CRINGIEST Metal TROPES & TRENDS (That Need To Stop)

[@MetalTrenches]

More videos like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boTFn559pamNisU

[@MRSludgedude]

Isn't that mk2 shoa kauns mask

[@directedbyxanderjones8329]

Satanism in metal isn't even beating a dead horse. It's beating the ground where the dead horse used to be.

[@MetalTrenches]

😂

[@bengough6772]

Hahahah are there any bands that do it genuinely now or is it just posing for shock value?

[@directedbyxanderjones8329]

@@bengough6772 there are some but most of it is a gimmick.

[@bengough6772]

@@directedbyxanderjones8329 I'm not really big on black metal though its interesting psychologically and thematically. I liked some of behemoth (Satanist, Evangelion, ) but it looks like a lot of it is playing a character rather than having too much to say

[@directedbyxanderjones8329]

@@bengough6772 true.

[@RudolfHorvath]

My biggest question is when did Metalcore became a Djent with Pop choruses? Instead of being, you know, an actual fusion of Metal and Hardcore Punk. You pretty much don't hear two-step parts nor blasts inside modern Metalcore anymore. One would find it extremely weird and hard to believe that both Converge and Bad Omens are within the same genre.

[@MetalTrenches]

As much as I love Periphery, I think they were the turning point into that becoming the mainline approach… unfortunately most of the bands that followed weren’t half as talented

[@hoovy1163]

i dont really like mallcore bands like bfmv and of mice and men anymore, im so sick of them. recently i discovered poison the well, skycamefalling, norma jean, botch, etc. and they seem so much more authentic and real that i can't help but love. unique stuff and ahead of their time. great songwriting too. why are these bands forgotten?

[@jonpresley1163]

The new Varials album is what Metalcore should be

[@cullenkenneth5980]

Honestly Bleed From Within has been super refreshing in the metalcore genre.

[@macdeus2601]

I mean, not to be that guy, but as I recall Converge, Poison the Well, and Norma Jean are bands that built their original core fanbase within the straight-up hardcore scene before any metalheads caught wind of them. Hell, if you listen to really early Converge songs, they basically started out as an emo band. Personally I never even thought of them as "metalcore" until I heard other people saying it. There seem to be a lot of people just throwing around the word "core" willy-nilly these days. Just slapping it onto anything and everything for no particular reason like it doesn't mean anything. Not that surprising (unfortunately) if metal bands are starting to do the same thing.

[@astralnewton]

If I have to hear one more "We must fight/stand/rise/break these chains" chant...

[@thewitchpolyglot6625]

The lyrics can be full of cliches but if the rest of the song is good , I let it pass. Stratovarius is one of them. They can write about anything and still have bangers

[@stupidopinion3379]

Rise up by Rivethead is an exception its awesome

[@mrnubbs8965]

“It’s a concept album” yeah the concept is you have never touched a woman

[@MetalTrenches]

😂

[@SonjaTheDork]

That description sounds like some dream theater fan shit.. Oh shit, I'm that dream theater fan.

[@mrcoolguy32]

😭

[@XeLYoutube]

is there karen album where they toutched hundread of mens?

[@alex_flamer]

Or the concept is you haven't done your research or truly know much about what you're singing about.

[@Zamiakulkas]

At this point, even pop artists are referencing Satan for the sake of cheap "controversy."

[@RebeIMate]

You forgot maybe the most used metaphor/reference in heavy music ever: Voices in someone's head

[@MetalTrenches]

XD

[@Viper-dz2kw]

Metal breakdowns being made for KZbin reactions is a crazy parallel to the way pop choruses are made for TikToks nowadays, wild

[@VIGLounge]

The fact that you work in mental health, I have even more respect for you sir! Mental health is truly important and needs to continue to be brought to the forefront. There is a difference in expressing pain through art and blatantly referring SI or self-harm.

[@TheLarryburns84]

I feel like The Wall is an S tier example of expressing pain via art- that tour was a spectacle and a half too! and didn't involve anyone in the Floyd self harming!

[@thebiggusdonnus8453]

Stop using sir, it's cringe.

[@alessa_cybergoth]

​@@thebiggusdonnus8453Why?

[@MatzaFTW]

You absolutely nailed it especially in the beginning - I’m so so so so SO tired of the try hard djent riffs, ESPECIALLY when played by guitarists who are tuning their bottom string as close to the brown note as possible.

[@MirkoFustinoni]

I'm a bit late to the party, but even though I get (and agree with) his point, he couldn't have chosen a worse example when he brought up Monuments

[@dynamicphotography_]

I think Gorjira side-steps these tropes pretty well and has clever messages.

[@MetalTrenches]

I could agree with this

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

Gojira usually has surprisingly wholesome environmentalist themes in many of their songs. Always liked them.

