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Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 09:17 AM
Hello. I'm here as a public service announcement.

It has come to my attention that the publication of "the rough guide to Rock" and the "rough guide to heavy metal" has happened.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843534150/qid=1131030613/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl/026-4686830-5271608

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843531054/qid=1131030613/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i5_xgl/026-4686830-5271608

Do not buy these books.

The only use they have could possibly have would be to give you actual facts. You could, I suppose look up the year albums have been released, or band members.
The real problem begins with the classification of genres The rough guide to heavy metal includes Jon Bon Jovi, a man who could not be described as "metal", or indeed "heavy" even in the loosest possible terms, and has no entry for Mayhem or Darkthrone.

If you read the two books (don't, just take my word for it) you realise that the bands that are classified in both books, the entries are exactly the same, so instead of creating new entries for the metal one, to give you more metal information. It's the same review. The whole book is testament to the fact that the mainstream media don't understand and dislike metal, it's essentially a book written about metal by someone who really, really hates it.
Now, here lies the second problem, any opinion given in this book is utter ****. Iron maiden were described as "better without Dickinson " and that No Prayer for the dying was described as "the best album of the Dickinson era" it's enough to make the most hardened bibliophile tear it to shreds and burn it.

Now, these are just bands That I noticed on the quick look through the metal one, I have read the rough guide to rock on numerous occasions, and it's ****ing awful. If you wantr base facts, use the internet. You're here already, right?
And for all you people that love opinions about music, well, you're better off here.

Shred Danson
11-03-2005, 09:54 AM
The rough guide to heavy metal includes Jon Bon Jovi, a man who could not be described as "metal", or indeed "heavy" even in the loosest possible terms, and has no entry for Mayhem or Darkthrone.

What the hell more do you expect, dude? People only look at what the mainstream thinks of metal...Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and hair metal were very big in the 80's and why some could be considered metal, most of it wasn't. Hell, Slayer's Show No Mercy came out in 1981, right (I think that's right :lol: )? All that thrash and death and speed and power metal that was underground at the time represented what metal was to metalheads...just as all that hair and glam metal represented what the media thought was metal just because it was big at the time. It's the same today with nu-metal and metalcore...

The whole book is testament to the fact that the mainstream media don't understand and dislike metal, it's essentially a book written about metal by someone who really, really hates it.

Or doesn't have a clue what metal is. It reminds me of that VH1 show, 100 Most Metal Moments...it basically only dealt with hair metal (what the ****) and popular metal artists (you know, the usual suspects: Ozzy, Megadeth, Metallica, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Priest)...it's just lame. People who truly are into heavy metal should look at this book and know that it's full of crap. I'd just fricken' laugh at the book if I ever read it...

And for all you people that love opinions about music, well, you're better off here.

Good statement :)

Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 12:27 PM
True enough, but this book is marketed in a way that if people read it thinking that it was a true representation of the genre when they themselves knew little about metal, it would give a false idea of metal.

Steerpike
11-03-2005, 12:31 PM
Another sad perpetuation of mainstream laziness.

I always found "Sound of the Beast" to be a fairly accurate guide to the history of metal, and it was actually written by metalheads for metalheads.

Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 12:33 PM
Sound of the beast is an excellent book, with an especially large and infomative chapter on the Norwegian BM scene.

beaNN
11-03-2005, 12:37 PM
lol Bon Jovi as metal?

Jon
11-03-2005, 12:37 PM
Slayer or Mayhem or Burzum aren't heavy metal though :-/

Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 12:41 PM
Slayer or Mayhem or Burzum aren't heavy metal though :-/
The Rough Guide to Heavy Metal: Every String-Shredding Style, from Death Metal to Classic Rock

It says this here, which is idiotic in itself...how would classic rock come under the heading of metal?

The whole thing is ludicrous

Happy
11-03-2005, 01:04 PM
This makes me want to buy it and laugh.

Shred Danson
11-03-2005, 01:48 PM
True enough, but this book is marketed in a way that if people read it thinking that it was a true representation of the genre when they themselves knew little about metal, it would give a false idea of metal.

That's what I'm getting at...and you're always gonna get un-informed people who only listen to what the mainstream tells them to instead of deciding for themselves...You're always gonna have people thinking they are soooo into metal and so intelligent, but don't have a goddamn clue about it. You see it on MX almost every day...sorry if I'm making any sense, I can't think right now :lol:

Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 01:49 PM
That's what I'm getting at...and you're always gonna get un-informed people who only listen to what the mainstream tells them to instead of deciding for themselves...You're always gonna have people thinking they are soooo into metal and so intelligent, but don't have a goddamn clue about it. You see it on MX almost every day...sorry if I'm making any sense, I can't think right now :lol:
Yeah, you're making sense fine, man.

Shadows Within
11-03-2005, 01:53 PM
wow sounds like a shitty book the only one i've seen thats decent is.....oh **** nevermind this IS that book.....with ozzy on the cover?

Shred Danson
11-03-2005, 01:53 PM
Yeah, you're making sense fine, man.

Phew, gg :lol:

crag
11-03-2005, 02:30 PM
Now, here lies the second problem, any opinion given in this book is utter ****. Iron maiden were described as "better without Dickinson " and that No Prayer for the dying was described as "the best album of the Dickinson era" it's enough to make the most hardened bibliophile tear it to shreds and burn it.

:amaze: :eek: :angry: never have i heard such nonsense

Shred Danson
11-03-2005, 02:36 PM
:amaze: :eek: :angry: never have i heard such nonsense

But you've read it. ;) Another reason books like that make me laugh...

So Iron Maiden's only good albums were Iron Maiden and Killers, eh?

Iai
11-03-2005, 02:52 PM
Don't forget the 90s Maiden stuff.

On second thoughts, do.

crag
11-03-2005, 02:56 PM
Don't forget the 90s Maiden stuff.

On second thoughts, do.
If you're talking about the Blaze era then you are very wrong, IMO. Both X-Factor and Virtual XI are among my favourite albums and his vocals suit them extremely well.

Iai
11-03-2005, 03:19 PM
Ok.

Lord Abortion
11-03-2005, 03:28 PM
Ok.
True, as a hardened maidenite, I would say that X-factor is my second favourite maiden Album.
Blaze is excellent and the songwriting is possibly the best I have seen.