Metal Talk

[@thecasiorobinson]

Nik try not to put Sleep Token in his thumbnails challenge level impossible

[@haygax5767]

Crazy how much metal has evolved. I certainly feel that Mick Gordon had a HUGE impact on the way metal is produced/perceived now, as crazy is that is to say. I’m so excited to see how this genre continues to evolve.

[@MiaR_96]

Oh most definitely. I literally got into Doom because of Mick Gordon, and thus back into listening to metal on a daily basis. I'm just trying to chill and enjoy metal, both old and new lol.

[@knightartorias7043]

Mick is the entire reason I'm in such love with metal, and I come from a background of mindless "whatever was popular at the time" music. Which, no hate to those that enjoy pop and trap, was not a time I'd like to go back to. Can't wait to see where we go from here. :)

[@jarrettchristensen_music]

It's evolved some but djent is pretty much metal's final form

[@charlesray2249]

Without meshuggah there wouldn’t be Mick Gordon

[@jarrettchristensen_music]

Meshuggah and periphery are way more influential than mick Gordon

[@colewilliams6623]

I am someone who came along at the very end of Gen X (46) I have said this many times, "You ether evolve with time, or you will get left behind". Most people from my era cannot and outright refuse to say that. I love some bands from the 80's, 90's and beyond. Crue got me into metal, and now I listen to everything from Slipknot, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, Slaughter to Prevail, and many more! Keeping an open mind is paramount to discovering new music!

[@7ChaosBlack]

Crue is unironically better than all the garbo you just mentioned.

[@ddodarell]

Same age, same story brother. Plus, being able to play guitar along with your favorite songs with just an iPad, has only made my passion for new and old music so much more special.

[@may_beck6224]

same age bracket and I couldn't agree more I dont think one is better than the other they are different and I love watching the progression

[@HonkeyKongLive]

You gotta pick some bands that aren't on the radio

[@david_lynch_gaming]

man there's actually good metal out there that also evolved too yknow

[@justvibingman496]

You can hear alot of nu metal and metalcore influences in todays metal, its like reliving my childhood all over again except im in my 20s

[@Lamenter69]

I remember when Melissa Cross brought out the dvd called Zen Of Screaming in 2005, i bought it thinking it would be crazy vocal techniques, but it just turned out to be regular singing lessons and warm ups, one embarrasing sing lesson later my growls got deeper, my vocals became better, i had better breath control and i could hit more ranges. The history of metal vocals evolving im pretty sure starts with Melissa Cross the GOAT

[@EonSlumber]

She was booked for a decade.

[@SEVEN_DUCK]

Nu metal, alternative metal and metalcore from the 2000's made me the man i am today but i also love modern metal and new fun metal shit that comes out today. Its okay to like both eras

[@7ChaosBlack]

Modern metal isn't metal, it's just mallcore.

[@WSDoesStuff]

@@7ChaosBlack You are the problem

[@7ChaosBlack]

@@WSDoesStuff I'm not the one who pretends an offshoot of hxc and post-hxc is metal. That's all on Nik and his scene kid army.

[@bladempale1751]

@@WSDoesStuffit’s the truth though Quit calling it metal. Literally just cheesier hardcore.

[@WSDoesStuff]

@@bladempale1751 hard-core is still metal. Quit gatekeeping

[@EmoSupremo-h9f]

Fun! MeTaL! THINGS!!!!!

[@DumbMetalHead7]

Eughhhhhhhh

[@FrogToRuleThemAll]

Got the bmth keyboard

[@7ChaosBlack]

There is no metal on this channel, only mallcore.

[@pastromer8552]

meshuggah and periphery deciding to make the sound that people would use and manipulate for the next 16 years be like: 🥶

[@gonzoe123]

I keep seeing people talk about Mick Gordon, but Meshuggah and Periphery had a significantly stronger influence in my opinion

[@pastromer8552]

@@gonzoe123 its true, Mick Gordon wouldnt exist in the form he does if Meshuggah didnt exist

[@redfoxxx9997]

Vildhjarta has entered the chat

[@grimg0r]

why do people forget about after the burial? they were right next to periphery when they first started in terms of that meshuggah influenced sound

[@7ChaosBlack]

Tf you talking about. Meshuggah's sound is 30 years old and Periphery made a career being a xerox of Sikth and Tesseract who are a xerox of Meshuggah.

[@clerxvr]

Nik you inspired me to play guitar today I just learned walk by pantera and the solo thanks for inspiring me also to get into metal

[@clerxvr]

I’m also 11 and my fav bands are as I lay dying 5-7-8 for life and bfmv and slaughter to prevail

[@G.O.A.T-wm4pk]

@@clerxvr yo, i am a drummer

[@loganheidrick3719]

Dude a Pantera solo at 11? He'll yeah keep it up dude!

