Music Haven

[Halie]

What a blessing that would've been. I find SOAD's vocalist amusing, though. His voice is like one one of my relatives might have.

Actually, I quite liked SOAD. I thought they were pretty different... but aye, Serj Tankian was very amusing. His voice isn't very good in my opinion, though. He has a solo career now, but it's crap. He'd have been better off staying in SOAD. Have you seen their beards? Funny as **** in my opinion. If I were a guy, I'd definitly grow one like that. http://biglietti.aaannunci.it/annunc...e-alcatraz.jpg

[Meier Link]

And yeah Linkin Parks direction has changed alot, but they along with Limp Bizkit gave rise and mainstream attention to the Nu Metal genre. Without them we probably wouldnt have such bands as Slipknot, SOAD etc

i would of thought that korn had more of an influance on those bands not LP, honestly i think they have had one of the biggest impacts on Nu Metal then really and other band. shortly after they hit the scene you got bizkit powerman5000 and others modeled from them

[Sinister]

SOAD is, if nothing else, something to talk about. Slipknot, however, is not a big favorite. Korn is...okay.

Does anyone here enjoy Goth, Industrial or even old Punk?(ala Misfits, The Damned, Clash ect)

[You]

i would of thought that korn had more of an influance on those bands not LP, honestly i think they have had one of the biggest impacts on Nu Metal then really and other band. shortly after they hit the scene you got bizkit powerman5000 and others modeled from them

Thats true. Although if I recall correctly Korn was one of the pioneers of Nu metal. But it was Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park that brought it to mainstream attention.

Does anyone here enjoy Goth, Industrial or even old Punk?(ala Misfits, The Damned, Clash ect)

Goth isnt too bad, I like it occasionally, I like Industrial, my dads albums are based alot around industrial sound sculptures. Old school punk is great^^

Oh and I like SOAD too. Although Serj's solo stuff is horrible. And I have a beard like that^^

[Halie]

I quite like Goth in some sense. But I'm afraid I don't kow enough Goth bands to really tell. Lacuna Coil and Epica, etc. are the type of bands I've heard...though I'm sure whether I'd classify them as Goth. But I'm useless with classifications and all. >.>

Oh, I think 'Old Punk' might actually be what Mod is, but of course in different countries. Though I'm not sure. But I do know that The Clash were a mod type of band.

EDIT: @You, you do? Awesome. Major respect, there. Haha. *Don't be alarmed to wake up one day and find that it's been shaved off and a note beside your bed explaining that I stole it* Haha.

[Meier Link]

Does anyone here enjoy Goth, Industrial or even old Punk?(ala Misfits, The Damned, Clash ect)

yes i do, and i am very fond of the last two you mentioned. all 3 to me are very repectable types of music, at least style wise. me and one of the guys i work with where just talking about some of the older industrial and how we would like to see a forthcomin of it again.

[Sinister]

I'm unfamiliar with the Mod subculture.

But what you mentioned is more akin to Goth metal. Lacuna Coil ect... And they're great, but they're like hybrids and aren't what I would call true Goth. By Goth I mean...let me see...something basic...

*Don't fuss at me Toph, your crimson was so garish and clashed with my blue theme, not to mention it stated the obvious that there was a naked titty mannequin*

You could call this Goth. It's from the band called Attrition. The vid has a cameo by Emilie Autumn.

-Sin

[Halie]

Hmm...didn't know what to think of that. I liked the beat of the actual music, but I wasn't a fan of the vocals. They reminded me an old lady, for some reason...

As for Emilie Autumn, I've been hearing a lot about her lately. I've been meaning to check her out, but I've never gotten round to it.

[Sinister]

If ever you wanted to know anything about Emilie Autumn then you must speak with Gobble Vamp. She knows more about Emilie Autumn then most people know themselves. She is passionate about her.

Attrition isn't my favorite band, I picked it because it was handy. But Goth isn't for the majority of people... If it was, I doubt I'd listen to it, really. Because I'd prolly hear so much of it, I'd get sick of it. Also, you could call the song in my sig, Goth.

[You]

@Dystopia: Yeah I dont have the tache and its not quite that long anymore. But its still pretty close...

@Sinister: The Attrition song was ok, but like Dystopia I didnt really like the womans voice too much. The song in your sig is better though. Its not bad.

