Man, I see the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.– Fight Club
A type of music. An elitist cult. A dangerous den of negativity and hatred. Heavy metal has been called all of those things.
But what if it is some amalgamation of them all?
…An identity?
An identity that simultaneously has a huge following of millions of passionate fans all over the world, and at the same time is completely unknown to just as many millions.
An identity considered by its adherents to be the greatest in the world, yet considered by many others to be offensive, uncultured, and even dangerous.
Nevertheless, a culture such as heavy metal is one that our society needs…even more than it realizes.
From the gray-skied industrial wasteland of late-1960’s Birmingham, an environment seemingly unfit for human beings, a new sound was born. Much of the popular culture at the time was the hippie, flower-power movement—free love, world peace, free drugs. “Imagine.”
On paper, it may have sounded too good to be true. Except in Birmingham, and so many other places all over the world, it simply wasn’t, and never could be. It still isn’t.
A brave group of musicians decided to buck the trend. World peace, free love—all idealistic fantasy and so much claptrap. The real world was heavy metal factories, schoolyard brawls, family members dying of industrial pollution, and nightmares about that dusty old book with the pentagram on the cover that you decided to read from one night with your friends…and wished you hadn’t.
This was the world that Black Sabbath chose to expose to the unsuspecting mainstream.
Then, as now, reaction was muted. Let’s pretend it doesn’t exist; we all know that’s outside of our comfort zone. People don't really listen to that, do they?
But when the movement grew too large to ignore, the mainstream negativity lashed out and tried to choke off the music, the culture, the identity with its distinctive devil horns.
First there came the protests, fueled by fears of a Satanic epidemic among fans.
Then there came the high-profile lawsuits, and accusations of suicide, even murder.
Then there came the unparalleled Congressional censorship hearings, resulting in the now ubiquitous Parental Advisory labels.
Even now, after decades of history and a flowering of new ways to express the heavy metal identity, it is still greeted in the mainstream with a dismissive yawn. Heavy metal groups are largely unrepresented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Precious few are able to crack the top 40. And even true legends pass away (more of them every year, sadly), without the pomp and circumstance, the front-page commemorative magazine editions, and six-hour primetime funeral spectacles attended by heads of state.
And society ignores this at its peril.
Because inside mankind, a war is raging between light and dark, between heaven and hell, between good and evil, and most of us are dancing right around the middle line between the two and trying not to hate ourselves for it.
Because without being able to indulge that other, politically incorrect side of our nature, without being able to keep that 15-year-old inside of you alive, where are we headed?
If, every once in a while, you don’t get the chance to just put on black leather, put your devil horns in the air, and just go nuts and scream, until your throat is killing you the next day and your head is still ringing from the amplifiers…how else are you going to do it?
Because if it wasn’t for this heavy metal identity, its bereft followers would resort to other, much more sinister means of indulgence.
Heavy metal is saving society…from itself. In a culture of excess, of struggle, of sheeple, of decay…there is a sound that rejects it all. There is a sound that says, “This is mine.” There is a sound that says, “I reject this world as it is handed to me, with these fake friends, this hopeless job, and the disgusting, fake, mainstream garbage that passes for music.” There is a sound of discovery that lets you say, “no” to the haters.
Because, from the late 1960s until today and far into the future, heavy metal is music of hope.
And hope is something that our society has in short supply.
So the next time you see some folks with long hair, clad in black and red, go ahead and smile and flash them the devil horns. For through this music, they are embracing the struggle within us all…and winning.
and for those interested... http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/any-metalheads-on-wso
No matter how dirty we are, how loud we might get and how heavy we like our music, people will always see us "metal heads" as poor dirty people who need manners, cut our hair and shower. The world doesn't see us for who we really are. Behind the grime, sweat, and long messy locks is compassionate people who care for others and try to make this world better then it is. "Spread the Metal Festival" founded by a 21 year old metal head-businessman and student has created hope to those fighting cancer. Matt Day has helped many in need with his charity events. Day has even inspired others to help charity such as bands "Kataklysm, Morbid Angel, Cryptopsy, Blackguard, Fallen Joy, Blasphemy Reborn and Crimson Shadows"1 One other person contributed greatly to the good of metal that person is Chuck Schuldiner. Chuck Schuldiner creator of "Death", commonly known as the "Godfather" of metal had passed away from brain cancer on December 13, 2001. He dedicated his life toward music and could not afford medical insurance to treat his cancer. 10 years after his passing all former members came together to form the charity tour 'Death to All'. They toured in Europe, Canada and this year, the U.S.. The DTA tour will "raise money for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity dedicated to providing financial assistance to struggling career musicians facing setbacks, such as illness, or age-related issues."2 This in the long run, will help new aspiring musicians to follow their dreams and not have to worry about their medical needs. Metal Heads stay strong, whether they are the musicians or the fans, the metal revolution is one. There has been rough times but they keep on moving. When it seams as if the earth is crumbling at their feet, they help each other stand tall. Nothing can stand in their way. This, in the end, is what our society needs, someone who cares, who is strong, and who have the ability to keep going when all is lost.
