Now ENSLAVED have officially sold out......no i'm just kidding. VERY VERY VERY COOL!!!! Infernal Hails ENSLAVED!!!!
 

thats cool

 

Great, when this takes off we will get to see Enslaved cds in all the Wal-marts next to bruce springsteen and mariah carey.  Good business decision, perhaps, but now Enslaved will have to deal with the on-coming legion of mediocre pseudo-fans that like them until the video game goes out of style.  Enslaved, brought to the masses via Jack Black, priceless.  :(

 

The guys have to eat, perhaps? Maybe if more "fans" made it to their gigs, they wouldn't actually have to feature in videogames. I'm not saying they don't have an audience, but they don't have the audience they should do. Most people are not very clever. Hence Jack Black and the world we live in.

 

Are you seriously making the argument that Enslaved cant afford to feed themselves, so they took this deal out of desperation?  If their audience gets any bigger they are going to turn into Opeth... I am almost willing to bet that their next album will even be on Roadrunner, which I have termed "The label where bands go to die", because bands like Enslaved thrive in the 'underground' or at the very least, the semi-underground.  But this type of publicity is aimed at milking the band, and the genre itself, as fast as possible so as to be disposed of and replaced by the next thing.  It's bad enough that the music-as-video-game genre/trend has taken the reputation of metal, which in the mainstream is still recovering from the 'hair' thing(to the uninformed, read: mainsteam music audience), to an even worse level of non-seriousness.  Now metal is becoming re-typecast such that one doesn't even require instruments!  Jack Black is the new Dee Snider.  Spinal Tap for everyone!  I say this as a die-hard fan of Enslaved, btw, I regard all of their music as top shelf and ahead of the curve.  It just disappoints me to this happen.  I'm not calling them sell-outs, but I don't think anything good will come from this, besides the lunch-money they so desperately need, apparently.

 

I am so bored with this commercialism/underground argument. I am also bored with making comparisons ("Enslaved-Opeth"). And I am so not hinting Enslaved might be "desperate", unless you are implying that anyone who has to work in order to sustain themselves, might be.
Enslaved could most certainly do with a greater audience. I am not suggesting they will get it via videogames, but if they do, so be it. It doesn't bother me where their music may appear, since it's a great band and 100% sincere in their artistry. Since you're mentioning Roadrunner, I am not 100% sure about Satyricon's sincerity (maybe only 80%), but I'm still a great admirer, and I even run a tribute page (Satyricon Bulgaria). Finally, being 'underground' is a matter of spirit. Prodigy were more underground than anybody while they were selling more than anybody.


 

I didn't mean that as an argument of underground vs. commercialism, and I agree that argument is futile.  They are a band on a major (relatively) label who has a product franchise to sell, and I completely respect that.  An I am definitely not comparing Enslaved to Opeth creative-wise, that was just the most easily identifiable reference I could make to express the idea of a band letting themselves lose their way.  Don't even get me started on Satyricon!

And what does Prodigy *gasp*  have to do with anything?

 

You can read my more or less elaborate thoughts on Satyricon's progression here: www.myspace.com/satyriconbgst
And I am sorry about providing an example with Prodigy, I should stick with true black metal *gasp*.

 

Just because the band is featured in a soundtrack doesn't necessarily mean people will go, "Oh, Enslaved are cool now!". If they never liked black metal (this is 'Frost' material we're talking too you know, not their most accessible material) to begin with I don't see them starting now. Just like on Rock Band, the downloadable songs of certain bands will likely only be bought by fans of said bands and the people that don't already know of them will likely keep avoiding them. Just because something is out there doesn't mean people will suddenly latch on because it's featured in an upcoming video game. Extreme metal genres have been out there for a long time waiting for people to latch on and it still hasn't happened, and it's going to continue to stay accessible to only select people. Besides, I don't think the heavy metal nature of Brutal Legend will appeal that much to the non-metal listening gamer all that much. They'll just enjoy the hack and slash gameplay because it's violent. I am looking forward to this game personally so I see this as good news. Lastly, if you think bands like Opeth sign away their creativity by joining a certain record label, then you're quite diluted. It's called wanting to make a living and not having to hold seconds jobs. Opeth's evolution has been brought on by themselves and their own doing. Don't hold others responsible. If you don't like their current direction, that's your own choice, but to blame others is ridiculous.

 

I disagree with you there.  Video games get far more publicity/marketing than metal bands (except for Dragonforce, who have used the medium to great mainstream success, despite a total lack of content), and as such, as they gain in popularity, as this is sure to, so will the things attached to them, albeit artificially.  As you say, the people who don't like the music won't ever like the music, but they do like the image/emotional/identity-attachment of the association of whatever pop-culture trends they are following at the time... Then, when the trend subsides, so do all the things attached to them.  The Artificial surge will be followed buy a just as artificial crash, which to the eyes of the corporations involved will signal the end of the milking.  This is why all the cd stores are currently loaded with used Dragonforce cds. 

