I challenge you to find a better sound then a jack slowly being connected to an electric guitar. The sound itself is not all that impressive but what it does is it sets in motion the series of events which leads to the, in my opinion, second best sound in the world. As the jack is placed in, the electrical current bounces between amp and guitar, between slave and master. The guitar then dominates with a vicious downstroke that sends a barrage of noise down the jack to the speaker where it leaps out and demands an audience’s attention.
Ladies and gentlemen, that in its simplest form is heavy metal.
Heavy metal and hard rock are two of the true loves of my life. Imagine then my disappointment when I look at the line-ups for the Freshers’ and Orientation Balls and notice that singer-songwriters and D.Js dominate this year’s line-ups once again. Now I get it, these two genres are flavour of the month right now and I do appreciate the talent that the likes of Hudson Taylor have, but what about those of us with a different music taste? It seems now that we will have to make do with listening to our music at the pre-drinks session and smile politely while a guy stands there with his computer.
But why should this be the case? This is the country that gave the world one of the most respected hard rock groups of the 70s with Thin Lizzy. Yet, now it appears that rock and metal groups have a tough time in Ireland when two major groups of modern metal in Trivium and Machine Head struggle to sell out our lesser venues. Is it true what they say then, is rock truly dead? Have we lost our spirit of rebellion that subtly connects students and rock fans?
I don’t believe this is the case. Look at Black Sabbath’s triumphant return to the summit of the Billboard charts 43 years after their last trip up the mountain with their album 13. Look at how Metallica overcame the negativity leading up to their Glastonbury show and blew away their critics with their performance. What these bands have in common is that they are seeing younger fans in their front rows. Students are the concert ticket buying class of the world and are helping metal and hard rock to see a resurgence in this day and age.
So I call on those in charge of events to look again at their choices and to change it up rock and I encourage rock and metal fans to raise their hands and voices and let them hear you. Rock is not dead, but wounded and only your support can return it to its former glory.
Aidan Delaney
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