Metal Reviews

I recently got into a short, yet heated discussion with one of my (very) non-metal friends. It got me thinking and wondering:

How much does the content of extreme metal, specifically the subjects of violence, desolation, and genereal negativity, play into our overall enjoyment of the genre? The vast majority of us are decent people who would parish the thought of being seriously violent towards others, or waking up to an apocolyptic wasteland.

So what is it about this type of subject matter that keeps us coming back for more? Why are we so attracted to subjects that we would never want to experience firsthand?
















Just trying to start a discussion

Firstly, best discussion thread I've seen in a forum for a while.

What attracts me to this kind of music, is that the musical awesomeness of some of these bands brings forth alot of feelings and inspiration for me. I'm generally a happy guy, and allthough the focus in this kind of music often is negativity, even against some fundamental parts in my life, I find joy and happiness in this music. That may be pretty hard for a non-metal dude.

Well in honesty the lyrics mean little to me when it comes to extreme metal, particulalry as they are often indecipherable and I see little point reading lyrics I'll never be able to pick out.

I do find some comedic value in the lyrics of, say, Slayer. Completley over the top "I hate your relgion so hard!!" or "I want to rape your baby then eat it!" lyrics are just amusing because you know that (in some cases) the band are not being anywhere near as serious as the people who are offended by them. Or if they are being deadly serious then its doubly funny.

It also has to be noted that music as heavy as the likes of Deicide would sound completely ridiculous (well, more completely ridiculous) with nice positive lyrics or inoffensive vocals.

I agree with you there, i probably should have said something about that in my original post.

Take lyrics that are more thought out, but still quite negative. These are the lyrics of the title track for Meshuggah's new album, obZen.



This song seems to be equating zen with a fascination/ love for pain, suffering, and death.

i was going to say "oh nice discussion" but Craig just had to go and say everything. scottish prick.

as far as negativity goes, i think it's about catharsis. it just gets rid of the negativity in such an over-the-top way that it can't be brooded on or taken too seriously, but it still gets rid of it.

also, escapism might have something to do with it? reality is boring.

Normally I'm pretty indifferent to the lyrical themes of metal bands. I just see the voice as another instrument and judge its sound rather than what it communicates. I guess that's why I like it when John Tardy just does stuff like "Uuuuurgh" rather than actual words.

There are some times when the lyrics do become important to the overall feel of the music, examples would be a band like Venom where there's no point if you can't work out that it's about Satan. The other ways of expressing these things are also important, epsecially in the case of horror influenced bands, as there's really nothing I like more than brutal Fulci-inspired cover art. In fact, in many cases it's the only thing I like about a band.

But I'm sure that when I was first getting into metal the general tone of anger/misery was definitely part of the appeal. Probably because I really wanted to distance myself from happy mainstream life as far as possible when I was a teenager... morbid little sod, I was.

Agreed with Crieg, Noodles and Rio.

I think you can put the fact that we're all such nice, loving people down to our love for and understanding of the darkness within. Not wanting to sound like Crowley, but listening to the right sorts of extreme music (esp. good Black Metal, for me) is like looking into the abyss.

And I tend to accept the lyrics as part of the individual band's experience. So, Vital Remains' antichristianity is fun when listening to the music, Amon Amarth's viking stuff, Meshuggah's insane philosophies, Bal-Sagoth's Chthonic invocations... it's all part and parcel of the music. It's down to you where you cross the line - personally, I can't see much difference between watching a Saw or Hostel film and listening to Cannibal Corpse - in both cases, the enjoyment comes from the violence and the style in which it's presented.

If we didn't love brutal, ear-bludgeoning music then how could we truly enjoy soft bunnies and delicate tulips?

Apocalyptic wasteland? Sounds beautiful...

While dancing on their dead bodies, drinking their blood and wiping our asses with tulips. I hate those big eyed bunnies and stuff.

I think noodles makes two very good and valid points here. In my opinion when people really like and enjoy this kind of music (ie not posers that do it because they think it makes them look tough/cool/other) it mostly due to the above 2 reasons.

I've never listened to metal for the lyrics, it's always been about the riffs, drums, overall feeling of the music, and since in extreme metal it's screaming/growling/yelling whatever you want to call it, the lyrics are inaudible at times so its just like another instrument.

We've all sat thru Drudkh albums before...haven't we?

The reason I listen to a band varies. I listen to some bands like Bolt Thrower cos of the riffs, Judas Priest cos of the catchiness of many of their songs and awesome solos, King Diamond, cos the solos rip and the King is a damn good story teller, Immolation and Iron Maiden cos of the lyrics. I don't think Your Angel Died would've been one of my favs if I didn't know the lyrics. As for some of the lyrics being disturbing, it's like watching a horror or violent movie. You just experience it and once it is over, your done and move on. What appeals to me about metal is the emotion and dedication which shows. I remember a friend of mine was listening to Shadow Gallery along with me. He doesn't listen to metal at all, but plays the guitar. He said that although he cannot understand the stuff, he can feel the emotion the guys have while playing. The lyrics do matter to me at times. It all depends upon how the band puts it across and how intense the lyrics are. It can be about anything, fantasy, violence, fun, anti/pro christian, I really don't care. The band should know how to hit me in the right spots so that I appreciate their song writing skills.

I've actually started paying attention to lyrics more lately, they don't need to be super thought out or insightful (i recognize that they're musicians not poets), but a lot of the time its a good window into what a band wants to say with their music.

I like the music mostly. I do pay attention to the lyrics of say bands like In Flames where I feel there is meaning... But I don't really give anything but a slight chuckle to Dying Fetus when they're talking about crushing peoples skulls or whatever.

Hate, anger etc. are just as natural and valid feelings as love, happiness etc. they are just another part of your psychological makeup. I don't see why that needs to be justified or even why it is strange that we can enjoy it. It is a part of ourselves so why fight it.






Rip the sacred flesh
Sodomize the holy asshole
Drink the red blood of the mother of earth
Masturbation on the dead body of christ
The king of Jews is dead and so are the lies
Vomit on the host of Heaven
Masturbate on the throne of God...

- Excerpt from Havohej Dethrone the Son of God

Within extreme metal the lyrics don't matter much to me, as someone else said people like John Tardy say all they need to by sounding like a vomiting drunk. I do remember though that Satanic lyrics used to be a big thing for me, I felt really rebellious at my Catholic school. When a song with a chorus like 'God Hates us All' makes you feel empowered you know you've been put in the wrong school. Some lyrics in other metal genres get me going, just not really extreme ones; even Death has very little I can relate to.

What song is it by a commercial BM band which has awesome lyrics like "we play our art from a higher plain" or something? I really wanna check em out because the lyrics are good stuff.

They're a political band you silly twat!