From where we sit, aggressive, abrasive and even extreme musical forms are experiencing a renaissance in the 21st Century. Heavy Metal music and its symbolism (T-shirts, “throwing the horns”, leather and spikes) may not be mainstream just yet (good news for old-school diehards), but you don’t have to look far or listen long to notice evidence of Metal making its presence felt. 

These are chaotic times, no question. From economic meltdown and environmental crises to poverty, food shortages and global conflict, times are tough and getting tougher. And since every era needs its soundtrack, may we suggest something a little more pertinent than John Denver? No offence, to Mr. Denver. We enjoy sunshine on our shoulder, too, it’s just that today’s sun can rot your shoulder with cancer and turn fecund fields into a desert in a day. 

In his book, "Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal", Ian Christe introduces the reader to his subject matter with the following description of Black Sabbath's early days: "These strong currents often lay forgotten and docile, until the opportunities of war, crisis and anguish called forth their awful powers." Christe could have been describing the extreme, aggressive, anti-establishment, rebellious and raucous music that goes by the same name today. 

1. The Grammy Awards created a “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance” category back in 1989. The fact that industry big wigs took more than 20 years to recognize an art form that made so many of the fat cats fatter is laughable, at least until you realize Jethro Tull’s “Crest of a Knave” beat out Metallica’s “. . . And Justice for All” that year and the whole gesture becomes hysterical. And nothing against Tull -- a solid, somewhat heavy band during their 1970s heyday -- but good god! At least the Academy got it right this year, nominating Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, Lamb of God and Korn in the aforementioned category.   

2. VH1 brings back "That Metal Show". Host Eddie Trunk is an affable everyman who happens to be a Metal junky. His indisputable love for and knowledge of the genre is refreshing, especially these days when most talking heads get the job based on bust size or how good they look under hot lights. We’re glad he’s back to wave the black flag of Metal. 

3. Ozzfest, Wacken, Donnington, Download, Heavy MTL, Summer Breeze and other major Metal fests and tours claim to finish in the black. Some, like OzzFest, actually outsell mainstream, charting pop artists on tour. Maybe these pop-tarts and slacks-wearing crooners should learn how to play an instrument in lieu of spending all that dough on stylists and dance instructors. Just some free financial advice, no ill will intended; after all, there's plenty of room out there for all kinds of performers.

  

4. Although there's been a steady fluctuation in North America, Metal has never been bigger in places as seemingly far-removed from the scene as southeast Asia and the Middle East. Proof is in Sam Dunn's amazing “Global Metal” documentary and the must-see doc of the century, “Heavy Metal in Baghdad.” 

5. Satellite radio and the internet (e.g. Myspace, Blogs (hello!), chat rooms, Facebook, etc.) make Metal more accessible to those who might not have had a chance to listen in before. Check MySpace and you’ll see plenty of DIY bands putting out their songs and T-shirt designs, the number of which seem to multiply by the month.

6. There are more independent record companies today than ever before and most deal in mail-order that, in a way, helps keep the tape-swapping ethos of the Metal underground alive. More well-established indie labels -- from Earache and Relapse to Nuclear Blast and Century Media -- are going strong. Roadrunner, for one, is now a major player and can hardly be labelled ‘small’ or independent anymore. 

7.  Guitar Hero & Rock Band combine to help introduce a new generation of kids to the power and glory of axe-wielding. Nobody wants to shred to The Strokes or even Bon Jovi. If you want to compete against the best and test your skills and true mettle (Metal?), then you need Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Randy Rhodes, Kirk Hammett et al.  

8. College radio continues to be a great place to hear non radio-friendly music, especially the darker, more brutal strains of Metal. There’s more to learn in college than 101 ways to prepare pasta, chase tail or build a better bong. That said, we must confess: Here at ( BTH ) HQ, we still burn brain cells using the PVC-and-duct-tape behemoth we built during our university daze. Tuition well spent!   

9. Long live print media: Few magazines look as good or offer as much to their loyal readers/subscribers like printed Metal magazines. Filling the void left by soulless rags like Rolling Stone, stalwarts like Kerrang!, Decibel, Revolver and Metal Hammer bring the word and attitude in a great package every single month. 

More than any other time in it's 40-plus years, Metal as a whole is a hybridized form, cross-pollinated by so many sub-genres and even other forms of music not necessarily associated with Metal. This is both a reflection of society and its diverse cultures and tastes and the progression of Metal as a reflective art form. And because Metal is influenced by punk, hip hop, grunge, industrial and more, it appeals to more people than ever before. The bigger the tree grows, the more shade and comfort it offers. 

Wow, that was poetic. But the lowdown is this: Few people start their Metal collection with Job for a Cowboy or, for that matter, Slayer's "Reign in Blood". Most people need to wade into the Metal pool; expose themselves to it an inch or band at a time. Hybrid bands like Rammstein, Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine or Queens of the Stone Age can help make the leap to Slipknot a lot less traumatizing. 

Not that Metal, or extreme, aggressive music, will ever go mainstream. Even if the recording industry pushed for this, there would be major fallout and a backlash from long-time diehards--bands and fans alike. Being outcast, feared and even reviled makes Metal the dark, dangerous, challenging and rebellious music it has to be in order to be interesting.  

Another interesting observation from, say, the last 10 years, is that you can't always pick out the Metal fan at the party, the train station, the classroom--heck, it could even be your Dockers-wearing Math teacher, Mr. Miller. Gone are the days of the Metal uniform: white high tops, tight skinny jeans, leather jacket topped with jean-jacket, cut-off vest with an Exodus or Kreator patch on the back. Don't get us wrong, those were glorious if not hilarious days, but it's nice to see the Metal Guide Book adding a few pages to the chapter on fashion. 

Tune in next time for Part II, when we take a more scholarly look at Metal’s resurgence with the help of Natalie Purcell and Deena Weinstein, sociologists and authors both.