“Nu metal bands lack an engagement with the history of metal”(Kahn-Harris 136). Bands associated with this so called “nu metal” genre derive influence from a variety of diverse styles, including everything from rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal and thrash metal. Nu metal’s main characteristic of a sound based mostly on rhythmic riffs, mid-song breakdowns and pretty obvious lack of virtuosity contrasts it with other metal subgenres creating some real tension in the metal world. Some nu metal bands even use seven-string guitars over traditional six-string guitars. The use of 7-string guitars, which are sometimes tuned to a lower octave to increase heaviness, result in bass guitarists using five-string and six-string instruments to add an even more notion of driving force. Even DJs are sometimes used for additional rhythmic instrumentation with the use of pre-recorded samples and sound effects.
Most true death metal artists and fans alike make the statement that they want nothing to do, ”with trendy metal”(Kahn-Harris 136). Did the heavy metal heads simply grow weary of nu metal because, “it had become almost as popular as heavy metal had been”(Kahn-Harris 135)? That’s honestly the only conclusion I can come to (as a huge fan of nu metal and growing up in the 90’s).
Lets take a look at my favorite nu metal band of all time, Rage Against The Machine with their classic track “Killing In The Name”. The driving rhythmic melodies and angry aggressive vocals are undeniable! See for yourself below…
Saturday, May 28, 2011
NU METAL
“Nu metal bands lack an engagement with the history of metal”(Kahn-Harris 136). Bands associated with this so called “nu metal” genre derive influence from a variety of diverse styles, including everything from rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal and thrash metal. Nu metal’s main characteristic of a sound based mostly on rhythmic riffs, mid-song breakdowns and pretty obvious lack of virtuosity contrasts it with other metal subgenres creating some real tension in the metal world. Some nu metal bands even use seven-string guitars over traditional six-string guitars. The use of 7-string guitars, which are sometimes tuned to a lower octave to increase heaviness, result in bass guitarists using five-string and six-string instruments to add an even more notion of driving force. Even DJs are sometimes used for additional rhythmic instrumentation with the use of pre-recorded samples and sound effects.
Most true death metal artists and fans alike make the statement that they want nothing to do, ”with trendy metal”(Kahn-Harris 136). Did the heavy metal heads simply grow weary of nu metal because, “it had become almost as popular as heavy metal had been”(Kahn-Harris 135)? That’s honestly the only conclusion I can come to (as a huge fan of nu metal and growing up in the 90’s).
Lets take a look at my favorite nu metal band of all time, Rage Against The Machine with their classic track “Killing In The Name”. The driving rhythmic melodies and angry aggressive vocals are undeniable! See for yourself below…
Most true death metal artists and fans alike make the statement that they want nothing to do, ”with trendy metal”(Kahn-Harris 136). Did the heavy metal heads simply grow weary of nu metal because, “it had become almost as popular as heavy metal had been”(Kahn-Harris 135)? That’s honestly the only conclusion I can come to (as a huge fan of nu metal and growing up in the 90’s).
Lets take a look at my favorite nu metal band of all time, Rage Against The Machine with their classic track “Killing In The Name”. The driving rhythmic melodies and angry aggressive vocals are undeniable! See for yourself below…
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Gothenburg Scene
What is Melodic death metal? Wikipedia describes this almost oxymoronic genre of metal as a “style that combines elements from the new wave of British heavy metal with elements of death metal”. Another term, Gothenburg metal, is used to describe bands associated with or stylistically similar to the melodic death metal scene that originated around Gothenburg, Sweden. Gothenburg being the second-largest city in Sweden (after Stockholm) and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, as Keith Kahn-Harris writes, “was marginal to the extreme metal scene until the early 1990’s(Kahn-Harris 98).
