Slaughter and Poison?

/To the left you'll see the members of Warrent and if you look waaaay up you'll see the bottom of the barrel.

I have a friend who goes at least once a week and he talks about how it's the farkin' worst venue in the world. I don't get it. Then again, I don't get metal.

This was greenlit and my post about Terry Kath wasn't???

Mods are on the take.

Too bad nobody listens to metal anymore.

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Drinkingtoomchandsmashingthebar'swalls

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Totallackofregardforanyonearoundyouorbasichygene

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

ReallywishyouwerefromScandinavia

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Reallywishiatwas1982againwhenyoufavoritebanddidn'thavegiganticbeerguts

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

SatanisinmyMyspacefavoriteslist

METALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I thought a "metal" venue would have to play host to the odd actual metal band? Odd.

juiceman_eyebrows: Too bad nobody listens to metal anymore.

Too bad nobody listens to metal anymore.

Sure. Ignore me, I'm not here, and no-one I know is either.

deevo: I have a friend who goes at least once a week and he talks about how it's the farkin' worst venue in the world. I don't get it. Then again, I don't get metal.

Maybe, he goes to see the band playing there. The venue may suck, but if the band is good, you still go.

AaaPha: I thought a "metal" venue would have to play host to the odd actual metal band? Odd.


So its become like the Starland Ballroom in NJ, where only metalcore, hardcore and Avenged Sevefold type bands play?

Metal is one of those genres that doesn't seem to go through growth spurts very often. Think of how Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, etc all go through revitalizations and have artists that push their genre along every couple of years

With metal it's almost like the fans are purists and won't allow the genre to present something that much different from what it was 20 years ago.

Jaxx - where has been hair bands go right before they get so depressed they overdose on drugs. I'm talking about you Mr. dead Quiet Riot singer.

Millzners: Metal is one of those genres that doesn't seem to go through growth spurts very often. Think of how Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, etc all go through revitalizations and have artists that push their genre along every couple of years

With metal it's almost like the fans are purists and won't allow the genre to present something that much different from what it was 20 years ago.

Metal grew extremely fast and did have a couple of growth spurts, and there are quite a few different types of metal. While I think there are some older fans who just want to relive their youth, I think many fans simply choose the types of metal they like regardless of when it was made. I like traditional metal, power metal, prog metal, and some thrash metal. I'd say 95% of the metal I listen to fit in to those categories. I don't like black metal, death metal, and metalcore (i prefer clean vocals and the riffs are too simplistic and distorted), but unfortunately the vast majority of new metal is in one of those categories. I can say the same about jazz, I prefer to listen to bop, hard bop, and early jazz fusion. I don't listen to smooth jazz, latin jazz or even swing.

Europe is where the metal scene's at now, they still go nuts for it over there. Jaxx is mostly known for hosting old eighties acts, but last spring I went to the Within Temptation/Lacuna Coil show (both European bands) and it kicked ass.

/I was the oldest person there
//my lawn, get off it

I always liked Jaxx, Played there a few times for some local battle of the band contests. Went there a few times, most recently for Into Eternity and Nevermore opening for Opeth. was a great show, the sound was pretty good, crowd was great, and its a pretty good layout for a club.

Jaxx is friggin great .. I grew up in that area... always good shows with good bands... sure you get a few has beens but for the most part its current metal bands.. like mosh pit style stuff... go look at the JaxxRoxx.com page and look at the type of thing that plays there.. it's not cheesy or crappy.. they have a great sound and light system.. theres not a bad seat in the house and it's a nice small size so the shows are intamate.. I've played there a few times... very cool.. very band friendly.. so suck it haters... some of you biatches know nothing about it and have never set foot in the door... you should shut your holes..

Someone ranks world's top metal clubs?

metal is still alive & kickin & isnt going away anytime soon:
uvtv metal/hardcore hard rock (new window)

I wish we had a metal club here in Atlanta. Our rock clubs are getting shut down one by one. The Darkside was a small club attached to a freakin' sports bar, and they shut that down because the bar didn't like the people it was bringing in.

About the last place to see a real metal show is The Masquerade, and I'm always afraid the floor is going to give way when I'm on the Heaven level. Exodus is playing there next week, but I'll be on the lower floor seeing HURT (the Hell level is right underneath Heaven). I hope the floor doesn't give way.

One of the top ten metal venues is the world is located in a strip mall? wow.

The Glass Dragon: I wish we had a metal club here in Atlanta. Our rock clubs are getting shut down one by one. The Darkside was a small club attached to a freakin' sports bar, and they shut that down because the bar didn't like the people it was bringing in.

