Why Didn't I Go See NILE? Viewer Questions re: Being a Metal Fan & Collector. LET'S TALK METAL

Several viewer comments and questions have caught my attention lately so I thought a mailbag episode was in order. While considering these questions, I realized the answers to many of them boiled down to the same two things: time and money. These constraints have recently altered the way I interact with Heavy Metal as both a fan and a collector.
NOTE- This is video is not one big complaint about the price of things these days.

[@Americanleather82]

This was an awesome video. I hope you do more Q&A in the future.

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks! Marty and I have been talking about doing a Q&A episode on Metallurgy sometime too.

[@hmetaljustin]

These were some great topics. I also don't like the fact that CD prices have been getting out of hand.

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks! Yeah, I'm seeing more new releases and reissues at $21.99 or so. Not cool :(

[@TumblestheTactical]

I feel you Alan, I was eyeing going to a concert of Frozen Crown + Fellowship but it begins at 18:30 on a Thursday afternoon and it's an hour from where I live. I am trying to convince myself but it's not being easy. I understand Fridays and weekends may be harder to book in those venues but it would make the whole event to justify for me. The discord channel has been great. I've homesteaded in the Heavy and Power channel and interacted with a bunch of great people, learning about interesting projects/bands that now have gone into my bucket list of things to buy. My wallet is already quite angry with me so I'm taking this slowly. It's also being my avenue to learn about Death Metal, thanks to Devon, Logan and a bunch of other people's recommendation. About the physical media vs the digital media, for me the most important factor is the sense of ownership. Not so long ago Timo Tolkki, ex-member of Stratovarious, pulled all his music from streaming platforms, and I do believe that to this day you cannot listen to Gamma Ray's Majestic album in any streaming sites. I on the other hand have my cd's in my house and while the physical condition holds no one can take that (legally) away from me. Bandcamp is one of the few digital stores that I enjoy since I can download the albums I buy from there to my computer and then burn the songs into a CD, so for me is a quasy physical store. Also, the bands are completely free to add a pdf booklet to their releases in Bandcamp. When I bought LORD's (Great OG Aussie power metal band) The Dungeon Era set, it came with a pdf where it explained the bands history as "Dungeon" as well as the lyrics and other interesting titbits. It also has helped me to buy a couple of Japanese albums withouth having to pay triple the album's cost in shipping and import fees, so I consider that a win. Besides, there are no heavy metal distros anywhere near where I live so all my media has to comes from internet purchases.

[@letstalkmetal]

Glad you're enjoying the Discord! It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision Mary made and I'm happy it's turned out really well. That sounds like a good lineup; I've only heard a little of those two bands.Never get that style of band playing around here. That's cool that you've gotten pdfs with some bc purchases; I've never had that happen, but then again I haven't been buying much on bc over the past year. Haven't avoided it for any reason; I think I had better luck finding physical copies of new releases during 2024 so there were only a few I ended up having to buy (and yes, I d/l them right away too!)

[@JoeTheisen-dy8zy]

100% spot on with everything. I’m glad you said something about some of the stuff getting a little bit out of hand. Keep up the great work.

[@letstalkmetal]

thanks joe!

[@wadeconrad5573]

Alan I agree with most of your points here and you make several good ones. Coincidentally Nile is playing here Friday and for me I’ve just never gotten into them personally. I thought about going to the show for something to do and maybe get converted but, similar to you, I’d be by myself, I don’t need to see Six Feet Under and I’ve never heard of the other 2 bands either. So I’ll hopefully be here watching basketball and virtually hanging out with you and Marty. Also like you, I grew up with physical media, books, magazines, dubbed tapes, at one time CD’s were a luxury. I consider a CD or vinyl or tape a piece of art. Digital copies definitely have their advantages today but it’s not the same for me. I was thinking like the massive hauls are cool because it’s awesome to get all that new music at once, but stuff gets neglected. I’m still rediscovering a lot of 3-4 year old releases in my collection. And my attention span is such that if I have the time, I can spin through about 3 albums then it’s time to do something else. So yeah time and money good sir! Both limited resources we have to manage wisely. Great video as always!!

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks Wade! Sounds like we're on the same page :)

[@n0s0luti0n]

There are a lot of great topics in this video. I'll try to be brief: 1. Live shows: Agreed, the ticket price is usually the least of the expenses. A $20 ticket can easily be $100 with gas, parking, merch, etc. I've been more choosey. 2. Money is a factor, but for me time has become more important when it comes to buying music. Like you I tend to "fill the cart" with low priced items. I'm doing better at that. If I stick to the one thing I really want that brought me to the distro and not add ten other mildly interesting CDs because they are cheap it helps a lot. Great video, Alan!

[@letstalkmetal]

Cheers Scott! Sounds like you and I should start a support group for Empty Carts Anonymous LOL I've been doing the same thing as you- go get the 1-2 items I was looking for and leaving all the other cheap/blind buys behind.