[@clerxvr]

@@G.O.A.T-wm4pk do you live near Wisconsin?

[@isaacclose8828]

@@loganheidrick3719 ay he's 11 let's watch the language jkjk but a pantera solo at 11 is insanely good! Dimebag was amazing!

[@matp8479]

I’m stuck in 2000-2000 nu metal phase. Love the old 578 but the new stuff too.

[@vocecaiunocontodomalakoi7541]

My main problem with mainstream metal nowadays is that the production can get so obnoxiously clean, that it just stops being heavy, like, it stops being organic, I'm not asking for the music to sound like it was recorded through an old radio, but i do want my music to sound like it was actually made by human beings with passion for what they are playing

[@vaidotasdarulis]

I bet the stuff you like is also obnoxiously clean but you just like the music and tones themselves. Name some of your favourite recent albums

[@RockandMetal-u9x]

bla bla bla 🙄 You're acting like all music nowadays is created by aliens or some kinda shit 😂

[@vocecaiunocontodomalakoi7541]

@@RockandMetal-u9x rush rope and chair build irl

[@hypn0sphere]

Nik: what era of metal you like the most? Me: all of them.

[@TempleGuitars]

I don't know about all this "...and then guitarists/drummers/vocalists started getting better". While modern metal is definitely an incredibly skilful genre utilising a wide range of new techniques, I think crusty old shredders in the 80s definitely weren't worse. I'm sure if you gace Paul Gilbert a 15 minute thumping lesson, he'd have invented Tosin music before Tosin. I don't think "better" is the standard or the right word. Just different. I still listen to Judas Priest from the 80s, and I was listening to Polyphia a minute ago. It's all good.

[@damsaucy]

yeah i love nik but man knows nothing outside of metalcore. the shit that oldhead death and prog musicians were doing is still insane. "better" is comparative, modern musicians have shoulders to stand on. (they're still fucking godly ofc)

[@colinwhelan2099]

@@damsaucy I mean he kinda clears it up at the end where he talks about how there's just more stuff to mix and match and take inspiration from. Which is very very true.

[@jarrettchristensen_music]

The songwriting has gotten so much worse and I absolutely hate the production of most new metal albums it's way too pristine. Most of the guitarists are more interested in creating extremely complex parts instead of memorable riffs and solos

[@7ChaosBlack]

@@colinwhelan2099 Again, Nik knows nothing outside of core and only the metalcore and deathcore. So how the hell would he have more to take inspiration from?

[@symptomofsouls]

@@damsaucy Gorguts' Obscura gave me an existential crisis. Was one of the most massive wtf moments I have ever heard in my entire life. I want more of that

[@lilredjellybean]

I grew up as a Warped Tour kid, it's crazy to see how things have evolved. I feel like metal isn't as "raw" anymore, it's cleaner and more produced, like you were saying. There's a hell of a lot of variations now though, so everyone can find something they like.

[@pranakhan]

I started with old school Slayer and Pantera in my early teens (90's), with a transition into Industrial Rock (NIN, Skinny Puppy, KMFDM, SWANS) and then full experimental noise beat when the drugs kicked in; Einstruzende Neubauten, Download, Autechre, etc. I hear many of those industrial ideas in modern metal, and that evolution makes sense to me

[@bjwaters]

Meanwhile, I'm over in the power metal corner, blissfully unaware of these things. Seriously, though, there is nothing wrong with picking up newer production techniques. Saxon and Judas Priest put out some great albums this year, and they're trucking along like it's still 1982. Thanks to the internet, music genres have certainly gotten diverse, but there will always be those bands that still do the things you love. You just have to look for them.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Nik, you have to react to Starset's "new" song 'Brave New World.' Starset may not normally your style, but this is a shocking level of *heavy* for them. I'm a fan of theirs, and this caught me totally off-guard and blew my mind. The riff is literally terrifying. You will *not* be disappointed.

[@matthew9341]

I still remember hearing Bullet With A Name for the first time playing WWE: Smackdown vs Raw 2007 and being absolutely blown away

[@darkwulf2k]

My metal journey started with Metallica, Slayer, Tool, Linkin Park, Disturbed, and then went into Killswitch Engage, Dream Theater, In Flames. Then I went into power metal like Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Within Temptation. Now I do metalcore as my big genre with Ice Nine Kills, Asking Alexandria, We Came as Romans, and Alt metal like Smash Into Pieces. Just discover Versus Me, who are metalcore, and Sick Century who I am not quite sure how to catagorize. I just like metal period. Is best music.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

We need more early 2000's era Metalcore revival. OSDM revival scene has been awesome, same with the Black-Death scene. I like production variation in what I listen to, why bands like Black Cilice (cavernous lo-fi BM) get played right alongside the new Ulcerate or JFAC or TBDM, some of my projects I still mic my amp because that's the sound that's needed. Sky's the limit in a lot of ways.

