The beginning...
I started listening to music when I was about 6 years old, so about 32 years ago (damn, I'm old!). My older sister gave me a tape (which belonged to my older brother) and the magical tape was Kiss' brilliant Destroyer! Prior to this I didn't listen to anything, music was not yet part of my life really. Man would that change with that tape! I was hooked right away!
As the years went by and I found that some of my friends also liked Kiss, I discovered more metal music. Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer!!!.. and pretty much in that order. As you can see, my music taste progressed to the more extreme. Well, it didn't stop there.
In junior high my best friend introduced me to Deicide (self-titled album). At first I didn't like it. To me, it was just noise. I choose to blame that on the crappy quality tape played on a walkman! I don't remember how many days it took before I realized that this stuff wasn't too bad after all, but not many! A new barrier had been breached! The wonderful world of extreme metal. This was around the time when Death Metal was getting really big, specially the Florida scene and the Gothenborg (Sweden) scene. I soon discovered bands like Death, Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, Obituary, Paradise Lost etc.
My parents shook their heads and said 'You'll grow out of it'. Suuuure, whatever! This wasn't just a phase, it wasn't just being a rebellious youth; this was a big and important part of my life. I guess it's hard to explain why this kind of music appealed (and still does) to me, it just did. I mean, why does Madonna's music appeal to people? Because they like it?? Of course!!!!!
Now, why stop at Death Metal? In the early 90's, the Black Metal beast started to wake up; at least to me. Darkthrone, Burzum, Satyricon, Mayhem (yeah yeah, they'd been around for a long time already), Dimmu Borgir.... Wow!!! Talk about having something new and different in the music. The 'oh so much' talked about 'feeling' in the music. The Black Metal feeling. It's nearly impossible to explain, it's just there. Either you hear/feel it or you don't I guess. Of course, with the big Norwegian Black Metal movement thing came a whole truckload of shit too. All the stuff going on in Norway with Varg Vikernes, church burnings, murders... liking the music, dressing in black, long hair, my Black Metal friends, as much as I didn't want to, I was constantly questioned if I was a satanist. By my parents, by other friends. I wish I knew how many times I spoke the words 'I'm not a satanist! I'm not a christian! I don't believe in religion! I just like the music!!!!'. Is that really that hard to understand?? Sure, having the appearance that I did (much like the idiots burning churches) I can to some degree understand why people would think the way they did, but when I repeatedly said that I was 'just in it for the music', I expected them to believe me. I mean, come on!!
Anyways, I've been listening to Heavy Metal music in some sort or another for 30 years now, and guess what! I haven't grown out of it! Take that dad! Music is as important to me now as it was when I was a kid and extreme metal is a big part of that. Sure, being older, I have broadened my music taste. I don't only listen to metal anymore (a big percentage though!).
I've learned that it's OK to be a metal-head without dressing like one. I guess that's a age thing. I don't have the need to expose who I am as much as when I was younger. I am who I am, I like what I like... well, you know...
During the last few years, the media in Norway has finally opened their eyes and minds and understood that Black Metal is more about the music than the stupid things that happened back in the 90s. They have realized that the music actually is really good... it's not just noise. It's made by people who know music, know how to arrange music and know how to play their instruments. Great! Finally! Black Metal (or maybe extreme metal in general) is, I repeat, is Norway's biggest cultural export article. Norwegian Black Metal is big, especially abroad. Thousand and thousand of albums are sold and they are treated like true rock stars when they tour there. Respect!
So, who are my favorite bands? Well, there are many, but Slayer, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Burzum, Gehenna, Iron Maiden, older WASP, older Megadeth, older Metallica, Carcass, Bathory, Bolt Thrower, Amorphis, Katatonia, older Dimmu Borgir.... the list goes on.
That's it for now! Take care and horns up! \m/
PS. If you haven't seen Metal - A Headbanger's Journey yet, if you're a metal head or not (maybe especially if you're not and don't get it), see it now!! It gives such a good perspective on the whole metal scene. Love it!
During the last few years, the media in Norway has finally opened their eyes and minds and understood that Black Metal is more about the music than the stupid things that happened back in the 90s. They have realized that the music actually is really good... it's not just noise. It's made by people who know music, know how to arrange music and know how to play their instruments. Great! Finally! Black Metal (or maybe extreme metal in general) is, I repeat, is Norway's biggest cultural export article. Norwegian Black Metal is big, especially abroad. Thousand and thousand of albums are sold and they are treated like true rock stars when they tour there. Respect!
So, who are my favorite bands? Well, there are many, but Slayer, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Burzum, Gehenna, Iron Maiden, older WASP, older Megadeth, older Metallica, Carcass, Bathory, Bolt Thrower, Amorphis, Katatonia, older Dimmu Borgir.... the list goes on.
That's it for now! Take care and horns up! \m/
PS. If you haven't seen Metal - A Headbanger's Journey yet, if you're a metal head or not (maybe especially if you're not and don't get it), see it now!! It gives such a good perspective on the whole metal scene. Love it!
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