the taste of cigarettes said:

I agree, the most refreshing thing about modern metal is its WAY WAY less oriented on scene and all that shit -- as far as total geeks can start the most popular metal band and people will like them based almost solely on the music -- but by the same note some of that charisma of going to a show, making new friends, feeling part of something, has faded...

It depends how you look at man. I'll be sitting outside our practice space in Boston and see tons of punk kids walking by each other and never saying a word to each other even though they are both obviously punk. Everytime a kid in a Skinless or Cryptopsy shirt walks by I end up in a ten minute conversation with them. I have met 90% of my friends through metal. Some people go to shows and won't meet anybody the whole night. I'd rather get hammered, have a good time, and end up meeting 15 new people. I definately do feel part of something in this scene. I mean I kind of have to when almost everyone of my friends is in a death band. I mean, culturally, it stands out alot more in Europe and other places where they have those 3 day camping fest every weekend and everyones always partying together but we have that here also. For instance, if you go to Maryland Deathfest and stay at the motel 6 you will see every door in the hotel open and everyone partying together.