Kassra+R’s+OpEd+Article

media type="file" key="kassrar-muckraker-0910.mp3"

Screw Off, BitTorrent by Kassra R. Despised Icon, Ceremonial Castings, Napalm Death, Primordial. Though each of these bands starkly contrast one another in musical style, they all have one thing in common for me; I wouldn’t be surprised either if some other metalhead shared the same relationship that I hold with these 4 bands. I, Kassra Rafiee, confess to have downloaded each of these band’s discographies off the internet. Doubtless, you are all shocked to hear such imperfect, sinful, dastardly words come from such a perfect, angelic do-gooder as I’m sure you all know me to be. Sadly however, the actions which I account for throughout this article are all vices which I have committed. I sit here, on my old, stained, mahogany computer chair, a man of repentance; repentance for a sin I have perpetrated countless times. Nearly every single album in my collection has either been downloaded illegally by myself or other malefactors whose identities I shall not reveal; a collection of 7500+ songs (698 albums). Roughly calculated at 12 dollars an album, my accomplices and I have stolen from a genre we hold so near and dear to our hearts a grand total of 8,376 dollars.

While the shame I feel for this wrongdoing is great, I have gotten it off my chest, and shall move to the main point of my article.

It is the very simplicity involved with gaining access to music nowadays that distresses me so. Before there ever was Pirate Bay, or Mininova, or IsoHunt, there were days when people used to line up outside record stores across the world, waiting for the release of new material from their favorite artist. Fresh out of the shipping truck, I’m sure there was scarcely any feeling better than spending your hard earned cash to enjoy a work of art that you have been awaiting for so long. And even before recording techniques such as the CD, the cassette, or even the vinyl, the art of music had to be transferred to its audience via performances. I can just imagine how amazing it must have felt to go see the premiere of Mozart’s 41st, live.

Sadly though, these days are long gone. The days of encampments outside of a local record store are dwindling; all because one person has the power to purchase the album, post it on the internet, and have millions of thieves steal it. In today’s society it is far too simple to acquire music. For example, right this second, I could open Google Chrome, enter isohunt.com in the address bar, type in Skepsis into IsoHunt’s search engine, find a download, click download, and I will have successfully acquired Through the Eyes of the Dead’s new album in less than an hour. But, I won’t. No matter how badly I want to hear their new material, I will no longer lower myself to that level. I have stolen enough. I have deprived myself of enough of the satisfaction of owning a physical copy of an album, and knowing that I actually gave money to the band that gave me this satisfaction.

I’m not saying that it isn’t convenient to have this luxury; I’m saying that it is wrong. I’m proud to say that I have not used BitTorrent in over 3 months, and I do not plan to in the future.

Where has the satisfaction, the feeling of accomplishment, the absolute joy of buying an album gone? It has been fed to the monster that is technology; demoralized by the internet.

You're stopping for good!? I knew this day would come someday, it just seems so soon... I respect your decision. I have also decided to no longer torrent newly released albums, although I reserve the right to download rare, oldschool, uber-kvlt, grim and trve albums recorded in forests and limited to 666 copies, cause I don't think we'll ever find much of that at Salzers.

- The Metal Shaman

Ya, maybe I should reconsider. Where else am I going to get Satanic Warmaster? ;)

-The trvest of the trvu Metal Apprentice