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It incenses me when political opinions are shouted down because they come from metal musicians. “Shut up,” Blabbermouth commentators say. “Just stick with the music.” Coming from non-metalheads, that’s condescending. Coming from metalheads, that’s downright treasonous. To support censorship in a genre so often saddled with it is a betrayal of the cause. It’s also un-American (Americans seem the most likely to raise these kinds of objections).
I wonder why people feel so threatened when musicians express political opinions. Perhaps they’re annoyed when their heroes disagree with them. Perhaps they don’t like how popularity provides a convenient soapbox. Well, deal with it. That is called the marketplace of ideas. Some people have more “capital” there than others. If they want to expend it on public statements, the marketplace will be the judge.
To suggest that a musician, purveyor of something that’s like life and death to many, should not weigh in on matters of life and death, but should instead stick to fiction (in metal, pick your cliché: gore, Vikings, Satan) is to relegate art to the role of mere consumer object. Would Blabbermouth commentators take “2 Minutes to Midnight” away from Iron Maiden? “Disposable Heroes” from Metallica? “War Pigs” from Black Sabbath? (I would, however, take “R**k the Vote” away from Carcass.) Musicians can be stupid; they can be informed. I say give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Interesting subject.
I think the blabbermouth shut up effect comes from that most people that listen to metal (or any other type of music, but let’s stick to the subculture we’re in) aren’t really metalheads in a proactive definition. It takes more than listening to some vaguely extreme sounds to be a metalhead. They’re just consumers of their chosen brand of sound. Double bass and riffs please them just like skippy electronic drums and synth pads please the electronic music people, on the essential level. They do not put any stock to what the music is about and only get more metal to listen to because they want to satisfy their consumer urge. Shallow and wide listening.
So of course when the musicians behind the bands they’re consuming do anything human they should immediately shut up and get back to making more riffs and double-bass. After all, for these people metal is just embarrassing anyway, even if they still like it. There’s a self-feeding loop there between shame and condemnation. Essentially when these people say shut up, they’re saying it to themselves, stuck in the prepubescent paradigm when they first met metal and are not willing to grow up and let the metal grow up with them.
I haven’t met a single true lover of Heavy Metal that has said something to the extent of “I don’t care about the lyrics/aesthetics/opinions in my Heavy Metal, I only care about the music” (thought that might be a bit of tautonomy because for me people that actually care for these things are the ones that deserve to be called metalheads). I think that’s a very convenient fallacy of a statement that only exists because it’s comfortable and propagated by consumers that want to comfort themselves. After all, if you start saying ‘I disagree with what this musician is saying and therefore will not support him with my purchases’ you just might have to listen to less music and we can’t have less consuming, can we? If a critical point of view is adopted by and large 95% of metal is worthless. An industry can’t have that.
Oh yeah and that Carcass song is a bit terrible, but I really like the production job!
Blabbermouth is like the Jerry Springer Show of the metal intarwebz. And I really doubt it any of those trolls ever get laid. No wonder they’re so angry all the time.
>I haven't met a single true lover of Heavy Metal that has said something to the extent of "I don't care about the lyrics/aesthetics/opinions in my Heavy Metal, I only care about the music"
Nice to meet you.
Seriously, as someone who works with words for a living, I wish 90-plus percent of bands were instrumental (if only instrumental metal wasn't so fucking boring). Lyrics are awful the vast majority of the time, filled with embarrassing turns of phrase, trite sentiment and pure foolishness. And this goes triple for “political” lyrics. Most musicians aren’t any smarter than the average person, and even if they are, they’ve probably spent way more time thinking about scales and time signatures than geopolitical issues. Consequently, when they speak up, they fall into a category I call People I Don’t Want On My Side. Political agendas are the death of true art.
Gotta agree with PDF on this one. Have you heard the political, civic-minded lyrics on the new Testament album? Totally ruins it for me.
