antiGUY gives his
top 5 list of music stuff. Could be songs, people, a stupid trend... nothing
is sacred to antiGUY
This
Months Top 5
Top
Before we begin, I am an old-school metalhead.
I love the classic metal style of groups like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest,
Ozzy, Sabbath, Iced Earth, Dio…the list goes on. But I will state for the
record that I also happen to like a lot of the so called “mall-core” groups,
especially the early adopters of this style (ok the rap-rock stuff I don’t
like and never will) but now it seems that the record companies are flooding
the market with new “nu-metal” groups that bring nothing new to the table
and simply rip-off those that came before, this is the first indication
that all is not well with the mall-core scene. Some of the mall-core
groups will go on to have long carriers, (no one thought Poison would be
out playing arenas still, but they are) but fortunately the vast majority
of cheap copycats will fall by the wayside and become at most punch lines
to jokes or you will see them on future episodes of VH1’s “Where Are They
Now” when the next trend comes along and takes the place of “mall-core”.
What is “Mall-Core”? Some people have coined
the term “Mall-Core” to describe the immergence of what is also considered
“nu-metal”. It appears that the derogatory “Mall-Core” designation is in
fact a mocking of the fact that young suburban teens are attracted to this
form of music and is making reference to such teens being seen at shopping
malls wearing t-shirts for the bands that play this type of music.
While I keep an open mind about most music,
I tend to judge the band on their merits not what style of music they play,
as of late it appears that the record companies have gone overboard and
have over-saturated the market with mediocre “mall-core” groups in order
to cash in on the trend. This is not a new phenomenon; I discussed
the three-band cycle in a resent review for one of these “nu-metal” groups.
For those who didn’t read that review here is a recap.
“Music trends usually go in three waves.
The glam rock trend of the late 80’s is a perfect example. You started
with Poison who helped launch the trend that then moved onto their followers
Warrant, who did a decent job of following the leader but within a couple
of years the record shelves were filled with the third wave of mediocre
copycats, who are now long forgotten.”
In my opinion we are now in the midst of
the “third wave” for nu-metal or if you prefer, mall-core. So I thought
it would be fun to see how these groups are finding success and to give
some pointers to aspiring “mall-core” groups on how to succeed before the
clock runs out and the next trend comes in to take mall-core’s place.
Top 5 Ways to Mall-Core Success
5) Drop tune your
guitars and learn four chords
4) Forget how to
sing, just growl and scream into the microphone or if must sing listen
to lots of Alice in Chains and Pantera and steal heavily from both.
3) Get your picture
in Metal Edge Magazine
2) Come up with a
goofy or cheesy name like El Nutso, Snot Rag, Wet Life Stupidity or Lump
of Dirt
and
the number way to Mall-Core Success.
1) Sign a record
deal with Flip or Road Runner Records.
Your
turn, what do you think?
Fan
Speak:
Posted by Justin:
Dude, Youre a total poser.
Posted by hellyeeeeah:
I thought 'nu metal' was meant to refer to Korn and Coal Chamber and old stuff like that. I seem to remember Roadrunner holding a funeral for nu metal when they started hyping Killswitch Engage. Mallcore is a derivative term form for Metalcore which has nothing to do with actually metal, and everything to do with trying to make a quick buck, right?
Posted by UneartherdApparatus:
I think plenty of new music has its moment. Not bands like Puddle Of Mudd or Shinedown or Seether, they suck, but people even lump Slipknot or Incubus into the nu metal genre. Also, people need to move out of the 80s. To say that a song called "Hellbent for leather" says something meaningful is ludicrous, and did u ever notice that many Iron Maiden songs have the same riding-on-a-horse drum beat just like in "Run To The Hills"?
Posted by Tweak:
I listen to Black Metal in General. I like Bands like Marduk, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Mayhem, Darkthrone and Emperor. I ocassionally listen to death metal stuff like Deicide, Death, Deicide, and Amon Amarth. I HATE HATE HATE nu-metal. It gives metal a horrible image. I love 80's metal like Iron Maiden and Judas priest. Though I agree nu-metal fans get annoying, calling them "mall-core" is just stupid. We all have different tastes in music.
Posted by S:
Usually these are kinda funny. But, this one was totally lame.
Posted by arika:
JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO THE MALL DOESNT MAKE YOU MALL CORE. OKAY? STUPID FAGS. YOU CAN BE HARD CORE OR PUNK OR WHATEVER LABEL YOU ARE GOING FOR AND STILL GO TO THE MALL . JEEBUS PEOPLE
Posted by me:
Mallcore? lol christ do we put core behind everything now? whoever wrote this article is an idiot.
