Site Update
Metalunderground.com Celebrates its Eighth Anniversary of Supporting Metal
In recent years, I've decided that March marks our anniversary since that's when we posted our first news story - let's call it a "soft launch" - even though the official launch was in April, 2001. Unlike the prior year when we had a lot of technical updates to the site, the biggest improvements to Metalunderground.com in this past year have been the additions to our staff. We've grown by a large number of writers and are better covering the full range of metal genres in news, reviews, and interviews, with the quality improving in every area as well. For the first time ever, our reviews section is running at full throttle, with at least one new review posted each day (so check out our new reviews if you haven't been paying attention).
It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since I first launched Metalunderground.com, originally as a one-man show. The sheer size of the site, staff, and our readership has surpassed what I ever imagined. Yet, at the same time there's so much more I planned to have done on the site. It's a tough task balancing family and demanding job with a hobby this size, contributing to the site every day and still finding time to code additional features. I have to thank all of our contributors, past and present, for helping keep Metalunderground.com up to date, writing interesting articles, and helping to get where we're at now. My hope is that with the exceptional staff we have now that we continue to grow and get more recognition, and that I will be able to add more new features this year as well.
Since the site's inception, we've posted over 43,000 news articles and covered more than 7,000 bands that are in our database. We currently serve well over 600,000 page views per month to over 250,000 visitors.
I want to thank all of our contributors for making Metalunderground.com one of the top metal sites around. I also want to thank all of our readers, and especially those who have made Metalunderground.com their metal destination of choice, for making it one of the best communities to participate in. Even as the owner, I enjoy reading the contributions of our staff and discussing metal news with our readers on a daily basis.
Here's to many more years of Metalunderground.com! I promise we have some more surprises in store in the near future.
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60 Comments on "Celebrating 8 Years of Metalunderground.com"
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Supporter
I thought we were 9 years old?
It still seems like it was only a few weeks ago I joined MU, and insanity ensued from there. Thank you everyone form the staff for the bast in metal news, to the memeber's who have been there through alot with me. This site has some real trooper's!
SKAL!
Member
I was a Blabberdork for the longest when I stumbled upon this little jewel of cyberspace. I have made several "friends" in the short time I have been here. I would love to contribute, but some reason or another keeps me from being able to fully commit. Cop-out? Maybe, but it doesn't mean I'm any less devoted. The day this site is blocked from govt. computers will be a tragic moment indeed. Long live the Might Mighty MU! \m/\m/ That's right b****es!!!!! Not everyone gets the double horns.
Member
i joined a long time ago (2 years ago i think), but just recently started using these boards lol. MU certainly has had a huge influence on what i listen to, and is my #1 site for band updates, album rumors, and just finding new music. this band is responsible for me having almost 300 bands in my iTunes! i could have my music player going for 2 months and not hear the same song twice, i love that! THANKS MU!!!
Now listening to: Disintegrated Skies - Soilwork
Member
this is also my primary page for info for my wiki page, 2009 in heavy metal music. head over there for a detailed update on any of ur bands, also with a list of the upcoming albums of the year, a little more informative than this sites (no offence MU!!!)
Now listening to: Home - Joe Satriani
Senior News Correspondent
Wow 8 years already?! Time flies. I joined as a college sophomore in 2003 to help get the site more news (i had actually never heard of any other metal news site at the time). it's amazing where we've (staff and readers) come. The best feeling i get on this site is when i post an article about a band i think no one's ever heard of and it gets responses commenting on the band's music or saying how they're already a fan. This site gives a great service to underground bands that can't be found anywhere else.
f*** a name: I hope every reader experiences your journey of slipknot to lesser known. It's why we still cover mainstream acts.
I just hope that this site can sustain at the level it has been. most hobbies and businesses can't last 8 years, I'm glad this site has.
Member
Well said about the journey thing. Because of alot of praise from people here, I have given Soilwork a chance, and now I really like them. At least they've stayed more consistent than In Flames.
NP: Nothing yet. Gotta shower then I'm done. Work for today is pretty much done.
Founder, owner & programmer
Zack, you're our longest running active contributor now, followed by darkstar, who came on about 6 or 8 months later I'm so happy to have you guys around for so long regardless of life changes and challenges! I know it's tough to do.
I'm not going anywhere and I'm committed to pushing Metalunderground.com to new heights! (with a lot of help, of course)
Senior News Correspondent
deathbringer: I'll always be committed on some level. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that i'm spreading the word about bands not many people have heard of (which is partly why i try to skip a lot of the mainstream acts in my posts). My work Metal Underground has given me a good amount of respect among the metal community in my area. I think that is a great thing because it means MU is being noticed as a real news source and that it makes a real impact. Thank you for this opportunity and all your hard work in keeping the site alive!
Member
That's awesome guys! I haven't been following the site very long but I'm so glad I found this place :) I hope this doesn't sound too awkward but this site literally changed my life. Because of this place, I'm an open-minded person and I have discovered great bands here.
