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When I saw High on Fire recently, I was astounded by the number of females in the crowd. Only Enslaved in Berlin had more girls – go figure. Actually, I kind of get that. Europeans invented metal, so it’s in their blood. There, black metallers actually have Norwegian names, and girls go to the local Saturn (the German equivalent of Best Buy) in full metal gear, spikes and all, and shop in the “Hard ‘n’ Heavy” section like it ain’t a thang. I think I just gave myself a boner.
High on Fire – Rumors of WarGlorior Belli – Sinister ResonanceInked in Blood – Somewhere FamiliarSebastian Bach – Back in the Saddle (feat. Axl Rose)
In American record stores, though, the only long hair in the metal section is male (admit it, guys – you’ve checked out fit longhairs before, only to have them turn around and be male – oof). I’d basically resigned my American metal life to “bro’ing down” until I saw High on Fire. There were so many women, it felt almost wrong. It was seriously disconcerting. And they were totally getting down. The sight of a girl throwing the goat is a mighty aphrodisiac indeed.
Here’s my theory: girls like 3-over-2 accents. You’d see them raise their fists, as one is wont to do at High on Fire. But Matt Pike’s guitar playing is mostly strumming, so there’s actually not much to pump your fist to. Drummer Des Kensel is a fucking force of nature, and he’s cranking out thrash and d-beats like his singer’s named Lindberg. So it’s a tug-of-war, this percussive onslaught with mushy strumming and the molten river of distorted bass. Thus during the verses, fists are raised but not pumping. They’re just drifting.
But when the 3-over-2 accents come, it’s indeed like coming, a simultaneously orgasmic vice grip of synchronicity. Fists pump involuntarily – then go back to drifting. High on Fire probably know this, as they dish out 3-over-2 accents with much greater frequency than any other band. The 3-over-2 accent is normally reserved for punctuation at the end of phrases (e.g., “time for primal concrete sledge”). High on Fire practically write entire songs around 3-over-2 accents. And this is why girls love ‘em.
At Metal Injection, I’ve reviewed High on Fire, as well as French black metallers Glorior Belli and Deathspell Omega, Dutch death metallers Severe Torture, hair metal pinup Sebastian Bach, and the mammoth new live DVD set from AC/DC. At Decibel, I’ve reviewed ancient thrashers Overkill and Christian metalcore outfit Inked in Blood. The latter surprised me – extremely clichéd good cop/bad cop elements, but arranged with creativity, skill, and passion. It’s the most uplifting record I’ve heard this year, and I find myself returning to it often.
Man, I’m glad someone(aka you) did the research on this.
what’s a 3-over-2 accent?
Whoops, forgot to explain that. A 3-over-2 accent is when 3 notes occur over the space that 2 normally occupy. You’ll know it when you hear it – :39 in the High on Fire clip is an example. The main refrain in Pantera’s “Primal Concrete Sledge” is another example.
Interesting theory. Girls also like a prominent bass guitar in their metal, which High on Fire also have.
I know a girl that listens to Slauter Xstroyes for fun and when I played this clip for her she told me (after ‘is this new Motorhead stuff?’ of course) that High on Fire aren’t sexy sounding – or interesting.
So I guess my counter-theory is that girls go to their concerts because they’ve been promoted to death and are ‘hip’ right now.
Well, as Renegade Soundwave showed us, “women respond to bass.” I’m not sure if “sexy” has anything to do with it. The High on Fire clip I picked was their album “single,” which is probably because it’s the shortest song. The album is strong, it’s the real deal, and if it was promoted to death, I didn’t see any.
I realise now the ’sexy’ connection I made on my lonesome. Hm, I wonder why. I guess when you said ‘lots of women on the HoF show!’ I subconsciously picked up on that distinction on some sexual level. My reptile mind is chauvinist!
It’s been really weird seeing HoF promoted and targeted as true heavy metal for a few albums now. I don’t know if this is getting them more momentum or not. I wonder how well they’ve sold lately. Heavy metal is coming back in a dreadful way.
Also to make you… think about… things. In greece we have a really strong Thrash revival going on focused around a few greek bands that don the high-tops like Crucifier or Convixion. Well they have ’street teams’ (good god!) consisting of their friends, many of which are cute young females. Cute young females in Toxic and Devastation t-shirts and bulletbelts and denim cutoffs and whatnot. It is really weird!
The idea of Greek female thrash street teams is almost too much for me to handle.
I know!
In the Brocas Helm gig a week ago I saw a girl, couldn’t have been more than 16 in a OSTROGOTH – FULL MOON’S EYES original t-shirt. This is impossible. How can this happen? Are they getting these from their older metal friends or what? Is this the new trend? Good god, please let it not be so. Let it be that a 16 year old greek girl actually found out about Ostrogoth on her own and ordered that shirt from what’s left of the band on her own and is wearing it proudly knowing what it means.
Which you think most probable?
IO,
Who played with High On Fire? They’re going to be in the L.A. area on 1/19, but way the fuck out in the Inland Empire (Yuck!)
Helm,
With super-obscure metal, I don’t care who wears the shirts or how. I’m just glad the name is out there.
Dave,
High on Fire played on a killer bill – Coliseum, Panthers, Mono. Mono absolutely crushed. High on Fire play a great show but the package you’re seeing probably isn’t as strong as the one I saw.
that was a stellar show. i saw it here in Los Angeles at the El Rey and Mono did indeed deliver.