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The Next "Iron Maiden"?



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Original post

Posted by Doc G., 29.10.2008 - 04:50
Ok, the topic title may seem a little vague, so let me explain.

Iron Maiden is just an example name, the greatest example I could find. Iron Maiden is one of those few metal bands that acquired mainstream success/mass appeal while still retaining the respect from the more elitist of metalheads. No one gets called a "poser" for being an Iron Maiden fan, yet they are waaay bigger than almost every band everyone deems as "sellouts".

So the more descriptive question is this: Who will be the next metal band (lets say bands that have formed in the last 10-15 years), that acquires mass appeal globally, while at the same time still holds respect from more elitist people?

Not such an easy question to answer. Due to the fact that the music business has completely changed since Iron Maidens prime, it's doubtful any other band in metal will reach the level of Iron Maiden again, so lets say the next mainstream band that everyone would be proud to be waving the "metal flag". Some possible answers that went through my head: Children Of Bodom - No, sure they are possibly one of the biggest metal bands to come out in the past 15 years, but once again they don't get much respect from the more learned of metalheads. Opeth maybe?

The reason I made this a topic is because I have no idea! In 25-30 years, Whats that one metal band thats not going to be known for selling out (*cough* *cough* Metallica *cough*), the band where all the kids are going to be wearing shirts of and referring to as "classic"? Any ideas anyone?
22.06.2010 - 18:18
Hrothdane
Written by Kennoth on 22.06.2010 at 16:45

Written by Hrothdane on 22.06.2010 at 06:46

Idk, too many people call them not metal.


Those people are also known as idiots.


Oh I agree. I can't understand those people either, but they do exist unfortunately.
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22.06.2010 - 18:35
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
Admin
It won't ever happen again.

it cannot happen again, as a result of the way metal has grown into increasingly more sub-genres and sub-sub-genres and as a result of the demolition of the music industry. (they actually bought music in the 80's. now people think they deserve it for free. think a band will get development opportunities and adequate tour support now?)

most of the suggestions have been downright laughable.
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22.06.2010 - 18:38
Cyroth
Written by Ellrohir on 22.06.2010 at 14:02

Disturbed in one sentence with Iron Maiden...


Disturbed is a band that could reach the peaks of IM,not musically speaking,but as the topic says,international know and liked,maybe loved even...
The downside is they don't play more pure heavy metal,and they play hard rock,even nu metal,as I read some time ago Damian,the vocalist said "we play more hard rock than heavy metal" or something along the lines
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22.06.2010 - 18:49
Kennoth
Damian? His name is David Draiman
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22.06.2010 - 18:58
vezzy
Stallmanite
I never could get into Disturbed. I just don't get what's so great about their sound. Now, if we're talking about the real Disturbed, that's better. =P
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22.06.2010 - 21:12
Cyroth
Written by Kennoth on 22.06.2010 at 18:49

Damian? His name is David Draiman


darn it,I was pretty sure I was going to butcher his name >_<
sry about that
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26.06.2010 - 01:11
Xim
Rocker of Worlds
Disturbed is criticized by a lot of underground metallers, and especially metal elitists. Same deal with Rammstein.

Not that I don't like those bands, I'm wearing a Rammstein shirt right now actually. Also I wouldn't call Rammstein a straight-forward metal band. Sure they have significant metal influence, but they've got a lot of other influences to.

I think the next "Iron Maiden" would have to be a band that nobody would argue that they're metal.
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29.06.2010 - 20:23
Cyroth
I was going to say Within Temptation,but then I reminded myself of the album "The Heart of Everything" that isn't that metal...maybe,if the next album will be more metal,they might have a chance...or it is a bad proposal just because the band is female fronted and the idea is to be in the spirit of metal with some more sweat and manly manliness at the vocals
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29.06.2010 - 20:40
Kennoth
How about Katatonia? I don't know if anyone mentioned them before but...

