Encyclopaedia Metallum
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
 Logo | |
Type of site | Music database, reviews |
|---|---|
| Owner | Morrigan, Hellblazer |
| Created by | Morrigan, Hellblazer |
| URL | metal-archives |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | July 2002 |
| Current status | Active |
Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives (commonly known as Metal Archives per the URL or abbreviated as MA) is an online encyclopedia based upon musical artists who predominantly perform heavy metal music along with its various sub-genres.[1] The contents are user-generated.[2] Encyclopaedia Metallum was described by Matt Sullivan of Nashville Scene as "the Internet's central database for all that is 'tr00' in the metal world."[3] Terrorizer described the site as "a fully-exhaustive list of pretty much every metal band ever, with full discographies, an active forum and an interlinking members list that shows the ever-incestuous beauty of the metal scene".[4] Nevertheless, there are numerous exceptions for bands which fall under disputed genres not accepted by the website.
Encyclopaedia Metallum attempts to provide comprehensive information on each band, such as a discography, logos, pictures, lyrics, line-ups, biography, trivia and user-submitted reviews. The site also provides a system for submitting bands to the archives. The website is free of advertisements and is run completely independently.
History
[edit]The Encyclopaedia Metallum was launched in July 2002 by a Canadian couple from Montreal using the pseudonyms HellBlazer and Morrigan. A couple of years prior, HellBlazer had the idea of an encyclopedia for heavy metal and attempted to create an HTML page for every metal band by hand. Although he gave up on that initial attempt, a fully automated site with contributions from its users was in the works.[5] The site initially went live early in July 2002 and the first band (Amorphis) was added on July 7, 2002.[6] In just over a year the site had amassed a database of over 10,000 bands.[7] The site continues to grow at a rate of about 500 bands per month.[8] On November 13, 2014, the number of bands listed in the database reached 100,000.[9]
On January 1, 2013, the site announced that bands with entirely digital discographies could now be submitted to the Archives, changing the site's decade-long policy of physical releases only.[10] Digital releases must have a fixed track listing, album art, professional or finished production and be available in a high-quality or lossless format through official distribution sources (such as Bandcamp and/or iTunes).[citation needed]
A 2018 study of Encyclopaedia Metallum's database of approximately 350,000 musicians active between 1964 and 2015 found that 97% of metal musicians were male and only 3% were female, though the latter figure has increased slightly since the 1970s.[11][12] In January 2022, Stereogum reported that death metal bands made up most of Encyclopaedia Metallum's database with approximately 51,000 bands listed, but noted that the highest number of active bands was within black metal (approx. 26,000).[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Miers, Jeff (June 13, 2008). "Club Chatter". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
- ^ "Searchworks". Stanford University Library catalog.
- ^ Sullivan, Matt (December 22, 2009). "The indie-fication of metal, 2009". Nashville Scene. City Press LLC. Archived from the original on December 28, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Alderslade, Merlin (December 2009). "Cyber Metal". Terrorizer's Secret History (The Decade). No. 2. UK: Dark Arts Ltd. p. 62.
- ^ "Encyclopaedia Metallum - Miasma Interview". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Amorphis". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "10,000 bands!". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Band archives - By created date". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ "100,000 bands". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Happy New Year! We have a present for you". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Berkers, Pauwke; Schaap, Julian (June 19, 2018). Gender Inequality in Metal Music Production. Emerald Publishing Limited. pp. 20–21, 34, 70–73. doi:10.1108/9781787146747. ISBN 9781787146754.
- ^ Herbst, Jan-Peter. "Gender Inequality in Metal Music Production, Pauwke Berkers and Jual Schapp (2018)" (PDF). University of Huddersfield Research Portal. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Chainey, Ian (January 31, 2022). "The Month In Metal – January 2022". Stereogum. Retrieved June 23, 2024.