I kind of fall between helm and pdf. I mean, a lot of lyrics are lousy, but I think we can consider the social or political intent of music as going beyond lyrics, and I think we should care about that. Plenty of NSBM bands, for example, avoid overt songs about Nazis or racism, but I still avoid listening to their music–even if on the raw aesthetic level it sounds like something else I do like. Instrumental music can still be (and usually has been… look at classical music) political.
That said, I don’t think there’s an easy one to one equation of the political ideas of group members and the overall intent of the music, either. So, the fact that David Vincent has expressed racist ideas doesn’t make the first three Morbid Angel albums racist albums. There isn’t a simple way of splitting up metal albums ideologically, but I’d like to think that intent counts for something, however vague–that the music is more than just dumb escapism.
I agree that political music is usually bad. But that doesn’t mean that musicians should avoid politics. (The idea of artist as voice of conscience goes back a long way.) That just means they need to step up as lyricists or else the marketplace will respond accordingly.
anthony – great point about classical/instrumental music.
Here is an argument, for argument’s sake, for listening to NSBM bands. Assuming that you download their music and thus are not supporting them financially, and are aware of their intent and thus are not influenced by them ideologically, why not see what they have to offer? If they are aesthetically valid, one could steal aspects of that for one’s own art (and thus subvert them in a way). There is a worth in knowing one’s enemy. The act of listening does not necessarily equal support. It can be the preparation for a counterattack.
I’m always happy to see musicians care enough about politics to say something about it. So what if the lyrics on the latest Testament or Machine Head aren’t profound or poetic? Good for them for caring about important stuff.
I don’t look to Sepultura or Megadeth for politics, but it’s refreshing to see musicians take stances on issues other than sex, drugs, Satan or witchcraft. It doesn’t matter if the lyrics don’t teach you anything new, they don’t have to. There’s a place for everything–I’m not counting on Ministry to teach me anything about important social and political issues, but I wouldn’t want to hear Howard Zinn blaring at an anti-war rally.
Isn’t politics part of what makes metal exciting? Awesome riffs aren’t the only reasons why “War Pigs” was preferable to all those hippie songs about flowers, or why “Disposable Heroes” is more compelling than “Girls, Girls, Girls.”
Even when the lyrics and politics are embarrassing, I’ll applaud someone for having the balls to take a stance. Avenged Sevenfold musically and politically makes me want to jump out a window, but I’ll defend their right to misguidedly bash liberals to the end.
Seriously, as someone who works with words for a living, I wish 90-plus percent of bands were instrumental (if only instrumental metal wasn’t so fucking boring). Lyrics are awful the vast majority of the time, filled with embarrassing turns of phrase, trite sentiment and pure foolishness
If I were in your shoes I wouldn’t listen to anything that I consider on any level (aesthetic, lyrical, whatever) to be embarrassing or foolish. Also I wouldn’t make a career out of publicizing these bands either. I don’t mean to sound harsh or as if I am passing judgment on you, but I’m sorry, that’s just the way I see it.
There’s eloquent HM about actual things that matter and if it’s just 5% of the material out there then that’s the 5% I am interested in. Why should I consume more than that? Why should anyone?
Assuming that you download their music and thus are not supporting them financially, and are aware of their intent and thus are not influenced by them ideologically, why not see what they have to offer?
I don’t have anything against racist music fundamentally. However in application it seems that the vast majority of the bands that dabble with that sort of theme do it just to shock. Especially in black metal now that ‘rrr, misanthropy’ is rote and inoffensive (let alone rrr, christianity’) it’s only natural that fearing castration, a lot of these bands move to more taboo subjects just so they can recapture some sense of danger. I find it pretty crass to try to do this routine on the backs of millions of dead people so not only I am not shocked, I am disgusted. The few bands left that can make their case without being superficial and manipulative I have no problem with. I don’t listen to HM to agree with everything I hear, I listen to it to consider the human situation from various different perspectives. No human being is my enemy.
invisible oranges-I sort of overstated my point about NSBM bands. By listen, I meant buy. Still, your response was a good one, assuming I meant what I actually said.
I was also being hypocritical, now that I think of it. I definitely own some early Burzum and S.O.D., neither of which align with my political views.