First of all, they're very popular among elitists. Hardly will anyone have something wrong to say about them (their first death/doom editions made sure they're metal enough)

Nowadays, they've becoming increasingly accessible to wider audience, witnessed by the impressive 22 million plays on last.fm (surpassing a bunch of metalcore and deathcore artists on their way), though staying true to their atmospheric, depressing doom-like style. Probably their shifting to clean vocals also played a major role in this too.
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29.06.2010 - 21:07
Zuzuz0r
Written by Kennoth on 29.06.2010 at 20:40

How about Katatonia? I don't know if anyone mentioned them before but...

First of all, they're very popular among elitists. Hardly will anyone have something wrong to say about them (their first death/doom editions made sure they're metal enough)

Nowadays, they've becoming increasingly accessible to wider audience, witnessed by the impressive 22 million plays on last.fm (surpassing a bunch of metalcore and deathcore artists on their way), though staying true to their atmospheric, depressing doom-like style. Probably their shifting to clean vocals also played a major role in this too.


Their actual sound is quite accesible, but somehow I see it hard for them to become the next Iron Maiden, they get way lesser crowds at shows than Opeth or Dream Theater(being a band with almost the same time playing), and those bands get way lesser crowds than Iron Maiden. I don't know if their Alternative Depressive Rock sound could attract metalheads, being that most metalheads would consider this kind of sound like "not so metal" and most of them prefer the already estabilished metal bands. Also, most elitists prefer their old Doom/Death sound than their actual sound.

Another band I thought a couple of years ago that could be the new Iron Maiden, was Sonata Arctica(band which I used to be a really big fan), but seeing that the Euro Melodic Flower Metal trend is dying slowly, I see it hard, also they started to lose fans when they changed their sound(which I think is better than their old sound). They even attracted plenty of non-metal fans.
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30.06.2010 - 04:01
Kennoth
Written by Zuzuz0r on 29.06.2010 at 21:07

Their actual sound is quite accesible, but somehow I see it hard for them to become the next Iron Maiden, they get way lesser crowds at shows than Opeth or Dream Theater(being a band with almost the same time playing), and those bands get way lesser crowds than Iron Maiden. I don't know if their Alternative Depressive Rock sound could attract metalheads, being that most metalheads would consider this kind of sound like "not so metal" and most of them prefer the already estabilished metal bands. Also, most elitists prefer their old Doom/Death sound than their actual sound.


Well...true, those two bands probably have larger audience, but as expected take a lot more shit from the 'underground' listeners.

I wouldn't call their sound as depressive rock. It's actually pretty hard to pinpoint their genre. While not as near as heavy as their first two albums, I still firmly believe that they're still metal in sound. Even in their latest editions, there is still growling present (not from the lead singer, obviously).

I do agree that some would consider them too mellow, but let's face it, Iron Maiden is nothing heavier than most bands proposed in this topic (quite the contrary).
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02.07.2010 - 01:03
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Contributor
I think Mastodon is on its way...their blend of metalcore, speed, and prog has the ingrediants for huge appeal and success. Not to mention their quirky personalities and the overall aura of the band.
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07.07.2010 - 19:30
Metalmunky17
Written by Powerslavex on 29.10.2008 at 15:41

I think any metal band with growl vocals will never grow that much and wiil never have major mainstream success and mass appeal cause many people don't accept that kind of music or even consider listening to it, keep that idea aside i would have to say Opeth:maniac:


i agree, cause think about maiden and bruce's voice, its singing that everyone can understand and it was his voice that made them even more popular than they already were. but with growling bands, not everyone can appreciate that and it will never be as popular. you always see the most popular bands are the ones with clean vocals
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08.07.2010 - 08:45
CzirjakMan
I dont really see a widely acceptable answer to this- some bands may be really poplular but not metal enough (Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, etc..) other really popular bands in the metal community could never be popular by anyone except metalheads (Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, In Flames, etc..). Slipknot perhaps, but they've sold out pretty bad. Agree or disagree, but I can see Five Finger Death Punch filling this position- they've moved thousands and thousands of albums in their fairly recent existance, but still retain blistering rhythms, intense solos, and brutally honest vocals (yells, screams, and singing) from a great frontman surrounded by world class musicans
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08.07.2010 - 20:21
vezzy
Stallmanite
Written by CzirjakMan on 08.07.2010 at 08:45