[@MrShadez810]

I literally couldn’t believe the production change, so quickly, in metal between 2010 - 2015 even. You’ve made so many damn good points in this video, as much as some people will hate on that. I remember I tried to get a metalcore band off in 2010, wrote several songs that were decent enough but then we all got full time jobs with different schedules then that was it. It just faded. I then tried again in 2014 but could only get me (bassist/guitarist) and our main vocalist from the last band , but not the lyricist. So I had to now be the main lyricist. We teamed up with a great unknown producer in my city who I was friends with between different crowds and he just worked with me and my buddy for barely any time before he produced a 80% programmed killer track for us to write and lay down vocals on top. It was actually astounding how little we effed around with just a few ideas and he just went to work and produced this great track as a demo, literally primed for a vocal recording. I was hoping for more input instrumentally tbh. Technology has now made it so that rock/metal producers can be hip-hop producers and that’s exciting and scary. I see both sides as a fan and an incredibly low rank musician a long time ago. The changing world of music technology just means the fans need to be more supportive in smaller genres and spend less time bitching about the stuff that catches more main stream attention and also be thankful for the insane level of variety available when you just dig a little bit into the wonderful and vast genre of metal

[@randywissler9923]

Drummers started doing jazz and metal. Dave Lombardo and Gar Samuelson: did ya'll forget about us? 😂

[@brandonharris9160]

And Sean Reinert from Cynic and Death. Good comment 👍

[@isaacclose8828]

@@brandonharris9160 Bill Ward of Black Sabbath played jazz too, although he wasn't doing metal drumming in the way we think of it today

[@bladempale1751]

This guy literally doesn’t know anything about metal

[@randywissler9923]

@@bladempale1751 you referring about me or Nik?

[@isaacclose8828]

@@randywissler9923 Or me? Perhaps himself?

[@evansbeard]

This is a good analysis. I always tell people how much technology shapes music.

[@MeowReapZ]

I have never gotten to a nik video so quickly.

[@piggman2285]

I’m a much newer metal fan, being introduced to metal through bands like A7x or Slipknot through my brothers, but as I’ve become more into newer metal it’s a lot easier for me to really live in it in comparison to the 2000s metalcore that I wasn’t around for. Because of the fact that I didn’t live through those bands I am not as fully connected or likened to that type of music. Ofc I love all types of metal but being younger allows me to really live in the current scene.

[@ryanbollinger1759]

Whether you like it or not (I absolutely do) Bad Omens has had such a huge influence on the scene, that The Death of Peace of Mind imo will still be talked about in 10 years time. It changed everything. In my opinion, one of the most important albums in recent memory along with You Won’t Go before you’re supposed to by Knocked Loose, and Nex Gen by BMTH.

[@isaacclose8828]

You've really got a point. I wasn't a fan of The Death Of Peace of Mind, but I loved NeX GEn and I think it's really unique

[@Luissv72]

Hard disagree with Next Gen, I think Post Human was and is way more important and influential. It established their formula (or lack thereof) and got them a lot of the popularity they have today.

[@oleksiistri8429]

electronic music and metal began way earlier than Linkin Park. In 80s, Ministry, NIN, a bunch of 80's prog.metal bands used electronics in their music too

[@jishwagent]

It’s all good. I’m only 23 but grew up listening to it all too, love everything now and then

[@Blottski]

I’m just really enjoying this era even as someone who also grew up with that nostalgia trip you mentioned. From LP to BFMV and everything that fit in between back then, to how my tastes have expanded these days. I truly love how VAST Metalcore itself is in general with bands from Northlane to something that is just a more modernized version of Metalcore in Bury Tomorrow. Sprinkle in the crazy off the board stuff BMTH keeps putting out and I feel like I’ve been eating good.

[@sighswoons]

I always describe to people that growing up in the 2000s gateway mainstream metal was KSE, August Burns Red, and the Asking Alexandra stand up and scream debut (the bible of 578 0-0-0-0-0 ) I don't listen to metalcore anymore but it was a great gateway into hardcore and other types of metal that I listen to now!

[@belleybutton4335]

Honestly both are fantastic, without classic stuff we wouldn't have our modern sound now. In a way they need each other, With out the classic sound a modern sound wont get formed cause theres nothing for it to grow and evolve off of, without the modern sound metal would just be the same as it was 20, 30, 40 years ago at that point you kind of get bored of the same foraged sound. It's nice to have places to grow and change up the sound of a genre.

[@Remmy-iq3bs]

As an older Metal head. It’s interesting to see Metal evolve. Love how it’s gotten a bit harder more breakdowns but seems to be missing some deepness sometimes. Have to shout out love for NIN. Thanks Nik. I’ve always wondered if you like Grunge?