Gothenburg's native born commercially successful bands such as Grotesque, At the Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity are credited with pioneering melodic death metal. So how did this scene get started in Sweden out of all places? As Kahn-Harris explains, “The pioneering death metal band Grotesque stimulated the formation of a tight-knit clique of musicians”(Kahn-Harris 98). This tight knit statrted off as a small Swedish scene and evolved into such huge events as The Metaltown Festival, a two day festival featuring heavy metal music bands, held in Gothenburg. The most recent festival in June 2010, included globally metal bands such as Coheed and Cambria, Dark Tranquility, Rammstein, Amon Amarth, and In Flames.
Gothenburg's scene today is soley credited to the support given to musicians in the city, an environment conducive to a highly supportive and creative scene. Lets see what Swedish death metal author Daniel Ekeroth has to say about the culmination and rise of the scene in the early 90’s in the interview below.
Gothenburg's native born commercially successful bands such as Grotesque, At the Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity are credited with pioneering melodic death metal. So how did this scene get started in Sweden out of all places? As Kahn-Harris explains, “The pioneering death metal band Grotesque stimulated the formation of a tight-knit clique of musicians”(Kahn-Harris 98). This tight knit statrted off as a small Swedish scene and evolved into such huge events as The Metaltown Festival, a two day festival featuring heavy metal music bands, held in Gothenburg. The most recent festival in June 2010, included globally metal bands such as Coheed and Cambria, Dark Tranquility, Rammstein, Amon Amarth, and In Flames.
Gothenburg's scene today is soley credited to the support given to musicians in the city, an environment conducive to a highly supportive and creative scene. Lets see what Swedish death metal author Daniel Ekeroth has to say about the culmination and rise of the scene in the early 90’s in the interview below.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Out of The Closet
The metal scene as one would probably expect is predominately (extremely) heterosexual. As Kahn-Harris states, “Openly gay scene members are extremely rare”(Kahn-Harris 73). Given metal’s openly violent and masculine themes it’s very easy to understand why there might be a lack of (at least openly) homosexual males. Even though, “there has been absolutely no overt otganization of gays and lesbians within the extreme metal community’ (Kahn-Harris 73), might there be a significant amount of homosexuals drawn towards the scene as a vehicle for releasing anger and stress?
As Kahn-Harris states, “The only well known out gay man in the entirety of metal is Rob Halford”(Kahn-Harris 74). That seems like a pretty daring move on Halford’s part. Who is this guy?
Best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. Nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song, he is considered one of the most consistently powerful singers in the metal scene having possessed a six-octave range during his prime and is particularly known for his high-pitched, operatic, soaring vocals. It must have been so hard being a gay male in the limelight of such a masculine and seemingly anti-queer environment.
When questioned In 1998, Halford came out as gay publicly on an interview with MTV News. In the interview he states, "I think that most people know that I've been a gay man all of my life, and it's only been in recent times it's an issue that I feel comfortable to address (...) something that I feel has a moment, and this is the moment to discuss it." So why exactly did he feel so uncomfortable to address the issue if everyone “already knew”? Maybe the fact that he was raised in a very religious Christian home? Maybe he felt other bands in the scene just wouldn’t accept him? Let’s hear the full MTV interview and find out what the real truth behind the matter is.
As Kahn-Harris states, “The only well known out gay man in the entirety of metal is Rob Halford”(Kahn-Harris 74). That seems like a pretty daring move on Halford’s part. Who is this guy?
Best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. Nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song, he is considered one of the most consistently powerful singers in the metal scene having possessed a six-octave range during his prime and is particularly known for his high-pitched, operatic, soaring vocals. It must have been so hard being a gay male in the limelight of such a masculine and seemingly anti-queer environment.
When questioned In 1998, Halford came out as gay publicly on an interview with MTV News. In the interview he states, "I think that most people know that I've been a gay man all of my life, and it's only been in recent times it's an issue that I feel comfortable to address (...) something that I feel has a moment, and this is the moment to discuss it." So why exactly did he feel so uncomfortable to address the issue if everyone “already knew”? Maybe the fact that he was raised in a very religious Christian home? Maybe he felt other bands in the scene just wouldn’t accept him? Let’s hear the full MTV interview and find out what the real truth behind the matter is.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Keeping Calm at Megadeth
Everyone seems to realize pretty quickly whether or not they fit in a particular “scene”. What is the scene? We all know what it is yet it’s so hard to really describe, you either fit in the scene…or you don’t. As Keith Kahn-Harris states in his novel “Heavy Metal”, the essential driving force of a music scene is the pleasure of just plainly talking about the music. As he puts it, “scene members often talk of music as an essential part of life”(Kahn-Harris 52).
