Every list like this is going to objectionable and subject to criticism from people, but I think it’s rather well put together. It’s not a list of mediocre bass players that have a big name in a big band, but rather a list of skilled bass players that have made a name for themselves through their style and tone. Most bass guitar players in metal bands are just simply there to fill the void. To give the music the heavy bottom end. A lot of them are skilled to a point, but most could be replaced at the drop of a hat. A lot of great players are overlooked, though. Here are ten essential bass guitar players that have wowed me either recently or over the years. A few you might know and a few you may not. I’ll start from the bottom and work my way up.

10. Martin Mendez- Mendez is not as well known as most bass players in metal, but he has a certain smooth style and skill that he uses on his Fender Jazz bass that keeps the sound of Opeth genuine. Playing in a band like Opeth, you really have to have a finesse about your playing in order to not sound out of place. If it was just as simple as hitting simple notes, Opeth would just be another band and Mendez would just be another bass player. Neither of which is the case here.

9. Mike Inez- Perhaps Mike Inez doesn’t deserve to be this far down on the list, but someone had to be. Inez has been around while and has played with Ozzy, Heart, Slash’s Snakepit and Alice In Chains. He brings a tone and style that is well known.

8. David Ellefson- Two words for you, “Peace Sells”. Ellefson was the bottom ended backbone for Megadeth for so many years. It was hard to imagine Megadeth without him and to this day it still seems a little strange, even with James Lamenzo in the position.

7. Ryan Martinie- Mudvayne’s Martinie has a pretty signature sound. Since busting in to the nu-metal scene on 2000’s L.D.50, he’s brought a tone that helps define the band’s sound. When you hear a Mudvayne song, even if you don’t know it, chances are you recognize it as a Mudvayne song because of Ryan’s complex bass playing and sound.

6. Justin Chancellor- When most people think of Tool, they think of that opening bass line of Sober. Not really a complicated riff by any means, but that’s basically what make’s up a lot of Tool’s sound. The heavy bottom end is a vital part of Tool’s sound and Justin fills that gap like the missing link.

5. Robert Trujillo- Not a big name because he is in Metallica and does that spider-walk, but because he’s Robert Trujillo. Metallica didn’t just choose him because they dug his braids. Robert is a veteran. He’s been around the metal world quite a bit, playing for Zakk Wylde, Ozzy, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, The Infectious Grooves and Jerry Cantrell. He’s got skill and can adapt wherever his talent takes him.

4. Cliff Burton- Who knows what level Cliff Burton would be at today, had he not been tragically removed from life. Though production quality lacked back in the early 80’s you can hear what kind of player Burton was. His bass solo on (Pulling Teeth) Kill’em All was unique in so many ways at the time and the rest of his work on the latter Metallica albums solidified him as a great bass player and a huge influence on so many bass players today.

3. Billy Sheehan- When he played in the band Mr. Big, they were referring to him. Ok, I just made that up, but it’s Billy Sheehan for Christ’s sake! I really don’t think I need to elaborate.

2.Steve Digiorgio- Most are saying, “Who?”. Steve Digiorgio is probably not as well know as any other player on this list but is an absolute phenom on the fretless bass. He is a founding member of Sadus and has played in Death, Testament, Autopsy, Iced Earth and is currently playing for Sebastian Bach, where I doubt his skills are fully utilized. If you’ve ever watched the bonus DVD that comes with the Roadrunner United CD, he played the bass parts on Annihilation By The Hands Of God. Watch him in that session, it will blow your mind. Digiorgia doesn’t get the recognition he deserves..but how many bass players actually do?

1. Steve Harris- As if you didn’t see this coming. If you’re a metal fan and you don’t know who Steve Harris is then I question your metal-ness. Harris plays the bass like a lead guitar, and does it all with his fingers. Not only does he play it like a lead guitar with his fingers but he does it with surgical accuracy. More times than not, the guitar players are the forefront of the band behind the vocalist. Not in Maiden. Harris is Dickinson’s co-pilot on the stage. For a long time the bass guitar was not a very audible instrument in most metal bands. It was there, but it was never really loud enough to be distinct, but never in Iron Maiden. That distinct, audible bass is what set apart Iron Maiden from most bands. God forbid, if anything ever happened to Steve Harris, Iron Maiden would be over. This list would be wrong without Harris in the #1 spot.