[@DecayingReverie]

I can relate a lot to your feelings on live music. I didn't see my first band live until I was 23. I get pretty strong anxiety around crowds, so I've only really ever gone to shows for bands I really like. A lot of the bands I like are from Europe and tend to not be massive, so they aren't exactly clamoring to get to North Carolina. I'm lucky in that many bands have started either coming to Charlotte or Asheville. Time has become a bigger factor in me wanting to see live music. You pretty much have to dedicate half a day to it if you have to travel much of a distance. By the time you get home, it can be 1 or 2 in the morning. Even at 29, I have a lot more difficult time bouncing back from the missed sleep. And like you said, half the time I don't really care about the other bands at the show. When I went to see Iron Maiden, I had to endure a 45-minute Within Temptation set and that about put me to sleep. I did go to the Obituary/Carcass/Cattle Decapitation/Amon Amarth show and that was pretty awesome, though I had some fatigue by the end.

[@cthuludreams1]

Charlotte and Asheville, you must live pretty close to me then. I'm over in Rutherford County NC

[@DecayingReverie]

@@cthuludreams1 I'm not too far. I'm in Catawba County. Charlotte is about an hour from me. Asheville is 1 hour and 40 minutes. I've done a lot of driving around Rutherford County when I was visiting my dad in rehab. I hope you guys are recovering well from Hurricane Helene.

[@cthuludreams1]

​@@DecayingReverie Thanks man! My corner of RC, the Ellenboro/Corinth area, we had a few of the oldest trees fall, and no power/internet for about 6 days, but thankfully not a lot of house damage for this area.

[@cthuludreams1]

​@@DecayingReverieif you hit up any shows soon, look for the fat guy with a huge Nunslaughter back patch, that's me haha 😄

[@letstalkmetal]

Glad the Carcass/Obit show turned out good! Yeah, Asheville or Charlotte are my best bets for a good tour playing relatively close. Atlanta isn't much farther than Charlotte but can be a real pain traffic-wise

[@robertmorris8371]

You hit the nail on the head with time and money Alan I'm perfectly happy with a fortnightly visit to my record shop going through the used cds and picking up two or three a time which for me is a perfect number of albums to be able to digest while still going through what I already own

[@letstalkmetal]

That sounds like a good pace and is about what I've been aiming for in recent months too.

[@blackcatslash3314]

I think buying the albums/CDs for the bands we like is a weird psychological way of feeling closer to the band somehow. Even if the band no longer exists or the members have passed away. Something about looking at the booklets and art and whatever came with the physical releases, it's like a frozen snapshot in time that matters. Also, nothing beats finding a random physical copy of something you've been wanting in a weird place like an antique store, thrift shop, or the like, for cheap. First you you have that small sense of disbelief. You pick up the album, look at the condition, see the price, and if you want it, you proceed to grip the album slightly tighter than the other stuff you're holding until you're able to pay for it and walk out the store. I can't be the only guy who feels like that! I'll also say that listening to the same album on CD, vinyl, or streaming, through the same sound system, you will absolutely hear differences. In general the physical copies have more sound to them or better mixing to them. Like thicker or more full or something. It sucks that CD prices have gone up slightly. People are slowly paying attention to them again at the music stores I frequent.

[@letstalkmetal]

That's a really interesting point you made about people feeling closer to a band through buying a physical copy. I bet you are right and that is a thing for many fans. And yes, finding a cool album 'in the wild' for a great price is always a rush!

[@thomaschanning6520]

To me it’s just a tactile thing. I enjoy the ritual of selecting the thing off the shelf, opening and listening to it.

[@letstalkmetal]

@@thomaschanning6520 I definitely connect better looking at items on my shelf than by scrolling through items in a folder on my computer

[@cthuludreams1]

I went that night, I totally understand why you didn't go. It got out around 11. The new Radio Room is nice, they have good food too. Nile was really great, played a full spectrum setlist, covering all but a few records. SFU, well, I'll say that Chris has apparently stopped smoking recently, and his voice seems to have improved a tiny bit. The other 2 bands were Psycroptic and Embrionic Autopsy. Psycroptic are long running TechDeath with vocalist from Origin and E.A. is the new Death Metal band of former Oppressor/Soil vocalist. They are just ok.

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks for the run-down of the show. I asked a couple of folks at Pharmacy and none of them went either. Maybe I'll catch them next time if things line up a little better schedule-wise.

[@cthuludreams1]

​@letstalkmetal no problem man!

