--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a…" description: "\"Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool [and didn't] have money behind it. Then it became a pop sensation. Now that the record industry has c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/mat-mcnerney-23931_behinds_before-the-90s-black-metal-wasn-t-a-sell_282319.jpg" --- # Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool \[and… ![“Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool [and didn't] have money behind it. Then it became a pop sensation. Now that the record industry has collapsed and started to rot, things are livening up a bit again.” quote by Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/mat-mcnerney-23931_behinds_before-the-90s-black-metal-wasn-t-a-sell_282319.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/mat-mcnerney-23931_behinds_before-the-90s-black-metal-wasn-t-a-sell_282319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/mat-mcnerney-23931_behinds_before-the-90s-black-metal-wasn-t-a-sell_282319.jpg) > “Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool \[and didn't\] have money behind it. Then it became a pop sensation. Now that the record industry has collapsed and started to rot, things are livening up a bit again.” [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black metal shifted from underground art to commercial pop, then back toward niche authenticity. **In simple terms:** Metal went from underground to mainstream and back. Key Takeaway Recognize cycles of commercialization in art. Themes music culture industry Mood analytical nostalgic Type historical critical When to use this quote - record label strategy - artist branding - genre revival Key Concepts authenticity commercialization Questions to Reflect On - What drives a genre’s mainstream rise? - How can artists stay true amid profit motives? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure can dilute artistic integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black metal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-metal/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Sensations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensations/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [As far as people, I've always loved Tony Iommi's sound, just the grittiness that was in that era of metal where it wasn't too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/as-far-as-people-i-ve-always-loved-tony-iommi-s-sound-just-the/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I like thrash metal and black metal, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/i-like-thrash-metal-and-black-metal-stuff-like-that/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I still listen to black metal all the time - that's obviously one of my favorite kinds of music - but I steer from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/i-still-listen-to-black-metal-all-the-time-that-s-obviously-one-of-my/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [“Black Metal just makes sense; its melodramatic Satanism transformed into an angry lament for human folly. But it doesn't just mourn. It also aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-s-gardenour-walter/black-metal-just-makes-sense-its-melodramatic-satanism-transformed/) Brenda S. Gardenour Walter > [For years I wouldn't listen to black metal from anywhere but Norway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-barr/for-years-i-wouldn-t-listen-to-black-metal-from-anywhere-but-norway/) [Mick Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-barr/) > [I don't have much contact at all with other black metal bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-barr/i-don-t-have-much-contact-at-all-with-other-black-metal-bands/) [Mick Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-barr/) > [I think Americans such as Leviathan have done a lot to expand the sonic palette of black metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-think-americans-such-as-leviathan-have-done-a-lot-to-expand-the/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [My main problem with Norwegian Black Metal is that almost all the bands from 1992-1993 are made up of rats, who ratted each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/my-main-problem-with-norwegian-black-metal-is-that-almost-all-the/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [I think Nouveau Gloaming is a classic black metal record and I would hate to be a band that kept trying to recapture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-think-nouveau-gloaming-is-a-classic-black-metal-record-and-i-would/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [Ultimately I want my metal in a bar and not an art gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/ultimately-i-want-my-metal-in-a-bar-and-not-an-art-gallery/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [Most every album - and especially metal albums these days - are made in a way that you can grow tired of them very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/most-every-album-and-especially-metal-albums-these-days-are-made-in-a/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [Yeah, sci-fi is definitely a big influence on Fear Factory. I've had people tell me we always sing about the same thing but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-cazares/yeah-sci-fi-is-definitely-a-big-influence-on-fear-factory-i-ve-had/) [Dino Cazares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-cazares/) > [Starting in junior high school, through high school, I was very into metal or black metal and death metal specifically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/starting-in-junior-high-school-through-high-school-i-was-very-into/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [All in all, I think that out of all musical genres, the world of metal is the most escapist one. Metal is also music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuomas-holopainen/all-in-all-i-think-that-out-of-all-musical-genres-the-world-of-metal/) [Tuomas Holopainen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuomas-holopainen/) ## More by Mat McNerney > [I do try to pay attention to new bands and what's happening within the scene. I try to make sure I give everything a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-do-try-to-pay-attention-to-new-bands-and-what-s-happening-within/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I like what's going on in Finland, with the rebirth of Beherit. I also like a band called Oranssi Pazuzu and a band called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-like-what-s-going-on-in-finland-with-the-rebirth-of-beherit-i-also/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [Ultimately I want my metal in a bar and not an art gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/ultimately-i-want-my-metal-in-a-bar-and-not-an-art-gallery/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [In the past stories have been what tethers us to the world and they've made us who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/in-the-past-stories-have-been-what-tethers-us-to-the-world-and-they/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [People are appreciating the old stuff again and there's no MTV-style scene police to try to make us all listen to Machine Head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/people-are-appreciating-the-old-stuff-again-and-there-s-no-mtv-style/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I don't think there's anything remotely "new" or "experimental" about any modern metal bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-remotely-new-or-experimental-about-any/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I think there was a brief period where Norwegian bands were evolving and that was an interesting time where it seemed like a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-think-there-was-a-brief-period-where-norwegian-bands-were-evolving/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I don't bring any ideology or barriers with me into my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-don-t-bring-any-ideology-or-barriers-with-me-into-my-music/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I have a lot of mental scars from being brought up Catholic and being sent to Catholic school for 13 years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-have-a-lot-of-mental-scars-from-being-brought-up-catholic-and-being/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [The religion and it's many barbed indoctrinating tendrils just start to become what makes you who you are, so you have to kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/the-religion-and-it-s-many-barbed-indoctrinating-tendrils-just-start/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I think there's a certain limit to the number of times you can raise hairs on the back of peoples' heads before it gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-think-there-s-a-certain-limit-to-the-number-of-times-you-can-raise/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I think when you have a band that are so separate and isolated then you have to know each others styles and characters quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-think-when-you-have-a-band-that-are-so-separate-and-isolated-then/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [Most every album - and especially metal albums these days - are made in a way that you can grow tired of them very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/most-every-album-and-especially-metal-albums-these-days-are-made-in-a/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [I think Nouveau Gloaming is a classic black metal record and I would hate to be a band that kept trying to recapture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/i-think-nouveau-gloaming-is-a-classic-black-metal-record-and-i-would/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) > [There are many ways to portray darkness and evil and it isn't all in being mean and tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/there-are-many-ways-to-portray-darkness-and-evil-and-it-isn-t-all-in/) [Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) [Explore all 25 Mat McNerney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. 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If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before the 90s, black metal wasn't a selling tool [and didn't] have money behind it. Then it became a pop sensation. 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