[@thegoatfromiowa8948]

Gojira is awesome. Super fun band.

[@InveterateMendaciousness]

Gojira now suffers from the mediocrity of their tropes to an irreparable extent.

[@jonpresley1163]

Too bad they haven't released a good record in a long time

[@mrcoolguy32]

Metalcore breakdowns or djent breakdowns that are 10101 get old mad fast. like I was listening to some project where the vocals were really good but the instrumentals were literally just a metalcore breakdown with maybe a melodic riff here or there. really disappointing.

[@MetalTrenches]

Yeah, way too many projects like that. And the unfortunate side effect is they dilute the good stuff out there and end up turning people away.

[@vanh7198]

True. The only djent band ive been listening to lately is kadinja.

[@sjs11morbid80]

Dejent, metal, ... fuk this 🤦‍♂️

[@longshelton]

I work in mental health as well and I absolutely agree with the romanticizing SI and depression. As someone who has been to those dark places in my life. It bothers me for people to make light of a serious situation. For those who deal with that you are not alone and seek help if you need it.

[@MetalTrenches]

🤘🏻🤗

[@moderatelycoolkid5747]

I knew Lorna was going to be hated immediately after they started blowing up, it’s a trend in this genre.

[@BOBANDVEG]

Right. It's like Christian music. Once you get famous....you're exactly what you were working against lol

[@LeftHandedRightHanded]

They suck

[@tormentridden]

Maybe it's because 90% of what you hear is the DAW plug ins

[@BOBANDVEG]

@@tormentridden right , gotta get back to the orange and Mesa heads

[@DubstepGuru420]

For sure

[@Bravesandmetalfan]

completely agree on the breakdown part. they've become so boring. I love a good breakdown as well but not when it's just thrown in just for the sake of "we don't have a breakdown in this song yet". Good songwriting is what impresses me and sometimes a song doesn't need a breakdown.

[@kylejoseph7849]

I'm sure none of these bands lose sleeping over what you have to say.. bands make music they like and want to make, go back to listening to knickelback

[@rainbowmachine9452]

I agree so hard on the fact that wayy too many bands are trying to be so serious and heavy and tryhard when there is nothing better honestly than just 4 guys jamming in a room and having fun. And a lot of new stuff is so soulless on that front

[@jacktadash]

Anaal Nathrakh are better than four guys in a room, and I can have a lot of fun with four guys in a room.

[@SharpShootr92]

I definitely agree with the sad fact when fun bands go serious. It's kinda why I believe Pump it Up blew up as big as it did during peak Corona. It was a fun upbeat song within some dark times. I miss that in bands.

[@bryonlvdm]

Ive been saying for years that bands writing about satan or anti god/Jesus lyrics, is so tired and old. The idea of Satan doesn't have the same edge as it did 20 years ago. And at this point it is just laughable.

[@Mattwarszawa]

vai ouvi musica gospel então donzela

[@stevend2748]

20 years? more like 30 years

[@jerredchouseman]

Totally agree with you! It’s also annoying that whenever people review albums they don’t talk about lyrics at all.. even though it’s half of the work of an album. It gets to the point of if no one pays attention to lyrics, then why put so much time and effort into it if no one notices or cares? I personally will never write dumb bland lyrics but at same time wish people would recognize them as a part of albums

[@chillercentral8125]

pvople nvvd to stvp wrvting lyrics like thvs

[@MetalTrenches]

😂

[@Pundit07]

Do some bands actually do that? Like, I can understand swapping just the “u” for the “v” but every vowel? Come on

[@swarmingvulgarmass]

@@Pundit07 Behemoth lmao

[@grimsdungeonofcomics]

You came blame Aleister Crowley for that.

[@Dusty338]

My opinion on breakdowns is similar to my opinion on guitar solos, I love them when they work and when they fit the overall arch of the song. Yes, I hold most solos in higher regard than generic breakdowns, but when either is thrown randomly into songs just "because", I think it's just lazy.

[@grimsdungeonofcomics]

I have to disagree on solos though. It might just because I'm a sucker for them, but I even like solos in pop music (mostly the 80's) and a lot of Japanese music. I'm that weird guy that thinks every song needs a solo haha, but I know some of them really don't. And I hate when a band will try one out and it just goes nowhere. I can't stand the five second solo garbage. Guitar solos used to be the meat of this genre so it sucks when a band just can't pull them off.

