Heavy Metal Gets Socially Conscious
Band Photo: Lamb of God (?)
"Heavy Metal Gets Socially Conscious" is an AP article that's been making its rounds through the papers around the country. It's good for heavy metal to get some exposure like this, much less in a positive light for a change. Here are some excerpts:
"Heavy metal singer Chris Barnes didn't know what people would think of "Amerika the Brutal," an anti-war song he wrote after his cousin deployed to Iraq in 2003."
"He heard a number of complaints, but also received supportive e-mails from American troops in the war zone."
"It kind of sent a shiver up my spine because those are the guys I didn't want to offend by sounding anti-war," said Barnes, vocalist for the death metal band Six Feet Under."
"Other metal bands are finding similar inspiration."
"Lamb of God's albums criticize American foreign policy. Cattle Decapitation are ardent vegetarians who use explicit album covers and songs like "Veal and the Cult of Torture" to condemn the meat industry. Serj Tankian of System of a Down is co-founder of a nonprofit organization that works on social issues."
Read the full article at WashingtonPost.com.
What's Next?
29 Comments on "Heavy Metal Gets Socially Conscious"
2. writes:
With respect to the musicians, they need to do a little more studying up before busting out the political tunes when they obviously don't know what they're talking about. Anything we have done is hardly brutal in the war from a policy standpoint. Yes, we had some issues with certain soldiers, and those issues were taken care of, and people sent to prison. And if you think 4 years is light, you've never seen a military prison.
We go out of our way to accomdate the prisoners we've taken in the war, and our soldiers at Gitmo have had over 400 incidents of being attacked by inmates with everything from broken porcelein shards to a bloody lizards tail. The "anti-war" crowd really need to spend more time with the soldiers and educating themselves on what exactly is going on over there. Not everythng that happens is shown on CNN, usually only the bad stuff. They convenviantly forget about the new power stations, water plants, schools and roads we build, and the gratuitious thanks of many of the Iraqi people for freeing them from Saddam.
Member
3. writes:
I find it odd that they talked about "literature and mythology." and then mention Mastodon. Power metal bands have done this since the 80s. even more so in the 90s. The article is referring to mainstream metal. if anything the article should be focused on how popular REAL metal has become and that it is heavier and more sophisticated than the mainstream metal of the 80s as it does point back to the 80s. Moreso, they should stop talking about black sabbath like they invented metal and more about all the other bands out there: iron maiden, judas priest, metallica even.
One example from the political side, Nevermore have been doing political statements in their music since the 90s.
4. writes:
"Amerika the Brutal?" Whatever country this Amerika is, it must be pretty bad. I, however, am fortunate enough to live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Amerika must be some small country on an undiscovered island, because I've never heard of it before.
Former Contributor
6. writes:
post 5
I don't think anyone is saying: "I don't like it here".......I think it's wise to have people of all walks of life question their govt. and leaders. If we didn't we "could" end up like the very countries we fear and hate....
Thats what the two party system, counterculture movements and -----freedom of speech----- are in place for....
And if you have a problem with freedom of speech, move to f***ing China. They like it when their people don't question their govt....
7. writes:
The reason we know that America is great is because we have stupid a$$ musicians calling our country "Amerika the Brutal" and many others saying Bush sucks. In half the other countries on the planet, people would get executed for just questioning their leader's actions, let alone blatanly insulting him. In China, as RememberMetal? mentioned, when some college kids tried to ask for democracy, they got blown the f*** up by tanks. So why don't all these dumbass musicians move to China and then make a song called "China and Jiang Zemin Suck Ass" and then we won't have to hear from them again because they'll be dead.
Former Contributor
11. writes:
Theres no way that the point I'm making is being missed.....
To tell people to "leave the country if they don't like it" is absurd.
Whether people (musicians too) are educated in politics or not when they make a statement is beside the point....
If someone is unhappy with our govt free speech "invites" them to say something.
Instead of telling people to shut up when they have a differnt opinion, just accept it as something differnt from your own views and move on.
By saying "Shutup" you invite the mentallity that the Chinese govt (among others) thrives on.....That is beyond repressive and short sighted.....It's kinda funny and pathetic too....Tell them WHY you think their opinion is sh** instead.
The people who mindlessly beat on the war drums in their sleep and the reality deficient tree huggers are two extreme views that only sheep follow....
People who were groomed by their parents and friends to believe something and not question it are f***ing worker bees.
Conclusion: I think it's fantastic that condescending republicans like Ann Coulter and smug know it all democrats like Al Franken can screech at eachother....This applies to right and left wing musicians as well.
I wouldnt have it anyother way.
