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< The Irish Metal Forum ~ What happens when Irish dinosaurs call it a day? |
| The Fires of Hell |
 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:44 am |
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Metalireland
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Posts: 7231
Location: With a gun for the lover and a shot for the pain
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I've been mulling over this since hearing conversations around Saturday's gig and talk in Dublin.
Basically - when the "big" Irish bands who are actually on "record labels", have some remaining "following" and release real "albums" call it a day, who's going to step into their shoes?
Is such a factor even relevant any more in a world of widely dispersed listening / gig going habits?
In fact it's not even that high level. Even metal gig organisation, sales, etc - it seems to me that apart from a dwindling handful, these things aren't being renewed.
This isnt a conversation about more chiefs than indians, or anything like that. I just cant help looking around at gigs at the same 20 faces for the same 20 years and wondering if metal here wont be extinct at some time closer than we might think.
An exaggeration obviously, but surely one to ponder... where is the renewal???? |
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| pentagrimes |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:38 am |
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Joined: 27 Aug 2005
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Location: as far away from you as humanly possible
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It could happen yet. I'm not optimistic right now, but scenes generally renew themselves cyclically - 5 years from now there will probably be a bunch of bands we haven't formed yet who may well replace them (think of the relative speed with which Altar of Plagues ascended from being a demo project to where they are now), and similarly there are bands who may not be amazing right now who might grow into something special.
Course, that also might not happen. We'll see.
When I think of the local hc/punk scene there are so few people my age and generation here still involved, and the stuff I liked about it musically and aesthetically is largely marginalised in favour of a style that isn't really to my taste.But in spite of that, it has grown massively in the last five years. As a "dinosaur" in that scene, while I definitely feel like a relic from a whole different era (that was only maybe 10 years ago), it's still impressive to see that it has regenerated itself over time. |
Last edited by pentagrimes on Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:43 am; edited 2 times in total |
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| Miotal Trom |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:39 am |
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
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Location: Massacre on the Frontline
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I was just talking about this very issue over the weekend to a mate of mine who listens to commercial/mainstream metal since we were kids, but would never attend underground gigs or explore much outside of the Metallicas and Judas Priests of this world. I was observing how without doubt the demographic for underground local metal shows is shifting upwards agewise as we all get older. People drop off the scene as marriage/kids/mortgages come along and you're left with the die-hards who have been doing this for 15/20/30 years and very few people coming up behind them to fill the ranks.
Definitely a pertinent question to ask at the current time, and quite possibly too late to do anything about it, if there ever was anything we could do. |
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| pentagrimes |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:42 am |
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Joined: 27 Aug 2005
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Location: as far away from you as humanly possible
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Miotal Trom wrote: if there ever was anything we could do.
Thing is Muiris, there isn't. |
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| Jesus Phish |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:53 am |
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Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 1625
Location: dublin
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I've never given it much thought in regards to the bands we have and what happens when they call it a day. New bands are coming along now over the years that are steadily making a name for themselves. Take Warpath for example, only around a short enough time now compared to some of the other bands and already they've spread beyond the shores.
One thing that strikes me as a concern is the other side of it. We don't have many promoters with DMEs history/profile. They're the only ones who seem to have the ability, will, contacts to put on high enough profile gigs every month. What happens if H decides to call it a day and mean it this time? Who can step in and take over?
The same for labels and stores. If ITV was to close down what else do we have for the consistent quality of service they provide? Do we all head back to Soundceller?
Is the problem that we've such a small community that DME has a monopoly on big name gigs here? Do we even need a second of third promoter bringing over those bands every month? Is there room for more than one at that level?
I'm not complaining about what we have, but I do worry what will happen if we lose what we have. |
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| Ariaga 2 |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:01 pm |
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Joined: 15 Jul 2009
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Quote: Take Warpath for example, only around a short enough time now compared to some of the other bands and already they've spread beyond the shores.
Ah here, Warpath are on the go a good 6 years at least. Whilst steadily increasing their fanbase there's no way you can compare their rise in popularity (if you can call it that) to the likes of Alter Of Plagues or a Darkest Era, those are the bands most likely (on paper anyway) to step into the shoes of your Primordials and such. |
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| Jesus Phish |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:08 pm |
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Location: dublin
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Ariaga 2 wrote: Quote: Take Warpath for example, only around a short enough time now compared to some of the other bands and already they've spread beyond the shores.
