by David Marcus

Created on: March 24, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Since "best" is a matter of opinion anyway, I'll set forth what I know about what has been, and hopefully will be again soon, one of the most potent music scenes I'm aware of in America.

Western Massachusetts - there's not a ton out here. The biggest city we've got is Springfield, and that's not so great, anyway. So what is it about farmland, small cities, and the rest of the country's tendency to consider our area non-existent compared to Boston that makes for such music-fertile ground? Who knows?

What IS known is that some of the most successful metal and hardcore bands have made their way onto the national scene from the underground of Western Massachusetts. Have you ever heard of Unearth? Depends on if you're into that type of music. Killswitch Engage? Getting more likely. How about Staind? These are all Western Mass. natives. Staind is the big stand-out, having reached a level of famousness that they probably once thought unimaginable. They got their start right here in Springfield. Their sound, of course, has changed plenty since they formed, but we still get the bragging rights. :)

One of the more recent acts to blow up out of the Western MA scene is The Acacia Strain. These guys (who happen to be friends of mine) are certainly not getting softer-hearted as their fame increases. They're now preparing to head out to Europe for a tour, and they're more brutal than ever. A somewhat similar band, Ligeia, was recently signed to Ferret Records, one of the most respected record labels in the genre.

Let's recap - Staind, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Unearth, Ligeia, The Acacia Strain. These are all bands that without a doubt have gotten their start under the most humble of circumstances, and have broken free of their initial stomping grounds to become acts of national renown. Even now, bands such as Farewell Radiance, Antilove, and The Miles Between (forgive me for including an Eastern MA band - they're my buddies) are pushing the boundaries, hoping to get away from home.I don't know of another area that can boast the number or quality of progeny that Western Massachusetts can.

For more information on the music that is being created in this "Cradle of Life" for music, look any of the above-listed bands on the Internet (perhaps myspace) and start poking around - they're all interconnected, and proud to be part of the WMA family.

Learn more about this author, David Marcus.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.