Updates and current projects (25 February 2012):

Over the next few weeks and months, all aggregator links will be carefully inspected and updated to ensure proper categorization, to check the link works, to make the link descriptions into full sentences, to more clearly distinguish between the medium categories such as 'articles' and 'papers', and to allow quick search via medium. In other news, recently a forum pre-registration process has been set up to help gather members for an eventual forum launch (see header). A 'Resources' section has been added (see header). Two technical problems are also in the works: the drop-down menus in the header don't function in Internet Explorer 9 (unless compatibility mode is set a certain way) and a 'no results' message is needed for when the search bar in the header produces a nul result (I must learn the technical aspects of how to do this).

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. An extremely wide and varied genre of music, among modern musical genres metal deals with some of the most profound subject matter such as philosophy, spirituality, occultism, social commentary, etc, corresponds with some of the most unique alternative lifestyles in its 'metalhead' listeners, expresses 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 a website like TMD 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, to help expand on current theories and philosophies.

About the website:

TMD was first launched March 2011. A few users carried over from an earlier beta version of the website, but TMD is still very new and its user base is just beginning to grow. In the long-term TMD definitely looks to expand and perhaps purchase other pre-existing metal aggregators or websites; TMD is dynamic and industrious and interested parties are encouraged to propose mutually-beneficial opportunities for collaboration. I'm the sole owner and administrator of TMD (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. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any comments, questions or suggestions.

Disclaimer:

Certainly 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 far as is concerned 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 that may be deemed offensive, 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.