1Legge, Lois. "Heavy Metal's Got Heart." The Chronicle Herald. N.p., 33 July 2012. Web. 24 Aug. 2014.
2Jill Liebisch. "“DEATH TO ALL” TOUR FOR CHARITY: A TRIBUTE TO CHUCK SCHULDINER." ZT Mag Featured News RSS. N.p., 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Aug. 2014.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX226Db63ZE
Fucking love AAL.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/yYb23prbnuo
http://www.youtube.com/embed/5vz4yIgnFt0
http://www.youtube.com/embed/YUuTRiftVto
I think the greatest metal album of all time deserves - no, needs to be in this thread:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/l7uswI2TCkg
"Little known secret. Metallica's '...and Justice for All' and Death's 'Symbolic' record had a baby. It was tossed into a junkyard and forgotten about. It ate metal and drank gasoline until it broke free and began to kill. Sylosis defines modern speed metal." - Chris Adler, Lamb of God.
it's possible i'm mistaken but i'm pretty sure heavy metal is just metallica...kinda unfortunate to have a one-band genre, but such is life...
now i'm really not trying to fuel anyone going to the sanitarium because they went stone cold crazy from my comments, but trust me i'm not some kind of monster just because i don't like all those death anthems...thats what the rest are, it's sad but true...and if you can't forgive me for saying that and just turn the page, then i guess i'm just unforgiven and nothing else matters...and if my comments make you so frantic that you don't rest until i disappear, then i guess you really are a master of puppets...but afterward i bet you'll find that still the memory remains of my truthiness
Sorry you feel that way.
And yes, I get every single reference in your second paragraph. :)
Your statement on Metallica is correct, too bad they broke up in 1991.
And the problem with Load and Reload was they made two albums instead of one. There was a massive amount of filler crap on each. If you took the 4-6 or so best songs from each, you could have make one really really good 9-10 song hard rock album.
St. Anger induces me to vomit...period.
Ok, I'm a little annoyed by the turn this conversation has taken.
You sure dude? Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Priest, and all the rest that came before them and called themselves heavy metal. Metallica was definitely cool but not even the most intense. Fear factory, Sepultura, Pantera, Testament, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Cathedral, and a whole slew of others were right in that same sweet spot both lyrically, musically, and concert wise.Metallica was just really good about (1) marketing themselves and (2) writing some mainstream stuff, but they are FAR from being the 'only' heavy metal band. They fall in the thrash subgenre with Exodus, Overkill, Death Angel, Defiance, Nuclear Assault, and Executer.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of death/black/doom/gore metal, it's a bit depressing while thrash was just more plain agression, like white man's rap. Helmet and House of Pain collaborating was cool, and I'm baffled why there wasn't more rap/metal interaction, the two fit perfectly with each other. Directionless, energetic youth channeling their agression into art....not sure why the censors didn't like us. I remember studying to Pantera, lifting weights with the guys getting ready for the Corps while listening to Slayer, and welcoming dudes coming out of juvie/Rahway/county with the latest Public Enemy record. The common bond or music kept us from tearing each other apart and was actually a stabilizing influence. Maybe if the larger society RUN BY THE ADULTS wasn't rotting, we'd have been put to better use. That rage propelled an otherwise adrift generation through a pretty pointless period of history: I'm 32, I'm not sure the younger crowd fully understands. The 'people in charge of things' attacked a symptom instead of putting their big kid pants on and dealing with the causes: they neglected a generation and were oh so shocked they lost control at some point. Now we're adults, and we're taking over the festering, failed empire they tried to build....and we're doing it right.
Send THAT to Tipper Gore.
