How do I become a specialist?

Well, the specialist titles were created out of necessity to organize or "clean up" the bands within genres and to oversee the addition of new bands. Generally, members are recognized and added as collaborators (if they wish) for writing a decent amount of good reviews, or helping with bands additions, discography completion, etc.

Honorary Collaborators are members who have probably written a good amount of reviews, contributed to the site greatly (with general good forum sportsmanship, band additions, or otherwise), and who may not be very active in site upkeep, but who deserve recognition nonetheless. Generally, Honorary Collaborators have been with the site for a few years.