I dont really see a widely acceptable answer to this- some bands may be really poplular but not metal enough (Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, etc..) other really popular bands in the metal community could never be popular by anyone except metalheads (Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, In Flames, etc..). Slipknot perhaps, but they've sold out pretty bad. Agree or disagree, but I can see Five Finger Death Punch filling this position- they've moved thousands and thousands of albums in their fairly recent existance, but still retain blistering rhythms, intense solos, and brutally honest vocals (yells, screams, and singing) from a great frontman surrounded by world class musicans


Children of Bodom are actually pretty popular. And you're definitely right about A7X and Disturbed not being metal enough. Seriously though, you must be kidding about 5FDP. Always seemed like pretty generic groove metal/modern heavy to me.
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19.07.2010 - 05:57
Perseverence
Account deleted
Wait, Wait! Hold On! I though comercial sucsess was a bad thing for metal. If metal exchanged places with pop it just would'nt be cool anymore. What are you thinking guys?
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19.07.2010 - 22:02
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Staff
Written by Guest on 19.07.2010 at 05:57

Wait, Wait! Hold On! I though comercial sucsess was a bad thing for metal. If metal exchanged places with pop it just would'nt be cool anymore. What are you thinking guys?

I'll assume since you have bands like Ozzy and Korn in your favourite bands list you are joking, but I'll address this question anyways.

Popularity does not dictate quality. The whole point of this question was to address that point entirely; what band can achieve mainstream popularity while still retain underground appreciation?
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19.07.2010 - 22:10
Perseverence
Account deleted
Written by Doc G. on 19.07.2010 at 22:02

Written by Guest on 19.07.2010 at 05:57

Wait, Wait! Hold On! I though comercial sucsess was a bad thing for metal. If metal exchanged places with pop it just would'nt be cool anymore. What are you thinking guys?

I'll assume since you have bands like Ozzy and Korn in your favourite bands list you are joking, but I'll address this question anyways.

Popularity does not dictate quality. The whole point of this question was to address that point entirely; what band can achieve mainstream popularity while still retain underground appreciation?


You didn't mention Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga and the many others that are mainstream. But yes Ozzy is my all time favorite and Korn is fukkin' awsome. What I meant was commercial sucsess for Dark Throne, Defeated Sanity, or Moss bands of that caliber.
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19.07.2010 - 22:14
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Staff
Written by Guest on 19.07.2010 at 22:10

Written by Doc G. on 19.07.2010 at 22:02

Written by Guest on 19.07.2010 at 05:57

Wait, Wait! Hold On! I though comercial sucsess was a bad thing for metal. If metal exchanged places with pop it just would'nt be cool anymore. What are you thinking guys?

I'll assume since you have bands like Ozzy and Korn in your favourite bands list you are joking, but I'll address this question anyways.

Popularity does not dictate quality. The whole point of this question was to address that point entirely; what band can achieve mainstream popularity while still retain underground appreciation?


You didn't mention Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga and the many others that are mainstream. But yes Ozzy is my all time favorite and Korn is fukkin' awsome. What I meant was commercial sucsess for Dark Throne, Defeated Sanity, or Moss bands of that caliber.

Well, like I said, that's the whole point of the thread.

First of all, Iron Maiden was pretty much as popular as Lady Gaga is, from what I understand. Secondly, a band like Darkthrone won't do it because it's not quite melodic or accessible enough. The band would have to be melodic, but still retain some artistic integrity.
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23.07.2010 - 02:54
Lit. Metalhead
Account deleted
Honestly, I don't know why going commercial is bad for Metal.
Who cares as long as they make their songs good and stick too their roots?

For the Iron Maiden thing, I can't see it happening again.
Unless the band has massive talent, then I doubt it. I mean, Iron Maiden has songs clocking into 9 minutes on pretty much every album.
But the bands that have the biggest chance of doing so might be Children of Bodom, Mastodon and if you wanna talk popularity: Slipknot, A7X, and Disturbed.