Equally as important to note is the fact that metal scene, “members (and all scene members) often do not specify what sort of music is so essential for life, members often emphasize the breadth of their musical tastes”(Kahn-Harris 52). That being said, if metal fans like al types of music, what makes people actually attached to the metal scene? Kahn-Harris makes the assumption that, ”The pleasures of extreme metal derive from the excitement of violence and aggression (Kahn-Harris 53).
Could people be turned on to the metal scene by other factors beside the obvious like Kahn-Harris states, I certainly think so. There are many factors as Kahn-Harris even goes on to say, “Metal offers something that other music’s don’t”(Kahn-Harris 53). What the something is is hard to find. That feeling of crowd unity? The black lipstick? Maybe this interview can shed some light…
Equally as important to note is the fact that metal scene, “members (and all scene members) often do not specify what sort of music is so essential for life, members often emphasize the breadth of their musical tastes”(Kahn-Harris 52). That being said, if metal fans like al types of music, what makes people actually attached to the metal scene? Kahn-Harris makes the assumption that, ”The pleasures of extreme metal derive from the excitement of violence and aggression (Kahn-Harris 53).
Could people be turned on to the metal scene by other factors beside the obvious like Kahn-Harris states, I certainly think so. There are many factors as Kahn-Harris even goes on to say, “Metal offers something that other music’s don’t”(Kahn-Harris 53). What the something is is hard to find. That feeling of crowd unity? The black lipstick? Maybe this interview can shed some light…
Friday, April 29, 2011
Metal to die for??
Is metal music really something to die for? Yes, I’ve heard the term “metal to die for” thrown around but do people actually live by that? Sure the all black clothing adorned with metal spikes suggests hardcore and maybe even violent mentalities but I thought the saying was just an exaggeration… According to Keith Kahn-Harris in his novel entitled “Extreme Metal”, “The strongest charge made against heavy metal was that it caused murder and suicide”(Kahn-Harris 27). “In a number of US murder trials, heavy metal was cited as the “cause”, and on occasion, being under the influence of heavy metal was accepted as a “diminished-responsibility” defense in criminal trials”(Richardson 1991). So, does metal encourage and/or nurture teenage suicidal tendencies?
Lets take a real life look at a case involving a teen suicide in North Dakota. Raymond Kuntz's teenage son committed suicide in 1996 while listening to a CD by the heavy metal group Marilyn Manson. Kuntz testified November 6, 1997 stating that,
“Heavy metal music glorifies death and encourages violence and suicide among teenagers. The offensive lyrics found in heavy metal music contradict community values, harm society, and endanger the nation's children. Music corporation executives should take responsibility for the harm that comes to their impressionable listeners. Furthermore, parental advisory labels should be mandatory on the covers of all violent and offensive music.”
Let’s also take a look at the lyrics to the supposed song that Kuntz was listening to as he reportedly committed suicide on that fateful day.
Marilyn Manson's "The Reflecting God" from the CD titled Antichrist Superstar.
Your world is an ashtray
We burn and coil like cigarettes
The more you cry your ashes turn to
mud
Its the nature of the leeches, the Virgin's feeling cheated
You've only spent a second of you're life
My world is unaffected, there is an exit here
I can certainly see how the title of the track alone is so scary to parents all over the world. That being said, it seems unfair to undoubtedly connect the teens suicide to the mere fact that he was a Manson fan. Did this kid have suicidal tendencies anyway? Would it have been a different outcome if he were blasting Hanson on his walkman? Questions that everyone accusing metal (or not) should ask. Maybe metal music saves kids from violence or maybe it creates it. Whatever your opinion on the matter maybe, listen to what Marilyn has to say about it in the video below.