[@discomfortfilms]

not American but it sucks that the Bush admin produced some of the greatest protest music and Trump inspired some of the worst lmao

[@MetalTrenches]

TRUE! 😂

[@alexandereckert5939]

maybe bc Trump is the goat lol 2015 was amazing

[@nightmarefanatic1819]

And weirdly didn't have much protest music to write for the 8 years between them despite Obama giving them plenty to be outraged about. I remember musicians never shutting up about how evil the War in Iraq and Afghanistan was but suddenly people being blown up in the Middle East isn't so bad when it's one of their guys doing it.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

I hate the Metalcore/Deathcore/Djent style chuga chuga riffs, it’s been so over done that some people think that’s what all Metal riffs are like, and you can’t be a Metal band today without those types of riffs. It’s been so over done that its like beating a dead horse.

[@AstolfoTheRiderOfBlack]

There is a few tropes and trends that i think is absolutely horrendous -Bands Saying "This is our heaviest record" when it turns out to be either generic Post-hardcore/metalcore/nu-metal album, or outright Pop-Rock (Looking at you Skillet) -the Lead singer being the focus of the band, like, the music itself would be fine, most of the times anyway, but when the lead singer does something incredibly stupid or just acts like a POS It can really ruin a band's image (Hey Ronnie Radke) -Cover albums, more specifically covering popular songs like Let it Go, I Knew you were Trouble, Gangsters paradise, in some generic Metalcore style, once again, cover albums CAN be good if done right, but 99% of the time it is super generic and ruins an already great song, and yes, i am one of those peoples who likes Taylor Swift, crucify me all you want ant take my Metalhead card away but I Knew you were Trouble is a banger -Long, Overblown, drawn out songs that shouldn't be 5 minutes longer at best, i love long songs, hell Shogun by Trivium is one of my favorite song of all time and that song is 12 minutes long, but i like it because its done right, when a band like Dream Theater, or Iron Maiden, or in most recent case Slipknot does it, it really makes it seem they have no idea what they wanna do on a song or even a full lenght album -Releasing Left over material as EPs/Deluxe Editions, most of the times a Deluxe edition of an album rarely adds anything good to an already existing album, it can add something good like the Special edition of As Daylight Dies by Killswitch Engage, but again, in most cases, its just a nothing burger, like Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones by Black Veil Brides, and last but definitely not least -Imagine Dragons-Core, i don't even hate Imagine Dragons but the mere fact that its 2022 And Metal bands STILL TRY To copy Imagine Dragons lowkey pisses me off, you're a Goddamn Metal band, not a boyband like One Direction or Big Time Rush or The Backstreet boys, so stop it and instead of copying an already sucsessful artist maybe try to make a decent album for once (Again, Looking at you Skillet)

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

I love long songs. It shows ambition, and I'll generally give it a listen even if a band I hate puts out a 10-minute track. Some of them are badly written, true.

[@wheelsofmercury]

T-Swift has some bangers!

[@Pundit07]

Holy shit, are you me?

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

@@DungeonWolf42 Black Rose Immortal

[@hamishcounsell5579]

still waiting for the sequal to Iowa that corey taylor keeps going on about lmao

[@ManagedPan1k]

We need more bands like Gojira

[@dk4569]

Definitely sick of every death metal band now sounding like internal bleeding and sanguisugabogg. It was fun for a second but dammit please move on

[@MetalTrenches]

Second this as well

[@alex_flamer]

I thought Eddie Vedder the godfather of the "yarl." For example, most of the critics of Creed was that Scott Stapp was trying to sound like Eddie Vedder. They also said so in that old Metal Evolution of Grunge by BANGER Films.

[@theewildrose]

Dude it really pisses me off that people who are slightly younger than me try to put Pearl Jam as the same camp as all these butt rock groups that are cheap knockoffs

[@alex_flamer]

​@@theewildrose no that's not what I'm saying. Pearl Jam is a far better band than all the butt rock bands.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

I did a video/drinking game regarding many of these tropes. We are in a copy paste hell. Esp black(ened) metal that has been ruining the underground for 25 years with copycats.

[@Tisbilly]

Personally I dislike metal that describes horrible violence for no reason. It just feels like the people who listen to that are the same people who yank it to snuff films. Thinking of stuff like necropedophile by cannibal corpse. Who needs a description of some freak enjoying the blood of a rotting kid? No one id want to be around 💀

[@CidsaDragoon]

I just imagined Alestorm going serious and got really sad for a minute there. Fun bands, just let us have fun, it's okay. Black metal is definitely the most cringe at the moment though. Instead of changing up the incredibly dated shit attached to the genre (corpse paint, bad production, etc etc), many decided to be nazi edgelords instead. Wow guys, really fucking creative.

[@nightmarefanatic1819]

And the thing is it isn't inspiring the reaction they want. There's a point where you become so blatantly offensive that you become funny instead. You know, that thing that was An@l ©unt's entire schtick? These poor bastards have no self awareness.

[@jordanbottom9921]

I really enjoyed all your spliced in clips. The trolls 2 one was used masterfully. Great video! I agree with you about glorifying self harm, there's definitely an issue with that.

