About Metalintheory.com

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My goal with this blog is to start to build a knowledge base about heavy music, not just about culture but about the notes, how we play them and how we hear them. Too much scholarship on metal (and rock music more generally) avoids engaging with the sounds on recordings, the backbeats and fills, the soaring or screaming voices, the guitar solos and mosh breakdowns. Part of my efforts to fix this problem is by transcribing every song in its entirety before I write about it. Since almost every rock or metal song is copyrighted, I can only upload short bits of my full transcription — at most a single riff at a time. I given these short bits some context by also including a detailed chart of every song’s form with each post.

I also try to include a link to a music video or recording of each song when I can find one — for me listening is and always should be the first way of encountering music, and notation is just a way to tie something of what we hear down long enough to talk about it.

Nothing I post here is a finished product. Just as what I hear in music changes every year, what I think evolves and (hopefully) grows. Nothing I write is an exhaustive analysis, or the final word on what a song means or how to hear it. I encourage anyone who reads what I post here to quote what you like, add on to it, and make it your own. But do cite me, of course! 🙂

I also have to acknowledge my girlfriend and colleague Milena Schaller, who hears most of what I end up writing in conversation every day, and whose initial reactions and advice shape a lot of my research. She also is a second set of reading eyes when I need them in editing.

9 thoughts on “About Metalintheory.com

  1. Will

    Hi Stephen,

    First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude for this wonderful resource. As a musician, metal fan and relative newcomer to the world of music theory, I find your articles fascinating, and I admire the way you’re able to get to the heart of complex subject matter in such a clear and affable manner. And not an ad in sight! Bravo.

    My only teeny, tiny criticism (if you can call it that) is that it would be really helpful to be able to find all the articles in one place, perhaps grouped by topic, rather than simply in chronological order. It would just make the site a little easier to browse! Of course, you shouldn’t feel obliged to bow to the whims of some stranger on the internet, especially when this is clearly a labour of love. It’s just an observation on my part.

    Anyway, thanks again, and keep on doing what you’re doing!

    All the best,
    Will

    • Stephen Hudson

      Thanks for reading, Will! That’s a great idea, and I was thinking the same thing when I started looking for an older post recently. I’ll get something like that up soon.
      –Stephen

    • Stephen Hudson

      Hi Will,

      I finally got around to making a page listing all of the posts I’ve written for this site. I’ve also organized them roughly chronologically, and I’m part-way through going through all these past posts and giving them more descriptive titles (wish I’d thought of that ages ago!!! I don’t know what I was thinking when I first started this blog, heading the posts with just the band name and song title). I’ve been keeping this site up for almost four years now, it’s long overdue for a first overhaul!

      You can find the link below. I’ve also added it to the navigation bar on the right. I’ll be adding each new post to the Table of Contents page from now on.
      http://metalintheory.com/table-of-contents/

      Thanks for your recommendation! Hopefully you and other readers find it useful!

      Best,
      –Stephen

      • Luke Jackman

        Hey Stephen I just found your blog recently, I’ve read a few articles and really enjoyed them. I work in live productions (concerts) mostly but I play and write music on the side so your music theory articles speak to me. I really like that you take a different approach and are not writing the same article about how or why I should play a certain way like every other guitar magazine writer writes.
        Thank You

  2. Johnny

    Interesting Blog, but too much focus and mentions of Metallica. There is more to Metal than them, and even at their own game they have lost to Megadeth.

    I hope that the blog will continue and look at more bands as well.

    • Stephen Hudson

      Hi Johnny,

      I was about to argue with you, but then as I was putting together the new Table of Contents page today, I realized that you’re right! I have seven posts about Metallica — more posts than for whole other decades, much less any other individual bands. I need to branch out.

      But I disagree with you about Megadeth, I’ve never been much of a fan of Dave Mustaine, although some of the other people he’s had in the band are great. To be honest, though, I don’t really like most of Metallica’s work after 1992 either. I’d rather listen to any Megadeth album than St. Anger.

      Ok now that I’ve thrown a rock at the hornet’s nest, time for me to sign off. –Stephen

  3. Ron Frank

    I have not read nearly enough of this yet, but from what I’ve seen, this blog is incredible!

    I’m used to seeing annoying things in these kinds of texts, but you somehow did it all right!
    You give time markings for your sheet music, you quote books correctly, you use footnotes, you declare that something is only your opinion if you say something subjective… I am simply amazed.

    You have done an outstanding job! I’m looking forward to seeing more of this site as I’m a composer and guitarist and want to be expanding my knowledge! Thank you so much for creating this!!

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