[@lttledreamer]

my metal journey really started with the classic thrash and death metal of the 80s so that stuff will always have a special place in my heart, but i think the era that speaks to me the most is late 90s/2000s metal because of how experimental and fun everything got. i also think this is why i am now Really enjoying all the newer metal that’s been coming out, because it feels like another rebirth of the genre. i’ll always respect the classics but what’s been done since then is so sick

[@jackieronimo8112]

There will never be anything like the new wave British heavy metal in the 70's, like the thrash wave of the 80's, the groove and death metal of the 90's, the Nu/Alt metal of the early 2000's, the myspace deathcore movement, etc. Each era brings it's own emerging music styles and it is up to the listener whether it is good or not. Personally I think there is good music to be found every single year as long as you are okay with doing some digging, but even in the mainstream there are fantastic bands like Loathe, Archspire, BMTH, Sleep Token, Spiritbox, Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore and so many more that are pushing the boundaries of music whether people like it or not.

[@NoLimitHonky]

I've said it before on many of your videos, and honestly I was a hater for a lot of newer stuff that was 'mainstream' metal on Octane or Liquid Metal where yeah, some was cool but I knew there had to be something deeper going on. I found this page and my love for br00tz and all things core was reignited once I could watch a few N.N. videos and pull up Spoopifoo and add all this shit to a playlist and from there recommendations on that platform will give you endless options of what you never even knew existed, and not it's your favorite band, genre, whatever. So, big props to you for being honest and fair across the board and not 'gatekeeping' the genre, especially with how much influence you wield nowadays. To your second point about how the music 'sounds', my old band recorded an EP over the course of about 2 years, in the early 10's, and at that time working with the engineer and producer, I realized just how GOOD music can sound when recorded properly and since then I've become a little snobby when the music 'isn't' pristine and perfect, as you said in this video. I want to be able to play it at god-tier levels on any set of speakers or my car or headphones and it sound PERFECT. And frankly I'm glad we're there, and even more glad Spotify and other platforms are working to give us lossless audio, which is going to be another game changer, as 1411k vs. 320k is a WORLD of difference, even if you don't realize it yet. 5 years ago I never thought a band like Polyphia or Bad Omens would top my Spotify lists but here we are, and I'm all the happier for it.

[@matthewduncan5037]

This is one of those debates I think is just void and pointless because it’s literally all just down to personal taste. I like modern metal and really struggle to get in to a lot of older stuff, mostly pre 2000s. Just never happened for me. Me arguing with someone who has the complete opposite taste is pointless and a waste of time because there is no objective answer

[@oTchago]

People do this to remember and praise the ones that came before. As the saying goes: we stand on the shoulders of giants. No side would be judged for understanding the other. It's cool to see metal unfolding

[@oTchago]

But listen to Carnage (michael amotts band) fucking sick stuff

[@7ChaosBlack]

You could just say you're a scene kid that hates metal.

[@Owlr4ider]

It's not about seeking an objective answer but rather understanding why you like modern/classic metal. Or to put it more precisely, what exactly it is that you like about modern/classic metal.

[@With__Humor]

Actually "What the fuck is Mirar?!"

[@lucasieger1966]

Music for bed time...

[@rompundex]

@@lucasieger1966 yes i listen to it while resting and focusing

[@gomaaren]

I've jokingly called it squeegeecore, but MIRAR member Leo himself seems to refer to it as "thallstep" in the titles of his most recent videos

[@With__Humor]

@@gomaaren Yeah, I saw that and thallstep is a good description, but I thought of Mirar as Really Low-Fi

[@-Ruben]

It's Looking in spanish

[@hannakoller8466]

honestly I love genre blending and complex music so it's a great time for me but I also like discovering other styles from older times when I wasn't listening to a lot of music or wasn't even born yet

[@katsuyamekuoropojat9444]

I think you should check out Assemble The Chariots if you appreciate production of today's music, while still missing the elements of older stuff. Their music has a bit of everything, and the composition and everything is just amazing. ''Empress'' would be the best song to check out first, even though their newest song ''Evermurk'' is cool too. Not much of pop-element to them, but they represent where we have gotten to amazingly.

[@lar_4812]

I definitely agree with everything you said, but to me the 90s and 2000s will always be my favorite 🎶

[@pierremaiden]

making access to information alot easier (with internet etc..) also makes it that music knowledge and ability is no longer gatekept by rich people who could pay for real music classes and such. which is also why there seems to be more prodigies and such in music. The market overall got better technically imo.

[@MaxWasher-w7r]

The titles vibe: Son, there comes a time in every future metalheads life when he craves harder rock. Sure ot might only start with black sabbath but over time you listen to thrash, hardcore, death metal, black metal, grindcore esc. Just know, these changes are completley normal. Oh how do i know you are a future metal head? its all in the genes.