Lets take a real life look at a case involving a teen suicide in North Dakota. Raymond Kuntz's teenage son committed suicide in 1996 while listening to a CD by the heavy metal group Marilyn Manson. Kuntz testified November 6, 1997 stating that,
“Heavy metal music glorifies death and encourages violence and suicide among teenagers. The offensive lyrics found in heavy metal music contradict community values, harm society, and endanger the nation's children. Music corporation executives should take responsibility for the harm that comes to their impressionable listeners. Furthermore, parental advisory labels should be mandatory on the covers of all violent and offensive music.”
Let’s also take a look at the lyrics to the supposed song that Kuntz was listening to as he reportedly committed suicide on that fateful day.
Marilyn Manson's "The Reflecting God" from the CD titled Antichrist Superstar.
Your world is an ashtray
We burn and coil like cigarettes
The more you cry your ashes turn to
mud
Its the nature of the leeches, the Virgin's feeling cheated
You've only spent a second of you're life
My world is unaffected, there is an exit here
I can certainly see how the title of the track alone is so scary to parents all over the world. That being said, it seems unfair to undoubtedly connect the teens suicide to the mere fact that he was a Manson fan. Did this kid have suicidal tendencies anyway? Would it have been a different outcome if he were blasting Hanson on his walkman? Questions that everyone accusing metal (or not) should ask. Maybe metal music saves kids from violence or maybe it creates it. Whatever your opinion on the matter maybe, listen to what Marilyn has to say about it in the video below.
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Rise of The "GUITAR GODS"
Where the new wave of British heavy metal left off, Thrash Metal certainly picked right up! Characterized usually by its grueling fast tempos and aggression, thrash metal is often fast and percussive, with a lead guitarist murdering his guitar with lighting fast “shreds” almost as some sort of sacrifice towards his audience. The "Big Four" bands of thrash metal and the true pioneers of the scene are without a doubt Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer, who simultaneously fashioned and popularized the genre in the early 1980s. By creating a new genre and developing a separate movement from punk rock and hardcore, this new metal movement was really brought together by one thing, the SHRED! This “shred” explained by Steve Waksman, author of “This Aint The Summer of Love” as, “The way the guitarist were prone to “tear up” with their extreme technique”(Pg. 262).
As if it wasn’t cool enough to play the damn guitar, “shred based, classically informed, guitar-oriented metal became a phenomenon unto itself” (Pg. 262). Thrash was all about the “rise of the rock guitar hero” (Pg. 263), adding masculinity and a whole lot of competition to be the best and the fastest thrash band. “It’s like musical athletics, athletics is all about speed and fast is the best”(Pg. 263).
Hands down my absolute favorite thrash metal guitarist has got to be Dave Mustaine of Megadeath and a founding member of Metallica. Ranked at number 19 on the top 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time in 2004 and named the No. 1 player in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, Mustaine was an innovator to say the very least.
Below is a great clip of Megadeath from 2007 playing their song entitled “Holy Wars”. His guitar could definitely be a little louder but his stage presence still exudes that notion of “all eyes on me” to even more cement the idea of “Guitar God”. Take a look for yourself…
As if it wasn’t cool enough to play the damn guitar, “shred based, classically informed, guitar-oriented metal became a phenomenon unto itself” (Pg. 262). Thrash was all about the “rise of the rock guitar hero” (Pg. 263), adding masculinity and a whole lot of competition to be the best and the fastest thrash band. “It’s like musical athletics, athletics is all about speed and fast is the best”(Pg. 263).
Hands down my absolute favorite thrash metal guitarist has got to be Dave Mustaine of Megadeath and a founding member of Metallica. Ranked at number 19 on the top 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time in 2004 and named the No. 1 player in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, Mustaine was an innovator to say the very least.
Below is a great clip of Megadeath from 2007 playing their song entitled “Holy Wars”. His guitar could definitely be a little louder but his stage presence still exudes that notion of “all eyes on me” to even more cement the idea of “Guitar God”. Take a look for yourself…
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