12. writes:
Your point is understood RememberMetal! The reason i say "if you do not like america get the f*** out" is because im tired of people constantly bashing this country! If you really think about it, this country isnt all bad. I cant think of another country where you can do, say, and act however you want as long as you follow the "law" of course!
Im against sending are troops to fight a bullsh** war, and i dont think very highly of our gov., but the fact is that we are still free, and safe living in this country!
To sit around and bash this country, but yet still use the advantages of it are wrong to me! You shouldnt be able to say "f*** america" and then take advantage of all the freedoms we have.
But i do understand what you are saying, but im just explaining why i said my comment in post 5!
Former Contributor
14. writes:
How are people scared to say things that are anti-war? As an Iraq vet, I have recieved way more negative reactions from people than positive. The people of this country are very ungreatful. I actually got more respect in Paris than I have every recieved here in the states. If I am ever blessed enough the afford it, I'm moving to Sweden or Norway. America as a country isn't bad, but the Hell with the citizens.
15. writes:
I agree with post 13 and 14!
I definetly support our troops, god bless everyone of them. But i think us as people and musicians need to be more greatful than hateful!
If it wasnt for our freedoms these bands would not be able to write the same lyrics as they do now!
16. writes:
hooyah boys!!! though i dont always agree with the decisions of our policy makers, (rarely as of late), i still bleed red, white and blue. I love this country and enjoy all of the freedoms i have, even if i do have to serve jury duty every once in a while thats the least i can do. and though i may not fully support the causes that our troops are fighting, you bet your a$$ that i support each and every person in our armed forces and all those that have died for this country.
korndogg--for once i agree with you 100%. i am annoyed by those that blindly blow smoke about "you're either with us or against us" as much as those that b**** about how sh**ty america is just to whine and offer no alternative.
17. writes:
If anything, we are humane to the point of flawed when it comes to the threat we face. The US military is so worried about cameras looking over their shoulder, frivolous lawsuits, the ACLU, Muslim-American groups and everyone that would get "offended" that it's costing lives. We SHOULD be profiling at airports, we SHOULD be shooting first instead of driving around waiting to get attacked first, and we SHOULD be hunting these extremists like the animals they are. If we could do that without people crying out against us, the job would be done and we'd all be at home right now.
18. writes:
Metal is growing up?
20 years ago Metallica released an album that was anti-war (Disposable Heroes), anti-drugs (Master of Puppets), and literature-based (the Thing that Should Not Be). This was only one album out of thousands like it and NOW people are waking up to the fact that Metal musicians aren't all drug-addicted high-school dropouts, who spend their weekends raping squirrels for satanic rituals?
The people who wrote this article are clueless, the perception of metal may have changed but there's always been an element of social responsibility.
Member
21. writes:
I support our troops i dont support the war, and if people want to not support troops and the war thats their f***ing RIGHT regadless every person who pays taxes is paying for this war so dont give me that LEAVE the COUNTRY BULLsh** and for god sakes u LITSTEN to f***ING KORN THE sh**IEST BAND TO EVER COME OUT OF CALIFORNIA, the point is THIS is AMerICA where u have great freedoms. AND WE dont NEED to be GREATFUL for TROOPS fighting OVER IN IRAQ, because plain and simple we were never attacked by IRAQ and its a POINTLESS war which is costing too many lives on both fronts. ITS a no WIN situation over their with sh**es hating Sunni and KURDS hating everybody. The minute we pull out ITs gonna be f***ING CIVIL WAR and all the hard work and sacrafice the troops have put in will be in VAIN. And OSTRACISED we cannot profile becasue it is immposible to profile A religion, with Middle Easterners, Blacks, and South Asian South EAST ASIANS being the majority of the people who follow ISLAM. It would make TRAVEL IMMPOSSIBLE.
Member
22. writes:
we should make Bush the first dictator of th USA and execute anybody whose opinion is different than his, anybody who disagreess with the policies of the current administration is clearly unpatriotic and probably a terrorist. yes we should be shooting first, therefore, i propose that from now on at airports, we just shoot everybody that walks through the door. we all know that jesus christ is white and from tennessee and an american, i propose that we abolish any law which allows us any freedom, let's outlaw metal because much of it conflicts with the born again christian sensiblities of our current dictatorship, i mean administration, i mean lets face it, if we have the gall to actually disagree with our leaders, to actually show signs of possessing individual thought patterns, then we should be punished as unpatriotic, warning: if you support the troops and want them to get home alive and are sick of seeing them die but you disagree with the policies of the worst administration in US history, you are unpatriotic and a terrorist sympathizer. Ya know, the other day I was talking to a fellow citizen and I says to him " you know i really wish the federal government would find some way to increase funding for public education, i think that would be very positive for the future of this country." well he looks at me and i can tell i offended him, He says" well if you don't like it get the f*** out!!