Like, I said, I don't accuse Enslaved of selling out, because their music is top-notch, but I do say look out for the Enslaved merch at hot topic and wal-mart soon, and endless product tie-ins.  I'm an not accusing Enslaved of being greedy, but of allowing themselves to be used in this way to plug a finite product.  Enslaved are masters of their craft, and I just feel the music deserves more integrity that it's inevitably going to receive.

I didn't say anything about Roadrunner making bands suck, I say bands who choose to suck go there to cash in and burn out.  I don't know where you got this 'blaming others' thing.

And I swear, the next time someone overhears me talking about black metal and says "Oh, you mean like the guy on the front of the new Guitar Hero?", I'm going to punch them in the face.  A little obscurity is better than that any day.

 

Well, you didn't literally blame anyone but the subtext seems pretty clear to me. Everyone's heard of the whole, "Oh this band is on Roadrunner now so they suck automatically now", even though they'd be making the exact same music on any other label. If this isn't what you were saying, then I take that back, but it sure seems like that's what you were getting at. And Dragonforce are nothing like Enslaved. Dragonforce has an accessible sound to the uniniated. Enslaved are not that kind of band that becomes trendy. I think you're worrying needlessly. And there are LOTS of other bands featured on this soundtrack. Do you really expect any or all of them to suddenly become the newest sensation in music? Also, what kind of bands would you prefer see featured in this game anyway?

 

You are right, there are a lot of bands (mostly good ones, surprisingly) in the game (and soundtrack, sold separately), and I should add I don't mean to single out Enslaved, but Enslaved was first I've see to make a myspace blog about it... 

My problem isn't about them becoming trendy, but the music becoming further banalized as it becomes more and more considered an accessory to something else which has nothing to do with art.  Art is a response to existence, creating is how artists deal with life.  Video games are escapism FROM life.  Not that I am against such escapism, but I feel this is a boundary between two things that should not be crossed, for the mutual loss of each. 

A medium such as this, which has zero existential value comes along, heards them all up, and makes more money for the video game company than all of the bands will make in their entire careers.  Well, most of them, considering there are some pretty big names involved.  This only serves to make metal seem more and more safe, harmless, and lacking vitality, and something not to be taken seriously as a real cultural force. 

You want to continue incrementally giving up your real self-expression in favor of living vicariously through a substitute, cartoon-character stereotype who spouts funny one-liners and is endorsed by real legends who have condescended to participate in this leveling of their own culture?  It's not necessarily selling out, but it is regressive. 

It's like some guy thought, 'hey, there's a market forming right between Guitar Hero and Metalocalypse, I bet we could stick a hybrid in there, tack on the current pop-culture representative of hard-rock and some big name stars for 'cred'  while the window is open and we'll sell a shitload.

I say fuck that, pick up a real guitar and scream your guts out.  That's brutal.

 

Unrepetant, 
 

So your argument is now that what they did was 'Stupid' but they 'Deserve it'.  And then you end it by telling me to just agree with everything and like it or I'm a poser and should shut up, while calling me childish one.  Please.  I have not at any point said anything about losing respect for Enslaved. 

My whole argument is that I believe a band as classy as Enslaved is better than this, on this specific issue of being used to help sell a video game to what the entertainment industry seems to feel is a market lacking in products to consume.  Nothing more. 

I give them all the credit in the world for being as completely amazing  as I believe they are, and as such, the endless inspiration they give me personally as a musician myself.  Stop accusing me of hating the band, that is entirely wrong.

 

My argument is more so that I, personally, think it's dumb for any band to be featured in a video game catering to teenagers. HOWEVER, it is not up for me to say whether I think they are too good to take such a deal and that I hope it proves beneficial for them. I am sure Enslaved are quite capable of making their own business decisions without having to worry too much about fuckhead teenagers bashing them or their fans via their myspace blog. If you are giving them entire credit as "being completely amazing" then you need to respect their business decisions as well and not post a million theses trying to prove a horribly conveyed point that evidently does not even matter to Enslaved. Take your childish, trolling antics to the 1349 blog where you can discuss how "Revelations of the Black Flame" is Celtic Frost worship and such a step down from past material. Your opinions here simply have fallen on deaf ears. You are the weakest link, fuck off. 
 

