Metal Monday: Old Dogs vs. Young Guns

posted in: Features • Rock

If you follow any metal blogs, Metal Sucks, Metal Injection or Reign in Blonde, you’re probably already aware of all the big things happening in metal (like the recent losses of many metal greats, and the “big four” of thrash uniting for their first show). What is strange, however, is that a vast majority of bands receiving attention now are either the “old dogs” from the 80s or the “young guns” that have emerged in the last couple years. This development goes hand-in-hand with the “revival” trends brought on by kids these days (yet again, I mention “rethrash”).

Ordinarily, this trend might not cause any strife among typical groups of people ” but this is metal. In this world of new school vs. old school, most people pick sides case. Many people are tried and true to the bands they love, and have extreme hatred for anything that threatens to tarnish their favorite bands (God forbid a young band takes influence from their idols). I talked to Metal Mark of SkullsNBones, who says, “with the new crop of bands including Skeletonwitch, Lazarus A.D., Warbringer, and others, some people may not dig them saying they are copycats or boring, but that’s false. These kids grew up on thrash, and play thrash the right way.” This is awfully noble, and how it should be. When I asked Chris Storey (ex-Suffocation and All Shall Perish) about the trend, he simply said “Younger bands ripping off old bands doesn’t really matter. Sooner or later old bands retire.” Also true. When the old dogs hang it up, do you want their style of metal to go with them?

Next, I spoke to Elise from Reign in Blonde about the topic, and she tries “not discriminate because of age. Good is good. But when a band just SOUNDS really young, and they’re not even old enough to buy a beer at the venue they’re playing at. That’s just weird.” There is obviously a line here. A bunch of 14-year-old kids covering Metallica songs is not an optimal situation. Then there are bands like The Sword who sound like the second coming of Black Sabbath (granted, Heaven & Hell are literally the second coming of Sabbath) ” a great and talented band, but nearly identical to one of the most legendary bands in metal history.

So, what are your thoughts on the whole ordeal? Do you think it’s right for young bands to emulate their forefathers? Are they tarnishing the holy (nay, unholy) legacy of the metal greats? What about the revivalist trends? Tell me what you think by leaving a comment!