Views of German Producers on ›Teutonic‹ Metal: Production Approaches and Generational Effects

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Labels that denote a cultural or regional characteristic are common in the metal music discourse. Based on interviews with five internationally renowned German metal producers, this chapter explores the views of these professionals on the ›Teutonic‹ metal label, examining what it means to them and how it may influence their practices. The study concentrates on selected areas of production such as systematic recording approaches, choice of equipment and studio acoustics with a focus on generational effects, comparing three important producers from the early years of German metal with two younger producers of international standing. The findings suggest an incoherent use and multiple connotations of the ›Teutonic‹ metal label. While in the early years it was disparagingly used by foreign media and thus avoided by the German press and German artists, over time it has become a marker for a style of traditional heavy and thrash metal and a marketing term with which record labels and bands serve their own nostalgic longings and those of their fans. One of the veteran producers proudly describes himself as a ›Teutonic‹ metal producer, an image upon which his career is built, and another seasoned producer, although not convinced by stylistic labels, has benefitted from them throughout his career. Even though the younger producers acknowledge the achievements of the producers of the first wave of German metal, they believe that national and cultural characteristics are outdated in today's global metal music industry. For them regionally or culturally associated sonic signatures are relics of the past, since international, remote collaboration is the norm today and music is produced with a standard set of (often digital) tools.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOne Nation Under a Groove
Subtitle of host publication»Nation« als Kategorie populärer Musik
EditorsRalf von Appen, Thorsten Hindrichs
PublisherTranscript
Pages183-206
Number of pages24
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9783839455814
ISBN (Print)9783837655810
Publication statusPublished - 6 Nov 2020

Publication series

NameBeiträge zur Popularmusikforschung
PublisherTranscript
Volume46

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