[@loki3292]

I've been playing music of some form for 44 years. It's exciting to see my beloved metal evolve, and even more exciting to see these young pups doing things on their instrument that would have Eddie Van Halen's jaw drop. I've never gotten good enough to be anything but a hobbyist, but these new players are phenomenal.

[@Owlr4ider]

Back in the late 70s and 80s metal was like fine dining. In the 90s and early 2000s it became more like bistro and diner food. Modern metal is fast food. Focusing on the production aspect of the music isn't necessarily a bad thing. However obsessing over it and putting it on a pedestal loses a lot of what made metal, well, metal. As you said, solos, a cornerstone of old school metal, are barely a thing these days. The instruments themselves are basically playing second fiddle or as you put it, the guitar itself as a DJ. This notion of everything needing to be 'pristine' makes everything sound the same and on top of that loses the charm old metal had. After all there is no such thing as perfection. Beauty lies in the flaws and imperfections.

[@dante7935]

Listen Dissonant Death Metal and Avant-garde Black Metal. This is real modern metal, composición is madness and production clean

[@Dontreadme]

Thank you dying wish for keeping 2000's metalcore alive 🤘

[@bobaque70]

I see that 1 million plaque in the background.Congrats on your KZbin accomplishments Nik!

[@jeremybonds2274]

Mors Principum Est is a very underrated Melodic Death Metal band. You should listen to Black Curtain by Gatecreeper their new album is fucking amazing. I think Vredehammer, Hath, Fractal Generator, Baest, Vitriol, Brodequin, Thou, Imperialist (is sick Sci-Fi Black Metal band) and tons of others should be in this playlist.

[@CalebHimself]

Listen to hardcore, this is the best time now more than ever. Sick riffs, sick breakdowns, and so many good bands out there.

[@painterofthehappiness4578]

metalcore, powermetal and partially nu metal are by far my favorite metal subgenres because of the mix of heaviness and relatively clean vocals

[@jayceledet6756]

I’m 18, from Louisiana. Southern state in America. I got into metal about 3 1/2 years ago, covid. In 8th grade I got into classic rock, in 9th grade I got into metal with Slipknot and Metallica. From there, I got into deathcore, my metal, metal core, classic metal, and other stuff. Then, I got into the NOLA scene. Let me tell you, no does it like then. My favorite band of all time is Crowbar. The riffs are compelling, and I think that’s what we’re missing in metal these days. The riffs just aren’t that memorable for a lot of bands. Last night I saw DOWN. Phil Anselmo’s rock band. That was the 2nd best show I’ve ever seen, behind seeing Crowbar a few months ago. There’s such a focus on combing a type of soulful metal/rock vocal with the awesome riffs. They aren’t scared of melody, and they are genuinely heavy. So much deathcore isn’t even heavy these days because of its production and riff style. I know, riff style is a big defining part of genre. But there really isn’t any memorable riffs in a lot of the modern deathcore bands. (Slaughter to Prevail and Lorna Shore being exclusions somewhat). And deathcore isn’t the only one. When you go to modern metal core I can think of so so few memorable riffs. And my second favorite band is Whitechapel. They have a lot of actual, true riffs. That drive the song, and are melody in themselves. Think Pantera, Dime’s riffs are half the melody of the song. I love Sleep Token as well, but here’s the the difference in the attraction. They don’t have any memorable riffs really, maybe the Summoning and Take me Back to Eden’s breakdown. But they don’t need the riffs to be memorable because they have other instruments that make memorable parts in the song, especially Vessel’s voice. I love big choruses as much as the next person, but so many just have an extremely basic melody that’s cool until you’ve heard it 10 times. Then you forget about that song, and it’s boring. There’s so much material out there, but so much is just not that memorable. I really hope we start getting more memorable riffs again in metal, even if it’s not some mind-blowing new sub-genre. Another small thing is that no one really has a unique tone for their guitars. Everyone has a good tone. But very few have a tone that you hear and know who it is. In short, I don’t really know what my favorite type of metal is, but probably southern. And I believe that’s what we are doing right, the riffs.

[@roninsohei]

Metal is like pizza and there is no bad pizza (yes, I know Little Caesar's exists) But a quick not on nu-metal; you kinda made it sound like Linkin Park started nu-metal but it was Korn, Deftones, early Incubus, and Limp Bizkit, back in 97/98 that really started it. I mean TRL in the late 90s was Korn doing songs with Ice Cube and Method Man putting metal guitar in his songs. I LOVE Linkin Park, and respect them endlessly, but they popped off when nu-metal peaked, they didn't pioneer it.

[@spuldup]

"Everything's awesome cuz we still have F***** Breakdowns!" I exhaled out of my nose on that one.

[@austinleblanc234]

Honestly, I like both! As long the song is good and I enjoy what I’m hearing and I’m playing it on repeat, then it’s a banger song. There’s nothing wrong with the old style, but in my opinion, if you’re doing the same thing over and over again, it begins to become stale. You can only come up with so many riffs, chords, etc. Adding new elements to your music will bruh some spice to it which us listeners will enjoy. We all need something fresh in the mix.

