Lead guitarist for The Haunted, Ola Englund, has called out A7X singer M. Shadows regarding some recent comments he made about “old bands” who are “bitter” about streaming services.
During a recent interview with the Bob Lefsetz podcast, A7X singer M. Shadows was asked why he believes that metal fans have been resistant to the idea of streaming. Among the comments the A7X singer made, he said:
“I think every time you bring up streaming to people, and you get all these old bands that are bitter about it, and it’s very weird. They’re still in 2022 talking about how music doesn’t make any money, no one’s buying our CDs, and no one is doing this. Maybe you’re not relevant? Let’s be relevant, let’s put our hat in the ring – when [audiences are] listening to [Justin] Bieber or The Weeknd, they can jump over to Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold. We’re playing in the same park here.”
The Avenged Sevenfold singer then went on to say, “That has always made sense to me, but you still get these people that are there, ‘Streaming’s killed industry, and now we got to do this and we got to do that.’ No, streaming kind of saved the industry, it saved the user.”
These comments have gotten under the skin of The Haunted lead guitarist Ola Englund, who provided his thoughts on what M. Shadows had to say (via his YouTube channel).
In the video, Englund starts by reading a transcript involving what the Avenged Sevenfold singer had to say about “old bands” being “bitter” about streaming services. He starts off by saying the following:
“I’m not entirely sure what he’s talking about here, because aren’t bands already putting everything on CDs, vinyl, and streaming? And just, you know, doing it for everyone?”
Englund then goes on to comment on M. Shadows’ comments:
“Ok, so I think he’s saying that he feels that a lot of bands are aping off each other, and it becomes regurgitated. I don’t know, I feel like this interview right here is just… Yelling at clouds, a little bit.
“Sure, metal likes to cling on to the old stuff. What’s wrong with that? The music is still on the streaming platforms, who gives a shit? Just have the music as available as you can, on physical, digital, whatever, and people get to choose, even if they, you know, people look backward and be like ‘Ok, I’m just gonna get the vinyl, or cassette, or whatever’, Ok, give them the option to do that, and isn’t that just fine enough right there? Just saying.”
What are your thoughts on what Englund had to say about M. Shadows’ comments about streaming services? You can find the video featuring Englund discussing what the Avenged Sevenfold singer had to say below.
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Words by: Michael Pementel