[Halie]

Aye, I thought the song in your sig was better too. The vocals were alot easier to get along with. Although I must say I was a lot more intrigued by the videos of both songs (though I don't know whether they were the actual videos). They were very strange...meliked.

@You: Hmm...Maybe when it grows a bit, I'll steal it then lol.

[Chez Daja]

Perhaps emo might not have come about, which in my opinion might not have been such a bad thing

Agreed!

i would of thought that korn had more of an influance on those bands not LP, honestly i think they have had one of the biggest impacts on Nu Metal then really and other band. shortly after they hit the scene you got bizkit powerman5000 and others modeled from them

Yeah, however I believe KoRn have a slightly elevated nu-metal feel that exceeds the likes of Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park.

Thats true. Although if I recall correctly Korn was one of the pioneers of Nu metal. But it was Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park that brought it to mainstream attention.

Definately agreed. KoRn were slightly heavy shit back before Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit. When they were popularized more by those two, they were much more worldy famous in the mainstream side of things, which, I suppose was good for Korn, considering there's a lot of money in that side of the industry.

As for Emilie Autumn, I've been hearing a lot about her lately. I've been meaning to check her out, but I've never gotten round to it.

She's... repetitive to say the least. Talented, sure, but I feel she's playing the wrong music. It sounds, to me, quite unmatched in many of her songs. That said, I wouldn't say be completely discouraged by the link Sin gave you or by this paragraph, since you may like her. I just personally think she's a bit boring.

[Omega Weapon]

Does anyone here enjoy Goth, Industrial or even old Punk?(ala Misfits, The Damned, Clash ect)

I don't really hate it I just don't like those new goth bands.

I hate Metallica, Black Sabbath, shit like that.

What? I don't really give Black Sabbath a shit but what's your problem with Metallica? They are by far one of the most successful bands in the history of music. I reckon Metallica has the most coolest solos and tunes.

[Halie]

@Chez: Repetetive, huh? Hmm...guess I'd have to take a look before I make any judgements.

This is something I don't often do, but, what genre would you say Good Charlotte was? I believe punk with perhaps... ska influences? I'm really not sure on this one...which is rare and frightening to me.

As for your opinions on LP starting the emo scene. I only believe their lyrics influenced it. Most of their old music was different to their newer, more emo stuff.

Good Charlotte...I think their a mixture of American Pop-Punk, a LITTLE bit of emo, and also a bit of hip hop. Though only a few of their tracks are hip hopish.

[Chez Daja]

What? I don't really give Black Sabbath a shit but what's your problem with Metallica? They are by far one of the most successful bands in the history of music. I reckon Metallica has the most coolest solos and tunes.

She just doesn't like bands that are on the edge of being metal. There's nothing wrong with that.

Also, Sabbath is also one of mthe most successful bands in the history of rock and borderline metal, too.

I'll agree that some of Metallica's solos are ace, though. I can play the acoustic solo in 'One', which is my favourite one. Favourite Metallica song?

Mine would probably be Enter Sandman...

@Chez: Repetetive, huh? Hmm...guess I'd have to take a look before I make any judgements.

Yeah, take a better look at what she's about. Like I say, she's not terrible, I just think she'd be so much better in a different genre then the one I believe she's in.

Good Charlotte...I think their a mixture of American Pop-Punk, a LITTLE bit of emo, and also a bit of hip hop. Though only a few of their tracks are hip hopish.

Yeah, that's probably the best way to describe them, to be honest.

[You]

^^^^Enter Sandman is a great song. It has one of the best riffs ever created.

Originally Posted by Dys
Good Charlotte...I think their a mixture of American Pop-Punk, a LITTLE bit of emo, and also a bit of hip hop. Though only a few of their tracks are hip hopish.

Yeah, that's probably the best way to describe them, to be honest.

Yeah I guess it is. Although old Good Charlotte was alot more punk and none of this hip-hop/pop/emo stuff. Still not for me though.
Funny though, how everything nowadays is labled as emo. 7 or so years ago before emo was so mainstream half the bands labled as emo would be labled as something else.

[Halie]

But then when emo did become mainstream, a lot of bands started changing their styles and leaned a bit towards emo. But I do agree. Even the slightest lyric relative to "death" and such can be labelled as emo. Quite irritating, really.

As for Good Charlottes' old stuff, it wasn't actually that bad. And it wasn't so overly talked about, either. I prefer those days >.> Heh.