23. writes:
^^^^ LOL! People say some really stupid things on this site, and im not excluding myself!
But holy sh**, this guy above really just blew any stupid thing ive ever said out of the water!
And this has nothing to do with him hating Korn! Just reread what he just said, and think about it.
Should i explain- Well who said we were greatful for our troops being over there? i said be greatful that we have freedoms, and quit being so hateful of america! You are saying we shouldnt be over there in the first place, and then you mention that we cant pull out! Yes it would be pointless to pull out because alot of troops have died for this so-called war, but what happens if we stay? Where do you get "civil war" we shouldnt profile a certain race, we should keep our gaurds up and watch out for every race! Because the point is that any one can be a terrorist, we have enough crime and bullsh** going on over here! Unless they threaten us, we should keep our noise out of where it doesnt belong! I am proud to live in america, and i stand by the quote "If you dont like it, get the f*** OUT"!!!!
25. writes:
I agree that as soon as we leave Iraq, it will go to he*ll all over again. Some new nut job will force his way into power over there...... Nothing we ever do will ever change what thousands of years has bred into these people in the Middle East....... We just need to watch our backs, because they are getting more insane, and more brave and willing to do alot more damage.
Former Contributor
27. writes:
Post 22 is great!..Best thing I've read all day.
The world is a f***ed up place, and differnt parts of the globe have differnt problems.
Africa has poverty, starvation and an aids epidemic so severe your the oddball if your don't carry the disease.
China has a govt that will roll tanks over you for thinking outside the box or questioning the powers that be.
The Middle East is a sandstorm of bullets, shrapnel and a god-driven hatred of all things west.
Americans are cranky at the gas pump...f*** gas $3.09 a gallon....
Maybe I should stop going to McDonalds 8 days a week and.....gasp...gulp...fart..."buy groceries"...Somewhere an obese kid (six chins, Xbox control fused to his blubbery hands etc) with type 2 diabetes cries "NO MOMMY!...ANYTHING BUT THAT!"
I'll take a hit to my wage before a failing immune system, facism, JIHAD!!! or a 17th day of no food and diseased sh**-hued water...
Yes America is f***ing awesome(!) compared to these places, but people shouldn't be told to "Shutup and relocate" when they observe a ----real problem---- (preemptive war and telling Insurgents to "bring it on!", social security being tampered with, rampant coruption, poor response time to disasters, Medicare being canabilized, suggesting the United Arab Immarates have full reign of our ports )....
THOSE ARE PROBLEMS!....
To ignore real problems however small they may seem, compared to problems/circumstances outside the states is like saying....I'l keep smoking 3 packs of unfiltered Marlboro Reds a day....It's not as lethal as toothless Jebs crystal meth habbit, so I'll ignore the prospect of losing 45+ years of my life....
Worst thing of all, I'm not even a f***ing leftist....This country is in the hands of fools and maniacs. I long for the days of both Reagan and Clinton.
Ignorance is bliss to too many.
28. writes:
The politics in the good old US of A these day have sunk to a level of all talk (very unproductive talk) and no action.
no one can say anything without someone unleashing a maelstrom of pundits
and also in a time of war why is no one makeing any sacrifices on the homefront like during World War Two
We talk about fighting a war yet we take it at face value.
and metal has always been a diverse, conscious form of music (read up for gods sake!)
29. writes:
Post 22 said:
"Ya know, the other day I was talking to a fellow citizen and I says to him " you know i really wish the federal government would find some way to increase funding for public education, i think that would be very positive for the future of this country." well he looks at me and i can tell i offended him, He says" well if you don't like it get the f*** out!!"
Maybe that guy told you to get the f*** out because you're an idiot. Throwing more money at the problem isn't the solution for our public education woes. Washing D.C. spends over $17,000 per year per student, the highest in the country, and still has among the lowest test scores in the country. Money doesn't make people learn. People have to want to learn, and when you throw more money at the problem it just ends up going down the rathole.
Democrats just want to waste money on stupid crap that doesn't work and Republicans just want to waste money on stupid wars that don't work. We need a new party.
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1. Scorched_Earth writes:
"It kind of sent a shiver up my spine because those are the guys I didn't want to offend by sounding anti-war,"
Respect to Barnes for writing the song. It's so weird that people are afraid to say things that are "Anti-War." We're SUPOSSED to be anti-war. War destroys our and other countries resources. We should be Pro-finance and Pro-Fair Trade so that no economy is compromised. Pro-War does not mean pro American, Anti-War doesn't mean Anti-American. It's sad that we are this far off the mark...