[@MetalTrenches]

Thanks

[@nick-r8o8w]

We need bands like Austrian Death Machine to come back

[@Woozy.0]

Pretty sure lambob is back in jail after trying to kill another wife

[@gingeranagram2467]

@@Woozy.0 No fucking way

[@DominoEffect572]

Just stumbled on your channel today and I’m loving it. One small request tho. Could you please put the name of the songs you cut to on screen. You play some bangers but I have to google the lyrics (if I can understand them) to find out which song you’re playing for those few seconds. If it’s too much work then that’s cool. Just wondering. Please and thank you!

[@MetalTrenches]

Poooossibly. It does take some extra work. Illegal think about it. Fair warning though I already have like a month’s worth of content done so even if I do it’ll be that long before the change happens. Welcome regardless

[@n8y538]

As much as I love the music, I agree we’re living in a time where we almost glorify depression and sadness to some degree. It’s fucking weird how it’s almost like the cool thing now to be mentally ill. Instead of looking for positive outlets we just wallow in the self pity.

[@HexOmega3113]

If i ever start a death metal band, its gonna be called....TIPPER GORE!!!!!!!

[@Vishan678]

I do like Shining their music is really great for me but yeah self harming thing is so cringy completely agree with you some bands needs to be happy just look how awesome the new Electric callboy record is and man The Callous Daoboys is one hell of a band mathcore with Violin,Saxophone,Synthesizer and even with some beautiful female vocals i listened to them thanks to your suggestion from a previous video so amazing.

[@Chudchanning]

There's not much in metal that hasn't been played out at this point. Wacky fun metal, alcoholic metal, gimmick metal, thrash/death/black metal, weird dubstep shit, tough guy bro metal, deep gutturals, high vocals, throw back trad metal, droning doom metal, 400 bpm blasting in metal, simplistic riffs, shredding solos, and every combo of any of those styles have all been done and perfected by one band/movement or another. The ease of recording and the army of basement prodigies have saturated the market to the point I really feel almost everything has been done and we're close to hitting the ceiling honestly. As somebody who plays music it barely feels worth it to create anymore because I ain't that good and the standards for quality are impossibly high today. Maybe I'm being cynical but goddamn is it hard to compete with the classics in any sub genre or style, it's a pretty tall order to bring ANYTHING new to the table in this era of music aside from something so absurd it could never be taken seriously as an art form

[@HardHitMag]

Overproduced drums! Makes them all sound the same and takes alot of dynamic out of the music.

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

Rivers of Nihil

[@haferstenproductions3515]

Every band just uses the same Superior Drummer presets

[@DarrenHeywood]

When I'm in an overused and cringe metal core lyrics competition and my opponent is "dance with the devil". 😥

[@kolasis4994]

Immortal Technique goes hard af. Hit back with "Daddy" from Korn

[@sensualstorm9948]

I fucking hate spoken word sections. You better have the most profound shit to say if your going to slow down the song to talk about stuff and not some cringe shit like what usually happens. Also, albums opening with rain sounds.

[@MetalTrenches]

Agreed

[@mr.keiser4259]

Not gonna lie, some bands pull it off super fucking well. Like back in the days I used to listen the shit out of The Acacia Strain because of Smoke Ya Later’s intro hahaha. It just goes well with the melody and is short. However, the song is ass hahaha but the nostalgia factor keeps me coming back over the years

[@filipdzero8739]

I don't mind the rain openers, but man, I'm 100% with you on spoken-word sections. It's just a cop-out for when you can't think of a clean melody or if your clean vocals are shit. It's even worse if the singer isn't fluent in english...

[@thelightyears_]

I'd like to point out Eidola - Sri Vishnu Yantra as an exception, the spoken part in it is incredible. Also some Caligula's Horse songs.

[@alex_flamer]

Yes I agree with all of these! You can hear a lot of the generic lyrical metaphors on rock radio. (Another one is not knowing what kind of monster you're becoming.) But I think they're their because they're not good.

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

What are some techniques artists can use write creative, original and engaging lyrics, and avoid the common pitfalls (boring, cliche, etc)? Serious question.

[@negativeincomemusic1470]

@@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers by just not using them if you know they're common or cliche, find a way to convey the same concept or idea but in different words

[@macdeus2601]

@@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers Honestly, yeah, just be aware of which tropes are cliche, and make a rule for yourself to never use them. Literally force yourself to do something else by taking those options off the table.

[@ser_monkenuts8013]

I wrote breakdowns for every song because they’re fun to play especially live.

