Updates and current projects (20 April 2013):

The discussion forum has been launched! Registration is currently open to the public as the forum remains relatively unknown, but soon enough the registration process will become stricter. Many individuals have already pre-registered and confirmation e-mails will continue going out to them today and tomorrow.

A brief statement of belief:

Metal scholars agree that the field of metal music studies remains highly stigmatized in the academic world and is underdeveloped. Extremely deep and diverse, compared to other modern musical genres metal deals with some of the most profound subject matters such as philosophy, spirituality, occultism, social commentary, etc, relates to some of the most unique and alternative lifestyles in its subculture, exhibits some of the most sonically and musically extreme sounds, and incorporates some of the highest levels of complexity and sophistication in terms of musical theory and composition. Metal demands to be examined more closely, from the spiritual or occult experiences of catharsis or transcendence many of its listeners report cultivating, to its applicability in a wide range of academic fields of study and a greater understanding of subcultures and the world we live in, to the age-old question of what makes some metal more psychologically healthy, 'authentic' or just downright better than other metal. The fact that the need for such a website has existed much longer than TMD has, the fact that the niche has gone unfilled for so long, says far less about TMD's innovation than about the stagnation it seeks to overcome. Making full use of the internet's vast potential as an information technology and maintaining an atmosphere of open-mindedness, seriousness, zeal and creativity, TMD aims to help challenge metal doctrine, to help support the music against stigmatization, and to help expand on current theories and philosophies.

About the website:

TMD was first launched March 2011 and has grown quite a bit since then. In the long-term TMD looks to continue to expand. I'm currently the sole owner and administrator, and as Craig Ferguson would say, I look forward to your letters. On the internet I usually go by the username Transcix, and that's my handle on TMD's blog and forum. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any comments, questions or suggestions (if you're ever in Montreal and want to meet up, drop me a line).

Disclaimer:

The domain of metal is full of subject matter that many could find offensive. However it's the opinion of myself, the sole administrator of this website, that in such cases where this offense may be justified then the best remedy would be to promote freedom and openness within the domain of metal in the marketplace of ideas to allow the truth to rise to the surface—such is a primary function of this website. As for TMD's aggregator and the content it aggregates, including content dealing with Nazism, fascism, racism and other controversial topics, I don't personally endorse or promote any points of view but to the contrary I seek to remain neutral and objective in order to select a healthy variety of links for aggregation even if I don't personally agree with everything they express. In the case that a reader feels I failed to represent an important side of a story, I would urge that reader to contact me and bring this to my attention and if possible to submit one or more links that would help reconcile the inequity.