Ah here, Warpath are on the go a good 6 years at least. Whilst steadily increasing their fanbase there's no way you can compare their rise in popularity (if you can call it that) to the likes of Alter Of Plagues or a Darkest Era, those are the bands most likely (on paper anyway) to step into the shoes of your Primordials and such.
I'm not saying they will step into the likes of Primordials and such, but really how many bands do we even export to Europe on a regular basis? I can think of many a band who have been around longer than Warpath who never seem to get that far away. |
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| Mazzy Maz |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:24 pm |
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Joined: 03 Sep 2008
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| wizardinblack |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:53 pm |
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Joined: 25 Nov 2011
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Location: Under a pointy hat.
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| On an optimistic note it may only require one special band to spawn and reignite a whole scene, whether the current scene lasts to see that day is another question - but undoubtedly there will/is plenty of "seeds' lying dormant which will sprout when the rains come. Sometimes a forest fire is exactly what is needed however much one may have a fondness for the current foliage. |
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| Invictus |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:45 pm |
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Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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Location: Into The Void Records
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The Fires of Hell wrote: wondering if metal here wont be extinct at some time closer than we might think.
It's definitely a factor and something that could quite feasibly happen. There may exist a tiny 'underground' of bands playing to their friends on a continual basis but in terms of breaking outside their box it could be very difficult. |
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| deadmaker |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:28 pm |
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
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Location: Derry/Belfast
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| i think its a matter of both the dinosaurs and the newer emerging heavyier artists acctually embracing each other in the way the warzone or something is working, metalireland has taken to bands like hornets well and for shit to keep happening then all this clique stuff that was talked about a wee while ago just needs to go away, cant go to only underground black metal gigs and complain metal is dyng away etc i think all the extreme "scenes" just need to support each other |
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| xander |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:40 pm |
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Joined: 27 Jan 2009
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I would definitely agree with Darkest Era.
- signed to a solid independent label
- already have international dates behind them
- heading out to Europe again in Autumn
- good sales for the first album
- a second in the works
- good music with a commercial appeal.
If they continue to work hard and don't split up they could definitely reach the level of the current top Irish bands I reckon. |
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| Jesus Phish |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:42 pm |
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Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 1625
Location: dublin
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deadmaker wrote: i think its a matter of both the dinosaurs and the newer emerging heavyier artists acctually embracing each other in the way the warzone or something is working, metalireland has taken to bands like hornets well and for shit to keep happening then all this clique stuff that was talked about a wee while ago just needs to go away, cant go to only underground black metal gigs and complain metal is dyng away etc i think all the extreme "scenes" just need to support each other
Apart from a few heads, you'll never get everyone into their black metal going to a death metal gig and vice versa if they generally have zero interest in it. And I don't think someone should have to support something they're not into as nice as an idea as it is.
Not from the north so I'm not familiar with warzone other than hearing it mentioned on here, what exactly is it? |
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| Nemtheanga |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:16 pm |
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Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 1904
Location: dubh linn/fuck you crow you kunt
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One of the main reasons Primordial for example is where we are is because of history, longevity etc. before we talk about songs.
The way the industry is right now it will be almost impossible for 99% of modern younger bands to even achieve or reach half the level we are at now, and even that level is not what I would term 'professional'
to put this in perspective, bands can release independent cds or even as darkest era did on Blade, pay to go on tour, play small underground indie festivals and create a 'buzz' but as for actually selling records? unlikely.
so the problem will be this....if you want a band as a hobby, as something to enjoy within the confines I've outlined above then cool but it won't pay the bills and after years of pouring money into a black hole most people will quit when having to get a day job takes precendence
Unless you happen to be next years Ghost.... |
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| Into The Void Records |
| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:21 pm |
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Joined: 20 Jan 2011
Posts: 1052
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| You do realise that it was a dinosaur who got Darkest Era signed to Metal Blade in the first place, ye? |
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