Heavy Metal Conspiracy: Veteran Rockers Aim to Bring back Music with a Steel Ege

Ten years ago, metal looked like a lost cause, with big hair bands flying like blades of grass in the path of the grunge and hip-hop lawnmower.
Things sure have changed.
Today, metal is back and bigger than ever with bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, Saliva, Godsmack, Drowning Pool, Slipknot, Disturbed, Rob Zombie and P.O.D. capturing the thumping hearts of a new generation.
Metal is even back in Northern Michigan.
“What I really like about where metal is going is there is so much variety and so many styles,“ says Jim Steele, 32, lead vocalist for Conspiracy, a new block of musical iron hewn from several former metal bands in the area.
“Back in the hair days, the music was all pretty much the same, but now you can do pretty much what you want and it all works.“
That means there‘s room in metal for the rap of Korn and Kid Rock or the Christian sounds of P.O.D.; the speed metal of Megadeth and Pantera; and the shouter/screamers of Cradle of Filth and My Dying Bride.
There‘s even room for melodic metal, which is the direction that Conspiracy aims for.
“Our direction is to do the heavier music, but mix it up with nice melodies and catchy choruses,“ Steele says. The band will be debuting its sound and a four-song EP this Thursday, March 6 at Union Street Station in Traverse City, with The Down Side opening the show, “an extreme metal band that sounds a lot like Slipknot.“
Conspiracy includes Steele on vocals, his long-time partner in music Pete Henry on bass, Michael Dargis on guitar and Matt Richmond on drums.
Steele and Henry were members of Steelthorn, a band which reigned over the local metal scene in the late ‘90s. Steele played drums and sang in Steelthorn, and both he and Henry have been in numerous bands since their teen years, including Heathenz.
Two years ago, Steel and Dargis began writing songs for the project that became Conspiracy. Born in Detroit, Dargis played in a Slayer-style speed metal band and toured Europe before launching Conspiracy.
Finding a drummer proved a difficult quest for Conspiracy. Steele says the band auditioned 13 skin-slammers and almost gave up hope until Richmond showed up from the band Adam‘s Rocket. “Drums are a big part of our sound,“ Steele says. “We wanted a driving double-bass drum to go with the bass and guitar.“ Only Richmond had the stamina and skill to deliver the dual kick Conspiracy was looking for.
So, why is metal back in a big way?
“Grunge got to be too much; it hung in so long that people were looking for a breath of fresh air. People were sick of the same old thing.“
Today, Steele adds, if you ask someone what kind of music they like or who is their favorite artist, most people don‘t have a ready answer. Musical styles have become so intertwined that there seems to be no “one size fits all“ artist on the pop horizon, like The Beatles of years ago.
Then too, metal has done a superb job of marketing itself with events such as the Ozzfest, which offer a broad range of bands playing for youthful audiences at prices they can afford. In Detroit, Steele notes, it‘s not unusual for clubs such as Harpo‘s and IROC to have six metal bands performing in a single night, sometimes in battle-of-the-band events that pack the house with fans.
Old time metal artists have also reinvented themselves for a generation that wasn‘t even close to being born during their first blush of fame. Ozzy Osbourne, for instance, is in his mid-50s, old enough to be some of his fans‘ grandfather. “Bands like Judas Priest are coming back, as heavy and screaming as ever. Everything is taking a complete circle back.“
Then too, metal -- which was outcast music for years on the radio dial -- has found recent acceptance on more stations across the U.S., with the Zone 95.5 playing the genre during the evening hours in Northern Michigan.
Conspiracy hopes to find its place in the renewed spotlight. The band sent out 500 copies of their demo CD to people in the music industry all over the U.S., France and Germany. They‘ve been getting good reviews in response from a number of metal fan magazines and have hopes of playing the Metalfest in Madison, Wisconsin this summer. Steele says they don‘t want to get back in the bar band grind -- “we just want to write better songs and catch the attention of someone at the next level. Succeeding is really about getting your music to someone in the industry who can make things happen.“
In addition to their show at Union Street, the band is hosting an all-metal night at The Outer Limits, a new club replacing Ernie‘s in Mayfield, on April 5. Conspiracy will perform with SYN, The Downside, Psyklone and other bands to be announced.
So, raise your lighters high, and get your black Manson t-shirt out too, because metal is back in style. Steele says Conspiracy won‘t split any eardrums with volume levels, but they promise to deliver a show that‘s “loud“ in spirit. “If you want to hear some easy listening band, don‘t come see us,“ he says with a smile.

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