How many genres? (lyrics, singer, alternative, blues, dance)

jackhammer · 11-08-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonoid

I think some of you take these sub-genre's thingy way too seriously.
I've myself heard a billion metal sub genres, but as far as i know, It's just an internet thing, where say, someone asks for "Slam Death metal". It's just that many metal heads are very picky with what they listen to currently, and they want a similar sound. That doesn't necessarily make them "close minded". They are just listening to that more currently, and well, there's no other way to ask than making up your own sub-genres. They could also name bands i guess, but i don't see this genre thingy bothering me at all TBH. Most of the sub-genres used on the interwebz are just to describe the sound "precisely". And this "precisely" is exactly what they want. If they like a sound, they just want a similar sounding band.
Are they being close minded? Well, some are, but many listen to other stuff as well. They just don't talk about it.

I see 100% that you need a varying degree of genre manipulation to describe aspects of a bands music but I was a die hard Metal fan way back and found this tagging a problem even then.

When posters only post in the Metal forum and proceed to correct every man and his dog in sub genre etiquette, then I find it to be narrow minded and an excuse to appear open minded when all they are doing is listening to variations on a similar theme.

I am not talking about bands that are obviously poles apart EG Iron Maiden and Pig Destroyer but many bands are so similar yet they are constantly assigned genre labels in order for them to appear different.

If I was'nt into metal I would'nt dare make statements like this but I know what I'm talking about and I find this tagging annoying and laughable to a certain extent. I'm not trying to say I'm right at all. I'm not going to change a whole scene but in 10 years time many fans will realise how ridiculous the whole sub sub genre tagging is becoming.

I have said before that the only genres that do this are Metal and Dance and both are predominantly listened to by the under 30's and are so incredibly insular it defies belief.

I guess I find posts such as 'No way they are not Metalcore, they are Thrash with a hint of chugga breakdowns' and 'No way are they death metal, melodeath maybe' boring to read and not entirely constructive. People could retort with 'well don't read them then' but I DO want to read them. A) because it's my job as a mod and B) I still listen to metal and although I have heard so much, I still want to see if a band can break out of the masses and interest me. Sadly most of my time seems to be spent reading what they are tagged as instead of their plus points or originality etc.

Rant over.