As far as helm’s point-it’s a very even-handed attitude to take, and I wish I could be so open minded. I guess I’m in over my head with the NSBM thing. What would be an example of a non-superficial, non-manipulative NSBM band? While I agree with the whole “no man is my enemy” sentiment for the most part, I’m too close to too many jewish people not to draw the line at nazis.
At the same time, I don’t necessarily hate the work of all artists that espouse racist (or even fascist) views. I like Wagner and Mahler, for example. I have no problem with writers like Ezra Pound or T.S. Eliot (well, some problem, but I can get over it). I think the key is in your statement about considering the human situation from various perspectives. If a piece of art is complex enough to avoid being simple propaganda or shock tactics, I’m less worried about politics and more engaged by it’s vision of human experience.
It is worth noticing that early Burzum is not riddled with the trappings of National Socialist Black Metal, or national socialist anything. It’s romantic of course (“What Once Was” and all) and romanticism often stresses the destruction of the old so the proud new can live blah blah blah but it’s not as far as I can tell, music tinted by bigotry. I have never felt my intelligence insulted by Burzum material.
Anthony: there aren’t many. Sigrblot perhaps. The failing of such a huge part of the black metal scene to make its case lucidly and not just use corpses for shock is a telling sign of its intellectual bankruptcy. Too much playacting, not enough ethos.
anthony – That first S.O.D. record is satirical, I think. I’m not sure I understand the whole point of it (why make a parody record about a fictional character). Other than Billy Milano, the other band members have been involved in projects that are more politically “correct.”
helm-good point about the Burzum. Thanks for the Sigrblot recommendation.
invisible oranges-I recognize that the first S.O.D. album is satirical, so it’s not a great example of me listening to records against political type. Still, a lot of it is pretty flat satire, and aside from certain elements of hyperbole (I don’t think Milano actually wants to kill immigrants) not many people would hear it as such. The content also aligns well with Milano’s politics, more so than those of Anthrax or Nuclear Assault. If I were being a real purist, I’d can the thing.
Still, I like it! Being able to tell myself that it’s satirical helps, even though I don’t think it really works as satire. Mostly I just dig the riffs and the guitar tone, which isn’t very deep of me I suppose.
Just to add another thing: I think it’s the general sense of ugliness and menace that makes me overlook the more Milano parts of Speak English or Die, also, not just the idea that it might be satire. So I’m more willing to accept a xenophobic song if it comes as part of a perspective that’s also obsessed with dying because of global warming or throwing up after eating bad food. It becomes part of a persona, rather than only a piece of political dialogue… if that makes sense.
I’m with Anthony. We should care about the fact that the words we let people scream into our headphones pass through our heads and affect our thinking, albeit indirectly. Then again, so many lyrics are so lousy that perhaps it’s wise not to pay too much attention. Overall it would be great to be able to turn to metal as a form of media that can intelligently present ideas to society. That’s usually not the case, even with really top-tier metal bands.
What often bums me out about metal is the effect that image and ideology has had on lyrics. Sure, I spend time feeling angry, but sometimes I’m not angry. Sometimes I’m happy, or sad, or hopeful, or relaxed, or a I feel like snuggling with a cute little bunny.
I think the ultimately point of metal is auditory. People’s choices about the heavy bands they listen to are a squarely rooted in their musical preferences. Sure, lyrics have varied over time, but really what kinds of things have the metal community been saying?
First the general stuff: “Let’s have a good time”, “I am strong”, “There’s evil out there”, “Rock and roll will live forever”.
Pretty epic shit.
Then the more ridiculous stuff: “Satan is my lord and master”, “You will die by the steel of my blade”, “Demons haunt the forest at night”, “Stenching greasy rodents swarm, my body is losing its form”, “Metal will live forever”.
Pretty hokie shit, even if the bands saying it are sweet.
I’ve spent the last 13 years of my life loving Pantera. At first I couldn’t stand Phil’s voice. Then I learned to really appreciate it (“and watch me do it, do it, do it” – I love that), but I didn’t really know or care what he was saying.