About the last place to see a real metal show is The Masquerade, and I'm always afraid the floor is going to give way when I'm on the Heaven level. Exodus is playing there next week, but I'll be on the lower floor seeing HURT (the Hell level is right underneath Heaven). I hope the floor doesn't give way.

I have always wondered about that at the Masquerade. That place is kind of old now and wondered if they have renovated it at all.

Though I don't worry about it that much since I go to the shows at the "music park" they have out back.

Millzners: Metal is one of those genres that doesn't seem to go through growth spurts very often. Think of how Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, etc all go through revitalizations and have artists that push their genre along every couple of years

With metal it's almost like the fans are purists and won't allow the genre to present something that much different from what it was 20 years ago.

this is true to a certain extent, but you're wrong. proof: Link (new window) don't let the vocals be a turn off, the music is brilliant.

galleech: Maybe, he goes to see the band playing there. The venue may suck, but if the band is good, you still go.

Not really, there are a couple of venues in New York that I know are terrible and I really don't bother going unless it's a reunion show or some truly rare opportunity.

Jaxx is farking amazing...every concert I've been to there has been balls to the wall energy.

This is pretty sad actually. All of the metal tours would come through there (not just hair acts) and I doubt whoever buys it will keep it the same way. I guess I'll have to drive to friggin' Baltimore now. Ugh.

Millzners: Metal is one of those genres that doesn't seem to go through growth spurts very often. Think of how Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, etc all go through revitalizations and have artists that push their genre along every couple of years

With metal it's almost like the fans are purists and won't allow the genre to present something that much different from what it was 20 years ago.

Incorrect. Metal has gone through many "growth spurts" over its 40 year history.

Proto-metal (mid 60s - 1970)
Blue Cheer, Led Zepplin, Vanilla Fudge, etc.

1970-
Birth of true metal w/ the release of Black Sabbath's debut album.
Tony Iommi invented the metal riff and Bill Ward wrote the lyrics that would define metal to this day.

1974-
Judas Priest releases "Rocka Rolla" bringing the leather and spikes to metal as well as building upon the twin guitar attack of Thin Lizzy and making it feature in most English bands.

1979-
New Wave of Britis Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) starts gelling into a movement. Bands like Diamond Head and Samson break through and pave the way for the classic NWOBHM bands (Iron Maiden, Saxon, Witchfinder General).
These bands were very influential, so much so that there is not a single metal musician today that doesn't have some maiden in his collection.

Venom's "Black Metal" came out in 1982 and was a direct link to Black Metal and an influence on Slayer.

1983-
First wave of thrash - Metallica and Slayer both release albums. Metallica goes on to define thrash (along with Exodus and Megadeth).
Slayer thrashes with the best of them but their dark lyrics and ferocity lead to both Black Metal and Death Metal.
They were joined by a movement in Germany featuring the intense, primitive thrash of Kreator and Destruction.

The early 80s is also when a reaction to the technical, classical elements of NWOBHM results in a rise in bands that want to capture the doomy, churning sounds of Sabbath and Pentagram. The Obsessed is by far the classic example of this Doom metal, but St. Vitus is also a major player.

Mid to late 80s -
Corporate America discovered that it could re-brand pop music and sell it to teenage girls. Thus Hair Metal was born. But since this is not really metal, we can't count it here.

1987 -
The second wave of thrash arose in the Bay Area with bands like Death Angel and Textament. These new bands built upon what the thrash pioneers created and took it to new extremes.

Also in 1978, Mayhem releases "Deathcrush" the first true Black Metal album. They go on to inspire one of the most extreme and intensely rabid fanbases in the history of music.

1987 is also the year that Death release their first record, opening the dorrs for the Death Metal movement that ignites a firesrorm of cookie monsters from Florida (Morbid Angel, Obituary) and
Sweden (Entombed, At The Gates).

Napalm Death releases the first Grindcore record and this builds upon the Death Metal sound but makes it more intense and gives the world blast beats (intense, rapid double kick drum attacks).

1987 was a pivotal year with a number of metal sub-genres coming to light.

1986-1989 -
We see the appearance of Progressive Metal. Led by bands like Dream Theater and Watchtower, this style of metal is dominated by unusual time signatures and technical proficiency. Voivod blurs the line between Thrash and Progressive.
Progressive Metal is still alive and well with bands lie Spock's Beard and Porcupine leading the charge.

