StefanoHab

:-) For those who haven't understood, I don't follow either the goat herders of DeBaser or the black goat!!! I am musically free, actually, I'm a "free metalhead"!! :-) Do you think that's a contradiction??? Do you really believe that all metalheads are idiots like matteo_brutal or coppino, or that they all think they are knowledgeable when they actually don't understand a damn thing? Let's debunk this stereotype, damn it!

I respect those who are totally tied to the extreme, even if I don't share it, because it's still a form of mental closure. Metal is a lifestyle, a philosophy, a way of being and thinking. Don't get me wrong: I'm not talking about satanic ideals, nor extreme political ideas, nothing of the sort. Instead, I'm referring to a particular way of relating to the external reality, of filtering it, confronting it, and living it. At least, this is the case for those who see metal from this perspective, and unfortunately, there are few, to tell the truth. I am among them. It's a form of identification: for some, this identification becomes total and leads to closure, while for others (like me), it's an important step towards asserting one's personality, towards creating a self that may not be the most correct possible, but is certainly unique. And I don’t see why one should come across as a psychopath, or even why I shouldn't listen to Robertone. I hope you finally understand how I feel about this. Best regards.

I don’t believe that music died 10 years ago; I believe it will never die, it’s impossible to stop it. It’s important to know the history of music, that is true, to keep searching to be happy when listening to it, and to be more and more confident in one’s own ideas. But stagnation shouldn’t be a consequence of that, nor should it be the necessity to cling to those who started first. It’s right to acknowledge merits, but this applies to everyone. Your path has been towards your own musical maturity, just like anyone else’s, who, facing the same experience, decides to remain attached to metal because they identify with that music and that subculture. As you can see, the feeling of being “cultured” derives from the simple belonging to a culture well distanced from the masses and market logic; it’s not about musical culture as you want to interpret it. There are billions of asshole metalheads, they might even be the majority, and I want to emphasize that I totally repudiate them.

I understand what you're saying, Airo, and I share many of your thoughts. But don’t you think that your own attitude reflects a certain mental closure, albeit different from that of extremism? The past is full of gems; in the '70s there were musicians who, with very few resources, managed to create something beautiful in music—things that people like Burzum might not even imagine—and one cannot consider oneself cultured by only listening to the extreme. This is all true and verifiable, and who would argue with you? However, don’t you think that this attitude could lead to stagnation in the past, a total shut-off towards any artist who doesn’t reach the limits of your knowledge, or worse, a complete snubbing of those who are musically talented, even if they propose something that has already been discussed? Don’t you believe in the continuous musical experimentation, in achieving new forms of expression? When you say "the geniuses are elsewhere," almost as if it were a verdict, you close yourself off just like a blackster does, in my opinion. Mental closure can only be avoided when you leave open a possibility, when you never stop searching (dear old Socrates). This isn't your case. You have arrived at totalizing conclusions, right in some aspects and wrong in others, in my view.

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Beautiful review, although there are few musical references. Anyway, Cannibal Corpse are great! (musically speaking)

Airo, how come you gave up metal? Was it due to your convictions, or was there a girl involved (a real poser:-))? Which bands did you love back then? I'm curious!

I started with In Flames and Carpathian Forest, while I've listened very little to Iron Maiden... Am I an abnormal metalhead?? :-)

But are these the ones who hold the Dionysian orgies??

poddoski only expressed his opinion... civilization please... great Malevolent...