second songs
with more punch than most modern death albums rose in the early eighties and
died shortly afterward.  Most of the bands (CoC, DRI) sold out or
disintegrated.  But it was neat stuff.

Speed metal's dead/dying, too.  All of the old guard speed metal bands have
sold out (please don't reply if you disagree; just do it quietly, this is for a
point) - Testament, Megadeth, Metallica.  Slayer's still hanging in there but
have lost much of their dynamic feel that can be found on earlier albums. 
Sepultura's just signed with Sony, but I doubt that means sell-out.  At least,
I hope not.  I think that is currently the best speed metal band out there,
although they seem more of a speed/death crossover.

Yeah, I have to agree with one of the guy from Nirvana:  metal has exhausted
itself.  Death metal is thriving, but most of it is pretty half-assed with a
total lack of new ideas.  Deicide?  Satan?  Metal "satanism" is only good as an
anti-social function; now it's become an institution in itself.  Christianity? 
Metal bands are the inheritors of Nietzsche, not religious vehicles. 
Christians have made some good metal, but as a genre, it's existential.  (And
living in Houston and seeing the daily abortion protests, I don't want to see
any more fucking religiously-inspired nuts.  No flames, please - there is a
difference between a 'nut' and a 'believer,' at least in my parlance)  And then
there's the Carcass ripoffs, and the guys who just sing about blood and guts
and don't really think, don't really write lyrics.  Morbid Angel came up with
some neat shit but if you read their lyrics, some parts will make you think,
"Is this crap for real?"  Black metal's making somewhat of a comeback, as is
doom, but this seems like a small part of the big picture.  Metal's dying or
dead.

So what killed it?  I'd say the fans, who in turn made it an industry by buying
tons of the stuff, sometimes indiscriminately.  I'd also blame constant
attempts at suppression by the outside world; this brought in all of the
nameplate rebels to the fanclub, which further adulterated it.  I can't blame
Metallica for making Selloutica; they're laughing at the stupidity of it all
with a million bucks in each hand, watching the genre they helped start eat
dust through its own foolishness.  And Dave Mustaine is following like a
puppydog (which is sad, as Mr. Mustaine is a smart guy).

Musicians reading this, if you're in a metal band (or hell, any band), please
take this to heart.  Add more poetic lyrics.  Add more exciting, varied,
intelligent lyrics.  If you want help, you've got this bored English major on
the line.  Experiment musically, get into some neat, new stuff.  Don't put the
solo on there if it's a few scales, a fret run, and some neat string-smearing
noises.  Listen to anything, and if you like it, consider it an influence. 
Dictate what you want on the album with blinders to the rest of the world.  If
they can't take a joke, fuck 'em.

People looking for a fight reading this, please just pass me by.  I am not
interested.  You'll either agree with part of it and discuss it or tell me
something witty like "idiot."  If it's the latter case, just write it down
somewhere and don't tell me about it.  Thx.  
Xref: sparky alt.thrash:1334 alt.rock-n-roll.metal.heavy:2602