Posted by B1NARY:
I think I'm sick of all these new kids makin up stupid sh*t like "mallcore" and "fashion" and "scene" you have no idea what your talking about and it's old. Elitists who think only your music is the best music and they way you dress is the only cool way to dress. Get a life and listen to what you want and stop makin up all these generic labels for everything
Posted by diecast:
i think you full of shlt 80's metal blows ass
Posted by Mallcore killer:
Hey, if anyone out there has a mallcore kid tied up in their basement. let me know so i can snap there neck
Posted by James:
People-
"u talk about the 4 chords ..em most of iron maidens songs are all the same chords"
well, theres proof right there that "people" has never heard an Iron Maiden song ever. To compare mall-core crap to Iron Maiden is a joke.
Posted by "Mondo":
Hey man, I totally agree with you. It seems like there's a trend of this "metal fashion" these days, especially with surburban kids. Also, I freakin' hate this so-called "Nu-Metal" crap that's just giving a bad reputation to metal itself. I'm open about music, but there's a limit to how far bands can go. I'm more of a death/black metalhead, but I also listen to bands that aren't sell-outs, or just make quick, crappy albums that go double platinum...
Posted by Mallcore:
Mallcore mallcore mallcore
Posted by Mike:
You forgot Wind-Up Records.
Posted by SacredMirror:
Try and look as much as possible like everyone else, and act the same as everyone else. If possible, all wear identical outfits, and either have long spiky hair which would be capable of seriously injuring someone, or short hair, depending on the section of the mall-core market you are targeting. It doesn't matter if none of your band members have any talent - you can easily overcome this small problem by an extremely large amount of marketing and by fitting the proper mall-core image. All songs MUST be 4/4, bass/snare drumming, and either shouting or melancholy singing that is intended to make the listener idolise you and feel sorry about your apparently poor upbringing, even though you now live like a king.
I have nothing else to add which has not been previously said.
Posted by Phantom Lord:
Actually, "Chestor", the dude from linkin park cannot sing live, I've heard him, he's bad, especially considering that he isn't playing an instrument simultaenously. I do agree that people should be able to like what they like. I enjoy the front and center guitar presentation of Metallica, even if they're greedy bastards. I also enjoy the heavy and technical sounding riffs and raw aggression of pantera. I find some similar things I enjoy, as far as aggressive energy flow, in MuDvAyNe and Slipknot, although to a lesser degree. Unfortunately, even the best music loses it's freshness over time, and, although Metallica will always be good for me, I can't listen to the every day, all day any more. That's why I occasionally look to what you call Mall-Core(I like the name, you should make fun of music for its pretentiousness, i.e., I call what I generally listen to "Butt-Rock, Butt-Metal, etc.) My point is, scratch that, there is no point, that there is merit in all music, just some people enjoy different styles. Racisim is wrong, on either side, but I hate to admit I find so little worth in rap I almost come to dislike black people by association. But the I remember white people do it too, and even the French(God that's funny). Also, all christians are not condescending, however, being human, they tend to be stupid like the rest of us. If you really examine society, all of the problems in our institutions come down to our human faults, the poor foundation society is built upon if you will. Whenever you correct a fault in yourself you're making society better. Fear is my main fault. I'm afraid of people, afraid of rejection. What are your faults, ask yourself?
Posted by EWZ:
The fact is that even the mall-core groups have talent...yes even Linkin Park! These and other pop packaged acts are all very talented...It is the shameless exploitation of this potential talent by record companies that bugs my ass...I wouldn't listen to them though cuz while the ability is there, the style they are forced to adopt for promotional reasons does suck! Rip off's of copies of clones...If there was some originality it would possibly be interesting...on one hand you can't blame them..;they are doing what the rec. company has told them will sell records...on the other hand...think for yourself, if you love the music it should not matter that you might not be popular with the under 18 allowance from mom set!!
Posted by steve:
Its Just Sad i think,let people like what they want and do what they want fair enough u dont like it.but ur probably just trying to hold on to something that was individual and special to u and now its popular.fekk off and get real u arent g0.d ,ur way is not best.ur like chr1sti@ns.this is the only way.oh that is wrong. Feck1n r£t@rds u lot !.mans0n is great so is slipkn0t 0ffspring placebo korn.amen.oh and i like a few so called underground bands but not alot.mostly coz the reason there still not signed IS because there pash!ok bunch of h0m0ph0bic old schoolers wannabes trying to hold on to what was.!