EDIT: I'd love to be able to play that solo in 'One'. Or the opening riff. Both awesome pieces. As for my favourite song by Metallica...Enter Sandman's good, so's One, and I also like that other one...'I Disappear' I think it is. That one was catchy. Hmm...I'll say One. But the video to the song gets on my nerves. There's too much talking throughout, makesyou feel like screaming "GET THE **** ON WITH THE BLOODY SONG!". Yeah.

[Furore]

There are bands in all metal genres with a couple of songs that use clean vocals and actually sing. It's not as regularly found, though.

Aye. Well there's The Screaming Jets who are considered Metal and they have a good deal of songs that are totally clean. A good band, but one of those ones that a lot of people haven't really listened to.

I dunno... See, I think that Link Park's first two albums Hybrid Theory & Meteora (yes, I have heard them, I used to be a massive fan about five years ago) have a way different sound to the songs I've had the misfortune to hear from Minutes To Midnight. Whilst I believe i has a couple of set similarities, I believe they've turned slightly more into the emo genre rather than nu-metal.

Aye. It's like Chester's previous group Grey Daze got molested or something and went emo.
I loved Grey Daze's albums for the better part. Can't stand Minutes to Midnight...

But then when emo did become mainstream, a lot of bands started changing their styles and leaned a bit towards emo. But I do agree. Even the slightest lyric relative to "death" and such can be labelled as emo. Quite irritating, really.

And a few bands seem to be including one or two emo sounding songs these days. I guess it sells albums due to the sheer number of emos flitting around buying music. Other bands just seem to be selling out completely. I'd say some of it's due to the money, and that they may have more fans as the emo crowd seems to be growing by the day. Sad that...

[Polk]

Damn. So much conversation in the day that I was gone/passed out due to lack of sleep.

And I have things to say.

Concerning music, what led you into listening the kind of music you listen to today?

I started to listen to shit like Primus in about 7th grade, maybe 8th. Yeah, I was an awesome kid. Better than most. This got me into Claypool's other stuff, kind of getting me into jammy stuff, etc. I found out about Mr. Bungle in 10th grade I believe. Amazing, breakthrough shit for me. This got me into Patton's other stuff, first Fantomas, then Zorn's stuff. This gets me to Zorn. Zorn leads to John Cage. Cage would lead me into minimalist/progressive/12 tone stuff, like my new obsession, Steve Reich. Appreciation of this kind of stuff got me to start to think about noise. I had heard about it a little bit looking around on the internet, and I eventually went to a show of one of Milwaukee's noise legends. I've been hooked ever since. I also hooked a couple of friends.

Ska starts freshmen year in high school. I was hanging out at a friend's house, and he was playing "Super Rad" by the Aquabats. That song. Oh my god. That song. The rest is history.

There are other things. I was in Jazz band in middle/high school. Things happened. I enjoyed it. Most other things are not important.

But what was it that had gravitated you towards the kind of music you listen to? Was it the sound? Is it a song's lyrics? Or is it something you can personally relate to?

I like sound in music, obviously. I try not to relate lyrics to what music I like, as it's really not that important to me, unless there are some amazing freaking lyrics in the song.

I also tend to gravitate to things out of the public eye. I'm really not a fan of pop music, for the most part.

One more thing: Rock doesn't equal screaming and yelling.

A-freaking-men, brother. If my rep meant anything, I'd give you. but alas, I don't have 200 posts.

Jonny Quest – Less then Jake
Pirate song – mad caddies

You would also get rep for this.

Because I know maybe one heavy metal band that makes those noises [quoting you; coughing and clearing throats] into a microphone.

You wouldn't be referring to the likes of Grindcore, would you? [See Anaal Nathrakh; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Mvn13um4I ]

It may just be me (I'm not really into A LOT of grindcore) but that's more black/death metal. Grindcore as I think of it is defined by Anal ****. As in this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5eFk5x0o44

Just to let you all know, AC is a satyric (as in satire, I think it may be spelled wrong) band. It's all in good fun. No babies were ever harmed.

Then again, I could easily be wrong.

I think that's all, but I'll also post this. Merzbow is GOD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbBBczzDeCA

[Govinda]

Omega Weapon, I just don't like Metallica's sound. I do not care how successful they are or how many other people like them. In my personal opinion they suck.