Then I realized that, no matter how much I love Dimebag’s playing, Phil’s angry, drugged out, tired mindset (and resultingly his lyrics) were largely to blame for the fall of Pantera. Sure, the Abbott brothers were undoubtedly dicks about a lot of things, but Phil brought the caveman element to the band. If I wanted to get real crazy here I would say that Nathan Gale would have never loved Pantera as much as he did had it not been for Phil screaming the soundtrack to this ex-Marine’s troubled life.
But I won’t get that crazy, because without the crunching auditory power the band wrought in that music, Pantera would never have incited anyone to get crazy – on any level.
The same goes for bands like RATM and SOAD who are, as South Park would say, all up their own asses. Which is ok with me. But they are.
Great thread topic.
a dark – That’s a pretty good summation of metal lyrics. Sad but true.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Pantera, along much the similar lines. Phil brought the “danger” to the band, which included stupidity. I think he balanced the whole thing best on Vulgar Display and Far Beyond Driven before falling irretrievably into the pit.
Thanks IO. I think that ?danger? is the perfect word. You are TOTALLY right about the balance. By the time FBD came around I think he was pretty fucked up, and you can see that in ?Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills?, which is definitely one of the worst tracks they ever made. Then again, if he weren?t personally, literally ?broken?, could he have brought the great vocal work that he did to the song ?I?m Broken?? Probably not. Vulgar is my favorite Pantera album for a number of reasons ? the mix of speed and brutality, the quality of the solos, the fact that ?Hollow? is perhaps their best quiet song ? and one of those reasons is that I think it represents the zenith of Phil?s vocal and lyrical abilities. He even looks like he?s having a good time on the back of the album.
Danger in a positive environment creates excitement, but danger in a negative environment creates violence. Pantera needed a certain amount of danger. Without it, they probably would have remained a glammy, 80s-oriented band. Phil spent time seeing fights between metal and hardcore kids, facing interracial issues in Texas, and generally experiencing a rougher world than the one that most people find when they look to music. That bled over, and to the extent that it could have been an outlet or release for him, it would have been fine. The problem is that he never really released that adolescent anger. You could say that Phil put a little too much ?anger?
in the word ?danger?.
Or maybe he did let his anger go, but he knew that Pantera fans were so pure, polarized, and loyalty-based that they would tear him to shreds for changing his tack and calming down (see Metallica, NIN), so he decided to keep miring himself and his lyrics in the language of hate. It honestly breaks my heart what happened to Pantera. Metal bands seem to exist in a self-destructive environment at a certain level, and Pantera is perhaps the greatest metal casualty of this environment that we have seen in the last decade.
It may be that the days of armies of kids wearing shirts for one band (like Metallica or Pantera) are gone.
“Let’s have a good time”, “I am strong”, “There’s evil out there”, “Rock and roll will live forever” “Satan is my lord and master”, “You will die by the steel of my blade”, “Demons haunt the forest at night”, “Stenching greasy rodents swarm, my body is losing its form”, “Metal will live forever”
In the same way a person that isn’t a Proust enthusiast would say that “In Search of Lost Time” is about a man eating a cracker. Only I suppose you are a HM enthusiast? So then why have you not looked into what the lyrics mean and just summarized comfortable and crass cliches about them?
Listen to some early Fates Warning, some Sabbat/Skyclad, some Fleurety, some Mayfair, some 3rd and the Mortal… hell some Burzum, some Hammers of Misfortune, some Maudlin of the Well and read the lyrics.
HM is full of great bands with amazing lyrics and meanings that can enrich your life, if you approach them with the openness and honesty of a child. Please don’t pass judgment on the whole of metal’s lyrical depth if what you’re familiar with is the likes of Pantera.
I am aware I am myself and you are yourself and you may listen to the bands I mention above and get out of them “demons die by my blade” and “satan is my lord and master”, but here’s hoping.