[@agatopipa]

I'm CD collector too and I want to add one more thing to what You were saying about buying physical copy of music, that is most important to me, more important than artwork and printed lyrics. Im 50 years old and when Im talking to younger people about how they listen to music, 80% of answers are that they almost never hear the entire album, just "a couple of songs", or the most hated by me f*ckin playlists created by AI. Listen to music without focusing on album as the whole thing, as the artist made it, for me makes no sense. I have CD in my hand, I play the CD, I listen to whole CD, the whole music album. I listen also to lot of music on Bandcamp, and when I hear that this ALBUM is worth to have my attention, I just buy CD. And this is maybe the thing of todays music fans - they cant listen to music, they cant focus on it. It is just a background to scrolling on phone. Another thing Alan, that my "dream come true" is to watch on Heavy Metallurgy episode in discussion about "how many CDs can I buy and what is sense of it. I really dont know well maybe 30% of my collection. Right now I have enough CDs to listen too til the end of my life. But I still buy more and more. And I really enjoy it. This is most important thing for music fan in general - to searching and knowing more and more, not listen to the same bands all the time. After every episode of Heavy Metallurgy I add something to my list to buy. But what is the sense of it if I dont know well this CDs that I buy. I remember that You have done a similar video on "Lets Talk Metal", but there is also one more important thing for me to disguss, and I really wish to see You, Marty, and maybe a few guests on Heavy Metallurgy to serious give they thoughts about : what will happen to my CD's collection when I'm gone. There is a really BIG piece of music history on those Compact Discs. Marty has a metalhead son as I good remeber, so he will know what to do with his dad's collection I hope :) But not everyone has the same situation. My black vision is that somebody will find my collection useless and drop it to garbage ? Sorry Alan for this pessimistic thoughts, but I am really interested what all the Metallurgists think about future of their collections and about the sense of buying more and more and more...

[@letstalkmetal]

That's a very good point about people today not being used to listening to entire albums. I'll keep your idea in mind the next time Metallurgy lines up some guests to talk about collecting topics. It is not unusual for good collections to get discarded when a collector passes away. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@agatopipa]

@@letstalkmetal ...and if its possible, please thin about inviting Necrotic Nick from Thralls Of Metal. This guy is really addicted from buying CD's :)

[@letstalkmetal]

@@agatopipa Nick would be a good guest for that topic. We haven't had him on Metallurgy in awhile.

[@agatopipa]

@@letstalkmetal *sory for my english* OMG Alan, so many thoughts after the last episode of "Heavy Metallurgy Presents Episode #197: What's Spinning and Q&A w/ Roger Kjørvik". As we said, this wil be a interesting discussion about "how many records / CD's can I buy while I don't really know well a big part of my actual collection". In this episode all You three gentelmen shared Your thoughts about this "golden age" for metal reissues etc. And maybe thats the point in this discussion. Maybe this ours "buying madness" will end somewhere, when all the reissues (more or less needed) are already have put out by record labels. I think that every collector has in his mind something like "someday I will have it ALL". I mean ALL interesting albums. Maybe thats the point why we are byuing and buying more and more. BUT, new amazing stuff is coming and coming. Maybe not so good as the originals (INCANTATION, IMMOLAION, dISEMBOWELMENT, SUFFOCATION), but putting some fresh air to the scene. I dont know, maybe everybody has his "breaking point", his peak, when I must say to myself "I got enough stuff, I dont need more". I wait patiently for my breaking point for sure :) And another thought - do I need in my collection albums that I know every second so good, that I can it almost play by myself with eyes closed in the middle of the night ? I really very rarely go back to albums that I know so good. For example I really cant tell if in last three years I have listened to "Kill'em all", "Show no mercy" or "Chaos AD". But for some reason I need this all in my collection. Just in case if I have need to listen to it. But probably I rather would listen to something new that I dont know. UGH !

[@jtd_flamingmetalsystem]

Very relatable video Alan! For context I am a 22 y/o university student and have been serious about metal since about age 14. Shows: I live in a very accessible area for shows, a little over 1 hour to the south or east to get to Boston, Hartford, or Providence. I went to any show of any band I liked at age 17 to 20. However, now I have seen many of the big touring acts I care about be it Judas Priest or Kreator or Obituary multiple times. I have even gotten to see bands like Cirith Ungol, Candlemass, and Satan multiple times. I even have a happening scene of local Thrash, Heavy, Power, Black, and Death metal bands which i attended more frequently in the past. However, the music I care about has shifted significantly over the past 3 or so years. I am far more inclined to hear Bloodlust - Guilty as Sin or Predator - Easy Prey for the first time (example from today) as opposed to the new Bewitcher or Sabire album these days. In general I have dedicated my time to uncovering NWOBHM, Euro, and US metal treasures from the 80s as opposed to new bands in these styles. This means my listening doesn't exactly lineup with what comes through town or any town for that matter. Physical Format/Streaming: I only began collecting records (and more recently tapes) at age 18. Thus the metal I know and want far outweighs the metal I can economically own. Ever since I started collecting I realized the merits of OWNING your music instead of RENTING it. Now, I solely use Spotify or YT music when on the go or as background music. When I sit down at my stereo it is vinyl, a cassette, or a CDr (😅). Growing up without the need for physical format has created a greater appreciation for it. Merchandise: I recently stored away 5 trash bags of metal shirts I never wear. With all these shirts I wear my Heavy Load, Witchfinder General, Blackfoot, Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, and Sodom shirt 50 times for every time I wear my least favorite Metallica or Megadeth shirts. Now I rarely ever buy shirts. Why spend 30 dollars on a Mercyful Fate Melissa shirt when I only own Don't Break the Oath and the EP on vinyl? Whole bunch of heavy metal ramblings. Anyway very relatable video with great insights!

