SO, I just got Nine Inch Nail's album, The Fragile, on CD. This made me think about my past band obsessions. While I still enjoy listening to Eisbrecher and some Rammstein, I noticed how I've just been kind of turned off by Cradle of Filth. CoF used to be a very big obsession of mine, and I used to enjoy their music a lot. But then their summer merch dropped. It was such a big disappointment to me, and it's because of the obvious use of AI. I'm all for the silly, goofy opposite visuals whenever it comes to Metal, but AI? Utilizing AI has to be the most HYPOCRITICAL move for any metal or alternative band in general. I'll touch up more upon that in another post (here). As an artist, I can't help but DESPISE AI and everything the scummy companies that develop it stand for. The fact that a very POPULAR and even, dare I say, MAINSTREAM band uses AI for their merch and even GETS AWAY WITH IT just pisses me off to no end. Random, small DSBM bands will get such shit for utilizing AI in their album covers (which is deserved, in my opinion), but why can't we also hold the mainstream bands accountable for this too? What makes it even worse is that Trouble and Their Double Lives is also AI generated. I do not CARE if Dani claimed that he would've never used the album cover if he knew it was AI. If Rammstein was able to change the cover for Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, then CoF can change their album cover to something that was actually human made. If Trent Reznor ever comes out with a pro AI statement or ends up using AI in NIN merch or covers, I will cry myself to sleep because NIN is my current band obsession and I just CAN'T lose another band to AI. I've been becoming more and more disappointed with Dani in general. I understand that music is TECHNICALLY a business in SOME aspects, but it gets to a point whenever you flat out admit that you're more of a businessman than an actual artist. That's honestly another reason why I respect Trent Reznor so much. He just makes music because he truly enjoys it. Does he also like the money? I mean, no shit he most likely does, but there's still some SOUL into his music. Unlike CoF where it just feels... soulless. Like their AI merch and album cover. Will I still listen to CoF's older shit? Yeah, especially that Cruelty and the Beast and Midian CDs because they were gifts from my dad and boyfriend. Will I support whatever slop they release? FUCK NO. Existence is Futile just feels like such a disappointment whenever you hear their older stuff. I DO NOT CARE about how good How Many Tears To Nurture A Rose is, that song plus all of Existence is Futile just feels so hollow. Just like their AI merch and album covers. Also, I'M LOOKING AT YOU DAVE MUSTAINE. THAT OLD MAN IS ALSO GUILTY OF AI. At least people actually caught onto it and said something about it, unlike CoF... Anyways. Live, laugh, Trent Reznor.