This thread has been hard today. First, Chez calling the Beatles boring...seriously, listen to them. Not I Wanna Pet Your Hamster and Love Me Do and that kind of stuff; Lucy in the Sky, the whole of the fantastic Rubber Soul, heck Revolver and the White Album, lest we forget Sgt Peppers...they started so much, inspired so many, and for good reason. Same with Bowie too. I used to think they were overrated too, until I really started listening to their sound, the lyrics, the guitar.

And then:

Oh, I think 'Old Punk' might actually be what Mod is, but of course in different countries. Though I'm not sure. But I do know that The Clash were a mod type of band.

The Clash have been one of my absolute favourite bands since I was 14, and they were PUNK, through and through. Mods vs Rockers happened a whole 12 before the punk movement (The Beatles used to get asked which side they were on); you're right that The Who and were mods, and The Jam were later mod-revival, but the Clash most certainly were not. They took up the mantle of the Pistols, the Ramones and the Buzzcocks and made it better, more meaningful. I suppose the original intention of punk was rebellion (apart from the Pistols who were in it for the moneyz, John Lydon is not and was not a stupid man) but the Clash took that and made it more. Mixed in ska beats, learned their instruments, got political. A lasting inspiration. It's kind of telling, and saddening, that I made a thread commemorating the death of Joe Strummer a few months back and it got no replies at all.

London Calling is on my list of Perfect Albums. My favourite songs in careful order let an album become a Perfect one. I love every song on these constructions and know them inside out. Before I ask what yours is, here's mine:

Blood Sugar Sex Magic - RHCP

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie

Rubber Soul - The Beatles

London Calling - The Clash

Transformer - Lou Reed

Stay Under the Stars - Teitur

Aladdin Sane - David Bowie

Hunky Dory - David Bowie

Eye to the Telescope - KT Tunstall

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan

OK Computer - Radiohead

Pink Moon - Nick Drake

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground

Where The Humans Eat - Willy Mason

Definitely Maybe - Oasis


Hit me up.

[Confession]

I just don't like Metallica's sound.
I hate Metallica, Black Sabbath, shit like that.

Thats fair and all, but what dont you like about their sound? Considering Metallica go through many different soung throughout and album, and their career, you must have a reason yes?

If you think that Metallica and Black Sabbath, are even remotley the same, then you are very mistaken, Metallica is heavy metal, Whereas Black Sabbath falls under the catagory of "Blues-Rock." Black Sabbath is very very different from Metallica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCE1NnvonF0 - Metallicas Battery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPk9sRt-w3w - Black Sabbaths Spiral Architect.

Listen to both, then you will see there nothing alike.

One more thing: Rock doesn't equal screaming and yelling

.

Thank god you said that, genres are so vague these days I mean I really think that they should be abolished completley. In school today my firend had downloaded a new band he really like, so he was looking at their wiki page, and it said they were "Christian Metalcore" so he deleted them off his Mp3 because he doesn't like christain music. Since when has genres controlled bands?
Example: People who listen to purley RnB and Hip Hop, looking at a person who is into Post-hardcore and Emo jumps straight to the conclusion that they are depressed and want to die. Where the Post-hardcore, Emo guy see's the RnB, Hip Hop guy as an unintelligent crack selling wigga.

And how can you classify a band with like 4 genres? I dont see how calling a band umm..... Space rock, Experimental, Trip hop & Avant Garde counts as a classification of what the band is, it's just telling you every "genre" they may step into for 1 song.

Do you think genres are ruining music today with their obsene classifications?

I have an artist that I think cannot be genre-ized

Bob Dylan

If anyone can give me a justifiable 1 genre of him, I will give them many things of extreme pleasure.


-End Rant-

[Omega Weapon]

Also, Sabbath is also one of mthe most successful bands in the history of rock and borderline metal, too.
I'll agree that some of Metallica's solos are ace, though. I can play the acoustic solo in 'One', which is my favourite one. Favourite Metallica song?

I totally agree with you. "One" is simply a masterpiece. It's my favorite song by Metallica! Not to mention Turn The Page and Master Of Puppets too.

Thank god you said that, genres are so vague these days I mean I really think that they should be abolished completley. In school today my firend had downloaded a new band he really like, so he was looking at their wiki page, and it said they were "Christian Metalcore" so he deleted them off his Mp3 because he doesn't like christain music. Since when has genres controlled bands?