[@eyesofadream]

Lol, at copy-paste/complulsatory breakdowns just barely making the list because there’s just so many far cringier trends. I think with breakdowns, you still have just enough bands using them wisely (I.e. subdued fashion, natural flow, change up patterns, unpredictable placement), that these ideas will win out in the end, especially since you see breakdowns sparingly used in other genres like Post Black Metal, Technical Metal, and Melodic Death Metal, You also make an excellent point that not every song needs a breakdown! There’s PLENTY of OG Melodic Metalcore and 1st wave bands that understood perhaps you have songs with 2 or 3 in them and others with zero. Breakdowns are only ONE characteristic of Metalcore, and speaks nothing of the run-in-place drums, the galloping choruses, some solid hardcore shouted screams, triplet patterns, slow grooves, and *breaks* into slower soft space. Thanks for listening. 😌

[@JamesParatiiArts]

wow! i turned my back and you've gone from 10k to 17k subs just like that! Great call outs, well addressed and with options for improved outcomes xx Great stuff

[@dmphax]

About obligatory need for breakdowns coming from reactors expecting such, I would similarly put guitar solos in here. Not *every* metal song requires a solo, and those that don't have them, don't automatically suck. Edit: nailed it, only Staley may yarl. RIP legend.

[@4eyemustsin]

At the end of the day…don’t you see the writing on the wall?

[@HardHitMag]

Lmao

[@blackwaterrust476]

Djent riffs can definitely can get old as it feels like they haven’t evolved from What Meshuggah helped innovate Breakdowns can be done well, but it feels so predictable most of the time and half assed. DSBM definitely I cringe with some bands on that scene (Silencer, Psychonaut 4) but there’s also a few bands like Bethlehem and also Thy Light that helped me get through some fucked up mental health issues. Guess it depends on the band When it comes to Politics I lean WAYYYY more to the Left. But when it comes to music I don’t really care as long as it’s Good. I can enjoy something like Napalm Death and Old School Ted Nugent because I like some of the music they have done.

[@MetalTrenches]

Agreed. Napalm fucking rules

[@educostanzo]

Breakdowns today are so compulsory as guitar solos until the 00's.

[@hauntluma5380]

The dramatic readings are still funny and need their own full segment lmao

[@MetalTrenches]

😂

[@grimsdungeonofcomics]

A review for one of our albums praised us and said we're good music for wrist based self-harm. I didn't really know what to say on that one. I don't think Bleak Bill was cool with it either. I mean, we wrote dark stuff for sure, but it wasn't ever intended to aid someone harming themselves. I'm not cool with that.

[@brokengoose9831]

i love how you try to call yourself cringe while wearing a skull mask with sunglasses. your brought cringe to a whole new level.

[@macdeus2601]

"Pain... brain... insane"

[@worksofein6449]

Sounds like you've wanted to get this off your chest for a while! My pet peev is Yoda style lyrics too make them rhyme. E.g. saying "your life I will take" instead of saying "I will take your life". Props to the MH workers. My sisters were MH nurses in high risk wards for a long time.

[@radamtv4779]

I have to agree with you at almost every point of this video. Although I love some bands you mentioned here in a "negative" way. But as I mentioned. You're right. Especially this "We HAVE TO have a breakdown with a build up on every song" trend is getting out of hand. I mean I love breakdowns. But as I mentioned it feels like modern Metal bands are almost "afraid" of writing songs without breakdowns. Feels the same way like old school Metal bands think that they HAVE TO write a guitar solo to every song. You don't HAVE TO do shit man. Just be creative instead of using the same formula over and over again. Whatever, I really like your videos man. Keep up the good work.💪 Greetings from Germany 😁✌️

[@coolhandluke1421]

Its crazy to think one pantera song gave birth to a genre that doesnt even sound like them, but has yet to even touch the same quality level. Not even being an elitist, i jut still havent heard a breakdown that beats domination

[@nu-metalfan2654]

Romanticising Mental Health problems is an interesting topic. As someone who suffers with depression and anxiety I sometimes romanticise it as well, because it makes me feel better about myself. So when people backlash against Movies, Shows, Games and Music for glorifying mental health problems, just understand that some people with mental health problems do romanticise it as well, because we want to feel better about ourselves because depression and anxiety fucking sucks. The only time it might be a problem is if people think it’s cool to have mental health problems, like it’s a quirk. Trust me people depression and anxiety fucking sucks, you do not want it. The best way I can some up depression for those who don’t understand, is it’s like mental quicksand, the longer you are in there the harder it is to get out. But I sometimes do romanticise it because I need anything just to make me feel that slightly better about myself.

[@MetalTrenches]

When I say romanticize I mean encourage others to do it. Normalizing is different.

[@DeathSpellXVI]

Yeah I don’t get how the fuck some people think it’s cool to feel like you’re dying or about to die. Tbh I’d rather deal with depression rather than anxiety, shits horrible but no matter what the stigma lives so I never fuckin talk about it to anyone. In reality no one really gives a fuck and no one wants to deal with you when they find out you have it.

