“amon amarth have been one of the most popular bands in death metal since i don’t know, versus the world probably.”

I’ve known them before that (I think “Death In Fire” must have been what raked most of the newer fans in). I think, around that time, most of the fans were into (Johan Liiva-fronted) Arch Enemy or something similar. By the way, have you noticed how similar Arch Enemy’s “We Will Rise” and Amon Amarth’s “Death In Fire” sounds/feels? It has slightly similar ‘feel’ to it – at least in my opinion.

“[...] (say that 5 times fast)”

Okay boss; I’m not sure whether you’re asking me to say “That, that, that, that, that” or whether your asking me to repeat the sentence before the brackets/parenthesis 5 times fast, in which case, I’ll do my best:

(1) just because that now manifests itself in metalsucks articles or promotional tie-ins for fuckin’ mead horns is as irrelevant as your esteemed elitist treatise. (2) just because that now manifests itself in metalsucks articles or promotional tie-ins for fuckin’ mead horns is as irrelevant as your esteemed elitist treatise. (3) just because that now manifests itself in metalsucks articles or promotional tie-ins for fuckin’ mead horns is as irrelevant as your esteemed elitist treatise. (4) just because that now manifests itself in metalsucks articles or promotional tie-ins for fuckin’ mead horns is as irrelevant as your esteemed elitist treatise. (5) just because that now manifests itself in metalsucks articles or promotional tie-ins for fuckin’ mead horns is as irrelevant as your esteemed elitist treatise.

…I did that to the best of my ability, and hopefully to your satisfaction.

“this isn’t dragonforce or some mass media product…”

Okay, now I’m REALLY confused: DragonForce is THAT popular/mainstream?! I suppose it’s where I live, where they’re not. I mean, they’re quite popular amongst shredder-soloist progressive/power-metallers all over the world, but to be on the bigger networks…Something of a surprise in my opinion.

As far as Bolt-Thrower is concern, yes I’m a fan of theirs as well – but I wouldn’t quite suggest that Amon Amarth is following in their footsteps. Maybe it’s just the production quality on Bolt Thrower records that differentiates them from Amon Amarth, but in my opinion they really don’t sound that similar at all. Bolt Thrower has more of a ‘quiet/controlled-aggression’ whereas Amon Amarth records have more ‘impact/presence-ish-ness’ to them.

“amon amarth is death metal’s worst kept secret…”

…Debatable, I suppose, but you might have a point…But I’m just throwing a ‘temper-tantrum’ right now because “I KNEW THEM FIRST!!!” I guess is my point. It’s silly, it needn’t be said, but it’s one of those things I have to get out of my system and so I wrote about that at another MetalSucks Post (http://www.metalsucks.net/?p=7607#comment-149029) and Vince Neilstein responded with something similar to what you said, but with more reassurance and less ‘ad hominem’.

By the way, I’ve posted an article about Jenna Jameson having twins. I poked around a little here and there (http://www.nemrosim.blogspot.com/2008/09/tito-and-jenna-are-having-twins-i-poke.html) but it’s kinda funny, half-laugh funny, but still please read it. It’ll make me feel better from and might stop me from throwing childish temper-tantrums if y’all post comments.

this isn’t dragonforce or some mass media product we’re talking about here. so some wad saw a synchronized hairwhipping video of theirs on mtv2. that in no way make the band’s recent output less valid. if these youngsters want to get in on some bolt thrower (who?) inspired metallic glory, more power to them.

amon amarth is death metal’s worst kept secret, kinda like its glandular problems. somebody get the hose on that nile guy, for fuck’s sake.

“…he revealed that he doesn’t listen to Metal anymore.”

There’s also Progressive Metal (Tool, Dream Theater, etc.) Progressive-Death (Meshuggah, Chastisement) Viking-ish Death (Amon Amarth, etc. – and yes I was a fan of theirs before virtually everyone else joined the band wagon) Power Metal (Blind Guardian, Nocturnal Rites, Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, etc.) Black Metal (Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, etc.) and plenty of other genres/bands that haven’t ‘stagnated’…Instead of suggesting Death-Core, Metal-Core and other crap (sorry, if you happen to like it) your friend ought to know about those other genres/bands (forgive me if he already does)…Hell, even old Goth-Metal has spun around a few times, and managed to impress me with something unpredictable every now and then.

…And those are just the more ‘popular’ bands of those sub-genres I’ve mentioned above.

Plus, there are plenty of (virtually unknown) foreign bands ought here (outside America) that don’t just stick with ‘tried-and-true’ techniques; rather always innovating in some minor fashion…At the same note, I too am a fan of “experimental and avant-garde rock” but I still stick with Metal and Baroque-Classical for good measure.

I wonder what bands your friend listens to? If they’re really ‘THAT GREAT’ (or even just slightly ‘cool’) then I wanna know which ones.