Wow! some people are so retarded! I don't really care about genres. In my book there's just two kinds of music, good and bad. I don't even pay attention to band names anymore. I usually lean more towards rock though. As long as it sounds good, and has good lyrics, then I'm happy and not worry about trying to categorize it.

EDIT:

If anyone can give me a justifiable 1 genre of him, I will give them many things of extreme pleasure.

You know what? I totally agree with Pablo Honey V I mean there is nothing special about his voice but he is truly an amazing songwriter. A lot of artist cover at least one of his songs. Believe me when I say they usually sing it better than he does, but without Dylan those songs wouldn't even exist.

[Govinda]

Thats fair and all, but what dont you like about their sound? Considering Metallica go through many different soung throughout and album, and their career, you must have a reason yes?

It is simply because I think they sound rubbish. I have listened to their albums as my friends used to play them, and I just never enjoyed the music. I found the song St Anger funny, and will openly admit to never being able to understand the world's obsession with Enter Sandman. But everyone's different.

I agree with what you're saying about genres - I don't pay attention to them really either. Half the time I think they're just there to make the lives of record companies and journalists easier.

I don't think Bob Dylan can be put in a genre, because I don't think he was a musician. His voice is horrible and his guitar, while lovely, is simplistic; but the reason that so many people, myself included, love this man is because he is a poet. A singing poet. But I suppose the only word to fit him would and always has been 'folk-y'.

[Halie]

I agree with what you're saying about genres - I don't pay attention to them really either. Half the time I think they're just there to make the lives of record companies and journalists easier.

Agreed.

The Clash have been one of my absolute favourite bands since I was 14, and they were PUNK, through and through. Mods vs Rockers happened a whole 12 before the punk movement (The Beatles used to get asked which side they were on); you're right that The Who and were mods, and The Jam were later mod-revival, but the Clash most certainly were not. They took up the mantle of the Pistols, the Ramones and the Buzzcocks and made it better, more meaningful. I suppose the original intention of punk was rebellion (apart from the Pistols who were in it for the moneyz, John Lydon is not and was not a stupid man) but the Clash took that and made it more. Mixed in ska beats, learned their instruments, got political. A lasting inspiration. It's kind of telling, and saddening, that I made a thread commemorating the death of Joe Strummer a few months back and it got no replies at all.

After hundreds of stories of my father and his days as a Mod, I can safely say they were rivals of Punks. He's mentioned all these bands such as The Jam, The Stone Roses (although, they arose much later) and The Clash being bands that he liked. Obviously, I got mixed up with genres and thogutht that The Clash were a Mod band. It's all the 'The's at the beginning of their names...bloody 'ell.

[You]

I hate the genre question too. "What genre of music do you like?" There are so many and so many of them overlap each other its hell to define a bands genre. I think one of the reasons a band can be put into several genres is because their style may have elements that, so-called, define a genre. And as for someone not listening to a band because its a genre they hate or its christian metalcore and the person isnt christian, thats just being silly. Thats like saying you dont like Jimi Hendrix because he is black. Omega Weapon made the best point. If its good listen to it. Who cares what its defined as or what other people think of it.

Hmmmm Bob Dylan, Pablo Honey come closest in my book. I would define him as folk-y too.

[Chez Daja]

It may just be me (I'm not really into A LOT of grindcore) but that's more black/death metal. Grindcore as I think of it is defined by Anal ****. As in this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5eFk5x0o44

Of course I know of Anal ****. Anaal Nathrakh are Grindcore, they just have technical influences and I've heard somewhere they like to think they're a part of brutal death metal as well. I don't think that's a band that could fit under any one genre, I believe it's all types of influences as well, and quite usually, it is. Especially with metal, where it's all kind of meshed into major sections.

Pablo, I've heard pretty much most of Beatles work, including Lucy In The Sky... It all goes over my head, I'm afraid. Just a question, though... was that song even about drugs? I've heard it was, but I've heard otherwise, too.

[Helter Skelter]

I just had to join in with this.

If I may comment, I don't really listen to Black Sabbath, but I know they're nothing like Metallica. Sabbath were up there with Zeppelin, Queen, the James Gang, Deep Purple, and a load more. They were part of the early-70s wave of hard rock bands that came from a blues revival, and inspired by the bands whose mid-60s material has been noted for changing music history. The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream; they all inspired the biggest acts of the 70s.

