FACT or FICTION

You've probably seen this column idea at other sites. We thought it would be cool to do it for the various metal rumors floating around the Internet.

1. The new Nevermore record, "This Godless Endeavor", will be their most successful album to date, selling more copies than any of their past releases. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: Metal in general seems to be making a comeback. Many bands that have been up and coming have gotten great exposure from MTVs Headbangers Ball and the many different metal shows on the FUSE network. With the mass exposure they have got being on the Gigantour bill and once that tour gets into full gear sales will easily double for them.

EC - FACT: Unfortunately Nevermore's finest days are a thing of the past. This new record is just a mammoth turd in my opinion, a loud, heavy mess that has no focus or clear direction. However the band have lined themselves up on Gigantour, have Andy Sneap back in their pockets, and at this point in time aggressive metal is the "in thing". While their self-title and "In Memory" went almost completely unnoticed, this pile of crap will hit the jackpot.

Ken - FACT: I heard some of it, and feel this band will finally get more of the due attention they deserve.

Nailer - FACT The music is so complex, that I don't seem them breaking out of their core fanbase on a large scale, but the record is being pushed and the hardcore fans seem to be diggin it. Gigantour will help as well.

Veritas - FACT - It'll sell the most copies and the band's fanbase will expand a little more due to the whole Gigantour appearance, but it won't be their best record. I'd be very surprised if they ever topped "Dead Heart in a Dead World."


2. After the recent statement by guitarist George Lynch in which he states a Dokken reunion was in the works, the band will reunite by year's end with a new studio album coming out next year. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION: I think ego's will get in the way and everyone will have a different perspective on what direction the music should go and they will cancel the so called re-union and thankfully spare the world another horrible record under the DOKKEN moniker.

EC - FICTION Yep, talk about it all you want but Lynch and Dokken cannot co-exist. Lynch says it is simply about money but I think creative differences are really what seperates the two. Dokken will deliver one of their best records to date with their next album and Lynch will mire himself in instructional videos and the god-awful Lynch-Pilson project part two. Dokken and Lynch will never go "back for the attack".

Ken - FACT Maybe. the problem in Dokken was almost always the mood swinging Lynch, after all the lineup remained the same with the exception of his input and honestly with the last crop of great guitarists (John Norum and John Levin) he was hardly missed. Pilson left soon after and was missed but Barry Sparks kicks some serious bass ass. I would enjoy seeing a reunion show, but every Dokken show pretty much features the same classic tunes and one or two new numbers so it would have little impact or interest on my end.

Nailer - FICTION Dokken had their run with the big boys years ago and self-imploded. Personalities really don't change over the years, so I don't see shit from this.

Veritas - FICTION - Reunion tour... maybe. Studio album... no.

3. After the phenomenal sales of the new Iced Earth DVD "Gettysburg", more major labels will be looking at power metal as the next successful venture to invest in. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION: No real reason but it will just never happen and if it does they had better put better content on the DVDs than this one had. REally not worth the money and I'm surpised by the amount of sales it had.

EC - FICTION This one is tough. I honestly don't see power metal acts making the same splash as mammoth blockbusters like System Of A Down and In Flames. I think you will see "opera metal" take into consideration power metal elements, but for the most part this genre will stay in the underground. I don't believe the suits and ties will give much glance to the power metal community.

Ken - FICTION. Labels are interested in whatever will make them money. There is no real looking into genres or fostering the success of anything. Stuff like American Idol and things along that line show that flash in the pan cash is what they like to do. However the genre is growing every day and stronger by the minute based on the important FACT, the fans love it. This will perhaps see more releases from bands we know and new ones as well.

Nailer - FICTION I think that the labels see power metal as used up as the hookers down on 10th Street. Not that *I* would know first hand; EC told me. Genre blends are what they look for.

Veritas - FACT - Er, sort of. They'll look at more things like Iced Earth aka American styled power metal. I don't see some of my European favorites (Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, etc.) being wholly appreciated over here by the general metal populace.

4. Entertainment group Sanctuary lost a third of its value in June after it blamed delays to record releases for a probable 40% fall in earnings. By year's end Sanctuary will be bought or simply go out of business. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: I believe that another company that is more finacially stable will buy them out due to the FACT that they have several substanial bands on the roster. Then as usual the downsizing will occur and many bands will be relieved of recording duties and forced to find a label like Century Media or Candlelight Records.

