金属乐的一线音乐人正处于悬崖边：主流地位摇摇欲坠

一线金属音乐的现状正处于岌岌可危的境地。虽然这一流派在地下蓬勃发展，但主流却由正在失去活力和吸引力的老化乐队主导。有望取代他们的下一代乐队的金属风格比以往任何时候都少，这使得该流派的文化影响力处于危险之中。像 Sleep Token、Bad Omens 和 Spiritbox 这样将金属核与主流流行音乐融合在一起的乐队目前正在崛起，但他们与传统金属的联系较弱，这引发了人们对该流派作为小型俱乐部之外的文化力量的未来的担忧。

Metal's A-Listers: A Precarious State of Decline

金属乐一线明星：岌岌可危的衰落状态

In the underground depths of the music scene, metal continues to thrive, its diverse subgenres pulsating with vitality. However, as a cultural force that once transcended niche clubs, metal's ascent to stadiums and festival grounds has faltered, leaving its once-fearsome aura diminished.

在音乐界的地下深处，金属继续蓬勃发展，其多样化的子流派充满活力。然而，作为一种曾经超越小众俱乐部的文化力量，金属音乐在体育场馆和音乐节场地的崛起已经步履蹒跚，其曾经令人畏惧的光环也随之减弱。

The genre's elder statesmen, the iconic A-listers, are growing stale and losing their edge. Metallica and Megadeth, once the driving forces of thrash metal, have become complacent and uninspiring, their commercial exploits eclipsing their musical relevance. Slipknot, masked and enigmatic, have lost their way, shedding members, facing legal woes, and teetering on the brink of creative bankruptcy. Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of metal, is physically frail, his once-potent voice now a whisper, yet he perseveres, aided by a young producer who seems to drain the life from his music.

这一流派的元老政治家，标志性的一线明星，正在变得陈旧并失去优势。 Metallica 和 Megadeth 曾经是鞭打金属的推动力，但如今却变得自满且乏味，他们的商业成就掩盖了他们的音乐意义。戴着面具、神秘莫测的活结乐队已经迷失了方向，成员不断流失，面临法律困境，并在创意破产的边缘摇摇欲坠。金属乐教父奥兹·奥斯本 (Ozzy Osbourne) 身体虚弱，曾经有力的声音现在变成了耳语，但他在一位年轻制作人的帮助下坚持了下来，而这位制作人似乎耗尽了他音乐的生命力。

Meanwhile, the next generation of metal bands, those positioned to take the reins, are less metal than ever before. Avenged Sevenfold, once hailed as the torchbearers of modern metal, have lost their way, embracing electronic elements and corporate pandering that alienate their core fanbase. Their grandiose ambitions, from NFTs to virtual reality concerts, feel like desperate attempts to stay relevant in a rapidly changing landscape.

与此同时，下一代金属乐队，那些即将掌权的金属乐队，比以往任何时候都更加金属化。曾经被誉为现代金属火炬手的 Avenged Sevenfold 已经迷失了方向，拥抱电子元素和企业迎合，疏远了他们的核心粉丝群。他们的宏伟抱负，从 NFT 到虚拟现实音乐会，感觉像是在快速变化的环境中保持相关性的绝望尝试。

Other industry veterans, such as Zakk Wylde and Static-X, are resorting to gimmicks to stay afloat. Pantera, the legendary heavyweights, have reunited without their founding brothers, leaving a hollow echo of their former glory. Deftones, while still thriving, stand as an anomaly among their peers, their unique blend of atmospheric metal and ethereal melodies setting them apart.

其他行业资深人士，例如 Zakk Wylde 和 Static-X，正在依靠噱头来维持生计。 Pantera，传奇的重量级人物，在没有创始人兄弟的情况下重聚，留下了昔日辉煌的空洞回声。尽管 Deftones 仍然蓬勃发展，但在同行中却是一个异类，其大气金属和空灵旋律的独特融合使它们与众不同。

The void left by the fading A-listers and the absence of a clear successor has raised concerns about the future of metal's mainstream presence. Who will inherit the headlining slots at major festivals like Download and Aftershock? Will the genre be reduced to relic acts and nostalgia tours?