“Let’s have a good time”, “I am strong”, “There’s evil out there”, “Rock and roll will live forever” “Satan is my lord and master”, “You will die by the steel of my blade”, “Demons haunt the forest at night”, “Stenching greasy rodents swarm, my body is losing its form”, “Metal will live forever”
In the same way a person that isn’t a Proust enthusiast would say that “In Search of Lost Time” is about a man eating a cracker. Only I suppose you are a HM enthusiast? So then why have you not looked into what the lyrics mean and just summarized comfortable and crass cliches about them?
Listen to some early Fates Warning, some Sabbat/Skyclad, some Fleurety, some Mayfair, some 3rd and the Mortal… hell some Burzum, some Hammers of Misfortune, some Maudlin of the Well and read the lyrics.
HM is full of great bands with amazing lyrics and meanings that can enrich your life, if you approach them with the openness and honesty of a child. Please don’t pass judgment on the whole of metal’s lyrical depth if what you’re familiar with is the likes of Pantera.
I am aware I am myself and you are yourself and you may listen to the bands I mention above and get out of them “demons die by my blade” and “satan is my lord and master”, but here’s hoping.
Fair enough, Helm. No offense intended.
I supppose I generalized merely for the ease of having a discussion about the greater theme of negativity in metal. To be honest, there are metal lyrics out there that mean a lot to me, as I am a metal enthusiast. In fact, I could make my own list of heavy bands with good lyrics – and could even talk about some of the Pantera lyrics that I like.
I think the bands you listed, and a number of other ones, have great lyrics. The average, Joe Sixpack metal band, however – in my experience, anyway – doesn’t seem to really have much to say.
Also, I think that I shouldn’t necessarily be charged with looking for metaphors in lyrics, especially since we are talking about a genre of music where the lyrics are far less important (to most of us) than the sounds.
The greater point is that, despite exceptions like the ones you listed and like I could list, the overall themes seem pretty consistent. Even bands who have a lot to say seem to cloak their lyrics in a general mantle of metal imagery – i.e, they could say “you will die by the blade of my sword”, and really they mean “I’ll never forgive you for dumping me”, or “Society will see you for what you are”, but am I truly to be charged with searching for metaphors in their lyrics? I guess I would if I were to approach listening to metal the way one would approach reading Proust. I guess for me (and maybe this says more about me than it does about metal), the metal experience is a largely physical and auditory one.
Again, no disrespect intended…by the way, which of those bands you listed would you say has the most directly political lyrics?
think the bands you listed, and a number of other ones, have great lyrics. The average, Joe Sixpack metal band, however – in my experience, anyway – doesn’t seem to really have much to say.
I do agree. Same for any sort of music, not HM’s fault. The average punk band’s got nothing to say and the average pop band… well.
I say this again and again and I never get a real answer but: the 5% creme de la crop of Heavy Metal that challenges and pleases, energizes and accompanies the listerner through his life? That’s the only percentage of Heavy Metal worth discussing or publicizing for. It’s plenty for a full lifetime.
Also, I think that I shouldn’t necessarily be charged with looking for metaphors in lyrics, especially since we are talking about a genre of music where the lyrics are far less important (to most of us) than the sounds.
Yeah each to his own. Personally I think of the sound component of HM as the hook. It might hook me if it’s fun and I will listen to it three times. But if there’s no aesthetic and philosophical substance in there, it will get deleted. Riffs don’t make a band, everybody’s got riffs these days.
Metaphor and analogy in HM lyrics… the few times when looking for these will be rewarded, it will be rewarded in shocking ways. My life was changed by a Fates Warning song when I really understood what it was about after listening to it and mouthing the words for years. Think for a moment how ridiculous that sounds. Now consider now ridiculous it isn’t.
Also sorry if I was a bit severe, I really appreciate the dialogue I just get a bit huffy when it comes to ‘lol metal is just sound!’ I guess.
Directly political HM? Uhm. By and large HM is more existentialist than anything else so it’s hard to say. There isn’t anything with the political acumen of say, a Laibach in the HM field as far as I’ve noticed but a lot of bands have their hearts in the right place. Martin Walkyier from Sabbat and then Skyclad is probably one of the brightest minds in HM that didn’t shy away from clean and clear political argumentation. Depressive Age arrive to very political ends through very personal reflections. Watchtower, though they didn’t show it, made very astute social commentary on “Control and Resistance”. I always had a soft spot for Deathrow and their album “Deception Ignored” which contains the song “Machinery” which if you listen to it and read the lyrics (which aren’t any sort of literary masterpiece) the combinatorial effect is a very potent experience. Do give it a go perhaps some time.