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The State Of Heavy Metal And The Record Industry

Post from: Metal Martyr

In the metal industry these days, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. What I mean is that metal fans are never satisfied one way or another. Through all the changes that have gone through metal over the year, there is always something that aggravates us as fans. Let me explain…

In the beginning all metal was created equal. Through innovation and evolution it has changed in order to keep thriving and satisfying the fans hunger for something bigger and better. As thrash and speed metal started to get big, a big fat, wet, cat crawled out of a trash can and glam rock was born. Glam rock took over the scene and metal as we knew it was put in the shadows for the moment. We still knew it was there and supported it but it wasn’t so much in the public eye. When it was it was always a bad thing like some schmuck off-ing his best friend while listening to his favorite metal band, while glam rock probably spread more STD’s than a big city crack whore. Men looked like women, pants were tighter than a most women’s, yet these guys were seeing more ass than a proctologist. Am I jealous? Nah. It was time for something new though. Even glam rock fans were getting bored and very tired of choking on Aquanet fumes.

Grunge suddenly became the staple food for music fans. Torn jeans were a fashion statement, guys stopped shaving and washing their hair or bathing in general. You were either depressed or just playing the roll. That didn’t last very long until it was named “alternative”. It was a slowly dying cow. Alternative is still here and there but not nearly as big as it was back then and probably never will be again.

Punk re-emerged in a new pop kind of form. The new “punks” were instrument extraordinares. They knew how to play their instruments and sing well. But it wasn’t fooling the old school metal-heads. The ones that saw punk die. They knew that 99.9% of these guys were posers. It was quite obvious. Metal needed something new still. Even though in the mid to late 80’s a different kind of metal had emerged out of Florida called “Death” metal. This was more underground and controversial because of the lyrics and cover art on records and often incomprehensible deep, growling, throaty vocals . Some liked it and some didn’t.

As the “punk” scene had it ups and downs (Mostly downs) a new kind of metal was forming. A new metal that sometimes had turn tables, tuned down guitars, and even rapping. A New kind of metal called…Nu-metal. To me it was something new and different. I wasn’t into the bands that did a lot of rapping like Linkin Park. It was tried before and still lives a bit with Hardcore bands like Biohazzard, but Biohazzard did the hardcore/rap (not hardcore rap) thing well. Some metal fans turned a deaf ear to Nu-metal. Even if you fit the nu-metal bill but still had a bad ass metal sound you were still called names and mocked. While bands like Korn, Nothingface, and Slipknot had hard and heavy sounds people still hated them. Nu-metal is kind of still alive but the bands that were big knew they would need to change their sound a bit in order to survive.

The late 90’s started to bring metal back out of the shadows. Hardcore started to be seen more as well as metal and a hybrid called metal-core was born. Metal was getting bigger and the record labels saw it and started to sign every stinking band that fit ‘metal’. Metal genres of all sorts started forming from other forms of hybrid genres making the even more variety in the scene

Today there are a shit-load of metal bands on the scene. Some of them are barely worthy of the ‘metal’ label and some of them are just plain garbage. As metal fans we say stuff like “Cookie Monster” vocals and chuggah-chuggah guitars. We always say we want something new but talk about the good ole days of thrash. A few bands come on the scene playing that good ole thrash sound and suddenly we’re ass backwards complaining about it. Metal fans are such a mix of opinions and we can never agree on the same thing. Some like it tuned down and crunchy and some like it melodic with high pitched squealing solos. Some like the vocals deep and raw sounding and some like them clean and cut. Some like the bottom end heavy, some like it to mix perfectly and not over powering. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.

As metal fans we’re all different. If we all liked the same exact thing we would be the same bunch of dumb-ass, trend following bunch of zombies that the rest of them are. I like what metal has become. What the fans have become. Sure we still get the fans that think they are hardcore or the karate moshers making fools of themselves in the pits but that’s expected. The real fans help each other out in the pits. You may get hurt but that’s part of the pit. Luckily in a lot of venues security can spot out douche bags that cause trouble and escort them out.

