Why I Don’t Support My Local Metal Scene

“Why don’t you support your local metal scene?” I can’t even tell you how many times I have been asked this. Here in Atlanta, GA, there is a thriving, active metal scene with countless bands playing countless shows. On average, I get an “invite” or see a posting about a local metal show going on at least twice a week or so. So why am I not out there supporting the local metal scene? Well, the answer is very simple: I don’t like 95% of the bands on the local metal scene.

I know I sound like a real asshole but before you start calling me names like “fatass”, “shithead”, and whatever else you want to call me, keep in mind that my feelings towards the local Atlanta scene is nothing personal. Not even close. As a matter of fact, I’m friends with quite a few people who play on the Atlanta Metal scene and they are great people. The ones that I do know are some of sweetest, kindest people but I just don’t like their bands. The Atlanta Metal Scene is predominantly made up of “core” bands. Some of the bands might say they are just straight up death metal. Some might say that they’re thrash. Some may say that they’re metalcore. Some may say that they are Christian metalcore screamo progressive djent. Whatever. All I know is that it is A LOT of fucking screaming.

About 95% of the local bands I have seen since moving to Atlanta in 2009 are bands that I would prefer to not have to see again. I mean, here’s the deal. I don’t like death metal. I don’t like metalcore. I don’t even really know what “djent” is but I’m sure I’d fucking hate that as well. Anyways, I’m getting sidetracked. The local Atlanta Metal scene just doesn’t really do it for me. I’ve heard many arguments from people as to why it’s important to support a “scene.” If you don’t support your scene, venues might die and then up and coming bands may not have a place to play, yadda yadda yadda. Here’s five, seven, or in some cases 10 bucks at the door. I’ll drink 2 $6.00 beers in this shithole smoky club to support a band who sounds like 4 guys fighting their way out of a meat grinder. Honesty, that just doesn’t sound like that great of time for me.

When I look at some of the other local scenes across the country/world, I can’t help but be a slight bit jealous. Why can’t bands like Christian Mistress (Olympia, WA), Holy Grail (Pasadena, CA), or Electric Citizen (Cincinnati, OH) be local bands here in Atlanta? At the same time, I look at these bands and wonder if they are just the cream of the crop of the bands from their local scene and if people in their cities have the same feelings I do about my local metal scene?

Whenever I hear a new band is coming up here in Atlanta, I can almost always guarantee that it is going to be some screaming, death, core type of band. Do people in this city not listen to Black Sabbath or Captain Beyond or Deep Purple and want to form bands like that? This city could use some good old fashioned classic metal inspired bands. Now don’t get me wrong. Atlanta has turned out some pretty awesome bands. Gunpowder Gray with their NYC glam punk infused rock and roll, the psych rock sounds of Stonerider, the southern hard rock sounds of Brother Hawk , and even though I don’t love the vocals, Sadistic Ritual seems to have the right idea. While these bands are great, I would love to see something different from the metal scene here. Where’s our Holy Grail? Where’s our Enforcer? Where’s our Christian Mistress? Where’s our Graveyard? Well, Stonerider and Brother Hawk are pretty much our Graveyards so we have that covered somewhat.

Atlanta has a strong, thriving metal community but in a nutshell, I don’t see the sense in supporting an entire scene when there are only 4 or so bands that you truly love. Go support those bands that you do truly love. Buy their shirts, buy their albums, go see their shows, and as soon as a shitty band hits the stage, leave the hall. I will never stop hoping and wishing that Atlanta will someday turn out some truly great, timeless metal bands that will change things in this city’s scene. To those bands that I don’t like or don’t go see, I wish them nothing but the best of luck. As for the bands that I wish would exist in this city, I will never stop hoping and I will never stop looking out for them.

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