20 FEATURE
LAGO VISTA, TX
In a resort city outside of Austin, nestled in the beautiful hill country of Central Texas, lies a small business that defied the odds for 28 years. A magazine covering the Christian “hard music scene” (encapsulating metal, alternative, punk and all forms of rock) was never suppposed to become anything more than a small fanzine – proportionate to the small underground scene it was covering. But something else happened. It grew. And grew... “I started HM Magazine with a finished product in mind. I always saw it as a fullfledged magazine that sat alongside its peers on the magazine rack.” It’s ironic that 1985 saw the launching of four music magazines – Spin, Alternative Press, Metal Edge, and Heaven’s Metal Magazine. Metal Edge bit the dust a few years ago and HM (fka Heaven’s Metal) is choosing to follow.
to make it fly.”
Why this choice? Why now?
We’re all glad to hear that, before this turns into a puff piece.
Your intrepid reporter (quoting himself as if he were reviewing his own band’s demo cassette in 1988 – guilty as charged, though he slammed his own vocal performance in some form of mock criticism – maybe an advance apology to his audience’s ears?) is on task to find out and report the facts. “I started HM Magazine to serve a two-fold purpose: to serve the fans, who needed and wanted information; and to serve the artists, who needed exposure.” No problem. A good businessman (and even a good disciple) sees a need and meets it. Check. “I threw every ounce of myself into it
This is called hard work, determination and steadfastness. Check. “I was able to live a dream. I saw my dream come true. I’m a blessed man. And I can’t go on without stating that I had a lot of help from a lot of people along the way.”
“I had graphic artists volunteer to draft new logos and cover designs. I had labels trading the privilege of having their band on the cover for the work of their design team to craft world-class color covers. I had staff members and even interns who took our business, our brand and our quality of journalism up several notches. I had a wife and even two children that gladly jumped in and helped see the dream live on and expand.” This is all good. And it’s especially good to be grounded in thanksgiving. No offense to Obama’s critics (which if polled probably make up at least 75% of our audience), the notion that teamwork builds dreams is a valid
one. While my ego would love to see a statue built in my honor (I won’t lie, even though it proves I’ve got pride), it wouldn’t be right to shine the spotlight on just one person. HM has been a team effort since day one. “I was able to serve the body of Christ with this magazine. And along with believers, provide a common interest, some good reading, some good design and some good journalism to anyone that liked hard music and all of its subsidiaries. “I wanted to be a hero. Not for the accolades or the praise of man, but the praise of One. I believe (and I’ll say this about ANYONE reading this article) that the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead – the same Spirit that endowed and equipped Moses, Abraham, Elijah, David, John, James, Peter and Paul – this Spirit resides in me. Therefore, I have the potential to be a hero of the faith. I have the potential to change the world. Why? Because of God. If I volunteer for the job of being obedient to Him, apply myself to what I have before me and work with all my might, great things might happen.” So far, so good. So what?