Heavy to Light
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:01AM Why do bands seem to start heavy and get lighter as their careers go on? Think about it: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Metallica and now bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine all started heavy and progressed to more melodic music.
What gives?
High n' Dry and Shout at the Devil are decidedly Metal, while Songs from the Sparkle Lounge and Theatre of Pain are certainly not.
Of course, the easy answer is that the bands wanted to, you know, sell albums. I mean, how dare they?!
While popularity and the desire to eat and have a home are one thing, many bands have stayed tried and true to Metal, especially Motorhead and Iron Maiden. Now, it's none of my business to talk about a person's financial status, but since members of both Motorhead and Iron Maiden are celebrities, they are exempt. I am going to go out on a limb and say both bands are doing pretty well for themselves.
Metallica are working on their new album right now. Drummer Lars Ulrich keeps saying it's "classic Metallica." Does that mean we're about to have another Kill 'Em All on our hands? Somehow, I'm having trouble buying what Lars is selling.
Let's face it: Metallica made the so-called Black album and it's been downhill ever since Metal-wise. Sales wise, the band has pretty much been on fire. Well, except for the pesky Load releases...
Were bands like Metallica, Motley Crue and Def Leppard mere products at the mercy of a new 80s medium known as MTV? I know Motorhead and Iron Maiden made videos too, but nowhere near as many as the Glam bands I talk about on here daily. MTV was (is) a genre for the beautiful. Let's face it: Nikki Sixx is considered more than attractive by quite a lot of women. I'm sure his looks and attitude didn't hurt Motley's sales any. It's no different than Beyonce or other pop stars because sex sells. Often when you throw sex into the picture, the product - in this case Metal - becomes somewhat diluted.
So, did bands like Metallica, Motley Crue, Def Leppard and all the rest evolve to become more commercially popular or was it just a sign of the times? Remember, the same is exactly true for modern Metal acts like Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine. With each album, both bands get a little more melodic. That's no issue for me - I seriously love every album by both bands, but I realize I'm in the majority when it comes to screamo Metal. Yes, the Glam mistress does enjoy the heavy stuff from time to time.
Just for fun, let's compare:
Here's Avenged Sevenfold's "Darkness Surrounding" from Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
Now, "Gunslinger" from the recent self-titled release.
Do you hear the differences? Spill it, my music maniacs.
Reader Comments (27)
I expect the new Metallica to be sucktastic, but we'll see.
'Shout' is probably my favourite Motley album, but if they'd stuck religiously to that sound I don't think it would appeal to me nearly as much. As it is, I can listen to all their albums in one sitting (with the exception of Theater of Pain, which is just bad) without at any point approaching boredom.
Dr.Feelgood was not lighter than shout and neither was girls girls girls. but theatre of pain is he high point of drugs and they didn't know what they were doing. but they are always metal.
Bullet For My Valentine u say. their new cd is far heavier to me then the poison. listen to waking the demon, scream aim fire, eye of the storm, etc. all heavy songs. Def Leppard have never been that heavy high and dry was just classic rock. Def Leppard albums like hysteria and Songs from the Sparkle Lounge are the DEF LEPPARD SOUND.
And a lot of bands go lighter to heavier like
Hardcore Superstar
Skid Row
Warrant (Songs like uncle tom's caabin)
and many more
Sorry but i got to disagree with u.
p.s. even though theatre of pain is the crue's least amazing album from their esstial 5 albums. (81,89)
listen to City Boy Blues, Home Sweet Home, Louder Than Hell, and Keep Your eye On The Money of theatre of Pain.
Smokin in the boys room is a cover. The only other good song on that CD is Home sweet home, sorry. Even the band think so.
Maiden & AC/DC.....these are bands that didn't compromise their sound and still had major success. Look at Maiden today, they are selling out arenas by themselves while other bands need two or three support acts. AC/DC is in the studio and will sell out arenas when they tour. Motorhead is successful due to longevity and fanbase but I've read many interviews where Lemmy says he's not a multi millionaire.
Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/
No matter how you look at it, Vivian attacks Whitesnake and Dio, all the time. Dio has only ever said nice things about Vivian, and if it's true or not, for him to mouth off like that, is unprofessional and rude. Having said that, Def Lep with him is still a great band, they were awesome live.
I am sure Vivian is cool to fans and to people he likes, I was talking about him dissing Dio all the time.
Actually, I've been reading a book on Rainbow, most people who were in Rainbow are pretty forgiving of Ritchies personality. Which is just being professional, like I said.
And, I didn't say Vivian was a bad player. Holy Diver is one of my all time favourite CDs. He didn't record for Whitesnake, but his Def Lep stuff is also good. I was talking specifically about how he presents himself and how he treats Dio. I've NEVER seen Dio admit he treated him badly. He played all his own solos. I've also read an album by album analysis of Dio, the band, and didn't see anyting on that.
Guns - I like the Loads. I really do. but, they are not metal, and Metallica went alternative at a time when the world needed a big metal album, from a big metal band. St Anger just sucked, IMO. I am hoping it was the therapy and that the new CD kicks ass again.