I honestly can say at this point that I am at an extremely happy place where I can enjoy all the subgenres (up to and including the underground stuff like black metal and grind).
Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath will always be my favorite metal groups. Lately however, I have been getting into a lot of early death metal (Death, Morbid Angel, Atheist) and prog (Dream Theater, Fates Warning).
i like to lump chaps like black sabbath into classic rock within my mental index, and i am a fan of all music thats prog (old or new) but then again i would just leave them as progressive rock...hence my comment, heavy metal = metallica
I enjoy Heavy Metal - but you have to admit it has long had an association with the white power movement
There's a reason no one performs Wagner in Israel. I'm not suggesting the Bruce Dickinson is a closeted white supremacist or anything. Or that Ozzy Osbourne has a stormtrooper uniform. I like listening to some old metal too. But , why is it whenever any race-nut/crazy shooter is found and the cops go through his apartment , its littered with metal bands. Whats the correlation here?
Examples?
Eric Harris , Dylan Klebold , Anders Breivik. Look , I know the reason is that metal is one of the few genres of music populated almost exclusively by white people and therefore , if you're a racist , it's the one genre you can enjoy with a clear conscience.
However , metalheads should be much more willing to say that this association exists , that it ought to be denounced , and that any band that incorporates such elements in its music ought to be boycotted.
Honestly , ever been to a slayer concert?
Really?
Anders Breivik's behavior was blamed (falsely) on Christianity, not heavy metal.
The Columbine-Marilyn Manson "connection" with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold was an exercise in media hype and contrived controversy; there were no grounds for it whatsoever. Neither of them were Manson listeners; watch "Bowling For Columbine" and his response if you want proof. Seriously, do your homework before you make these ridiculous claims.
And yes, I have been to a Slayer concert, and it was great fun.
In fact, many Israelis, including the below, agree with me, and this is in response to Slayer's song "Angel of Death," which led people to think they were a Nazi band:
Dude you're not getting it. I know that Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman aren't Nazis. But white power groups use a surprising amount of heavy metal (even mainstream heavy metal) in their materials. Some of these big stars ought to take a fucking stand against it. It's not that hard - lots of hip-hop stars to outreach/public service messages/blah blah blah. You can always argue that its not their fault. But I find this kind of willful ignorance among metal stars and fans stunning.
I know that metal bands want to be "hard" and "evil" , but if you , as an artist , cant take a stand against a white power group using your songs , then you ought to have your smug face pushed into the furnaces at Buchenwald.
At worst , they are complicit , and at best they are profoundly ignorant and socially irresponsible.
"Maybe they're trying to embrace the inner darkness , per se"
Other artist, such as Dave Mustaine, actually ARE conspiracy minded and state their views at concerts. Those guys, yeah, I agree with you, they're shitheads. Shut the fuck up and play your song.
Again, give examples of white power groups misusing metal. The ones you've pointed out can be easily refuted just by a glance at Wikipedia.
"Willful ignorance?" I think you'll find Marilyn Manson's rebuke to the media (both at the time and later on) to be one of the most eloquent defenses of his music out there. Check out his interview with Bill O'Reilly.
Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Serj Tankian of System of a Down formed the "Axis of Justice" to fight against this kind of thing as well: http://axisofjustice.net/
You're probably thinking of skinhead punk bands, not metal (with the exception of a tiny handful of extremist groups largely based in the European underground).
I used to listen to Hatebreed, Pantera, Sepultura and all the rest on the way to work every morning. 9:01AM was kill time. Lately though, this last year or so, I'm just mellowing out and I don't know why.
If this is what getting old is about, someone please kill me.
Nothing wrong with it. Maybe it's time to branch out into other subgenres?
Wonderful stuff. Porcupine Tree is also excellent, as are the great prog concept albums like Operation: Mindcrime and Scenes From A Memory, Pt 2.
Jeremy spoooke iiin claaaaaas todaaaaaaaaaay....
Does grundge count as heavy metal?
Heavy metal is good stuff. Good stuff.