There are genres that were not meant to become mainstream...
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23.07.2010 - 14:00
vezzy
Stallmanite
Written by Guest on 23.07.2010 at 02:54
There are genres that were not meant to become mainstream...


I don't know, man, metal's pretty mainstream when you compare it to something like death rock or noise music.
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25.07.2010 - 00:37
RavenKing
Written by Guest on 23.07.2010 at 02:54

Honestly, I don't know why going commercial is bad for Metal.
Who cares as long as they make their songs good and stick too their roots?


Please tell me how a METAL band can stick to their roots and go commercial at the same time. It's impossible. Going commercial means writing softer, more accessible and mainstream-oriented music. You can't stick to your metal roots and do this at the same time. What you're saying is totally non-sensical.
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25.07.2010 - 00:49
Lit. Metalhead
Account deleted
Written by RavenKing on 25.07.2010 at 00:37

Written by Guest on 23.07.2010 at 02:54

Honestly, I don't know why going commercial is bad for Metal.
Who cares as long as they make their songs good and stick too their roots?


Please tell me how a METAL band can stick to their roots and go commercial at the same time. It's impossible. Going commercial means writing softer, more accessible and mainstream-oriented music. You can't stick to your metal roots and do this at the same time. What you're saying is totally non-sensical.


Please refer to the title of this thread.
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25.07.2010 - 00:52
RavenKing
Would you care to explain?
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25.07.2010 - 12:37
vezzy
Stallmanite
Written by RavenKing on 25.07.2010 at 00:52

Would you care to explain?


He probably means that Iron Maiden also tried to go commercial by softening their sound, hence their popularity. I'm not very sure if I'm getting it right, but I hope so. Hence the "next Iron Maiden".

Still, there IS softer metal out there, and it shouldn't be excluded. Problem is, it won't be respected in the underground.
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25.07.2010 - 15:17
RavenKing
Written by vezzy on 25.07.2010 at 12:37

Written by RavenKing on 25.07.2010 at 00:52

Would you care to explain?


He probably means that Iron Maiden also tried to go commercial by softening their sound, hence their popularity. I'm not very sure if I'm getting it right, but I hope so. Hence the "next Iron Maiden".



Perhaps. Since Fear Of The Dark, some Maiden's stuff is more prog and hard rock-ish than metal. The 80s stuff was more intense and in-your-face.
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15.08.2010 - 21:13
CzirjakMan
Written by RavenKing on 25.07.2010 at 00:37

Written by Guest on 23.07.2010 at 02:54

Honestly, I don't know why going commercial is bad for Metal.
Who cares as long as they make their songs good and stick too their roots?


Please tell me how a METAL band can stick to their roots and go commercial at the same time. It's impossible. Going commercial means writing softer, more accessible and mainstream-oriented music. You can't stick to your metal roots and do this at the same time. What you're saying is totally non-sensical.

well Iron Maiden isn't exactly brutal. I mean think about why they made it huge in such a short time- the stong beat, powerful melody/hooks in the chorus, pop elements! But we still love them today! Think about how many metal bands embrace that style today. Quite a few right? I'm sick of bands getting bashed for being too commercial or mainstreem. Isn't there a line? There's nothing wrong with wanting to appeal to lots of people as long your not being fake. What if you actually want to make a living from writing music? You NEED to appeal to more than just a few people. Iron Maiden's sold about as many records as Van Halen. Van Halen is a pop rock band as far as I see. And it's not just metalheads that dig Maiden. So with all that in mind, tell me that you couldn't see a band like Five Finger Death Punch or Avenged Sevenfold, out there in the mainstream, staying at the top of the metal scene at the same time. There's just so much music and different styles of metal now that its harder to differenciate between popular and fake. There is a difference though
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15.08.2010 - 21:25
Derwood
Written by CzirjakMan on 15.08.2010 at 21:13