一线明星的衰落和缺乏明确的继任者所留下的空白引发了人们对金属主流存在的未来的担忧。谁将继承《下载》和《余震》等重大节日的头条位置？该类型是否会沦为遗迹表演和怀旧之旅？

The Era of Metalcore and Genre Evolution

金属核时代和流派演变

In the early 2000s, as the nu-metal boom subsided, Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Disturbed emerged as the new guard, fusing metal elements with accessible hard rock. Now, two decades later, a similar trend is taking hold. Metalcore and its subgenres, blending the aggression of metal with the melodic hooks of pop, are dominating the charts. Bands like Sleep Token, Bad Omens, and Spiritbox are the current flag-bearers of this movement.

2000 年代初期，随着新金属热潮的消退，Linkin Park、Evanence 和 Disturbed 成为新的守护者，将金属元素与易于理解的硬摇滚融合在一起。二十年后的今天，类似的趋势正在兴起。金属核及其子流派将金属的侵略性与流行音乐的旋律融为一体，在排行榜上占据主导地位。 Sleep Token、Bad Omens 和 Spiritbox 等乐队是这一运动目前的旗手。

While their music undeniably falls under the broad umbrella of metal, their connection to the genre's traditional roots is tenuous. Their focus on mainstream pop aesthetics dilutes the raw power and abrasive edge that once defined metal. The heavy riffs, guttural vocals, and provocative imagery that were once metal's hallmarks are becoming replaced by a polished and palatable sound that appeals to a broader audience.

虽然他们的音乐无可否认地属于金属的广泛保护伞，但他们与该流派传统根源的联系却很脆弱。他们对主流流行美学的关注淡化了曾经定义金属的原始力量和磨砂边缘。沉重的连复段、喉音和挑衅性的意象曾经是金属乐的标志，现在正在被一种吸引更广泛听众的优美而可口的声音所取代。

The Expansion and Dilution of Metal's Definition

金属定义的扩展和稀释

Over the decades, metal has evolved into a vast and diverse genre, encompassing a myriad of subgenres. While this expansion has brought new fans into the fold, it has also blurred the boundaries of what constitutes metal. Bands like Yeat and Bladee, while sonically distinct from traditional metal, are still considered part of the rap genre. Similarly, Sleep Token and Bring Me The Horizon occupy the metal label, despite their departure from the genre's core elements.

几十年来，金属已经发展成为一个庞大而多样化的流派，包含无数的子流派。虽然这种扩展带来了新的粉丝，但它也模糊了金属的界限。像 Yeat 和 Bladee 这样的乐队虽然在声音上与传统金属不同，但仍然被认为是说唱流派的一部分。同样，《Sleep Token》和《Bring Me The Horizo​​n》占据了金属标签，尽管它们背离了该流派的核心元素。

As the definition of metal continues to expand, it raises questions about the genre's identity. Will metal lose its distinctive character as it embraces mainstream influences? Or will it retain its core values while incorporating new sounds and aesthetics?

随着金属的定义不断扩大，人们对这种流派的身份提出了疑问。当金属受到主流影响时，它会失去其独特的特征吗？或者它会保留其核心价值，同时融入新的声音和美学？

The Future of Metal's Mainstream Presence

金属主流存在的未来

The trajectory of metal's mainstream presence in the coming years is uncertain. The fading of the A-listers and the rise of genre-bending newcomers have created a vacuum at the top. Who will step into the void and define the future sound of metal?

未来几年金属主流存在的轨迹尚不确定。一线明星的衰落和跨流派新人的崛起造成了高层的真空。谁将踏入虚空，定义未来金属之声？

Will metalcore bands, with their accessible melodies and broad appeal, continue to dominate the charts? Or will a new generation of traditional metal bands emerge, rekindling the genre's raw energy and uncompromising spirit?

凭借其平易近人的旋律和广泛的吸引力，金属核乐队会继续在排行榜上占据主导地位吗？或者新一代传统金属乐队是否会出现，重新点燃这一流派的原始能量和不妥协的精神？

Time will tell whether metal can regain its former glory as a cultural force or whether it will continue to evolve into a more mainstream and diluted form. As the landscape shifts, one thing remains clear: the passion and creativity that fuel the underground metal scene will continue to drive the genre forward, ensuring its enduring legacy.

时间会证明金属是否能够作为一种文化力量重获昔日的辉煌，或者是否会继续演变成一种更加主流和淡化的形式。随着形势的变化，有一件事仍然很清楚：推动地下金属场景的激情和创造力将继续推动这一流派向前发展，确保其持久的遗产。