Oh, and Kinetic Dissent – “I Will Fight No More Forever”. Completely political, largely unpraised, an unknown gem in the late technothrash genre.
I only read the top two comments and have to say it’s amusing people are commenting on Testament’s political lyrics. This is the band that wrote a song called “The Greenhouse Effect” and other such stuff twenty years ago on their Metallica “Practice What You Preach” album.
Sacred Reich were one of the few metal bands that did “politics” well.
“I say this again and again and I never get a real answer but: the 5% creme de la crop of Heavy Metal that challenges and pleases, energizes and accompanies the listerner through his life? That’s the only percentage of Heavy Metal worth discussing or publicizing for.”
I guess my point is that 5% is way too small a number. For a musical genre that prides itself on bucking the mainstream (hence the widespread hatred of Metalica), metal has a staggeringly small number of bands who have anything independent AND intelligent to say – like you say, probably about 5%.
Although I don’t really like punk music, I think that punk specifically is a genre where people have a lot to say. Hell, that’s all punk hase, aside from raw energy: words. I find myself hearing punk songs and thinking “Goddamnit! Why can’t metal or punk be genres where people have compelling music AND compelling words?”
I think this disparity has been in place a long time – such a long time that it has shaped the whole evolution of metal. For that reason, I have to respectfully disagree with your (Helm) argument that the 5% with good lyrics is the only 5% worth caring about. When I turn on metal music, it’s about heaviness and having a good time – not about tuning in to what the singers have to say, and taking their words to heart. And I think most metalheads look at it that way.
I hope bands swing in the intelligent direction in the coming years. That’s what we’re trying to do…
Am I the only person here who actually likes the stupid shit? (I ask that question fully recognizing the answer may be “yes”… this blog is devoted to the more thoughtful end of metal, after all) I mean, I appreciate when a band has something to say–I might even prefer it–but when a band’s lyrics are, more or less, about monsters or beer, I’m pretty enthused. It’s not that I think those lyrics are funny: It’s that I actually like that stuff.
Even with punk I tend to be that way. Black Flag’s album “Damaged” might have a lot to say, but I’m way more likely to listen to the songs “TV Party” or “Six Pack” than the song “Rise Above.” Punk bands that are primarily political to the detriment of party songs–Minor Threat, say–I’m usually less interested in.
I’m not sure I even like the idea that “dumb” songs are somehow less real or less sustaining. Music is art, sure, and art is often uplifting and fulfilling. But historically, a lot of music has pretty much been something you throw on at a party, and there is a very substantial, very strong human need for music that serves that function. That doesn’t mean that such music lacks a sense of pathos–the best drinking songs or dance songs usually have some element of misery in them–and I think the same can be said of good dumb metal songs (if you can acknowledge that some dumb metal is good, and some is really just dumb).
Here here! I really like how you said that. That’s now 2 checks next to Anthony’s name on my bloggers that have smart shit to say list.
And one next to Helm’s!
JK Helm, you get two also.
Excellent post by the always reliable Cosmo Lee. Personally, i focus on the music and the vocals and lastly the lyrics. Obviously the first two come together and as one and the lyrics (the actual meaning) for the most part need special attention. Or no attention at all. Musicians are free to spread their opinions, but fans should get a mind of their own by educating themselves. Let’s face it; if we want to learn politics the smart ones would go for a book first rather than a thirty minute fix of thrash metal loudness. Looking at metal from a historic perspective; metal has usually been more about escapism while hardcore and some punk has been more focused on reality and protest. For instance; black metalheads may be all about misanthropy, but when you don corpse paint and you go about the park by your house pretending is a Norwegian forest you are escaping. So to kinda quote pdf from above “I don’t really care about the lyrics/aesthetics/opinions in my Heavy Metal, I mostly (about 90%)care about the music”.