An enormous thank you to the staff and the founder who keep this place running for Metalheads everywhere. Anyone who puts in time for the love of Music deserves recognition.
Congradulations for the 8 years, and here's to 800 more of em! Wh00-H00! \m/
Member
Congrutaltions MU! I have been coming here about six months and have nothing but the best things to say about this site. I have met many cool and interesting people here and am proud to be a member of the Metal Underground Community. Thank you to Deathbringer and staff for all your hard work making this the best metal website on the net!
Member
good job guys. this is a really good site. before this i didnt even know there was such thing as "metal news." after a few weeks i noticed the people are astounding. intellectual and educated people from different places around the world coming along for metal. its amazing what you guys have done here. horns up indeed.
Writer/Reviewer
MU and I are getting old together...I remember when I first started visiting in '04 under a half dozen names with senseless and later angry tirades...plus a couple of former roommates would add their two cents to the threads.
Three jobs, two computers and one relocation later and I'm still here. Congrats Deathbringer and MU!
Now Playing: Sunn 0))) - "Cursed Realms (of the Winter Demons)"
Member
I used to comment here on different names early on, before I found my true musical identity, before I had my nut's and bolts completely together on my metal lol
Besides some random ones, the ones I used the most were "Mjolinir thors hammer", and "Fvck Moderated Comments" Then I decided on this one. :P
I was an ignorant lad then. I used to boast that Devildriver had the fastest drummer ever. Oh, how quickly I found out just how wrong I was! I never knew such a thing as grindcore or Prog metal could exist.
So once again, thank you metalunderground! I'm gonna make Jenny feel less awkward; This site has ALSO changed my life!
And thank you to whover posted that slipknot article that first sucked me into this maelstrom of awesome metal.
Now Playing: Obscura- Universe Momentum
Senior Reviewer
My "About Us" profile says I've been around since early '05, but I think it's been a little before that. I can't even imagine being without all the bands I've learned about from this site, including from the great users here.
I'd also like to put in something that is easy to pass by but an important part of MU. Deathbringer has done an amazing job on nuts and bolts of this site - web standards, usability, keeping up with the ever moving web community - all while doing it as a one man effort. Congrats on the 8 years db.
Now Playing: Mr. Bungle - "The Air-Conditioned Nightmare"
Member
I know I've only been visiting this site for just over a year and a member for less than a year (it was having an avatar that totally convinced me, lol), but this site has expanded my music tastes so much. There are so many great bands I'd never be listening to without this site (Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction just off the top of my head), and I'm so glad that deathbringer and the MU staff put in so much time to keeping this site great. Cheers!
Now playing: Kreator - "Dystopia"
Member
happy birthday MU! this article finally made me decide to sign up for this site even though ive been visiting it for around 4 years now. been around this long may as well register before all the good names get taken, first time in a long time i was able to reg a name and get it on the first try yay.
Member
I've been visiting this site for years now. Not sure how many but I just gotta say that I love it here. I am a Maggot, and proud of it. So I ignore all the 'Knot bashing, mainly cause opinions are opinioins. But I do consider the people here like a second famliy. Love to all metal! \m/
Member
Its great to see a site like this thriving. It has renewed my faith in the state of metal. Deathbringer and all the writers and contributers do such a great job in keeping us informed about what's going on with metal and heavy music. I'm glad I 've found a place to hang with like-minded people. So...Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to many more! HORNS UP! \m/
Member
I remember when I found this site about 5 years back. I was a freshman in high school, and I had to do a Spanish assignment where I had to translate a news article and pretend to be a Latin news anchor. I decided to do one on Brujeria (I figured you can't go wrong in Spanish class with a Mexican Death Metal band). Now, 5 years later, I've made friends, I come here regularly for news, updates, and upcoming albums. And I have an array of usernames that I've left idle (sorry for wasting bandwidth deathbringer). All in all, its a great site, and I'm glad to be a part of this.
Contributing Editor
As one of the newer members to the MU family, I want to give my congratulations to not only deathbringer, but all the staff members who provide everybody with awesome content everyday. It's a pleasure to be part of a group of dedicated metal fans who are both knowledgeable and funny as hell about the topic. Also, everybody who leaves comments and starts intelligent dialogues; you guys (and occasional gals) are what make this site one of my favorites on the Internet!
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Member
Already? It seems like justa few weeks ago it was 7 years...my how time flies when youre reading about all the metal you could be listening to instead...
I think I got to this site looking for tour dates sometime in the 6th year, and it's been a blast ever since. In fact, i think I was looking for Slipknot tour dates, come to think of it. Another reason I have to thank this site: my music choices have been profoundly updated lol
Without this site, I wouldnt be listening to Pig destroyer, converge, DEP, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Brain Drill, Genghis Tron, Isis, nowhere NEAR as much tool as I do now, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Divine heresy, Himsa, Mercenary, At the Gates, Hypocrisy, In flames, ahhh... the list goes on.
Happy Birthday MetalUnderground, and may you continue to convince slipknot listeners that there is, in fact, real metal out there. :)