[@theotrovato8250]

Music is sound, sound makes me happy. No more no less

[@Kellbellgurl]

The now music is great. There are some great collabs coming out. I'm more motivated to go concerts more than ever. It also helps that I'm older and actually have money.

[@lordgigapiller]

Didn't know mirar was getting big. You love to see it

[@PolarityMetal]

I just won't ever accept that music was better back then just because of 'lack' of good production. We live in an age where I can record a whole song with drums, guitar, voice and bass and full production with just a laptop, a mic and a guitar. That's huge, and as much as I appreciate records like The Cleansing for their rawness, I love recording crap at home

[@timcarpenter6098]

I'm 37. Born in '87. Rhyme heh. Anyway, your last question of best Era. Shit dude to be honest I've played for 25 years, most of which is metal 90%., ear player, mostly write. What Era is the best? I hear similarities and pockets utilizing a lot more borrowed than people think. The thing with progression in metal is that it's like a melting pot, but also from remnants of the last melting pot. Tricks and killer riffs just getting improvised by inspired musicians, whom are also mixing newer elements. Metal just evolves. Constantly.

[@PlayPodOG]

even when it comes to modern bands though. im fine with the production and adding more than just the base instruments. but i do think a band is better for being real. when i make music its imperfect and i want it to be. i want my flavor in it. so if a band uses a drum machine instead of a real drummer, thats less authentic to me. and i love bands like electric call boy and shit. the production isn't wrong. but still should feel authentic

[@fullmetalguy8357]

6:25 Yes production has gotten a lot more accessible and it's way easier to sound like a professional band with a home studio. But it's not necessarily better. The trap many bands fall into these days is using the same presets to produce that high gain, low end guitar sound where bands almost sound indistinguishable from one another. In fact, this is almost like what happened in the late 80s, where every big band had loud, reverb-drenched production. Which is precisely why "grunge" and bands like Korn stripped down their production so much. The underground metal scenes were always fated to have a less-than-pristine production value due to their budgets and access to studios. But that variation in production is what makes a genre as diverse as metal special. If you look at the non-mainstream bands out today, you'll notice that there's a huge variety of sounds and production styles that aren't limited to whatever metalcore flavour-of-the-week is pushed on the Heatseekers / Spotify's "Kickass Metal" playlist.

[@BigJuicyJerm]

END video PLEASE. END is an American metalcore supergroup composed of singer Brendan Murphy (Counterparts), guitarists Will Putney (Fit For An Autopsy) and Gregory Thomas (Shai Hulud), bassist Jay Pepito (Reign Supreme), and drummer Matt Guglielmo (the Acacia Strain)

[@jdm13mat]

I got to experience metal music since the late 90s, from old heavy metal, to thrash, death metal, black metal, core, djent...etc and the one thing that made me happy about its evolution besides the production aspect is the lack of discrimination. It used to be so strict back then, at least from the community, you had, as a metalhead, to fit in a certain "image" according to the subgenre in order to get accepted from the rest. Plenty of people used to gatekeep and mock others. Especially if you were interested in orther music genres too. We had a sense of shame for listening to hip hop or dnb for example. Nowdays it feels more free creatively and the community is more accepting and more educated and are not affraid to get inspired and mix with other music styles.

[@reidiculous4747]

When you were talking about your music discovery path it was like you were speaking for me hahaha

[@MoZ1899]

i love how there's so many variations of metal today for everyone to enjoy. idc what anyone says - if you like oldschool metal, go ahead, listen to them & find new bands that have that sound and if you like the newer style, then good for you. we don't need ppl's validations to have fun

[@pouyanbeigzadeh-u6p]

anything that makes me headbang makes me happy no more overthinking

[@MrScrofulous]

Nik - guitar solos aren't a thing today Adam de Micco - can you see me ?

[@wolfgang7350]

We need a metal version of bowling for soups 1986

[@LA_RAMOS]

The problem I have right now with modern music in general, it's that is hard to be innovative at this point. If a band or a producer bring new things that make them sound different with the rest of the other bands, I assoume it can occur two things: 1 - Get into irrelevance because the competition just produces the same stuff over and over. 2 - It gets the attention everybody, including other bands (also aspiring new ones), that see this new changed and try to replicate it without much of an effort

[@joerivandevyver7868]

Im surprised you haven't made a video about Graspop yet? All the better bands i learned from you played there. Slaughter To Prevail, BMTH, Architects, Electric Callboy, Brand Of Sacrifice, ERRA, While She Sleeps and so on. It was a banger of a festival

[@BlackbladeYT]