Interesting opinions all around.
Anthony: no you’re not the only one that likes the ‘dumb’ metal stuff. The only place where we differ is that I don’t consider a song about beer or a monster as being necessarily dumb. The subject matter might appear base but it’s if someone pours into it something honest and real and definite that it gets elevated into something essential.
Take the Motorhead classic “Ace of Spades”. It’s a song about gambling, no two ways about it. But when Lemmy says “You know I’m going to lose, and gambling is for fools, but that’s the way I like it baby I don’t want to live forever” there is a higher emotional meaning being expressed there and all the parts work in concert to express it: lyrics, delivery, orchestration, energy conspire to make it so. Even if talk about existentialism and nihilism would make Lemmy look at one funny, these things are there and they are not dumb. For an experiment, try to think of “Ace of Spades” without lyrics, or even with lyrics about I don’t know, something really lame. Would it do the same thing to you?
That’s not a dumb metal song, a dumb metal song is one where someone writes some generic lyric that is aping the bands he grew up with just to fill the slot and get on with it. That’s 95% of metal.
So I am not saying only high literary or philosophical lyrics in HM are worth it, I am saying the whole thing, the combination of sound and aesthetic and meaning should strongly move one, speak to them and engage them in something life-affirming to be worthwhile. Naturally only a small percentage of HM achieves that for any given person and that’s fine. What I don’t understand is why we should cheapen ourselves and listen to stuff that doesn’t move us so. Just because we want to consume more antistress entertainment all the time? 5% of the whole of HM is still 1,000 records or something, isn’t that enough?
Helm-I think we basically agree at this point. It even seems intuitive that people should only listen to heavy metal that moves them in a serious way. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Why do people proclaim otherwise then? Is it a dodge? It seems to me that there are certain ideas the average person has about what constitutes “good” or “adult” lyrical content, and the “I don’t care about the lyrics” position is just an easy way for some metal fans to close a dialogue with these people. It’s an annoying thing to do, because it perpetuates negative stereotypes about metal music, and makes the average metal fan seem like a more shallow person.
Maybe the key is for metal journalists not just to give less press to bands that have nothing to offer (something which may or may not be feasible, depending on who is writing a paycheck for those journalists), but to talk about metal differently? It seems to me that most metal reviews I read focus almost entirely on sound. I’d like more journalists to offer serious discussions of content, and in particular to explore ways that lyrics which aren’t strictly “realist” could be read as a purposeful, important part of the music’s content.
Some really thoughtful comments here. Anthony, I agree that metal needs more in-depth coverage other than the usual uncritical/fanzine modes. Metal journalists need to realize they’re not publicists.
Invisible Oranges-that sounds like a good description of things.
I should say, briefly, that I don’t mean to spread cheap cliches about metal journalism either. I think there’s a lot of great writing about metal out there right now-maybe more of it than ever. I’d like it to stay that way, but as a fan I’d also like to see it get better.
Hey, we all know that singing about trolls and orcs is perfectly acceptable. Pirates, too. Muahahaaaa.
Seriously though, I think that there’s unfortunately the mindset of the “shut up and play music” thing from fans. Though Blabbermouth isn’t perhaps where i’d go to really base an opinion on the most intelligent music listeners/ metalheads that we have out there….I think that most of the guys on the forum there are all out for shock value. Music is like a religion to them, and those that don’t like the same bands as them or have the same views are traitors, hah. That sounds funny, but I wonder if it’s not truer than it sounds…..
I imagine metal journalists will start acting like something more than publicists when there’s a demonstrable market for genuine metal journalism. Think about the existing economics of metal mags and sites… it doesn’t exactly encourage sophistication.
I think the days of traditional metal journalism are over. What we are participating in on this blog is the death blow of the fanzines. I would rather come on here and see what people like all of you have to see than pick up some $7 magazine printed on cheap paper and filled with advertisements – which is not to say that Metal Edge and other mags haven’t found their way into my hands consistently over the years. I just see this as a better way to stay in the know.