Posted by People:
This site Sucks..Music Is Music everyone likes different things..u talk about the 4 chords ..em most of iron maidens songs are all the same chords ..its not a big deal..and drop tuning ur guitar is not lame ...like ur just a sado for havin this site!
Posted by Chuck D:
F*ck kkk666. If you see a trailor park neo nazi sh*thead. Do your part and exterminate him!!
Posted by AliceCooperette:
Haha, he mentioned Dio! \m/
Most of my resentment goes to rap "metal". The first time I ever came across the stuff, I was at a friend's house, and they put it on. I was surprised that the same person who said, "You can't sell crap without rap!" was sitting there listening to it herself.
Anyway, when I heard the remix of "Slim Shady" merged with AC/DC's "Back in Black", I nearly died. The two songs merge seamlessly. Anytime somebody puts on nu-metal, that remix is all I can hear.
I resent most of the teen metal being produced right now because the bands are produced by the record companies almost as plastic-ly as the teen pop. It's like a choice between a red lip gloss or a brown lip gloss. Hmmm... do I buy the new Mandy Moore album, or should I go with the latest nu-metal album? There's no quality or variety. It's all mass marketed crap to the suburban teen rebel who can actually AFFORD $19.99 for a band name t-shirt at Hot Topic.
Posted by sorry:
i think cradle of filth is hated by the black metal community. Oh i like some mall-core (ive heard it called mall-metal) haha but u hit it on the head with the 5, i cant had much.
Posted by Princess_Evil:
Well I agree rap rock doesn't do much for me.I dnt like Linkin' Park or X-Ecutioners or whatever but I do enjoy listening to the likes of My Ruin,Tura Satana,Cradle Of Filth,A Perfect Circle and Lit.There are some others to.For those of you who think Cradle Of Filth have no talent think again.There drummer is amazing,they fit KEYBOARD into metal music very well and Dani has a variety of voices that make me tingle all over.You may think their slogans are tasteless but that is always debatable.Listen to whatever the hell you like.Music is a way to escape from the harsh reality for me.....Laterz.
Posted by kkk666:
DESTROY ALL THE NI99ERS!
IF YOU KNOW A NI99ER, DO YOUR PART AND EXTERMINATE IT!
Posted by hYbridX:
Ok, im 17, and i DO think linkin park are ass wipes.But, i like manson...and all you hardcore-know-it-all- critics probably dont...simple matter of taste, your like nerds fighting over if mac or windows is better...btw, i think mansons cover of tainted love is wicked, and if i cant be allowed to like something without being tolled it sux, screw u!your probably OLD and cant let go of the PAST.
Posted by whytry:
listen to taproot
Posted by ORGY12345:
yea, Orgy is a great Band, according ot the comments and rules listed above.....besides they have more talent than Stinkin' Park, who has no bassist. Linkin' park blows (although their dual-vocalist excuse does sell records)
Posted by Mrs. Unterpants:
You guys are all stupid. Linkin Park would kick your sorry asses.
Posted by Mr Unterpants:
Mr Emperor of True Norse Black Metal and the Nonexistant God, I read your post with interest and can only see on eslight flaw in your plan......... it's b0llocks.
Posted by People=Sh*t:
The word "mallcore" should never be used to describe the style of music of any band. What the he!! does the place where some of a bands fans hang-out at have to do with the bands style of music. I'm sure some country fans(by the way I can't stand country I'm just using it as an example) hang out at the mall. Does that make their music "mallcore?" No, because the style of music is created before a band even has any fans, so please stop using that sh*t word. And as for Linkin Park having no talent, have you actually heard Chestor sing? He can actually sing very well, and I don't mean just on a CD where a computer can make you sound good, but he also sounds good live.
Posted by -=Emperor of True Norse Black Metal and the Nonexistant God=-:
DEATH TO THE MALLSTREEM!!! DEATH TO MALLCORE AND ITS FOLLOWERS!!! TR00 BLACKENED NORSE TROLL METAL FOREVER!!! I WOULD NAME TR00 BLACK METAL BANDS BUT I CANNOT THINK OF ANY AND YOU WOULD NOT BE METAL ENOUGH TO HEAR THEIR GODLY NAMES!!! ANY METAL BAND THAT SELLS AN ALBUM IS A SELLOUT!!! DEATH TO ALL ORGANIZED RELIGION!!! HAIL SATAN!!! \M/TRUE NORSE DEATH METALLL!!!\M/
Posted by Paranoia:
hey goddess trog, are you a colon camper? get some help! you freak of nature!