I think regardless of the 2000s vs 2020s debate, we can mostly agree that the 2010s were a super rough time for metal. The earlier parts of the decade especially saw a time where most everything in pop culture had this pretty sheen start being applied to it, and the only other option was to make something outwardly abrasive like dubstep (which I don’t hate for the record, check out the Rage Valley EP by Knife Party for some killer shit). That huge divide in sanitized versus unsanitized media left metal in a weird spot and only within the past 5 years or so do I think that’s been lifted some. I’m not entirely content with the sound of most current metal acts, but I’m so happy to see it start to reclaim an audience and hope that inspires a new wave of great artists. Certainly has inspired me to

[@MrMegamansx]

Good metal is timeless, regardless. Sounds of perseverance for example will always remain timeless. I feel with the saturation , the weaker and more mid songs/ bands are falling off or being forgotten.

[@Teites]

Early 2000s Metalcore got me into Metal (shoutout to NFS Most Wanted), but I find more joy in Modern Metal and combining 50 genres into one song. That shit's fire

[@nikolakrastev8880]

To me the 2000s style of metal will always be better because I have a very defined taste and there are things that I love and things that I dislike a lot. What I mean by that is that I can easily find bands from that era that fit exactly my niche without going into the stuff I dislike so much. I can find a metalcore band that did the 5 7 8 riffs, played solos, had an aggressive thrashy feel without using synths, rapping or nu metal riffs in their songs. Now every band tries to do everything and to me personally that is a negative. This is why I rarely get into the popular bands of today but again this is just my opinion.

[@AWildAraAppears]

I think the current era of metal is the best for the simple fact that every era of metal can currently co-exist together. I can go on spotify right now, and find new and exciting bands that are doing every sub genre of metal, and every style of metal. I think the only thing that has really been lost of the vibe of the older DIY music, where the production and mixing on a lot of late 90's early 2000's bands wasn't the best because people couldn't afford better, but it gave the music a certain vibe that's hard to reproduce now. It's similar to the feel of listening to old Vinyls VS mp3 files. There's no doubt that most Vinyls, on a technical level, will never sound as clear as an MP3 file, but at the same time there is a certain vibe to Vinyl that simply can't be recreated or replicated. All that said, I think the only correct answer is every era of Metal. It just depends on the person, and their personal tastes. There is no actual "best era" or "golden era", and anyone who gatekeeps newer music because of a love for the older stuff is misguided at best, and down right hateful at worst. Let people love the music they love, and don't shit on them for it, especially within your own communities.

[@cjthemetalkid]

There was a mysterious-ness with music back in the 90's, with things like the Death Metal scene and so on. Things like the internet and needing to be an influencer to help promote your music material has diluted that concept over the years. Slipknot was the last band to truly hold that mystery as well as being innovative. After that the next generation (while not bad) had a different, more open mindset and wanted to break the norms at the time. But that's just my "old man yelling at clouds" opinion.

[@jaegermeister798]

Consider this too, one of the biggest bands that has been, and is, making waves and taking over the face of metal isn’t even a traditional band, but a fucking Japanese idol group that has music composed from multiple genres and sub genres of metal.

[@JamesJohnson-od1fd]

love seeing your posts on the same music we might have in common. You rip dude!

[@crabbuckets7506]

I've been listening to Vision of Disorder, Botch, Earth Crisis, and all that sort of stuff stuff lately. Some early cores and metals 🤘

[@doritosoccultclub8478]

I have to disagree slightly about Mirar. Even though the guy is a producer, he's also a jazz guitarist I believe. That's without even mentioning that lots of his riffs are actually built like classical/baroque piano pieces (coming from a piano player). I love all of the aspects of the guitar work with Mirar.

[@jafoste91]

I'd say there's plenty of greatness throughout all the decades of heavy music, but at least for now... Vildhjarta/Thall is the ultimate genre. It's absurd how good it is, overall. Perfect for my taste, at least. Also, thanks for talking about them, that's how I first Thall'd.

[@anester1866]

i like the little Justin plug with the vocal videos

[@vocecaiunocontodomalakoi7541]

2000's simply had so many good records, i feel 2010's onward can't compete, i mean, we had: Opeth run from Blacwater Park to Watershed, Gojira, Mastodon, Converge, Soad, Deftones, Boris, Behemoth, Pig Destroyer, Electric Wizard, ISIS, Neurosis and so many other amazing bands and records

[@Loveslast_flight]

Darko US be the craziest band that utilises ALL the chaotic (yet) sophisticated sounds. Their new album certainly identifies a lot of that stuff. It’s weird. But works.

[@thornysnotsoepic]

For me I like all metal. The 2000s are a throw back for me and my roots but there’s a lot of good music out nowadays. Personally I love Sleep Token, their production is second to none. Their live shows sound better than the albums. Their drummer, ii, a god on the kit. Like I said, there’s a lot of good stuff out there. You just have to be willing to give it a listen.