EC - FACT The writing has been on the wall for a long time. That whole group has gone through tons and tons of changes, from Noise Records to CMC International to Sanctuary, the labels have always lost money. It is a FACT that they will be bought again.

Ken - FACT. It will be sad to see, but Noise Records simply went away as well, so why it cant happen again will be of no surprise to me. Lets hope not, since its a great thing seeing a few labels strong in Metal product out there giving our artists a place to have their work featured.

Nailer - FICTION I believe they just got the GnR catalog, but I'm too lazy right now to Google it.  That's pretty bad when you don't feel up to doing a 5 second search.

Veritas - FICTION - They've got a few good artists on there whose earnings will keep them alive, if just barely.

5. After the shooting death of Dimebag and the recent stabbings at a COC show near Tampa, FL, security "bouncers" will be eliminated and police officers will be on duty for club concerts by summer of 2006. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION: Though this would probably be the way to go most places would not have sufficent officers to police the area and be at the concert event all at once.

EC - FACT No doubt about this one. Just like airports, the club scene will get a massive overhaul in the next twelve months. Expect to see more armed security in the coming months with a complete shift to law enforcement in a year.

Ken - FICTION: Security has gotten tighter and looser at the same time. The fuckwad who killed Dime came in from behind in the club if memory serves me. Generally searching the patrons at the front is smart, but a better mechanism needs to be in place where crew and staff for the artists congregate, its easy to slip by sometimes.

Nailer - FICTION: If you put 2 red balls in a room with 100 blue balls, your attention will focus on the red ones. There's too many shows going on without incident to make any drastic changes to the formula. I think my balls are turning blue.

Veritas - FICTION - I'm not saying cops won't be present, which they very well may be at some shows, but that doesn't mean the security bouncers won't be there also. I have a feeling the police would only be needed at certain shows, which would mean that it would make no sense for a club to get rid of all their bouncers, who would still be working at all the non-cop shows. Maybe for the medium-risk shows we'll see rent-a-cops with stun guns and batons.

6. With the release of "The Funeral Album", Sentenced have said farewell to the recording business, with it's members leaving to pursue other projects. This WILL BE the last Sentenced record. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FICTION: Not in this day and age where every band runites after ten years to see if they still have what it takes, or feel that they still have something to prove.

EC - FACT The band have gone downhill extremely fast since "Crimson". With complete failures on "Cold White Light" and this new offering, and the "big tour" that never happened, Sentenced are ready to retire to their graves. I can imagine a show or two in the next few years but no new recordings taking place.

Ken - FICTION: This CD is kicking my ass and I really hope that they decide to do another. If they dont, then let this be the perfect memorial to their career.

Nailer - FACT: Fuck Dokken and fuck Sentenced. The only thing that needs to return is ECW.

Veritas - FACT - Well, they have said it will be their last album... so for now, at least, I don't see any reason why that shouldn't be. Maybe there will be a reunion some years down the road, but for now I think it is safe to assume Sentenced are done. They won't have a Candlemass-esque final album only to reform months later.

7. Wicked Wisdom, the group fronted by actress Jada Pinkett Smith, will play at this year's Ozzfest. They have not had a big following and many wonder how the group got such a coveted spot on the tour. Wicked Wisdom got on the bill simply because of rapper Will Smith's name, who happens to be married to Jada Pinkett Smith. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: Sharon will do anything to bring business and money to the show. Every year this thing goes further down hill. Eventually it will feature GARBAGE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. WICKED WISDOM obviously doesnt fit this bill and there is no reason for them to be here. Fans has already been appalled and intend to revolt, this is no way to treat a show that has brought metal back to the forefront. Curse Sharon and LONG LIVE GIGANTOUR!!

EC - FACT Sharon Osbourne is simply after a Hollywood name here, maybe hoping to tie in metal and Hollywood once again, a connection that has really died since the early 90s.

Ken - FICTION: Sharon Osbourne runs Ozzy and the Fest. She likes Jada and since Jada told her that Will went to an Otep show and had a great time they were included on the Fest. I think it is bullshit to include a non-signed band even as a first up act. Too many artists have starved and strived to be on something like this (whether they paid or not), but it is still Sharon's call on who gets placed. I only hope that she does not move them up higher on the bill and also that she does not include Will Smith as the emcee for the show . Can you hear me out there Ozzfest, Ozzy in the hizzouse. Go Maiden, Go Maiden, let me hear ya. Sigh.

