Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    
    	Yeah, I think I have a bit of a problem justifying buying an album
    	by a band with a name like that.  I mean, yeah, with all the bands
    	out there there could be a bit of a problem thinking up a new name
    	but it can't be so bad that you have to resort to a name such as
    	this one.
    

    
    But, overall they aren't too bad music-wise. Another band you would
    probably not get (not that I have it, or will get it either) is a**l
    c**t and I won't fill it in. I have never heard their music and was
    surprised at the name of the band itself....
    
    

    I wasn't attempted to buy it until I've listened some of it in a second
    hand CD shop where I got it really cheap. They exist since some time
    and apparently their music has evoluated quite much. They should
    rethink also about an evolution of their name. Their own artist names
    are quite special, the drummer is named .. Mutilator. You cannot be
    taken seriously into consideration with such names, excepting maybe for
    Z series of horror/commedy movies. Too bad for the good music they
    played on this album.
    
    Sorin

    	You guys are making a very valid discussion. To which extent does
    anyone into this kind of music care/acts in these types of human beha
    viour...
    
    	My wife for example, just hates some of the covers and lyrics of
    this kind of music and the CDs are actually hidden from the kids'
    reach. While I understand the ramifications of some of the stuff these
    bands talk about the kids might have a different grasp on these con
    cepts, which makes the music unsuitable for them.
    
    	That aside, the disc is EXCELLENT, just my opinion....
    
    	Carlos

    
    Carlos,
    
    If you like this disc, check out Old Man's Child. reminds me of them
    vocal-wise (don't know why though, just sounds similar) and is fairly
    heavy. More Black Metal as far as I can tell. And get Opeth
    "Morningrise", it is excellent, like "Crimson" by Edge of Sanity.
    
    

    Ick.  I agree with Shawn.  With a horrible name like that, they don't
    deserve my time OR my money.  

    
    re: -1
    
    Your loss, not ours! (Those that have this disc). Same goes for me with
    your Ugly Mustard disc! ;-)  But then again, my tastes in music vary a
    bit from yours (and others). Granted there are some strange/sick band
    names out there, ones that neither I or (possibly) Sorin listen to or
    have heard before! ;-)
    
    Want heavy stuff, RC, Opeth, Old Man's Child, Opthalamia, Edge of
    Sanity, and many others!
    
    

    
    	Mike, if they're strange and/or sick, there's a good chance that
    	you've already joined their fan club.
    

    
    re: -1
    
    I don't join fan clubs at all. If I like the music, I could care less
    about a bands name (up to a point) or what their disc covers look like.
    I am in it for the music, not the image. I also don't read alot into
    what they are really singing/growling/screeching about either. Lyrics
    don't really phase me, nor does any message that they are trying to get
    across. Rollins is different in that respect though if you read what he
    is singing/talking about, at least he's not going on about devil
    worship/satanism/kill your mother or dog type stuff. I prefer HEAVY and
    intricit(sp) music, not necessarily done in the same vein, ie I like
    Dream Theater, but I also like Edge of Sanity and a host of other
    HEAVY bands. I am not really into speed/black metal for the most part
    (like 90+% not into them), but I prefer the heavier/darker/doomier/or
    atmospheric stuff out there that even Sorin is into (along with others
    in this notesfile, like Carlos or Dle). I am not into *pop* music like
    I put R.E.M. into, although I do have a couple of their discs and like
    some of their songs. What you term sick/strange is because you are not
    into that type of music/scene. I don't go hanging around at metal clubs
    hoping to meet some of these characters, I have other things to do and
    prefer to enjoy a concert (a la Queensryche for instance) for the show
    that goes with it. I have not seen MOST of these newer bands in concert
    or at a club or even on MTV (and the latter gets <5% view time for
    quite awhile now). Rotting Christ as a band are pretty good, I guess
    I'll have to read the lyrics to some of the songs to determine what
    they are about, Death/Black metal types you know.  Some of these bands
    do it for image/sales, some are REALLY into this crap also (Black Metal
    bands I'd say mostly), not sure what some of these Death Metal bands
    are into/up to.
    
    And I find it kind of strange that even though we met once, and have
    participated in here on several topics that you would post that. Boy,
    you really have or are trying to pidgeon-hole me to one music style I
    guess, why I can't guess....oh well.
    
    

    
    	Mike, you should know by now that there's an implied smiley on
    	everything I write.
    

    He probably just thought you were being a prick
                

    If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is!

    
       	April, you know I would have said that if you didn't get here
    	first.
	

    With the risk of repeating myself ..
    
    I do not like sick things of any kind and I don't care about satanism
    or any religious sects or religious extremism. I am an orthodox
    christian by my origin and rather conservative in fact. But I'm also
    amateur of good music and if I read some good reviews about a CD, I'll
    try it if I have the occasion (read: find it cheap or borrow it from
    the public library). As long as things remain in the fictional domain I
    consider things with humour. When it comes to things promoting crime or 
    murder, mutilation, enslavement, racism, fascism etc., I am not at all
    tolerant and 100% against. 
    I also prefer reasoning over a dogmatic approach.
    
    Sorin

    
    Hi Sorin,
    
    When it comes to things promoting crime or murder, mutilation, enslavement,
    racism, fascism etc., I am not at all tolerant and 100% against.
    
