music. heavy.

Tweet

Although I have many other ideas (for which I don't take time to write down) I feel strong need to write about my passions. One is mountaineering, the other is music (there are others, but not in focus of this post). Many people don't understand neither of them. Well, they admire pictures of beautiful mountains. What they don't understand is that I don't count and collect summits I've climbed. I just enjoy the path and the whole way is the goal. A good tour for me is a whole day in the mountains, from sunrise until sunset. And that's actually all I have to say, there's nothing else to add. Let pictures in my past and future posts speak for themselves as much as they can. Everything else is reserved for those who go there and take all the time they have. 

And this blogpost was actually meant to be about music. Metal music. The issue with music is different. The more people listen to it the less they understand. Well, did you know that intelligence of people who love metal music is above average? *joke* Although I would like to believe it I doubt this is a statistically proven thesis :) This would explain that the majority doesn't understand why we listen to metal ...

Nick Holmes, Image via Wikipedia

Metal music is so passionate, so full of rhythm and so rich in instruments ... that I just love it. It's in my heart it's in (my) your soul* as written by Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost, my favorite band. It's very amusing when people say that I don't seem like I listen to metal or find interesting that I still listen to metal (like in my teenage years). How should I have to look like, wearing chains or something? Should I change my music taste after becoming an adult? You don't get it. Metal music is not something dark haired, angry teenagers would do out of their rebellion until they grow up. Well, I've changed my taste a bit and prefer clear vocals to rough growling but I still love the rhythm of my teenage favorites, Florida death metal founders Death, Obituary and the darkest Deicide (and still love to see them live – last year Obituary were on Metalcamp in Tolmin and Deicide are coming this year). Today I love some melodic, progressive Swedish and Finnish metal bands, especially Evergrey with Tom Englund's incredible voice and excellent lyrics. Amorphis and Katatonia are quite good as well (they are both having gigs on Metalcamp this year). And I'm still waiting for a chance to see a young but yet great band Trivium** which perfectly combines the heritage of their older Florida (and West Coast) colleagues as well as metal legends like Metallica. They have a great future. 

Max Cavalera, Image via Wikipedia

Well, there would be no metal history without legends. My favorite band from 20 years ago, Sepultura with its »father« Max Cavalera (today Soulfly). Metallica, the legend. Megadeth (vocal and lyrics) and Slayer (riffs and rhythm). Have I forgotten anyone? Yes, the greatest metal romantics, Scorpions and Whitesnake. I still listen to them a lot :) (but it's harder to watch them ...) And for me it all started with Guns 'n' Roses (them I really don't stand anymore) and yes, the great and legendary dark gothics The Sisters of Mercy. Oh, did I mention I was in grunge generation and was a couple of years totally in grunge? Some other time about that ...

James Hetfield (Metallica), Image by /amf via Flickr

I've loved gothic and I still love it the most. Paradise Lost, not to forget to mention, are founders and gods of gothic metal. Their genre »founding song« Gothic is just e p i c. And they have the greatest lyrics (they make songs, real songs, said Kreator's Mille Petrozza), written by Nick, their remarkable writer and vocalist and they have the greatest guitar riffs performed by guitar god, composer and band founder Greg Mackintosh.

Paradise Lost, Gothic (video is the property of Paradise Lost)***

One of the greatest Greg's solos (video is the property of Paradise Lost)

Did you know that metal bands go great with classic? Check out some great performances: Paradise Lost with Prague Orchestra, Scorpions with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Metallica with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (or just listen to Apocalyptica, but that's a different story).

Metal is a (sub)culture and it's a mindset in some way as we live it. I listen to some other music genres as well but none of them makes me feel like metal does. It's a passion. And nothing can compare to a metal festival. Well, maybe a great two-day mountain tour above 2000m.

Metalheads, do you have any suggestions what else should I listen to?

* From the Paradise Lost song Your Own Reality.

** I love Last FM for following my favorite bands and exploring new music therefore the links go there for more band info

*** I apologize Paradise Lost and Century Media for potential infringement of their copyrights for publishing these videos. They have been published with my best intentions to present PL's work to my readers. Readers please check out the official Century Media channel for more PL videos.