Nailer - FACT Sharon likes celebs and she can indulge her own show; who cares. And I don't see the point of bashing somebody you've never heard nor know anything about. Maybe Jada is a closet metalhead. Let her play and if she can earn her stripes. Metalheads are so conservative they get their panties in a bunch over almost anything new.

Veritas - FICTION - Wicked Wisdom got the spot because Sharon Osborne is a two-timing whore.

8. After recent "best of" packages like "Ed The Hunter", "Edward The Great", "Essential Iron Maiden", and "Best Of The Beast", as well as DVD releases like "The Early Days", "Live In Rio", and the soon to come "Beast On The Road", Iron Maiden are coming off as a retrospective band that is saturating their own market and ruining their longevity. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: They maybe one of the alltime greatest bands but they still have only so many songs and I can assure you that these 'best of' packages have almost the same content. After all the only difference usually is which hit song do you make a live recording versus the studio version. FICTION: The only thing that may not be hurting them is that they are taking advantage of a medium that keeps rising in popularity and in sales--DVD. Every live show captures something different versus the same studio track that appears on each 'best of'. Every fanboy would love to have multiple live shows covering different times and stages in a bands career. Just ask EC about his ICED EARTH collection.

EC - I honestly hate to say this but I truly believe the metal community is getting too much Maiden. There are too many releases, too many oddities, too many shows, and too many videos. This band is slowly starting to become the next KISS, simply a marketing machine as their creative vision expires. It is a FACT that Maiden are saturating their own market.

Ken - FACT: There are far too many compilations and live releases of Maiden for my liking. They need to either re-issue to the mass market stuff like the Soundhouse Tapes, or some older classic shows or even new kick ass material perhaps to win my vote of confidence again.

Nailer - FACT: Maiden are getting as bad as KISS with all the releases and Eddie stuff everywhere. If it's newer songs, fine, but I've seen "Number of the Beast" enough times already.

Veritas - FICTION - Nothing short of their own version of St. Anger would do anything of the sort to Maiden.

9. Site member Nailer wouldn't know a thrash riff if it jumped up and bit him on the ass. FACT or FICTION?

1Evil1 - FACT: If NAILER could identify a true thrash riff between all the Avril Lavigne and skater rock that he listens to would be a miracle. I mean really just the other day he was telling me how he thought the CRANBERRIES were gothic and that Fred Durst was the world's best guitar shredder. NAILER is the opposite of Thrash

EC - It is a FACT! Nailer has never even heard Destruction, Kreator, Sodom, or Onslaught. The man does not know thrash folks. This is a boot-scooting, big buckle fool who grew up with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Gene Autry. The man has a bumper sticker that says "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys". The man knows "Home On The Range" and "Happy Trails" but can't tell you one thing about a thrash riff! Metallica who? Forbidden who? Blessed Death who? This man is a metal phoney and I'm calling him out!

Ken - FICTION: Nailer tossed all his Culture Club albums in support of his love for metal. He is a true convert.

Veritas - FACT - He's still working out the difference between a riff and a solo at this point.

Nailer - Well, here's your difference and it's not technical. Both are fast, but speed riffs tend to the melodic side where thrash rifs tend to be more punkish. Speed riffs usually sound 'cleaner' where thrash riffs sound 'dirtier' and are more distorted. Speed metal is basically jacked up power metal and you can trace its roots back to Ritchie Blackmore/Deep Purple/Judas Priest influence. Thrash tends back to Motörhead. So FACT that!

Thrash riffs=Motörhead, Kreator, Destruction, Overkill, early Anthrax
Speed riffs=Yngwie, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear


10. Bonus - WWE Smackdown superstar JBL will be world champion for the next fifteen years. FACT or FICTION?

EC - Although he won't be a consecutive champ, he will be holding the gold for a majority of the next fifteen years!

Nailer - JBL makes me turn the channel to more interesting sports like "Fat Guys on Ice Skates".

Veritas - FICTION - The WWE won't be around in 15 years, it's television niche will be taken over by wheelchair basketball.