I’d love to write something deeply profound and inspiring as we step forth into this new decade, but I’ve had way to much sugar, which makes it really hard to focus on just one thought.

On the one hand, I’m astounded. Remember when all that Christmas candies and chocolates went on sale on Boxing Day and you could run down, fight the crowds for those last few boxes of truffles? Well, not only has the last decade brought us Boxing Week, where stores offer deals all week, but don’t stock enough to last as long, but they start clearing out the Christmas goodies before Christmas! So by the time I got my sorry ass down to the closest department store on Dec. 26, all that was left was a generic candy storybook and a couple of stale advent calendars. How horribly depressing. Whatever will I do without that extra layer of chubby goodness to last me through the rest of these cold Alberta winter months, as I trek out to catch my favourite bands on the local stages?

On the other hand, I’m sure it really is for the best, because we’re going to need all the energy we can get. After the traditional year-end concert lull, things are once again picking up, bringing blackened death metal giants Behemoth, classic hard rockers Motley Crue, and one of my ’80s flashback favourites, Haywire. There’s also a lot of exciting things happening from Alberta bands, especially along the lines of CD releases, so keep checking back as these are announced, and make sure you get out there and support local talent.

Which is one focused thought I will leave you with…

No matter how many subgenres of metal exist or come to be, no matter how many formerly metal acts are now considered hard rock, and whatever some people determine is more metal than something else, one thing remains certain: music, and especially heavy metal, always has been and always will be a way of bringing people together, whether musicians, fans of music or fans of non-conformity or rebelliousness or just a damned good time. Sure, extreme music may be limited to underground radio and Internet stations and specialty satellite channels, seedy venues and stereotypes without a basis in reality, but if we complain, bit, bemoan or insult, that gets us nowhere.

That said, if you like what you hear, support it. If you don’t, but appreciate it, recommend it to someone you know who might dig it. If we, as musicians, as fans, can support one another just by accepting and understanding our shared passion for music, our community can only grow.

Now, as we boldly go into this decade that – what do we call it anyways? Is it the “10s?” Whatever the case may be, we hope it isn’t much like Arthur Clarke’s Odyssey sequel, and more like something of our own making. I mean, mysterious extraterrestrials = cool; nuclear fusion in our galaxy = not so much.

Here’s hoping it’s a good one, and that the Mayan calendar ended at 2012 because someone ran out of room on the monument.

Mistress Morwyn
The Keeper of the Lair