Our experience in the studio is that they're just trying to sound like everyone else. The metal groups we've had recently, (kids,) seem to have a strange attitude. "We're not that good because we've never played with anyone who's that good." Yeah, right... How about practicing? Or, after trying about 50 times to get that one lick right. "I've never had a problem playing this before. It's always just perfect in practice or at a gig." Yeah, right again... It's that you've never heard yourself play it before and you've NEVER played it right from the start!

It's a genre that draws kids to play because it's loud, messy and easier than most genres. I would believe that you're not seeing many solos because the people playing this music can't play them!

I realize this does not apply to everyone, but it's what we're seeing from groups in the studio. "We want to sound just like ________." (Fill in the blank.) We have yet to have a metal group, (and I will reiterate that these are kids under 26,) who has come into the studio and said, "We have our own sound and this is what we want." Someday, we may have a group like this who are talented and inventive and seek to follow their own paths. Until then I expect that what we'll see is just more of the same. If there's anything that will kill the genre, it will be thousands of metal groups all trying to sound like each other.

ya it bums me out no one wants to try new stuff. sometimes i feel that metal is getting real old, not to say all the bands are, but the mass is.

How it works for me is when I learn a song, I try to learn it as close to note for note as I can, I feel being able to pick specific tones out and finding them myself helps out my listening skills, and if it's a great song, who am I to change it : ) Though when I make up songs and jam it's always improv

What I an talking about is the part of the song when the lead guitarist just goes for it. Like the solo in Enter Sandman or anything from Zak Wilde or Dime bag. It seems to me that the new bands play lead for their rhythms. Where are the good rhythm chords behind the solo? Where is the improvised solo? It's too sanitary. Where are the solos?

progression of a song:

1. learn rest of song
2. make up solo
3. actually learn solo
4. improvise on solo

Guess if you're going to go for it, then you need to be able to play! This is the problem. There are too many "players" out there who are shortcutting to do something they're not ready to do yet. Too many others who want to play lead and are really just frustrated rhythm players. I you want to hear solos, then you need to listen to a band with a guitarist who's good enough to solo in the first place!

"It's that you've never heard yourself play it before and you've NEVER played it right from the start! " This applies to anyone who plays... Xark, it's pretty insightful, actually. The studio environment really exposes a player. I find myself thinking I'm better than I actually am, and I try to execute stuff that I can't play cleanly, or in time and then I have to practice it to death, and then it sounds kinda stiff.


Practice, practice. There's just not enough hours in the day...

There is much wisdom in this thread. Especially Grensley's comment. Man that took me back! hehe

For the most part, it seems like the new players are all about riffing. Either that or they're not fully dedicated to playing, at least in the learning sense. All too often my students just want to learn covers, because theory is "too much like school" to newer players.

Just a thought.