well Iron Maiden isn't exactly brutal. I mean think about why they made it huge in such a short time- the stong beat, powerful melody/hooks in the chorus, pop elements! But we still love them today! Think about how many metal bands embrace that style today. Quite a few right? I'm sick of bands getting bashed for being too commercial or mainstreem. Isn't there a line? There's nothing wrong with wanting to appeal to lots of people as long your not being fake. What if you actually want to make a living from writing music? You NEED to appeal to more than just a few people. Iron Maiden's sold about as many records as Van Halen. Van Halen is a pop rock band as far as I see. And it's not just metalheads that dig Maiden. So with all that in mind, tell me that you couldn't see a band like Five Finger Death Punch or Avenged Sevenfold, out there in the mainstream, staying at the top of the metal scene at the same time. There's just so much music and different styles of metal now that its harder to differenciate between popular and fake. There is a difference though


The key difference between Iron Maiden and bands like FFDP and A7X in terms of your argument is that Maiden was able to achieve mainstream commercial success while still maintaining the general respect of the broader metal community. Even those metal fans who dislike Iron Maiden still respect and acknowledge their huge contribution to metal. Neither FFDP or A7X have that kind of respect; in fact, they are looked upon as fake by a very large number of metal fans. So no, I can't see them getting to the top of the metal scene, let alone staying there at all because they are simply rejected by a massive segment of metal fans.
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16.08.2010 - 08:07
CzirjakMan
Written by Derwood on 15.08.2010 at 21:25

Written by CzirjakMan on 15.08.2010 at 21:13

well Iron Maiden isn't exactly brutal. I mean think about why they made it huge in such a short time- the stong beat, powerful melody/hooks in the chorus, pop elements! But we still love them today! Think about how many metal bands embrace that style today. Quite a few right? I'm sick of bands getting bashed for being too commercial or mainstreem. Isn't there a line? There's nothing wrong with wanting to appeal to lots of people as long your not being fake. What if you actually want to make a living from writing music? You NEED to appeal to more than just a few people. Iron Maiden's sold about as many records as Van Halen. Van Halen is a pop rock band as far as I see. And it's not just metalheads that dig Maiden. So with all that in mind, tell me that you couldn't see a band like Five Finger Death Punch or Avenged Sevenfold, out there in the mainstream, staying at the top of the metal scene at the same time. There's just so much music and different styles of metal now that its harder to differenciate between popular and fake. There is a difference though


The key difference between Iron Maiden and bands like FFDP and A7X in terms of your argument is that Maiden was able to achieve mainstream commercial success while still maintaining the general respect of the broader metal community. Even those metal fans who dislike Iron Maiden still respect and acknowledge their huge contribution to metal. Neither FFDP or A7X have that kind of respect; in fact, they are looked upon as fake by a very large number of metal fans. So no, I can't see them getting to the top of the metal scene, let alone staying there at all because they are simply rejected by a massive segment of metal fans.

so then what's your opinion? My next choice would probably be Children Of Bodom, Lamb Of God, or maybe Trivium. Had Pantera stayed together it could very well have been them.
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17.08.2010 - 06:30
Derwood
Written by CzirjakMan on 16.08.2010 at 08:07

so then what's your opinion? My next choice would probably be Children Of Bodom, Lamb Of God, or maybe Trivium. Had Pantera stayed together it could very well have been them.


My opinion is that a phenomenon similar to Iron Maiden's success will not happen again within the context of metal. The other bands you mention have the same credibility problems in the broader metal community as A7X and FFDP, and so will any other metal band that has that level of commercial success.

Iron Maiden were simply the right band with the right sound at the right time to bring heavy metal out of the underground, and they did it without any overt commercialization of their sound or pandering to current trends unlike countrymates Judas Priest who released three overtly commercial albums in British Steel, Point of Entry and most especially Turbo. When Iron Maiden did change their sound in the 90's, it actually hurt them commercially, so it has never been seen as a commercial move, rather one of a band coming off a creative peak and foundering a bit.
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