The likes of Metallica, Judas Priest, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Motorhead - they continued the hard rock ideas but largely removed the evidence of a blues influence. The blues were still there, but it wasn't at the forefront like it was in many songs by the likes of Zeppelin and Sabbath. They didn't start appearing until the mid-70s and through the early 80s.

Punk is another thing altogether. With the rise of progressive rock, and bands like Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Jethro Tull and a host of others making their way to the rock mainstream, punk emerged as the new face of youth rebellion, anti-establishment sentiment and a fierce outlet for energy and anger.

There's literally too much to explain to properly put into context the sheer scale of rock history, and the hundreds of directions its branches moved in. That's where we come back to the ridiculous number of genres. Christian punk, anti-folk, suicide metal, for example. It's too much.

I might as well end with my list of albums I consider to be perfect, so as to provide a snapshot of my musical taste.

Bob Dylan - The Freehweelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
T. Rex - Electric Warrior
Lou Reed - Transformer
Led Zeppelin - I
Led Zeppelin - II
The Clash - London Calling
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Willy Mason - Where the Humans Eat
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married, But I've Got Feelings Too

More will be added to this list as I fall in love with more albums.

[Sinister]

I'm a great fan of vintage British Punk. The Clash and The Damned are both amazing acts. I always loved the song "Death or Glory". Although Social Distortion did a presentable cover, I still love the Clash best.

The Misfits, also, are vintage. Who knew that the pos band Danzig pieced together afterwards would be so horrible? But the Misfits will always be classic. Can anyone say "Astro-zombies"?

AFI was a makeshift copy act turn poppish in comparison.(don't get me wrong they did some decent work...but damn...Girls not Grey, wth? Not my cup of tea, not to offend. It was just such a change in sound, right?)


-Sin

[Halie]

Welcome to the club, Helter Skelter.

Astro-zombies. Said it haha.

As for AFI...I haven't properly listened to their older sound, but I have some of their new ones. DecemberUnderground was...really bad. There were some pop elements in there...I didn't like it. The one song I like off that album is 'Miss Murder'. Very catchy.

I'm having Deja Vu...I can remember talking about AFI in another thread recently...and how bad DecemberUnderground was...o.o Anyway. I've been told to listen to their old stuff, but I'm too lazy.

[Mr Spike]

Saw this hanging around, thought i might add my opinions...

What are/is your favourite type(s) of music?

Kind of difficult to define, so many overlaps and different classifications etc. Though i would have to say primarily it'd be:

Heavy/Thrash/Progressive Metal, Metalcore, Post-Hardcore, Punk, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal... all the variations of them as well.

Do you have a particular favourite artist/band? If so, who?

No contest. Dream Theatre, the progressive metal band from Canada. Why? Technically, they have two brilliant musicians - John Petrucci (guitar) and Mike Portnoy (drums). Seeing them both live is amazing and, I daresay, a privilege. Creation-wise they are some of the best out there. Their album "Metropolis Pt2: Scenes from a memory" tells the story of someone who witnesses a murder through the eyes of a young girl in the 1920's. He finds out that he is the girl, reincarnated, and is able to uncover the unsolved murder.

This is them at their best - concept albums telling amazing stories. Their songwriting is simply some of the best out there. Listening to the song "Octavarium" after going through the whole album is an incredible experience - the whole album is wrapped up, with elements from all the songs coming together to create one, massive, 24 minute long finale.

How has music affected your life?

It's affected me a lot. Some songs, when i'm sad, or depressed, or just down, are able to allow me to see the light side of life and really cheer me up. Mostly though, i am just able to marvel at the technicality of the bands and appreciate the amount of work that has gone into producing the album.

Also, as aforementioned, songwriting has a major affect on me, as i feel they make the song, not the music. The best songs are ones that mean something and you are able to relate to.

Have any musical talents?

Some people have told me that i have a good ranged singing voice - though i'm yet to see it. Guess that may be because i'm at that time of life and all.... anyway, i've also dabbled a bit at drums and found i was ok, but never got the opportunity to continue.

I've always fancied trying bass however.

What's your favorite song at the moment?

Difficult. Like i said before, i feel lyrics are often the factor that make the song, not the music said. Having said that, technically demanding songs are always good to listen to. Having said that, i'd have to say that "Dear God", (the song by Avenged Sevenfold) is my favorite at the moment as it's the one that makes me think of my girlfriend