This is my column for the January issue of Molten Magazine. It’s no longer on sale so keep an eye out for the February issue with my next column or better yet subscribe to it!
Brace yourselves, the end is nigh! Metal is close to being completely destroyed! Evil corporations are to blame; the technology they invent is breeding a new generation of lame bands preoccupied with social media and other fads!
I remember once back in the 1990s my Dad of all people told me that all home entertainment in the future will be stored in centralized locations and consumed when needed by the viewer. Once I finished laughing in his face for being a stupid old man I plugged in my walkman, cranked up my latest mix-tape, rewound my rented video and rollerbladed into town to drop it back to Xtra-Vision.
Needless to say old Pop’s prediction is coming true, but it could have been a firm reality sooner had there been less resistance to technology in the music industry.
The metal community has a vocal conservative caucus that, in addition to still ranting about posers despite being in their late 30s, criticize bands who are willing to use modern technology to promote themselves. Bands that utilize iPhone apps, Facebook competitions, mobile websites and MP3 releases are slagged for being commercial whilst those that release vinyls of rubbish bedroom recordings are hailed as underground heroes.
Internet based technology and media is no longer the future, it’s the present. Today’s generation don’t buy fanzines or records, they watch more video online than on TV and phones are becoming the internet browser of choice.
If all you granddads out there have a problem with your favourite obscure metal subgenre dying a slow death then embrace the ability to connect with new fans on a global scale. Either that or resume your position in the rocking chair by your gramophone. Rover will be along shortly with your slippers.
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