Exploring Metal: A Look at the Tech Death Genre

Metal is in a period of transition once again. I think we all can agree metalcore is definitely losing steam (bands have either evolved from that title (Lamb Of God, Trivium, Shadows Fall) or have taken it to its limit (Killswitch Engage)) and now it's only a matter of finding a new way to give metal a kick in the ass.

(for argument's sake we are assuming metalcore did increase metal's popularity and is in some way beneficial).

The way things are looking it seems like the unlikely genre of technical death metal is on the rise. Even to the level that there are now more "commercially appealing" versions of these bands creating music. Case A below (heard of The Arusha Accord byway of the dudes at metalsucks).



I'm not sure whether I can say I really like this band or not, because I've only heard one song by them, but the one positive aspect of the video is that the band is performing with energy (which is my big complaint with tech death bands, unless you are talking maybe The Dillinger Escape Plan who are more tech and not really death). Granted this is music video and not live, but you get the point.

I saw The Faceless live and while I dig some of the stuff on Planetary Duality, the live show was boring and the vocals are completely incomprehensible live (Case B). Not to mention the album kind of blurs together after track 2.



What I'm getting at is that tech death metal (and lots of modern metal) is missing the energy that the old school rockers / metal heads once had (and some still have). The live shows were fun because it was equally as enjoyable to see the band rock out, as it was to hear them play the songs.

That is not the case with many tech death bands today.

Another tech death band that is similar to The Faceless, but more evolved, is Obscura. Cosmogenesis is a great album and they are more fun to watch than The Faceless live, but once again, the music itself is lacking some of the emotion classic bands like Pantera or say Metallica always had.



So what is this post all about in the end? The conclusion that while tech death is cool, bands need to remember that the live show and emotion can be just as vital as playing cool sounding riffs. Maybe Arsis has it right and its latest album is a proper example of where the genre should go?



It's funny because I have heard a lot of mixed response with the new Arsis record, but goddamn if it isn't a fun listen! Is it too much to ask for technicality and emotion in a band's music? And is tech death the new direction metal is going? (you could also make the argument it's going the way of modern doom/stoner metal, which bores me even more). I can't say 100%, but I am interested in seeing how this all plays out in upcoming years.

CONCERT REMINDER

The best metal show to hit Des Moines, Iowa, in a long time will be tonight (Thursday, February 12).

Meshuggah, Cynic and The Faceless will all be playing under the same roof at People's Court. Tickets are 20 bones and if you are anywhere near the area you have no reason not to go! I am driving there from Iowa City tomorrow.

People's Court is a fairly small venue, so having the chance to get up and personal with a band that plays huge shows overseas is an amazing opportunity. I do my best to be up front when they play Future Breed Machine.

Stay tuned for a concert review, maybe I'll even post it on the review blog that is supposedly coming soon (see link to the right)...

UPDATE: CONCERT REVIEW ONLINE NOW, RIGHT HERE

New Semester, Brand New Metal Show Tuesday 6-7PM!

Randy here reporting in after a long break that still ended all too soon...

At least the first day of school can start out right with a brand new Metal Show at its new time-slot every Tuesday from 6-7PM on KRUI 89.7!

Metal continues to takeover KRUI from 7-8PM with Gloves of Metal, followed by Invisible Time Lines from 8-10PM.

Apparently KRUI listened to its fans and decided that metal is indeed alive in well in Iowa City.

Remember you can stream the show via KRUI's website.

Check out the concert updates to the right to see an exciting update. Meshuggah, Cynic and The Faceless will be performing at People's Court in Des Moines, IA. Should be an insane show!

Watch this video of Faceless guitarist Micheal Keene shredding at the recent NAMM guitar show.

Like what you hear? All of the playing is taken from the album Planetary Duality.