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| L to R: least to most proud by Cosmo Lee |
When I broached the idea of reviewing Epica last October, one Dutch reader commented that he was ashamed to live in the same country as the band. I remember thinking, “Yes, the Dutch should indeed be ashamed for birthing such a monstrosity.”
That got me thinking. What bands make me ashamed of America? That might require a separate blog: awfulamericanmetal.com. But, also, what bands make me proud of America? For all the fingers jabbed in my chest (I practically have a callus there) when people overseas find out I’m American, what rejoinders could I have? Yes, we produced Bush, but we also produced…
Kylesa make me proud to be American. They couldn’t have come from any other country. Their metal methodology is very American: pick up scraps here and there, warp them into something funky and individual. America has originated many things, but metal is not one of them. American bands must draw from European traditions. Kylesa are a beautiful mutt of nth generation Sabbath progeny.
Later Iced Earth and later Pantera make me ashamed to be American. They are “The Ugly American” turned into metal bands.
What bands make you proud — or ashamed — of your country?
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I'm proud to say that I live within the same borders as NoMeansNo, Beyond Possession, Bison b.c. and 3 Inches of Blood.
The list that ashames me is far too long.
Azathoth – Thanks for the tips. Those bands are indeed quality. I especially enjoyed End of Man and will keep an eye on them.
Although many of my fave bands are European, the American band I'm most proud of is Virgin Steele. Totally Euro in sound yet somehow also quite American, and they beat the European power metallers at their own game, without the cheese.
Sorry for the late response
Technically yes, Catalunya is part of Spain as Texas is a part of the US, but there's a general feeling of country inside a country in there – some of them will be offended if you suggest they are Spaniards and not Catalonian, others won't give it a single thought and most of them, I think, will correct you in a friendly manner and explain that they don't feel Spanish at all but it won't offend them anyway.
Catalunya, by the way, seems like a friendly place for extreme metal; bands like Foscor and Vidres a la Sang are from there and are widely praised among those who appreciate their genre, and I could also mention bands like the now deceased Asgaroth, an Arcturus-like band if I must compare them to a similar act. Try "Red Shift" if you want to listen to them!
The thing about my country is not that I hate the country at all but its musical production. Not just Factor-X bands are proliferating in a rise-downfall-in-a-hit-single basis, but there are many metal acts that are just unworthy the effort of simply standing a couple songs. I think we're still a very unmature country and thus it's not impossible to find original bands, but it's not easy as well.
Latelly I've been amazed by some Norwegian bands that really saved the day when I first listened to them, and Sweden also rocks my music collection. There's definitely something that really moves me when listening to nordic bands, and if I had to feel proud of my country for the music it produces, I'd rather be in Notodden or Eskilstuna than in Madrid as I am now.
Apart of that, Spain is a great place to be, especially as a tourist, and I encourage you to come back whenever you can: we have nice weather and great food, and if we hanged our politicians from a tree this could be Paradise on Earth
AC/DC, Psycroptic
I'm Irish and I'm very proud of Primordial. They are world-beaters and one of the best Metal bands ever. I'm also Austrian but can't think of any band from there that would make me proud…. But then I don't follow the Austrian scene. Not a fan of Pungent Stench, not a fan of Abigor or Belphegor, never heard Disharmonic Orchestra so can't comment….
Dawnbringer and Deceased.