[@kyliec4973]

Also your take on Layne Staley is so true ❤❤❤❤

[@snaggletooth1500]

The last two tropes you mentioned are probably the two tropes that annoy me the most. While I can enjoy some bands with Satanic lyrics such as Mercyful Fate and Slayer, Satanism is still one of my least favorite topics in metal, and that's because of how cliche it has become over the years. Also, if a band is going to sing about Satanism, they should at least do something creative or interesting with the topic, rather than come across as an overly edgy teenager like how Glen Benton from Deicide does. As far the Nationalism thing goes, I believe you said it best when you said we should ignore these bands and let them die out. Supporting Nazis is a horrible idea and I refuse to elaborate on that in further detail, it should be obvious.

[@MorbidMindedManiac]

On the part about breakdowns, I have a similar opinion on guitar solos, this is most apparent in thrash metal, but it’s in a lot of other genres, I’m tired of the same mindless shredding solos all the time, it always just sounds like filler that’s thrown in after the 2nd chorus rather than something actually memorable and great I’m not saying I dislike guitar solos in general, hell no, when done right, it’s usually my favorite part of the song, and there’s hundreds of great solos out there, it just feels so slept on sometimes

[@MetalTrenches]

Fair enough

[@_CPP_]

I am a little in-different about the entire self-harm and su1c1de thing. In my personal opinion, you have the right to write about something that serious of a thing if you have experienced it yourself. Hence why Shining does it. But if you try to encourage others to replicate your self-mutilation, you need to redraft your lyrics.

[@MetalTrenches]

Fair. It’s not off limits to talk about it, but if you start romanticizing it I’m out

[@_CPP_]

@@MetalTrenches Agreed. Like "let's slit our wrists together" or something like that is too far

[@_RJ_Z]

Spiritbox? Mid-release, theres some fucking awesome riffing there!

[@nemesis8626]

I agree with the breakdowns, alot are there just to pad out the songs, if there done well they can be great, Pantera's Domination as a great example of a breakdown done well. Also for me it's like some sections of metal songs now are just there for the sake of sounding "heavy"" and not really coming from a creative heads pace, also along the same lines I'm also getting abit sick of every band doing guttural's that sound indistinguishable from each other, and fans just lapping it up because its heavy.. originality goes a long way and if you don't sound any different from another 100 other bands what is the point

[@HedraUK]

We're really enjoying playing with djent riffs, but we love the feedback from the community on these things- food for thought for our album writing in 2023. Thanks

[@nathanielcava4128]

No one knows who you are just write whatever you want to write

[@HedraUK]

@@nathanielcava4128 - if only you knew. we've gotten all kinds of "feedback" over the years from our community in the U.K and have worked hard to get better and not to fall into too many cliches - maybe you could check out some of our videos and let us know if we succeeded and check out our socials too \m/

[@abesayy]

I agree with everything you say, please more videos like this

[@ensco7]

I agree with almost everything, but although I admit that Spiritbox's Eternal Blue is way more vocal-driven than their earlier work, I think there's still a good portion of awesome riffage on that album. Can't really comment on Djent being too limited and copy-pasted as I only listen to ERRA in that genre, and despite the fact that they're seemingly one of the biggest Djent bands, they're just too good and creative with it. Lastly Lorna Shore having only dropped meh songs since Into The Hellfire? I think you have to give Suneater and Pain Remains 1 another shot, they're bangers!

[@jpaulcrosby]

Agreed on shining. I heard they handed out razors at their concerts, which for me is so far beyond f’d up, I almost can’t believe it. I guess the cover on the album is pretty transparent about the nefarious intent. Also, I had no idea that some people consider FFDP an intelligent band. That really had me dying laughing. Truth bombs? 😂😂😂 And finally, as someone who has struggled with maintaining my mental health, I appreciate your take on this. It needs to be said. Music is powerful stuff. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be here dissecting it.

[@fourseasons4105]

Am surprised that the Iron maiden style, minor key I VI VII chord progression, with the galloping rhythms and string skipping cliche didn't show up here, it's been done to death in the 80's and even some more modern core bands keep abusing that shit.

[@coltennial9513]

One word: "BLEIGH!"

[@MrWill9894]

I think metal as a whole needs to step back a few decades. Most of these cliches only exist in what I would call “modern metal”, as opposed to the scene of new-school old-school bands that kinda get passed over. I know guitar solos and Halford-esque vocals are passé nowadays but be honest, is it any more cliche than [generic breakdowns, pig noise vocals, wearing masks onstage] kinda thing that seems to be everywhere in the online metal space?