1992 -
Kyuss releases "Blues For The Red Sun" and Sleep's "Holy Mountain" come out and offer up a "new" riff-intensive, downtuned, ultra-heavy sound. Along with Cathedral, these bands celebrate the early metal but cover it in a thick haze of opiates and THC. It is a reaction to the grunge and hardcore of the day.

The Early '90s also saw the rise of Gothic Metal led by Moonspell and Type O Negative. Gothic Metal is kind of like a blend of Black Sabbath and Skinny Puppy. The newer stuff is often female-fronted and almost always European. It had melodic, textural feeling with over-the-top weepy lyrics.


The late '90s brought us a ton of Viking Metal bands, such as Tyr, Amon Amarth, and Enslaved. The bands broke off from the Black Metal scene but the music is very different. The subject matter is less about Satan and more about Odin and the melodies are often traditional Scandinavian folk tunes with anthemic choruses. This genre is very empowering and positive.

Early in 2000 Folk Metal broke off from Viking Metal and is, naturally, concentrated in Finland. Bands like Turisas, and Korpiklaani sing in their native tongue and incorporate traditional instruments (pipes, fiddles, etc) into their music. They often sing of trolls and giants and beer. They usually wear furs and face paint. The melodies are often based on Hummpa music (a polka-type bouncy rhythm).

The mid 2000s have given us an atmospheric metal/hardcore genre that is yet unnamed. Bands like Isis, Neurosis, and Pelican dominate the genre. The music is dreamy and instrumental punctuated by bursts of intensity.

This new century has seen the creation of what is being called the New Wave of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM). Bands like Lamb of God, Mastodon, and Baroness come to the head of the pack. The term NWOAHM is very broad and wide. Lamb of God is a thrash band with hardcore vocals. Mastodon is a progressive metal band with hints of punk and NWOBHM. Baroness is progressive and melodic. It remains to be seen if these band break away from the silly title and NWOAHM disappears as a genre name.

The movements and sub-genres I've listed above is only a partial list. I refuse to acknowledge nu-metal or Christian metal as true metal genres, and grunge was more punk that metal. But you can see from the basic outline above that metal most certainly is as progressive and malleable as jazz, hip-hop, etc.

While I agree that there are some fans who wish their music to remain the same (how else can we explain Manowar?), the vast majority of true metal fans welcome change.

Pyro Messiah: This is pretty sad actually. All of the metal tours would come through there (not just hair acts) and I doubt whoever buys it will keep it the same way. I guess I'll have to drive to friggin' Baltimore now. Ugh.

HammerJacks?

lerxst2112: I have always wondered about that at the Masquerade. That place is kind of old now and wondered if they have renovated it at all.

Though I don't worry about it that much since I go to the shows at the "music park" they have out back.

Yeah, I've been to the music park. At least the ground is stable there. :)

I talked to the guys at The Masq once if the place was ever going to be shut down (pretty sure you heard, but supposedly someone bought some land there or something and wants to build where The Masq is, but zoning laws or something is preventing them from doing so). The guy just sort of laughed and said, "We're not going anywhere."

I hope not, because despite it being run down, it's one of my last safe havens for metal.

And on a slight threadjack... noticed your name. You going to Rush at this new venue on July 22nd? I heard it's the first rock show that is going to happen there outside of the symphony.

JAXX the place sucks but they manage to sneak in a few good acts every now and then. One of the few bars I've been to that still kicks the trough style urinal. Once saw a guy curled up passed out in a tiny space between the trough and the stall. Neither the bouncers nor the cops would touch him. Finally some (I would assume very good) friends claimed the guy and got him out of there.

Wow, I played there once. In high school, I played bass in a band called Mad Ophelia, and we did a show there. One of those local bands spotlight or something.

That was years and years ago, though.

RagingLeonard: While I agree that there are some fans who wish their music to remain the same (how else can we explain Manowar?), the vast majority of true metal fans welcome change.

In all fairness to ManOwaR their last album has a lot more symphonic inflences then most of their other work. Unfortunately, their brand of metal is too simple, and doesn't mix well with the symphonic parts. I think Hammerfall is probably a better example of a band whose music remains the same.

RagingLeonard:

It's amazing how you described all this, but then you say "Well I don't consider nu-metal or Christian metal "real" metal." Since when did you become the end-all-be-all of metal?

Millzners: Metal is one of those genres that doesn't seem to go through growth spurts very often. Think of how Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, etc all go through revitalizations and have artists that push their genre along every couple of years

With metal it's almost like the fans are purists and won't allow the genre to present something that much different from what it was 20 years ago.

That's a completely ridiculous thing to say. Mastodon and Pelican sound NOTHING like Judas Priest, for example.