    Hmmm ;-)  Don't you think some of this does do this in a way? Just for
    the cause, etc...? I personally am Roman Catholic but have "lost" my
    way to the fold as it is....I am not happy with what has been going on
    in it, and pretty much do my own thing (not religious-wise). I still
    have some of those values ingrained, but I also look at it from
    different views than someone more stalwart!  I hate fanatics, no matter
    what their cause (except in the pursuit of good music! ;-) ).
    
    ;-)
    
    Mike
    

    	Personally, here's my take on it:
    
    	I like the "music". I couldn't care less about what they talk
    about. Mind you, some of the lyrics are either pretty explicit. But
    I don't care if the subject is satanism, vampirism or simple death. I
    love they pounding drums, the rythm of the guitars, the thumping on the
    bass and some of those vocals are simply awesome.
    
    	I think I do a pretty good job of discerning bewteen the music and
    the message tha band tries to come across with, whether it is true or
    simply a hook for more sales.
    
    	Maybe Dle can provide us with some real takes on this subject. He
    for sure knows which bands do this for a living and which bands do all
    the lyrics/art stuff for promo.
    
    	Carlos

    I think Carlos and Mike said it better than me ..
    Just let you ears decide ! Your ears will hardly harm anyone ;-) !
    
    Sorin

    	Sorin:
    
    	I'll tell you one thing. This album rocks! I like these guys a lot
    and I think they have a very unque style. My wife doesn't know I own
    this CD, other wise she'll burn it!!
    
    	Carlos

    Re. Carlos
    
    I was very surprised when I first checked the CD. Indeed, musically
    very good and quite unique. Now if they find also a better name ..
    
    As you like heavier metal, check also for Dominus and Illdisposed on
    the Danish label Diehard. Both last releases ("The first 9" and
    "Submit") are great.
    
    Sorin

    	Sorin:
    
    	haven't heard Dominus, but I have heard Illdisposed on the NBA
    compilation and I liked them a lot.
    
    	You live in Europe, right? how about the CD prices? We (Mike and
    myself specifically) have been complaining a bit about the prices of
    CDs in USA (although I live in Canada and the prices are worse). Un
    fortunately most of the stuff we like is on imports, which can run as
    far as $40 Us. That's a lot of money if you ask me, so we are looking
    at all possible avenues.
    
    	Anyway, keep enjoying RC..	
    
    	Carlos

    Re. Carlos
    
    In Belgium the CD prices are between 700 and 800 Belgian francs (the
    US $ should be currently at around 35 BEF ?). Import CDs (mainly from Japan)
    are even more expensive. Most of the heavy metal CDs are released
    directly in Europe (so no import necessary). There are also mid-price
    CDs (not very recent releases) at around 500 BEF.
    
    Sorin

    
    Carlos,
    
    Sorin will probably tell you that the average is about $23-26 a disc
    over there for regular releases, which are imports mainly to us and
    that's why we pay $27 or more a disc for singles. If you are paying
    upwards of $40 for a single disc, I wouldn't buy it! ;-) My friend got
    a bootleg QR live "Saints and Sinners" double cd for $54 at Rockit(sp)
    records up in Nashua. Only reason he got it was because there was only
    one there! Import prices at CDNow range from the $20's on up per disc
    or set (more than single I am assuming). My only price complaint was
    getting a disc for $15 when another place has them (albeit out of
    stock) for $10. I never pay more than $16 tops for a disc if I can help
    it, and that is a bit high, but most places are under $16 down here, at
    least good places.... Dark Symphonies prices are surprisingly low *if*
    these discs are imports, unless they are going directly from the label
    distributor, which to me would mean they pay less and so do we, which
    is fine by me!
    
    ;-)
    
    

    	Mike:
    
    	The thing that bothers me is how can some outfits charge you 18-22
    dollars for a CD while some others charge you 10-11 dollars for the
    same CD.
    
    	Case in point, I just ordered a "Cradle of Filth" CD. I couldn't
    find it for less than $20 and now Century Media carries it (and a MCD)
    for $10. I spoke a while with Chris at CM last time I ordered some CDs
    and he was not happy with the latest prices Relapse is charging. Opeth
    for example, is $20 at Relapse and (again) 10 at CM. You still have to
    wait, so to me 10-18 bucks a CD is WELL worth the wait.
    
    	On the other hand, dealing with imports is always a journey into
    the unknown. This $40 CD I mentioned before is by a band called Pulsar,
    mid 70s progressive rock, IMO one of the best bands in the 70s. I order
    ed it originally from my local store, and the guy told me it wouldn't
    be more than $20 which I found acceptable for a french CD. Well, this
    guy got fired in the mean time and when the CD arrived  it had a $37
    price tag. I am a "good" customer of this store, so they managed to get
    it down to the original price.
    
    	To my surprise, there was a catalog inside the CD sleeve. I
    immediately punched the web address only to find out that just the
    shipping charges to USA are 15-20 dollars from this company!!! And the
    CDs start at 23-26, just in line with what Sorin says. Holy cow!!!! 
    
    	The funny thing is that I saw the same CDs (Pulsar) in Mexico last
    february, all 4 in the same store. They ranged from 135 to 150 pesos
    which is really nothing, considering they had all 4 releases.
    
    	Makes you wonder....
    	
    	I am buying more and more used stuff on the net. Buy a 5-7 dollar
    CD and a new jewel box, works for me
    
    
    	Carlos