Metal is bigger now than it has ever been, no matter what anyone says. It may not be all over the media like Hip-Hop or pop, but it’s there and growing. Enjoy it for what it’s worth. Keep bitchin, keep complaining, keep name calling. It’s normal. But at the same time keep raising your fists to the sky and supporting your favorite bands no matter who does or doesn’t like them. Once you start hating or liking someone or thing just because someone else does….you’ve become one of THEM! Metal fans are never satisfied. We keep the standard high and that’s why metal will never die!

Post from: Metal Martyr

I sit here some days and sift through comments on Metal Martyr, Blabbermouth, Metalsucks.net, etc. and I see so much ignorance when it comes to metal fans these days. This is where I get most of my ideas from like the Pointing Fingers Part 1 and Part 2, I Only Listen To Underground Metal, and What Is Real Metal.I see closed minded children spouting off at the mouth before even taking time to think about what they are saying. So here is a little advice I’d like to pass on to young metal fans. I think most readers, especially the ones around the same age as myself can agree with me on this stuff. And kiddies, just cause you’re younger than I am doesn’t mean you listen to cooler shit than I do. Live and learn. As you mature you will understand.

First, don’t be afraid to listen to other music besides metal. There is a lot of great music out there. You’re just depriving your ears and mind of some really good stuff. Just don’t call shit like The Mars Volta and Avenged Sevenfold metal!

As life moves on faster and faster, life changing events happen. You’ll find yourself maturing and even though you’re growing up that doesn’t mean that you have to stop listening to good music. Your beliefs will change on a lot of things and you’ll see some of the metal heroes you have come to idolize say and do some pretty stupid stuff. Take it with a grain of salt and remember the great things they have done as opposed to the stupid things.

Idolize… oh yeah, that brings me to this. Don’t idolize ANYONE, I don’t care how cool you think they are. Be a fan but don’t idolize, because then you become what you hate…a pop music fan that idolizes and cries whenever they see their “Idol”. They are just people too.

Don’t forget where you come from. Your roots are your soul.

Be cool to the people that are cool to you. Sometimes you can even be cool to the people that aren’t cool to you. They will see that you’re a good person and stop judging you on your outward appearance. Once you get one to see the real you it’s like a domino effect. They’ll spread the word that you may dress a bit different but you’re really a cool person. If you’re a dick to them all the time they are going to treat you as such and assume that we are all like you. Thanks, but no thanks.

Be responsible for your actions. Don’t blame the music. If you have problems on the home-front seek help, not retribution.

You don’t have to look metal to be metal. When you’re young you want to be just like all your metal favorites. I’ve known many people that you would never think that’s what they are into. People think the same of me all the time. At almost 32 I try to keep a mostly professional appearance (No suit and tie) when working and I relax a bit when I’m not. I don’t wear a loggers chain on my wallet but I’ll throw on the checkerboard vans and my Dickies jacket with the Lamb Of God patch on it when I leave the house. Gotta represent somehow.

Lastly…”You can’t be something you’re not, be yourself, by yourself, stay away from me. A lesson learned in life”… Ok, so those aren’t my words, but thank,s Phil Anselmo for helping out. But yeah. Be yourself. Don’t be a poser.

If anyone has anything they want to add, feel free to add it in the comments.

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Post from: Metal Martyr

The only thing that curbed my boredom for the time being was Slipknot’s Volume 3(which I still got bored with after some time). And there after a few bands that came into my possession every now and then, like Trivium and Killswitch Engage. When I was interviewed for this blog I told the editor that I try to keep up with the new scene but I honestly was telling myself that I didn’t know what was what these days and I was going to have to work hard to find out what is currently out there and keep up with the news.

Long story, short. Since I started this blog I have found so many bands the are out there that I had been missing through the past years and rediscovering my lust for metal. I mean, let’s face it…there is so much garbage out there that sometimes you don’t know whats good and whats not. Obviously my opinion for whats good is always going to be different from some peoples and everyone isn’t going to like the same bands I like, but if it’s pure shit, annoying, not really metal (We’ll get into that later), or just some produced or invented band I’m going to speak out about it. Don’t let yourself get into a slump like I did, because there is always good bands out there that just need to be heard, don’t let it get you down. Metal is and always has been alive and well!