RagingLeonard: They often sing of trolls and giants and beer. They usually wear furs and face paint. The melodies are often based on Hummpa music (a polka-type bouncy rhythm).

Korpiklaani is True Metal^tm Polka. (And is totally awesome for that.)

galleech: I think Hammerfall is probably a better example of a band whose music remains the same.

Slayer has been widely criticized for not "evolving" over the years. The listener still hears the essence of Slayer in any song on any album. I, for one, have noooooo problem with that.

Experimentation is good, yes. Evolution is good, yes. And every band can release one really awful CD without alienating too many core fans. But I have expectations from bands (especially those with consistently awesome catalogs) that they won't turn away from what I found so cool about them to begin with. And I don't think that's unreasonable.

galleech: RagingLeonard: While I agree that there are some fans who wish their music to remain the same (how else can we explain Manowar?), the vast majority of true metal fans welcome change.

In all fairness to ManOwaR their last album has a lot more symphonic inflences then most of their other work. Unfortunately, their brand of metal is too simple, and doesn't mix well with the symphonic parts. I think Hammerfall is probably a better example of a band whose music remains the same.

Good point. But I never pass up a chance to make fun of Manowar.

The Billdozer: RagingLeonard:

It's amazing how you described all this, but then you say "Well I don't consider nu-metal or Christian metal "real" metal." Since when did you become the end-all-be-all of metal?

I never claimed to be the "end-all-be-all of metal". As you can plainly see in my text, "Well I don't consider nu-metal or Christian metal "real" metal" I'm stating an opinion.
I consider "real" metal to be one circle of musical styles and nu-metal and Christian metal do not fall into my belief of what is true metal. I don't consider industrial or noise to be metal either.
I think if you ask most metal heads, the real metal heads who have seen Iron Maiden live and not the ones who buy Artreyu shirts at Hot Topic, you will find that most of them don't consider Korn or Papa Roach to be real metal.

But hey, if your idea of metal is eye liner and emo vocals, then hey, rock on.

Jaxx is legendary? I didn't think it was any older than the mid-80's strip mall expansion it's sitting in the middle of. Saw Cheap Trick there in 1994. Good show, but the venue wasn't spectacular. HammerJacks was a more impressive space.

FTFA: "I've worked hard to make this one of the top 10 metal venues in the world."

Doesn't say he succeeded.

Probably one of the top 10 in his metro area / state, though.

RagingLeonard: Proto-metal (mid 60s - 1970)
Blue Cheer, Led Zepplin, Vanilla Fudge, etc.

1970-
Birth of true metal w/ the release of Black Sabbath's debut album.
Tony Iommi invented the metal riff and Bill Ward wrote the lyrics that would define metal to this day.

Don't forget the Yardbirds' impact on Metal & the fact that Paranoid is a rip off of Led Zep's Communication breakdown... Jimmy Page paved the way for Iommi.

Second, don't forget the importance of Crossover acts like S.O.D. & the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.

\\I'd rather be sleeping

Any Metal timeline that doesn't mention Pantera or Fear Factory is incomplete.

Oh goody... another "whose schlong is longer" thread. I just love music snobbery.

Nemo's Brother: Any Metal timeline that doesn't mention Pantera or Fear Factory is incomplete.

Why, because they both suck?

Pillager: RagingLeonard: Proto-metal (mid 60s - 1970)
Blue Cheer, Led Zepplin, Vanilla Fudge, etc.

1970-
Birth of true metal w/ the release of Black Sabbath's debut album.
Tony Iommi invented the metal riff and Bill Ward wrote the lyrics that would define metal to this day.

Don't forget the Yardbirds' impact on Metal & the fact that Paranoid is a rip off of Led Zep's Communication breakdown... Jimmy Page paved the way for Iommi.

Second, don't forget the importance of Crossover acts like S.O.D. & the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.

\\I'd rather be sleeping

Zep is on the list.
Since we're getting into the nuances of proto-metal, we can't forget Hendrix. His work with distortion and amplification was very important to metal. The Who had quite an impact as well. Pete Townshend embodied rock guitar god and his flawless rhythm playing was integral to metal.

Hell, while we're at it, let's talk about Robert Johnson. His guitar work inspired most rock guitarists, whether they know it or not.

Oh, and Wagner too. His dark, violent subject matter and dynamic arrangements indirectly inspired many European metal bands.

I used to live near Jaxx and wasn't aware that it was "legendary". They had Vanilla Ice there in 2001 for crissakes.

RagingLeonard

Excellent writeup man!