[@cctkid86]

As a soldier I feel the need to specify that there is a difference between 'nationalism' (a patriotic or civic message in a metal song) and 'ethno-nationalism' (w.e that mess was you showed that cringe isn't even suitable enough for). I might be nit-picking there and some may disagree with me but such is the internet. The biggest issue I have with metal these days is so many bands feel forced. They are trying too hard to be edgy or the "heaviest thing" instead of genuine. Personally I find much of black metal and the 'core' genres falling into that category. Gojira isn't totally my thing but they sound genuine, like they are making the music they want to make, as opposed to trying to come off as the heaviest thing. Fun stuff as always. 🤘

[@MetalTrenches]

I think that’s a perfectly fair distinction to the point that I honestly dislike the word “nationalism” as depending on the context it could be good or bad like you are saying.

[@cctkid86]

@@MetalTrenches Agreed and I knew what you were meaning by it as soon as you followed up with that clip of...whatever that was.

[@VenomousHigh]

The point about djent bands sounding extremely alike can be said about a ton of other genres that have jumped off over the years. Hair metal was commercialized into a genre full of skinnyjean-and-hairspray frat boys singing about cock-rock ballads over cheesy power chords, grunge eventually devolved into a sea of Pearl Jam-lite bands with forgettable lyrics, death metal had a shitload of soundalike bands by the time the mid-90s hit, nu metal became a dumping ground for wannabe Disturbed/Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit bands with guitarists who only know how to play bounce riffs and crappy melodies, post-grunge *began* as a genre full of soundalikes, 75% of modern hardcore bands just sound like diet Nails, et cetera. If history is to be repeated, then djent will either die soon and then cycle back into prominence 20 years from now, or a string of bands will eventually come along and change the formula until it's unrecognizable.

[@brett-spangler448]

I loved Eternal Blue, but the mix really doesn’t do Mike’s guitar work justice. He is an insane player, I just think the low tunings didn’t cut through as well so it made some of the riffs hard to hear.

[@fettbemmedesgrauens]

you really have a point here, especially the self harm stuff and satanic lyrics. I personally find it so much more interesting if a metal band actually has a positive message or tries to address dark topics for the sake of showing how to cope with them and find meaning and joy in your life again. For example, the music of Amenra is extremely dark and addresses difficult topics, but it is about breaking free from them and becoming stronger in the end, through things like friendship or family (without being corny). This has so much more impact on me than 10 thousand generic songs about how religion is evil or that we have to rise against "the system" or similar clichés...

[@SOBEKCrocodileGod]

I mean I understand what you’re saying about ADTR, but I think some of their strongest tracks are some of their more dark and somber songs. Other than that, I think this video is pretty spot on.

[@ayylmao8691]

Agreed, like literally the song Violence imo is their best song and is also a lot more serious than their last track

[@maxpalmer3212]

When I was In Highschool I was a big within the ruins fan for like an entire year but haven’t listened to them for a long time

[@fateofcl]

I think the most interesting thing about the satanism aspect is black metal entirely. Sure there’s a MILLION bands that talk about the devil or satan and what not, but if you add elements of rituals or blood sacrifice and actually DO those things and enact those things it makes things way more interesting than pulling a Ghul. A good example is Dissection (RIP). Way ahead of its time, and it isn’t really their performances or their image, it’s just the atmosphere they project into their music and it makes for a way better outcome.

[@Thesenseiformerlyknownas]

The silent night, deadly night clip. 😅

[@MetalTrenches]

Always a classic

[@metalboy27]

Many of my favorite bands rely heavily on djent riffs, however, I actually agree, there are a thousand bands that play djent riffs that aren't that good or interesting. I have a percussion/drumming background, so I think the weird rhythms and syncopation are what pull me towards it. Rob Scallon's djent shovel videos are great though. The djent stick guy playing After the Burial's A Wolf Amongst Ravens is amazing too.

[@PolkCountyWIProgressive]

I liked when Death Metal didn’t even have blast beats or break downs.

[@LeftHandedRightHanded]

But lots of older death metal bands did blasts beats

[@MacSmithvox]

You mean when it was thrash?

[@AstolfoTheRiderOfBlack]

8:00 im sorry but i can't stop replaying this section XD Its way too funny

[@jeffnogo]

Breakdowns are done to death. Back in the 80s and early 90s when they were used sparingly and there was still an original variation on them left, they could really fucking hit hard and add to a song. But for the past 20 years with so many core bands, especially, when every one of your songs is filled with 2 to 3 breakdowns that sound indistinguishable from the 40 other ones on your album, it's beyond boring.

[@jakobthonen9411]

Great video as always with a lot of great points!

[@TjStorm97]

I don't mind satanic lyrics as long as the bands don't take themselves too seriously. Bands like Bewitcher and Hellripper are great examples of how to have fun with it while still writing amazing songs.

