M2TM 2017

[robin8585]

Ward XVI won in Burnley tonight. Good to see something a little different make it.

[Tet]

Having being quite close to the guys that ran our heats in Sheff this year, we discussed about concerns people have aired over the years of bias towards certain bands/genres and steps were taken to try and make it as fair as possible

[...]

All that being said, I do know of a small cluster of bands who decided not to enter because of the perceived biases in the past.

I'm very glad to hear that. Whenever I've raised this in that past, the response I've had has always been "there is no bias, and no problem". I've pointed out that real or not, if there's a perceived bias (and there is - I know of similar problems in other regions where bands won't enter because of it), then it's something that needs sorting.

I've seen too many of the usual suspects burying their heads in the sand and claiming that all is well with M2TM, that it shows a healthy underground scene, and that complaints about it are just sour grapes from those that didn't get through. As an outsider, that's not how I see it. For me, M2TM is a good thing, but it has image problems that should be addressed, and until they are, it won't be all that it could (and should) be.

[Gandalf the Red]

It's a strange one. Local bands to me were playing the Manchester one and Manchester bands were playing the Liverpool one. Mainly because they know that certain types of bands will go down better in different cities.

An example is Midnight Prophecy. Decent Power Metal band, but there aren't many Power Metal fans around Liverpool. So they had a better chance playing the Manchester one.

[Jay1993]

Prognosis won a slot on the New Blood Stage tonight in Manchester. Voodoo Blood also won a slot on the Jager stage.

Voodoo Blood were my personal favourite of the night so very glad they've been given a chance on the Jager stage, think they'll go down well there. Wasn't overly keen on Prognosis but they're extremely proficient musicians who deserved the win!

[robin8585]

Prognosis won a slot on the New Blood Stage tonight in Manchester. Voodoo Blood also won a slot on the Jager stage.

Voodoo Blood were my personal favourite of the night so very glad they've been given a chance on the Jager stage, think they'll go down well there. Wasn't overly keen on Prognosis but they're extremely proficient musicians who deserved the win!

Also thought Voodoo Blood deserved the win, but a slot on the Jager stage is a good conselation prize. I fully expect to see them on the Sophie stage in the future. Not sure how well that small stage will suit them, but given the frontwoman's tendency to climb all over everything I'm sure they'll be fine.

Prognosis were off tonight. Not sure if there were nerves or technical problems, but in the rounds they were a band that were absolutely no question going to win and tonight, they weren't. Glad to see them get the slot, but I didn't think they were the best band on the night.

Skeletal Damage were also having an off night; not as good as they have been previously by far, pretty disapointing.

Gorehead are still bad.

Hopefully Simon Hall will have noticed the exceptional reception Impavidus got as the first band on and will get them on the Sophie next year, they were incredible as always and deserve to go far.

[Haldamir319]

Oh man, Ward XVI are ace!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9dI1bNf2M

[Jay1993]

Prognosis won a slot on the New Blood Stage tonight in Manchester. Voodoo Blood also won a slot on the Jager stage.

Voodoo Blood were my personal favourite of the night so very glad they've been given a chance on the Jager stage, think they'll go down well there. Wasn't overly keen on Prognosis but they're extremely proficient musicians who deserved the win!

Also thought Voodoo Blood deserved the win, but a slot on the Jager stage is a good conselation prize. I fully expect to see them on the Sophie stage in the future. Not sure how well that small stage will suit them, but given the frontwoman's tendency to climb all over everything I'm sure they'll be fine.

Prognosis were off tonight. Not sure if there were nerves or technical problems, but in the rounds they were a band that were absolutely no question going to win and tonight, they weren't. Glad to see them get the slot, but I didn't think they were the best band on the night.

Skeletal Damage were also having an off night; not as good as they have been previously by far, pretty disapointing.

Gorehead are still bad.

Hopefully Simon Hall will have noticed the exceptional reception Impavidus got as the first band on and will get them on the Sophie next year, they were incredible as always and deserve to go far.

I wonder if it was technical problems with Prognosis. I was struggling to hear everything that was going on in the mix so most of the time I could only really make out the widdley stuff on the guitars which they seemed to do a lot of

I thought Gorehead were really good at what they do and got a great reception, just not the biggest grind fan myself. Unfortunately only caught the last song of Skeletal Damage and missed Impavidus, Red Rum were brilliant though!

[rizzly]

I'm a bit curious as to why Manchester got to send two bands to Bloodstock?

[Cassius]

I'm a bit curious as to why Manchester got to send two bands to Bloodstock?

Its quite common for runners up from M2TM to be put on the Jager stage. Though dont think they normally announce it on the night

[Gandalf the Red]

Sometimes if there is a runner up that is very good quality then they pick that band as well.

Happened last year in the Liverpool one. Exhumation won, but Visions Of Disfigurement got through as well.

That was announced on the night.

[Gandalf the Red]

Speaking of the Liverpool one.

I think it was the other day. I've no idea who won as I couldn't make it. Can't find anything online either.

[Leemanruss]

Luna's Call lost to 2 generic stoner bands. Luna's Call are an excellent progressive death metal band that would've brought some variety to the bill.

On the other hand, Raised By Owls, a fucking excellently British grindcore band with hilarious videos (one went viral recently fetching 6.5 million views. Search "Ross Kemp on Gang Bangs" on Youtube, its worth it) won the Nottingham M2TM along with Hung Daddy as runners up.

Hoping that both Raze the Void and Cerberus Unchained get through this weekend. Both tasty melodic death metal

[Leemanruss]

I'm a bit curious as to why Manchester got to send two bands to Bloodstock?

I think its bollocks that bands seem to get picked for the Jager stage from the later M2TM finals. Apparently, Simon Hall keeps a bunch of bands 'in mind' from earlier finals, but I havent ever seen an occasion where an earlier band was picked (correct me if Im wrong). Na Cruithne comes to mind...

[robin8585]

I'm a bit curious as to why Manchester got to send two bands to Bloodstock?

He said on stage something along the lines of "because I'm in charge and can do what the fuck I want". A man after my own heart.

[rizzly]

There were some awesome bands in the Manchester competition, some of which didn't even make it through the heats. I think it's a bit of a slap in the face to them when a band that doesn't even play metal get sent to Bloodstock despite not actually 'winning'.