[@thatAli84]

Metal in 2024 : Fun MeTHALL things !!!

[@AutistcBear]

It makes me sad when bands don’t actually record the instruments, but rather let a machine do it for them😢

[@RockstarWizardess]

The era to me doesn't matter. I can listen to a song from any decade if it's good. I can appreciate the traits each decade offers. I admit that core genres aren't necessarily for me but recently I came across a deathcore band that I did like. The genre is still not for me but I'll go along with some great stuff.

[@NicolasRositano22042417]

Nik, have you ever looked into the blackened metal band Worm Shepherd? I just listened to their Ritual Hymns album for the first time and I thought it was really epic. Give it a listen I’d love to see your reaction to it.

[@maroslaw00]

Im 00 so i was too young to enjoy 2000s metal when it was released, when i met it in games (nfw mw 05 ❤) i liked it but i didn't take any steps to find more. My parents like metallica, guns n roses (mom used to wake me up with sweet child o mine) etc. so we listened together, it was like first steps, but for me it started when i discovered sempiternal at 13 (i thought it was heavy back then) and it's still one of my favourite albums, i was around similar music till i found your channel Nik (few good years ago) and then i discovered a lot of bands, both new and older albums and i got into metal fr, from catchy choruses to heavy shit, now my favourite album is IA Heavener, but answering your question i just really like both, from 90s to modern, from KL, Vildhjarta to Electric Callboy, mostly metalcore, but i just like metal as a whole with its changes over years (excluding few subgenres).

[@maroslaw00]

Also thanks to you i want to learn to play guitar but didnt started yet and maybe it's good place to ask: How bad idea is to buy 7 string as first guitar to learn? xD

[@rz5260]

I think the fact that i've seen this video yesterday, i dreamed with nik with a bass in an slavic film. The most funny is that Nik was actually very happy and couldn't stop flexing. Strange dream but, it was sooo weird and funny 😂

[@Cheezeeeee]

11:14 I'm not really that young to say this but I was one of those who got into the genre because I first heard that DOOM game soundtrack and discovered Nik's and Jared Dines' videos back then (I did not know metal could sound like that). I think the tightness of the production, I know it's quantized or pragrammed as shit, but yk, still bangers.

[@JackHells-l5u]

As a I love all metal people I say get some sleep drink some water take care of yourself THE time is coming back just be good to the newcomers and that are just now getting into the music so our favorite genres will come up and we can all do fun metal things everywhere

[@UncleUnitGames]

As an old metal fart, I have one question. How many records of late 2010's - early 2020's do you return to and relisten? And how many old records do you hold in your constant playlist to return to and feel alive? Don't get me wrong, modern metal amazes me by numerous forms it may take. I love Mirar and Disembodied Tyrant, I just adore how fresh and freakin gruel deathcore became in the hands of Brand of Sacrifice. But if I have to choose something to listen between, for example, Sleep Token and Symphony X (okay, I know, different genres, but aren't they both count "progressive"?), I choose latter. Because they are timeless. Modern metal largely is a product, not art. You hear a song, it amazes you with it's heaviness and procession, but in few days you forget it entirely just to be amazed by another band, that decided to do the same, but heavier and more sick and elaborate. Their melodies and ideas don't stay with you for long. Their aim is to gather as much likes on youtube and listens on spotify as soon as possible, before everyone forgets them. Is it "evolution"? Maybe, but I think I'm to old for this crap.

[@trevsweb]

The issue with metal. Back then I would get an album either by cd or MP3 I took 3 hours to download off kazaa/napster. I would be listening to songs and albums for months/years. SOAD, slipknot Rammstein etc. My MP3 player only had 512mb memory so only a few albums. Also TV playing the same songs. My entry to finding new songs would be via radio or hasitleaked website around the bring me the horizon early era. Now metal songs come out and it's so easy to get and keep updated that it's become disposable. I hardly ever go back to albums and songs unless they're bangers. But very rare. Eg sleep token. New songs come out and I move on so quickly.

[@Evolji228]

Zeroes. Zeroes are definitely the best part of heavy music. They always was and always will be

[@Ilurblur]

Yeah as long as it ain't overproduced like a certain band that people either seem to love or hate

[@midnightskyofficial]

If you’re talking Sleep Token, I don’t see that being overproduced. If you mean Bring Me The Horizon, yeah I can see it

[@Ilurblur]

@@midnightskyofficial Yeah just pretend that's what i meant 🤣 We don't need a flame war in the comments or another flame war if there already is one

[@Maybeabandaid9]

5-7-8 era still my favorite.

[@mobafan3713]

Metal is metal, we all enjoy it one way or another. If I had to choose favourite time, I'd say the 10s but realistically I appreciate everything.

[@SteanPP]

I just like metal! 2004 or 2024 or 1994 if it's good music it's good music.