Posted by the goddess trog:
Well rooster. Crawling is simple. IT'S WHAT SLIPKNOT WILL BE ABLE TO DO IF I DON'T GET MY KEY. Too bad they stole my track 'In the End'. Too bad it doesn't even matter. Fling be ding.
Posted by roosterchick:
papercut is asi, asi but i don't get crawling
Posted by SubXavier:
Ok, commenting on my own comment... Manson's version of "Tainted Love" is ridiculously horrible. And, commenting on others' comments, Linkin Park has actually gained some credibility in my book. I still hate "One Step Closer," but "Crawling" and "Papercut" are surprisingly good. Go listen.
Posted by Mr Unterpants:
I don't thinks posing in Playgirl takes away any credibility, I only wish that young girls would pay money to see me naked.
Posted by the max:
Any band who's lead singer poses naked in Playgirl has no credibility to me whatsoever...Type O Negative is boring black metal shyt. If you like them though...that's cool.
Posted by Samhain:
Even though Road Runner signs up theese crappy bands, Type O Negative is awesome and very talented. Samhain has spoken.
Posted by Dugre666:
I am in favor of what was said in this article. Most of these bands have little or not talent at all. It's attack of the killer "Limp Bizkits" and "Linkin Parks". These next to no talent bands are getting all the fame and attention. While bands that have real talent and are really struggling making it in music are shunned and probably never heard of. Too bad the music industry is creating these bands. And they seem to play things that make my head want to explode. We need bands that play for the sake of music. And not of the money, the limited ammounts of fame, and the almighty dollar.
Posted by Lump of Dirt RULZ!!!:
I totally agree. bands like these have very little talent and don't deserve the credibility they are getting. Slipknot is a great example. Four f***ing stars and a cover article for their newest record in "Rolling Stone", a magazine I used to respect. pleeze, give me nirvana, give me some weezer, give me some sublime even. give me music, not garbage.
Posted by Paranoia:
Ooookay. You do that.
Posted by Jesus:
I shall smite the evildoers from this earth. Those who post under false names will suffer my wrath, the godless heathens.
Posted by Paranoia:
Nevermind. Go home. False alarm.
Posted by Jesus:
What?
Posted by Paranoia:
Oh, jesus.
Posted by Paranoia:
Who said that?
Posted by Paranoia (SubXavier, just this once):
Because it's fun.
Posted by THE REALLY REAL Paranoia:
????????? Why are people f*cking with my screenname????????
Posted by THE REAL Paranoia:
What the hell????
Posted by Paranoia:
OK, if you people are gonna ghost-post under my name, at least say something worth saying
Posted by Paranoia:
What the f*ck? I hate ghost posters
Posted by Paranoia:
Dooooooooooo doooooooooooo doooooooooooooooooo
Posted by SubXavier:
Orgy's one of the few good new wave bands (yes, I'm calling them new wave, just because I'm lazy). It's them, and Depeche Mode. I do like that "Tainted Love" song, though. Synthesizers are kitschy.
Posted by Paranoia:
So, in other words, that means that I don't really mind "mallcore" music (by the way, that term is incredibly lame) because anything else anyone ever listens to anywhere in the world has been recycled from somewhere else.
Posted by Paranoia:
Every band in history has copied some other form of music. Seriously, any way you look at it, human creativity just goes in a really big circle.
Posted by austin:
this is nothing more than bad stereotyping. Sure maybe some of these bands are trying to immitate another band or sound. But how the fvck do you know? Perhaps they just can't play well. Perhaps they can't sing. But maybe, they still enjoy doing so.
Posted by Joe Gorelle:
Oh hell yeah i agree with the the anti-guy on this segment.Quit ripping off Ozzy and Sabbath you cheap FUCKS!Learn some cords and learn to sing.
Posted by rocky racoon:
Gday Yakk, that last post wasnt actually from me but from someone else posting under my name
Posted by Yakk in Heat:
HA Ha-- Rocky i do hope your pulling my third leg! Metal Rules Dude! Limp Bizkit deserves as much as respect that the Backstreet Boys get.
Posted by Mr Unterpants:
I apologise unreservedly for being so wrong about the origins of the seven string and I now consider myself educated. I think I made my point about taking something that was created years ago and then branding it as your own.
Posted by Rocky Racoon:
Orgy is great almost as cool as Limp Bizkit just cuz the record companies tell me to buy something doesn't mean it sucks. You metal heads all suck!
Posted by the max:
Orgy...bah! I can understand using full face make-up to put half-way cool effect for a live show (Mudvayne), but just lipstick and eye shadow making you look overly feminine is just plain retarded.