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How to Become a Metal Musician
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Photography by Skip The Budgle.

This is a guest post by Arjun Muralidharan, the mind behind The Good Musician.

Metal Music – passion of a devoted fan base and a genre unique enough that entire books have been written about how aspiring musicians can master this art. Let me share with you some tips for aspiring metal musicians, guitarists in particular.

Enough with the cheesiness, if you like metal music, chances are you’d love to be able to play metal music. Unfortunately, Metal is a tricky genre when it comes to playing, for two reasons:

1. It’s really hard: Metal Music is usually very complex, fast and comparable to classical music – a lot of instruments, challenging passages and very intricate melodic and harmonic changes (we’ll get this in a mo, don’t fret) make Metal one of the hardest Genres to play.
2. It’s technically dependent: Most of your favorite Metal bands have huge sets of amplifiers, guitars that cost thousands of dollars and a technical crew running around backstage making it all work.

Also, the massive light shows make a big difference. Now, not jokingly, Metal performances are probably as complex as a Wagner opera with 200 participants.

I often run across some aspiring metalhead guitarists, and I tend to give the same advice every time:

• Practice scales:
  Jimmy Page, a forefather of modern heavy metal, had developed his own teaching methods, including a lot of scales. Scales are series of notes, usually in a musical key (like C-major), that you should practice to play in a technically clean fashion. Start out slow, and buld up speed. Clean first, fast later.
• Get technical: Learn as much as you can about sound and acoustics. Learn how to order effects, because Metal without effects isn’t Metal.
• Perfect the basics: If you’re not taking classes, take some. Learn proper guitar technique, because Metal is technically as challenging as any advanced classical finger study.
• Play classical music: Most metal fans I know also dig some classical music. Even if you don’t practicing to play classical music will give you a different approach to music as pop or standard blues/rock does. Classical music is very melodic and complex, while musical forms in pop and rock are held simple – for a purpose.
• Mimic your favourite songs: Try playing your favorite riffs instead of trying to compose own stuff. The more famous riffs you can play, the more you will know about how metal works. You will begin to see similarities and recurring elements.
• this article and this one could be of help – but remember: If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth pursuing!

Post from: Metal Martyr

I’m going to Build my own fantasy band. Sort of like the whole fantasy sports teams that a lot of people do online. You can pick up to 6 band members but no less than 4. A drummer, bass player, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocalist, and lastly an optional member such as a keyboard or additional guitar player. Your vocalist can be a rhythm guitar or bass player as well but they have to be this combo in real life. They have to be real musicians, any musician from any music era/genre dead or alive, and when you are finished you can name your band. Naming your band is optional because cool band names are hard to come by and I’d hate to see someone post a cool band name and someone else steal it for their own real band. Get your creative juices flowing and don’t hold back.

In two weeks I will put all the names of the people that comment into a hat, bowl or whatever and draw 1 winner. The winner will receive their choice of any CD they want that is $25.00 or less from amazon.com . This will be a U.S. resident only contest due to shipping costs and arrangements. When the winner is announced and contacted they will then let me know what CD they want by going to amazon.com and sending me the link of the CD they want that way there is no confusion or complaints. You must comment in this post. Multiple comments by a single person will not increase chances of winning, one entry per person. If the winner e-mails me the link and they want a Justin Timberlake CD they will automatically be disqualified and banned from Metalmartyr.com for life! I don’t care if you say it’s for your sister, those are the rules.

Ok, so here is my fantasy band:

Vocals: Phil Anselmo
Rhythm Guitar: Jeff Hanneman
Lead: Dimebag
Bass: Cliff Burton
Drums: Joey Jordison (this was a tough one, between Joey and Dave Lombardo)

Well, thats my “super group”. Lets see what you have and maybe you can get that CD that you’ve wanted for awhile and haven’t had the spare change for.

Post from: Metal Martyr