[@jtd_flamingmetalsystem]

Also concerning shows, the appeal of seeing Kreator play modern Wacken metal or Venom Inc play with no members of 1981-85 Venom loses its appeal quickly...well such is the situation in 2025!

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks for the detailed reply. Very cool that you're getting more into a lot of the older bands! I've always thought the Northeast was one of the best areas in the US to catch live shows but yeah, the type of bands you're mentioning just don't play very often anywhere in the US. And you're right- you can only wear the band shirts so often, and certain ones just never get worn compared to others.

[@letstalkmetal]

@ Agreed!

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Fans are paying for the decrease in music sales and lucrative recording contracts with an increase in ticket and merch prices. It is getting out of hand. Price is a major hurdle for me as it is for others. I have passed on many shows because of price.

[@letstalkmetal]

Yeah, there comes a point where folks just cannot or will not partake. I'm seeing more and more new CDs in stores for $21.99. No thanks.

[@ExplosiveAction]

I'm like that with gigs, I do have to factor in cost, time and transport. Sinister are playing here tonight! But... They are playing on a boat. The boat returns to the harbour at midnight. Then two hours for me to get home and then work the next day. Plus Sinister only has one original member and he doesn't play the same instrument I don't think. Is it really worth it? P.S. buy that Nifelheim lol

[@letstalkmetal]

Yeah, that Sinister show sounded cool... but then as you added the details it sounded less interesting and more like a hassle to attend :( PS- I did buy AARA Triad I and II a couple of months ago plus more UNAUSSPRECHLICHEN KULTEN back before the holidays :)

[@ExplosiveAction]

@letstalkmetal I appreciate you bought both those! I think Sonne der Nacht off Triade II is their defining song

[@letstalkmetal]

@@ExplosiveAction That is definitely one of their best. I've really enjoyed the new album a lot too

[@georgegsroomofrock9868]

Nile played here in NJ over a week ago. I could have gone but the main reason was I would have gone by myself which I hate doing so I passed on it. Money yeah it would be expensive with t-shirt prices and a ticket price.

[@letstalkmetal]

I hear you george, going alone kinda sucks. If there was someone else I knew around here who had wanted to go see NILE they could have talked me into going with them.

[@MetalOverkill]

All great topics Alan but I couldn't agree more about the price of cds and vinyl, I won't be picking up the new Sacrifice & Accusser due to the cost of a new cd would be close to $25. That's Ridiculous! I Will just have to wait till I can find them cheaper down the road, I cut back on spending last year by buying cds instead of vinyl so much for that this year, Enjoyed Alan, Take Care

[@letstalkmetal]

Yeah, I heard that new Sacrifice disc isn't really available in the US so it's import from Canada at best :( Last time I was at one of the local stores they had several pretty 'average' new CDs for $21.99 each- no thanks.

[@Markusousa]

Unfortunately is happening with the cd prices, mainly because most news in the internet are stating that this format is being hyped again, so the labels just take advantage of the money train...

[@letstalkmetal]

Yeah, they miss the point that people are interested b/cthe price is good! But once they start raising the price, that kills off the interest.

[@OldHeadSC]

Hey Alan, if you're ever looking for someone to go to a show with, hit me up, I live in Greenville. & not to be weird. But, your wife taught my wife at Furman. & you taught my daughter at Clemson 😆

[@letstalkmetal]

Oh is your wife Tiffany?

[@OldHeadSC]

​@letstalkmetal Yes. & my daughter is Olivia Spencer.

[@letstalkmetal]

@@OldHeadSC Gotcha! My wife told me y'all watched the show regularly but I didn't realize 'oldheadsc' was you! Olivia's a super impressive student!

[@OldHeadSC]

Yes, it's been our Friday night ritual for around a year now. Thank you, we're super proud of her.

[@allenellsworth5799]

Heard the new Iron Jaw album yet?

[@letstalkmetal]

Thanks for the reminder! I'm finishing up a Nuclear Assault CD as I type this. I just opened Iron Jaw on Bandcamp in another tab so I can check it out as soon as NA is done.

[@TheFinalComet666]

Cry me a river….😂