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Recently I picked up the April issue of Muscle & Fitness. I don’t normally buy these kinds of magazines, but this one had Bruce Lee on the cover. (The best way to get me to buy something is to put Bruce Lee or Rambo on it.) On page 63, tucked between training techniques and sports commentary, was a column called “Power Chords: The M&F; Playlist.” I was stunned by what was #1: Meshuggah’s “Bleed,” beating out Trick Daddy, TV on the Radio, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC.
I actually work out often to “Bleed.” Its relentless cybernetic drive is perfect for sets, reps, and so on. As I marveled at the magazine’s dietary supplement ads – often multi-page treatises filled with stock photos of scientists – I couldn’t help but feel a parallel with metal. It goes beyond soundtracking workouts with metal, already covered here. I’m talking about human endeavor made possible only through technology. Bodybuilding has machines and nutritional aids; metal has gear and Pro Tools. With the right kit, a handful of people can be louder than a symphony orchestra.
Multiplication of effort is the purpose of machines. But when does it get absurd? Someone once remarked that death metal is like bodybuilding. They both get technical and grotesque; they both use the word “shredded.” Bodybuilders amuse me. But are they different from, say, bands on Unique Leader? I’ve heard so much death metal that the most extreme bands merely make me shrug. Would such conditioning occur given enough time in muscle land? Would I not bat an eye at Jay Cutler, who has seemingly inflated balloons inside his limbs? Is he just the fitness equivalent of Brain Drill?
You’re right there is a similar theme to the ‘extremity’ of brutal death metal and to that of bodybuilding. They also share the shallowness of purpose, I think. Playing that sort of death metal is often called ‘athletic’ but I contest that because athlesis presupposes arete, but ‘brutality’ isn’t about that, it’s about gross exaggeration due to inferiority complexes. Children in the bodies of adults taking what they think is ‘cool’ to an absurd extreme. Just like bodybuilding.
And just like in bodybuilding when you see these inflated people walk around like ducks because their inner thighs touch and chafe no matter what, brutal death metal is also all show and no application. Just there to wow a crowd, not to affect anyone significantly.
I could never get into listening to that kind of death metal when working out–it’s too fast. Black metal too–forget it.
I liked starting on the treadmill listening to South of Heaven because it starts off nice and slow but then once you get to Silent Scream you’re ready to go for it.
For weights, it was always Cro Mags.
But I don’t go to the gym anymore.
I prefer Judas Priest for working out. Most especially Hot Rockin’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3TpFZY7cU
Helm, I don’t think arete need be part of metal. There’s some great metal whose aim is to smash all that is good. Ironically, it does it so well that perhaps it does exhibit arete. Also, people may have different conceptions of arete. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder is what I’m getting at here.
The way contradictory and seemingly mutually exclusive aesthetic and philosophical ends communicate and become whole through the extremity and passion of Heavy Metal is in my opinion a very potent manifestation of arete.
…And we shall glorify, Apollo and mega Tsathoggua, together!
That makes me want to work out. Awesome.