Posted by name withheld:
i take it you don't like the legendary orgy? i mean come on, the guy wrote korn's first song for them! if that doesn't make him a great musician *stifles laughter* then nothing will.
Posted by SubXavier:
And of course, Name Withheld, those steps aren't pointed at any *coughOrgycough* particular band?
Posted by rocky racoon:
LOL
Posted by 7stringer:
George Van Eps pioneered the 7 string in 1935 and has been playing it ever since. Narciso Yepes played them in the 60s, Egberto Gismonti and Uli John Roth played it in the 70s as well. Alex Gregory did not invent 7 strings. He simply patented the idea in the 80s. 7s have been around for a LONG time before the 7-11-parkinglotcore kids heard korn and started buying them.
Posted by name withheld:
oh and how could i forget? you'll need your mallcore uniform: khakhi shants with wallet chain, tight baseball cap turned backwards, kneehigh white socks, 'da stoopid phat!' pumas with fat laces, and a skateboard, just in case. don't forget your bandmates, let's see, there's the bald one with the goatee and wifebeaters, the moody one with the dreadlocks, the cute one with the perfect nose the girls love, and the peroxide blond one with all the tattoos and piercings. which one are YOU?
Posted by name withheld:
come on antiGuy mallcore is way too complex to reduce into only 5 steps. you need at least 10 steps and here they are: 10. get terry date to produce your album and andy wallace to mix it so it sounds 'metal'. 9. buy an ibanez 7 string and a MESA Boogie triple rectifier so you sound heavy even when you're not. 8. get your picture in kerrang!, metal edge, and revolver and try to get circus to call you the best band of the decade or something like that. 7. put your older brother's maiden tshirts on and hide your green day and pearl jam records when the interviewers come to your house. pretend you know other metal bands besides metallica and slayer. remember to tell everyone you stopped liking metallica after justice even though you didn't start liking them until they did the black album! 6. claim to be part of 'the underground' whatever that is. 5. do a vans warped tour, then do ozzfest. 4. make sure your first single is an 80s new wave cover, and not a cool one like killing joke or the smiths but a lame one like human league or thompson twins. this will show the whole world your 'underground' 'hardcore' roots. 3. start your own record label and sign other bands that sound like a cross between you, limp bizkit, alice in chains, and duran duran. 2. be seen in public with fred durst and when asked about it, claim you actually like the guy. 1. do a side project with pantera or slayer. they have (or had) the cred you wish you could have but never will. since you'll never be cool, at least try to brownnose someone who is but still tolerates nerds like you. best bets: kerry king or dimebag. there. 10 steps from having 12 year old skateboarders who think you're da sh!t.
Posted by Mr Unterpants:
Ah, an educated individual. Sorry to point out that actually you are wrong as well, Alex Gregory pioneered the seven string and still holds two patents. The Gretsch "Van Epps" was produced many years later. But all this aside, they still were not the brainchild of Munkey or Head. Thankyou.
Posted by Dr Fever:
BWHAHAHA!! *falls in the floor in laughing convulsions*
Posted by Tylr:
Actually, George Van Eps pioneered the 7 string electric guitar way before Vai or Ibanez...
Posted by the max:
My reputation precedes me...but oddly enough, I agree with the basic points of this. I just hate the t-shirt references and that crap. the t-shirt thing isn't exclusive to Nu-metal, I see plenty of Slayer and Cradle of Filth shirts all the time. I do agree that most of the crap metal they got now is a bunch of rip-offs.
Posted by Mr Unterpants:
Add an extra low 7th string to your guitar and then make out you invented the idea (you didn't Steve Vai and Ibanez) did back in the eighties), drop the tuning some more, preferably until the strings go slack. Learn two chords and be well versed in random strumming techniques. Don't forget how to sing, be unable to sing no matter how hard you try from the very beginning. Be as shallow as possible, keep lyrical content to meaningless crap and say f#ck a lot. And of course don,t forget to give yourself the most aggresive name you can think of like Suicide Bloodgush or Slitwrist Braineaters
Posted by Paranoia:
Oh please, don't you start on the mallcore thing too...but yeah, I do agree with this, particularly with reasons five and four. I'm not exactly against nu-metal, but I will say it is a bit recycled. Those who do not have the Satan growl thing going are complete AIC ripoffs. I will say that.
Posted by me:
I can hear the max bitching now about this list. I'm with you AG I like some of this stuff but more and more of the new bands coming out sound so generic or are direct rip offs of bigger bands. I do disagree that we are near the end, I think we have a few more years of this stuff and the best bands will survive but the trendies and the record companies will move on to the next thing.
