There are 3 choices, 4 votes for Lost to Apathy's debate

Music in 50 years.

This is especially for heavy metal fans, such as myself. Others also may post.
What is it that you think the metal genre will look like in about fifty or so years?
Do you think that it is possible for it to get even "heavier"?
  • I do like your question...
    People often incorrectly say that only such and such a music is around today. This is incorrect. The same music is around just with variable impact on public consciousness and record sales.

    Music and tastes in music has much to do with rebellion and its disdain for the norm.

    The 50's showed off a sexuality that was forbidden to the older generations with performers such as Elvis Presley, and his 'sexually suggestive performances' being seen as the anti-thesis to 50's US prudery.

    The 60's took many of the concepts of the 50's and went to the extreme, with a large scale back-lash against societal norms - music promoting love, psychedelics and anti- corporatism.

    The 70's was a period of extreme music turbulence, it killed off the Hippy era, gave birth to huge bands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Yet as people began to tire of the self-indulgence and bombast of many of these huge acts, music turned against its self and gave birth to Punk.

    By it's very nature Punk was as political as it was musical. Panned by many as noisy rubbish, it thrived on this dislike and was the music of many young people disillusioned with the politicians and lives they were leading.

    The 80's and 90's were a time when metal and electronic genres were enjoying their heyday. Electronic music is able to be made by one man and his computer, and the explosion of drugs such as Ecstasy, fuelled the rave scene who introduced their own brand of rebellion and love.

    Ah I could witter on forever, but I will save you. Metal as an extreme fringe genre, had it's day in the sun in the 90's. People are no longer impressed or intimidated by the insane guttural vocals and unhinged guitar riffs that genres such as death metal produce. I am sure that if you were to listen to some metal of the Death/ Drill Grind variety you would not wish heavier music.

    In 50 years time, I cannot be sure but I forsee the rise of 'Musak' as people increasingly listen to tracks that fit around their lives rather than truly appreciating it. I also envision a reversion to music containing classical elements, as such a style has great versatility and is so old, that style will not associate it with recent trends (as fashion seems to whimsically reject recent trends)
    50%  Voted for by petethemeat, Weydon.
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  • given the rate of decline
    In another 50 years we will be back to beating raw-hide drums and chanting "Oooga-oooga!"

    First we had classical and folk, and musicians that went to conservatories for years to learn how to play

    then we had jazz, with musicians who had some schooling, but relied on raw talent

    then we had rock, with musicians who were self-taught, but had some grasp of musical theory

    then we had punk and metal, with musicians who barely knew the basics, but could put on a good show with just sheer audacity (and loudness)

    now we have rap, with "musicians" who copy other people's recorded music, and use it as a background for their poetry

    so, based on the backward-moving trend, I don't think it will be too much longer before any schmuck who bangs sticks and rocks together with something resembling rhythm can land himself a recording contract.

    back to the caves, people.
    Voted for by NeferMaatNetjer.
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  • Two possibilities.
    I believe that as extreme as metal is today it cannot get much more than as is.
    I Believe that there could be two outcomes.
    First being that we simply stay put in our stage of brutality and keep making the same style of music.
    The second one being a decline in taste, not physical ability, in which the metal genre shall inherently get "softer" so that it will equal today's alternative rock.
    Voted for by Lost to Apathy.
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