Wikipedia of Metal (metal-archives.com)

Member Name: cognition

Product:	metal-archives.com
Date:	10/07/09 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The biggest databses of Metal band information available!

Disadvantages: Very strict band inclusion policy

INTRODUCTION
The Encyclopaedia Metallum, or Metal Archives, as it is more popularly referred to, was started in 2002 by two Canadians. It is, in essence, a database of Metal band information dependent on user contribution, not too dissimilar from the concept behind Wikipedia.

TYPE OF INFORMATION
The amount of information available for each band entry depends on how much has been entered by the users. Common information includes biography, country and city of origin, last known record label, year the band was formed, discography including cover art, track list, lyrics and liner notes. Information can be submitted by anyone who registers at Metal-Archives.com, which is free. Some types of information, but not all, must be approved by an admin before it appears in the database. Editing is open, so if a band is submitted by one user, another user can write a biography, for instance.

DISCOGRAPHY AND REVIEWS
As mentioned, there is scope for inclusion of extensive discographies featuring album artwork, track lists and liner notes. Users can also contribute reviews. This is, in theory a good thing. But there is a fault with the system. CDs can be graded on a percentage scale, from 0% to 100%. The average grade for each album is displayed on the main band page. This sounds like a great plan in theory. The problem is, since anyone is allowed to contribute reviews, there is no consistency in terms of how people grade albums, and there are a fair bit of overly dramatic reviewers that like to exaggerate and give grades like 0 or 100 for albums that are really not that bad or good. Of course, freedom of speech is a good thing, but the showing of average grades for CD reviews on the main band page is often not as reliable a guide to what the best albums are as one might believe upon the first glance.

RESTRICTION OF BANDS THAT ARE ALLOWED
The Metal-Archives founders are running a very strict policy. Nu Metal bands are not allowed at all, which is something I'm personally fine with, because in most cases Nu Metal bands are far removed from what is traditionally called Metal, and one can often see a clear divide between a Nu Metal fan and a fan of traditional Metal. However, the strict policy does restrict the availability of information. It feels to me, that some bands have enough real Metal in their sound that they should be allowed inclusion. For instance Tool and Rammstein, although they by no means are pure traditional Metal bands, they do feature massive influences from traditional Metal. More irritating, though, I find it that while White Zombie is featured, Rob Zombie, which is the solo project of the main man from White Zombie, is not. Hence, you have to develop a sort of sensibility, that at Metal-Archives you will only find information about very traditional sounding Metal, but anything that stretches the genre too far, you might have to refer to Wikipedia for.

RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION
As with any user-contribution based web site, you always feel a need to question the information on offer. Since anyone is allowed to submit and edit band information, there is the potential of incorrect information making it on to the web site. However, some pieces of information need admin approval before appearing on the web site. No band is approved for submission without sufficient proof provided that it is a genuine band that plays genuine Metal. My experience with Metal Archives is that the information I find tends to be rock solid and reliable. I've largely had the same experience as with Wikipedia.

PROS AND CONS
The Metal Archives is the biggest database of metal band information available, and it is constantly evolving and being updated! On the downside, the strict inclusion policy limits which bands you can find information about. Also, the layout of the web site feels a bit dated. Yet, it is surprisingly functional, and there are several search parameters that can be put to use when searching for bands. There are no ads, and the web site is ran completely independently. A solid Metal information source made by true Metal fans for true Metal fans.

Summary: Number one go-to source of Metal band information.