My opinion about the racists in heavy metal concerts? Until very recently, heavy metal was quite "white" in both it's audience and it's influences. Rock (and most other types of) music importsb influences from all over the world, but the old heavy metal was mostly western european influences. And there's also the really aggressive grindcore/deathcore subgenres. I'm heavily into metal (I still wear my DMs from time to time. Yes, to work. Especially in the winter. And I sport eyelets in both my ears 24/7), used to be heavier, and I once got.... "accosted" during a berserker gig for being the wrong race. Of course this was in the UK, and the aggressors were rather swiftly thrown out by random people in the audience. to summarize - which sort of musician is a racist more likely to listen to - a couple of long haired white blokes, or Snoop?
My main issue with the heavy metal crowd of course is the tendency not to find too many progressive minded people (by progressive I of course refer to ambitious/career minded people, and not the political kind, not that there's anything wrong with the political kind). You do get a few, but in general it's hairy people with extremely suspect personal hygiene. Yeah, even among the women. But the music, the music is awesome. I even once charged through the mosh-pit during a cannibal corpse gig. It doesn't get wilder than that. Or does it?
Is grunge metal? It's an interesting topic. Not all grunge is the same as we know, it's just an umbrella term for the Seattle groups. With the possible exception of Alice In Chains, I considered grunge its own separate brand of hard rock.
My first death metal show was Suffocation. Stood right in front near the bass amp. Ton of fun, but you don't notice hygiene issues when it's Suffocation!
Yeah, I don't really get where all this "white power" stuff comes from. We've got all different races at metal shows of all kinds.
Funny thing - the first time I saw your nickname "In the flesh", I did think it sounded extremely metal.
\m/.
don't cry to me oh baby
ITF,
I don't know WTF you're smoking but how the hell this saving society?
Major Boobage
Get More: SOUTH
PARKmore...
What about this?
Major Boobage
Get More: SOUTH
PARKmore...
I mean really?
Nah - In all seriousness, good stuff ITF. And an SB to someone who can name the two singers who sang the Theme.
TL ; DR
Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark (Live@Rock in Rio) - MyVideo
http://www.youtube.com/embed/VUOnnnefEA4
http://www.youtube.com/embed/LmSt1oEIshE
http://www.youtube.com/embed/73ff5jt9ziM
http://www.youtube.com/embed/TM6KY1gu4fk
And this fucking pearl: Cacophony - Black Cat live in Japan 1989
http://www.youtube.com/embed/NkmNnKJbY0Q
http://www.youtube.com/embed/ywq-UXxPao4
none of you know what you're talking about.
90's metal was pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/28JqQENMbeU
but 80's metal rocked harder:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/mXwxI8-dVdw
and 2000s metal owns all:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/YbP1K-bQB6g
good points. maybe you'd agree that we should also add this little gem to the mix of awesome music that supposedly falls under metal:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/awe7JKJVenY?feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/embed/yad_clT4T2Y
http://www.youtube.com/embed/7ezSGqbuo0g
Sed cumque nesciunt expedita voluptatibus tempore molestiae fugiat. Et officia quae sed autem.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Maiores modi aut est sunt voluptatibus aliquam. Vitae soluta deleniti numquam rerum. Corporis et ipsam corrupti nobis voluptatem excepturi. Corrupti libero dolores illum saepe est.
Excepturi maxime in quisquam dolore nemo maiores nesciunt. Optio sapiente amet possimus repellendus et asperiores quibusdam. Laborum possimus vel sit minima natus. Nobis hic dolores qui provident commodi explicabo maiores. Pariatur aliquam tempore quod est. Laudantium voluptas omnis et sit quaerat quam impedit.
Sit consectetur ipsam labore magni porro. Ab aut labore voluptatem quo eos voluptas. Qui voluptas commodi aspernatur eos facere repellendus vitae et. Sed voluptate vel exercitationem rem inventore omnis.
Quae perferendis non labore. Rerum ut quaerat nihil non aut atque. Et distinctio quod quas blanditiis voluptas sed incidunt similique. Et illo deserunt omnis excepturi molestiae.
Voluptatem cupiditate ullam nihil explicabo ex. Molestiae explicabo aut libero sit excepturi voluptate velit. Dolor eum explicabo vitae voluptate magni. Consequatur laboriosam non aut. Et pariatur et assumenda eum maxime accusamus deserunt.
Quaerat quos nulla consequatur et commodi possimus. Vel error vero qui nemo qui aut voluptates. Molestiae iusto minima explicabo iusto.
Est voluptas nihil maxime maiores est. Quo soluta vel ducimus esse. Amet ratione ducimus iure distinctio libero. Adipisci ipsum delectus quae iste.