Thanks Phreespeech for this one.
So, I'm hanging out listening to Mastodon, who're one of my favorite heavy metal bands, when my buddy Kazia tells me that he met the guys before and when he met them, they were watching the Red Wings versus Anaheim. I found out soon after that the drummer of the band maintains a blog for the Atlanta Thrashers. I thought it was cool that there was a metal band that also liked hockey but little did I know they weren't alone...
Many metal bands have come out in support of hockey. On the North American side of the game, Metallica's James Hetfield has been seen over at San Jose Sharks games while the dudes from Malvolent Creation have exposed themselves as fans of the Buffalo Sabres. On the other side of the Atlantic, Swedish tech-metallers Meshuggah will usually sport Modo Hockey jerseys to show their support for their favorite team in the Swedish Elitserien while Soilwork's Bjorn Strid gave up his hockey career in order to pursue life as a metal vocalist.
That love also goes both ways. Many of the Washington Capitals, including Mike Green, were seen enjoying themselves (in more ways than one) at a D.C. area Metallica concert while Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarty as professed to listening to metal music to get him ramped up. Considering how many black metal bands are inspired by "the frozen tundra", you can't help but start to see the building blocks as to why they're so similar.
So it begs the question, are there really THAT many similarities between heavy metal and hockey? You betcha! In fact, we can take a look at the six guys on the ice and compare them to six guys in a metal band and you'll find that the differences aren't that far off once you put it into perspective.
- In heavy metal, you've got lead and rhythm. In hockey, you have offense and defense.
- Hockey has a goaltender, Metal has a drummer. Here, you've got the guy who's the proverbial backbone of the group, the person who's the last line of defense/rhythm. Obstructed from normal view behind all the equipment they've got, these guys can be as flashy as they want as long as their not caught out of position. It doesn't matter how great they look, if they can't support the group in front of them, they're going to be ineffective. But because of the solitude in the position, these guys can steal a game/show from time-to-time as long as they do all the right stuff at the right times. Typically, as long as they demonstrate sound, positional play; the night will end favorably. I like to think of New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Slayer's Dave Lombardo as guys who generally fit the mold of being complete in their position.
- Hockey has a defensive defenseman, Metal has a bassist. We got the guy who plays out, but isn't out to be a lead player. Instead, they're helping keep things tidy in their own end. While they can joing the play to help suppliment the attack brought on by their offense/lead secton, they're typically doing all the little things right to support their goalie/drummer and generate excitement through hits/pounding bass like Anaheim's Chris Pronger or Iron Maiden's Steve Harris.
- Hockey has an offensive defenseman, Metal has a rhythm guitarist. Here there's the player who's counted on to support the back end, but if they've got a chance to jump into the play, they're going to do it. In hockey, these guys play the point on the power play and act like Washington's Mike Green, rushing to get some goals when the getting's good. In Metal, these guys are usually playing rhythm but will jump in to harmonize solos or take the occasional lead, not unlike Tool's Adam Jones.
- Hockey has the finesseful or dangling left winger, Metal has the keyboard player. These guy's aren't in the back; these guys are in the attack. However, instead of being a driving force in the process, these guys are instead emiting a presence that creates the action and allows for the job to get done. Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis and Isis musician B.C. Meyer fit that mold in my opinion.
- Hockey has the Power Forward right winger while Metal has the lead guitarist. These guys not only are in the play, but they're absolutely crushing everything in sight to bright the offensive/lead attack. Grinding and scoring goals is anagolous to fast picking and flying solos in reference to what kinda energy it brings to their group. Phoenix's Shane Doan has solidified himself in this role as a winger while Metallica's Kirk Hammett does this job as a lead guitarist.
- Hockey has their center, Metal has their vocalist. In order for both to be successful, they're going to have to cater to both ends of their spectrum. The best centers can play at both ends of the ice while the best singers know when to step out and lead versus knowing when to step back and let the guitars or other musicians shine for a moment. Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and Killswitch Engage's Howard Jones are prime examples of guys who display this kinda knowledge.
- In Hockey, fights rile up the fans. In Metal, moshing does the same thing. Both follow an unwritten code of honor and as long as no one is seriously injured, game on!
- Hockey teams are players in a league who report to an owner, who then assigns a general manager and coach to make them effcient so they can draw fans. Metal bands are players in the music industry who report to a record label, who then assigns a band manager and a producer to make them effecient so they can draw fans.
- Hockey players develop in the juniors and lowered-tier leagues, honing their game in order to ascend up the charts before going to the higher-leagues, with the ultimate goal of playing for the audiences at NHL arenas. Metal bands develop at bars and small clubs in their area until they work to their rise to the top, with the ultimate goal of playing for audiences that could fill arenas.
Well, there's probably more, but I gotta get back to doin' what I do. Enjoy!
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