This person - 'Unrepentant' - added me as friend only to start bashing Satyricon, for whom I had expressed I had deep appreciation. He made rude remarks like "Frost's drumming is so bad nowadays, that his "unique signature" consists in him merely showing up, so people see he is still with Satyricon". When I said I saw no point in answering this (I had elaborated in an earlier comment why I thought Frost was good), the person commented that I only wished to converse with people who agreed with me, and deleted me as quickly as he had added me.
So I use the opportunity to express that, no, I don't only talk with people who agree with me, but yes, I'd rather abstain from conversing with those whose manipulative, childish agenda is transparent.

 

P.S. By the way, I have grounds for bashing Satyricon myself - but why would I?
I told the band after a concert that I had seen them previously, having travelled thousands of miles especially for them and Enslaved. Their bass player actually said: "We are better than Enslaved though", which I pretended not to hear. But Satyr wasn't going to let me: "Our bassist just said we were better than Enslaved". I gave him a rather displeased look, and he kind of pretended it was a joke.


 

Ok, this has gotten out of control...

The reason I added you was not to start bashing Satyricon, it was to 'extend an olive leaf', as they say, as a show that even though we disagree here about this issue, I wasn't meaning to imply some personal 'manipulative' attack at you. 

Sure, I have some heavy opinions about Satyricon, but it's not in line with 'bashing'.  Satyricon, like Enslaved, is a band that I have been into for many years, and who I have enjoyed a great deal.  What I said to you regarding Satyricon was not 'THEY SUCK', but, rather, "THEY CAN DO BETTER".  If I simply hated them, I would not bother discussing them at all.  I just feel its unfair to the fans that the band is dragging their big name around, and the expectations that go with it, while acting well below their potential as creative beings.  Satyricon could learn alot from Enslaved about truly meaning what they play...

I apologize if you feel like I just added you so I could go 'bash' stuff there, but this is a discussion forum, and you even offered your own link to view your 'Satyricon opinions', which I took as an invitation for discussion.  Yes, we disagree greatly, but my purpose was to say, 'Hey, we disagree, but that's not the important thing in discussion'... But, you can't see my facial expressions or hear my voice, or the playful tone I may have envisioned, rather you perceived it in a different, highly serious way.  Nothing I can do about that...

The reason I deleted you was that you said "I disagree with you so much... take your thoughts elsewhere", which seemed to mean "Do not talk to me anymore".  You could have chosen to say something like "I don't want to continue this topic, what else are you interested in?", but you told me to 'go elsewhere'.  If that's not how you intended me to take it, lets talk about it.  Send me a message.  I'm not here for the purpose of starting shit with people, I want to talk about music.

Lastly, I apologize to Enslaved personally.  I am sorry for messing up your blog with this, and I assure you my intention was not to start some drama crap on here.  Although I disagree with this one specific issue of video game music, I don't respect you any less as creative beings who make amazing music.  All of your releases, from the Emperor split up to Vertebrae are among my most highly prized recordings, and I do give you all the credit in the world for what you are doing for metal as culture.

P.s.

Hole in the sky is looking to be the most amazing show of the decade, no doubt, and I seriously hope you release it on dvd so those of unfortunate enough to be non-European can witness it on some level.  Horns up to that!

 

Hehehe...nobody except you is "out of control".:) Take your two brain cells and your schitzo novels somewhere else.
"It is unusual you would say you like Satyricon after Volcano." Hello, dude, it is AFTER Volcano we even begin to notice Frost as a drummer.

 

You may have a couple good points, but I just don't think so analytically about these kinds of things. For entertainment, as long as I'm enjoying it then that's what I deem important. If people don't appreciate metal enough to see the creative force that it is in the music world, then so be it. Just remember, the objective in all this is the all mighty dollar. That will make people do a lot of things. =/

 

If indeed you have some appreciation for Enslaved, I feel you should give them some credit, and trust they might actually know what they're doing. As for supermarket sales - I discovered the absolutely outstanding Terence Trent D'arby that way.

 

Cool stuff.. this game is on my "got to test"-list. If I had one.

 

Unholy tomatoes what happen since my comment, hahahahaha! Well, i see both sides but honestly, i really don't support this type of video game commercialism either. Kudos to Enslaved but i'm not buying into Jack Black making Metal "comical". At all.
 

that is so great go2 get this game it sounds better n better evert time a read an update lol
 

Someone say again Enslaved don't deserve all the credit in the world.
http://holeinthesky.no/2009/news/a-blaze-the-lowdown.html

 

wow are you all really mad that enslaved just made money by using a few songs in a video game?? you've obviously never thought that not only is "enslaved"  the members way of expressing themselves through music but it's their job as well... so before you go crying "sell outs" think of the money they fucking deserve... it's because of douche bags like you who probably just pirate all their music online they don't make shit as it is...  and either way who fucking cares what a band does, as long as the music keeps sounding good... crybabys