What does it matter what albums are selling the best. We all know that some of the best metal is the metal that is far away from being mainstream, thus, won't sell as many albums.

Metal died with puberty for me

Ok, after seeing those two, I'm wasting my time even more than I was before arguing with you.

Yeah, yeah, I know... Korn sucks, Slipknot sucks, cartoons rule.... I didn't say I liked everything on the list (that's why I said "spare me").

The "Black Album" by Metallica was a sell-out piece of ****, in my opinion, as well. Prong made better music with three members than Slipknot does with nine and Korn's non-stop whining is annoying. Yet, Metallica is the original definitive metal band, Slipknot is the "Kiss" of their generation - i.e. your little brother digs the gimmick at first but winds up listening to Reign In Blood in the end (it's newb metal, in other words), Korn... well, all I can say about them is: The Korn/Zombie tour was one of the best ****ing shows I ever saw... But, that was mostly because of Zombie. Also, having lost my little brother to cancer at 15, I always admired the song "Justin" and the story behind it.

It's symbolic, I guess.

The decline time frame is coincidental - to be sure - metal was declining before Dime died. It just serves as a backdrop for the bigger point (also made a catchy subject line, I thought).

For instance, ask any baby boomer when psychedelic rock declined and they will probably tell you "when Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison died". Of course, ask any old-school metal fan about that same thing and they will tell you that Black Sabbath transformed psychedelic rock into heavy metal, therefore it never really declined - only evolved (less acid, more tritone, double the bass).

The question is: Is metal going to evolve... or die?

If bands like Unexpect are the next step for metal, my guess is the latter.

Well do something about it. If you're so disappointed with metal of today, then make them eat **** and start a band. Redefine metal, or at very least breathe life into it as it were. PErsonally, I'm satisfied. Sure, I wish all the crappy bands would die, but if you spend all your time going "Eighteen Visions ****ing blows" instead of looking for the good bands, you're just a whiner. Look for the silver lining in the clouds.

Metal bands who released good or better albums last year:

Blut aus Nord
Neurosis
Akerco*ke
Reverend Bizarre
Behemoth
Cobalt
Deathspell Omega
Primordial
Rotting Christ
Doomsword
Type O Negative
*shels
DHG
Wolves in the Throne Room

who is this dimebag ***?
Is he from one of the most prominent metal bands around Korn?

He's the dude from damageplan/pantera who was shot on stage. And no, not Korn.

It was better than the badly produced boring heap of shit they put out before it.