[@MetalTrenches]

Hellripper is sick

[@Rafael-kr6zv]

I 100% agree with the satanic themes on blackmetal take, it got boring really fast, I even stopped or just ignored some bands just bc they were just too pretentious, even for BM standards, same with a bunch of them using swastikas or having fascist ideologies imprinted on their songs. I actually started searching for some different BM sounds, and I'm currently in love with cosmic and folk BM, reminds me of Immortal who were just singing about how cold it was during winter, its just music at the end of the day, it can have a meaningful message, but its fine if it doesnt.

[@CYANYE_]

I found the overly abundant breakdowns point to be especially relevant on the latest Thy Art album. By the time the title track breakdown hit I was like “this is kinda lame isn’t it??” On a slightly different note I did see you rank it at an S tier for 2023 deathcore which surprises me because aside from the first four tracks and lesson in pain I didn’t find much else to enjoy

[@natekankelfitz9735]

Brand of Sacrifice or Within the Ruins who do you favor more?

[@MetalTrenches]

I mean I’ve followed WTR longer so probably them

[@WreckageHunter]

Breakdowns are overrated now and I can no longer pretend they're not

[@zabm141]

whats the song at 1:50? i knoe its ironic in this context but that slaps

[@brokengoose9831]

its been a year so i hope you found it but if you didnt its baba yaga by slaughter to prevail

[@zabm141]

@@brokengoose9831 I didn't search any further and forgot about it, so thank you very much! I appreciate it a lot! Its Hit or Miss for me with StP, but this one slaps as a whole! Have a nice day mate

[@djvar94]

I can't believe you dare to judge Lorna Shore's breakdowns. Your last few videos you talked about them, you've done nothing but mostly throw shit on such outstanding, and extremely talented musicians. Their breakdown are impactful and fit so great and are so heavy, people like them not just because they can be shockingly heavy and because people like to see people reacting to them, but also because like me, I like to listen to them in songs for the sheer pleasure of listening to them.

[@MetalTrenches]

And that’s fine, but people are free to provide criticisms based on their own opinions too. I wouldn’t say I “throw shit” considering my notes on the positives and final grade.

[@Untoldanimations]

Breakdowns are cringe. If Lorna Shore didn’t have breakdowns they’d be so amazing but whenever they pause all the technical and epic playing and try to just hit you with shock value it’s pure cringe

[@johnjohn37371]

"Dare to judge"? Who the hell are you? You judged Lorna Shore when you listened to their breakdowns and liked them. He judged them when he listened and didn't...it's allowed.

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

The super-ironic 'Metal gurning' that Archspire do in their promo photos makes me cringe the most. It's a shame, because I want to take them seriously.

[@iwycked]

Although i disagree on some stuff mentioned, I respect your opinion and agree on some of what was said. Im not super serious when it comes to music. If my ears enjoy it, I listen.

[@johnvaldez90]

Black Metal for Life. I Like other genres but Satanism is my favorite part of Black Metal and to find out most aren't Satanists was disappointing

[@densereaper]

While I do agree that bands could do better when it comes to messages in their lyrics, I think it’s better to have something direct that you could understand rather than something subtle that could be misinterpreted.

[@MetalTrenches]

Interpretation is the realm of art. When messages are overly direct I feel like it undermines that purpose.

[@densereaper]

@@MetalTrenches But you wouldn’t want your lyrics to be misinterpreted, would you?

[@juanramirez-wk8ty]

I've been into metal since before it was such a commonly used term, yes I am old! I love all styles and varieties of the form , from the old corny melodic hard rock classics to the most extreme brutal stuff but I've gotten to the point where I think most "modern" metal just sucks.

[@dwilcox3309]

When Gojira sang "put your fists in the air" a part of me died.

[@jakobthonen9411]

Also thanks for pointing out that Slipknot song because I have more reason to avoid them now. That's just an odd choice especially in 2022 and super cringe especially for men in their 50s.

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

Great video sir. Yes there are a lot of preposterous lyrics coming out now from FFDP Motionless In White Attila etc. Now here is an unpopular opinion. I don’t care for Mesuggah. They are somewhat painful to listen to. Talking about politics and concept albums here is a record that does it perfectly: Queensryche Operation Mindcrime. Have you heard it before and if so did you like it?

[@MetalTrenches]

I've heard it some time ago but it's been a while. I know it's a classic.

[@jfs5873]

Asides from black metal, most of these criticisms seemed rather exclusive to the core genres to be honest

[@pigtasticOINk714]

Meh breakdowns are awesome, the more the merrier. I’m a simple man.

[@coreydinardo5525]

I love the antagonism you have with metalheads, lol. It's my favorite thing, hahaha.

[@MetalTrenches]

😂